FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Always hard to gauge football recruiting classes, but here is an updated list of Eph recruits to date  The recent Eph football recruiting classes have been around 18-20 players, and while I sure hope they can swing a few more slots from admissions this year (otherwise it's gonna be a very small roster), in all events this group of 17 will certainly form the vast majority of the recruiting class. 

After a season where first years played a surprisingly large role on defense (four first year starters by season's end), I think we will see a a major boost to the Eph skill positions from this incoming group quite early in their careers.  I note that four players in the class to date were starting QBs for their high school teams, although several of those guys I assume are being recruited as athletes rather than QBs, with Renzella a name to watch as a pure passer.  I would think that Jack Dickinson, after losing his job due to injury, would still go into the season as the most likely starter, but I would not be shocked at all to see one of these first years in the mix with Dickinson and Wallace (who also was injured before he had a chance to do much on the field), given how much the Eph passing game struggled no matter who was at the helm last year. 

I see Thorbahn and Gering, both of whom had at least one scholarship offer, as guys to watch as first years ... both look like potentially explosive playmakers and the Ephs are gonna need a few of those around Fischetti.  And some of the other skill guys (Cotton and Kennedy) have good speed as well. The Ephs have a big hole at center on the offensive line so Shames or maybe Ingram may be names to watch on the interior line as well. 

Luke Thorbahn, 5'9 185 RB/WR, Avon Old Farms
Wyatt Cotton, WR/RB, St. Mary's (MD)
Holden Gering, 5'10 WR/CB/ATH, Crespi Carmelite (CA)
Ethan Shames, 6'3, 280 C, Avon Old Farms
Austin Bongo, 6'3, 215 ATH, Hull H.S.
Will Robke, 6'3, 285 OL/DL, Barnstable
Brady Carroll, 6'2 185 QB/ATH, Sandwich
Brian Ingram, 6'3, 290 OL/DL, Hun School
Drew Renzella, 6'2, 200 QB, Williston
Jack Barber, 6'5, 240 DE, Darien
Christian Reavis, 6'1, 200 LB, Deerfield
Nate Dlugos, 6'2 180 ATH, Greensburg Central Catholic
Jack Kennedy, 5'9 185, WR Cheshire Academy
Nathan Rodi, 6' 210 RB/LB, Pittsford (NY)
Leonardo Maiulolo, 5'8 165 P/K, Saint Francis (CA)
Will Baker, 6'4 220 QB, Cohasset
Owen Johansen, 6'2 212 QB/LB/ATH, Northport (NY)

We know of many of these recruits. Some good ones on this list including Gehring, Shames, Robke, and several of the QBs. Congratulations to HCOF Raymond. High level comment...the fact that of their 17 top recruits nearly a quarter are QBs and another 5 are WRs...should tell you all you need to know about the state of the Williams College football program.

[Nescacman]

Nice tribute to HCOF Ritter from Middlebury Athletics. Congratulations on a great career.

https://twitter.com/middathletics/status/1598329359642796038?s=61&t=xtZ1X6otT6OQq0JOig0KwQ

[nescac1]

Nescacman, I think it's fair to assume from recruiting that Williams saw a massive need in terms of guys who can pass and catch the ball.  But at least they are trying to address it!  I'm not 100 percent sure but I think they may be bringing in a FIFTH QB recruit, i read somewhere that the Milton QB Owen McHugh, who also looks pretty talented, will be playing baseball and football for Williams, although I've yet to see confirmation.  Now of course, of those five QBs (most of whom are multi-positional guys) I'm guessing that 2-3 are being recruited more as athletes, but still, as we saw from when Dan Vaughn was forced to step in, it's sure nice to have a surplus, rather than a paucity, of guys who can sling it if necessary.  And the hope is that a few of the guys who don't make it as QB will end up contributing at safety, LB, or WR. 

[lumbercat]

Good to see long time Midd assistant Mandigo officially named HCOF. Nice to see that kind of loyalty and dedication to the program rewarded.

[Charlie]

Nescacman, I think it's fair to assume from recruiting that Williams saw a massive need in terms of guys who can pass and catch the ball.  But at least they are trying to address it!  I'm not 100 percent sure but I think they may be bringing in a FIFTH QB recruit, i read somewhere that the Milton QB Owen McHugh, who also looks pretty talented, will be playing baseball and football for Williams, although I've yet to see confirmation.  Now of course, of those five QBs (most of whom are multi-positional guys) I'm guessing that 2-3 are being recruited more as athletes, but still, as we saw from when Dan Vaughn was forced to step in, it's sure nice to have a surplus, rather than a paucity, of guys who can sling it if necessary.  And the hope is that a few of the guys who don't make it as QB will end up contributing at safety, LB, or WR.

The Milton QB is good but after watching High School Super Bowl game announcers mentioned throughout game that he was commited to Umass Dartmouth for Baseball only !.

He has not posted but found this interesting.

[nescac1]

McHugh (along with Renzella) is listed as going to Williams

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/schools/williams-college

At one point he was committed to UM-Lowell for baseball only.  Maybe he switched to play both?  I'm not sure.  In all events the Eph QB competition in camp will be intense this year, lots of uncertainty on the depth chart ...

[lumbercat]

McHugh committed early to UM Lowell for baseball- He jumped at a "free ride" in the Ma state system which is an easy take with all the deals in Ma. The average kid thinks he hit the lottery with that deal in the Ma state college system.

Not so fast.

I know McHugh was rethinking that Lowell decision this fall when he was experiencing the thrills of a great senior football season. He wasn't willing to give up Football......maybe he could play both sports.

A few NESCAC schools entered the mix..... I thought he was Lewiston bound but once again mighty Williams seems to have closed the deal.

At the end of the day he's one of 6 QBs incoming at Williams. I hope 3 or 4 of those recruits know that they will be playing other positions. At the end of the day the best pure incoming Eph QB is the Renzulli kid from Bobcat Tommy Beaton's Williston program.

[lumbercat]

Sorry on the spelling---Williston QB Renzella

[CC_Camels]

I saw Renzella play a number of times this season and he is a very good decision maker with a very strong and accurate arm. Throws a clean ball and was excellent in getting the ball out quickly and finding open receivers, and he throws a nice deep ball as well. While he is definitely a pass first QB, he is mobile in the pocket and is adept at moving with the pocket and extending plays and he throws especially well on the run.

[lumbercat]

CC Camel
Great Post. Couldn't agree more. A football guy at CC - so good!
Have they ever considered Football at CC ?

[Charlie]

McHugh committed early to UM Lowell for baseball- He jumped at a "free ride" in the Ma state system which is an easy take with all the deals in Ma. The average kid thinks he hit the lottery with that deal in the Ma state college system.

Not so fast.

I know McHugh was rethinking that Lowell decision this fall when he was experiencing the thrills of a great senior football season. He wasn't willing to give up Football......maybe he could play both sports.

A few NESCAC schools entered the mix..... I thought he was Lewiston bound but once again mighty Williams seems to have closed the deal.

At the end of the day he's one of 6 QBs incoming at Williams. I hope 3 or 4 of those recruits know that they will be playing other positions. At the end of the day the best pure incoming Eph QB is the Renzulli kid from Bobcat Tommy Beaton's Williston program.

Just heard today McHugh is in fact going to Williams !

[CC_Camels]

CC Camel
Great Post. Couldn't agree more. A football guy at CC - so good!
Have they ever considered Football at CC ?

I don't think Conn would ever field a football team unless there was a MAJOR donor who was willing to put up the funds to build a facility and pay the expenses etc...and even then I am not sure the administration would be in favor of it.

On the other hand, Conn can still claim to be undefeated in football, so there's that. 

[nescac1]

Thanks for the info on the Williams QBs, folks!  The Ephs certainly won't have a shortage at the position again anytime soon ... although again, I have to imagine at least two of the five, maybe three, incoming QBs were being recruited primarily as athletes.  Renzella does indeed look very good.  Hopefully he's the real deal, as are the other skill guys Williams is bringing in.  If so, they can load up on defense in future classes ...

[Charlie]

Thanks for the info on the Williams QBs, folks!  The Ephs certainly won't have a shortage at the position again anytime soon ... although again, I have to imagine at least two of the five, maybe three, incoming QBs were being recruited primarily as athletes.  Renzella does indeed look very good.  Hopefully he's the real deal, as are the other skill guys Williams is bringing in.  If so, they can load up on defense in future classes ...

Question with the transfer portal getting stuffed from kids moving around schools here is a hypothetical. Again not inferring anything or impugning on any schools academics. However say you are a top QB recruit and go to let's say Bates College. You light it up your Freshman year tear up the NESCAC but still are too under sized for D1/D2 to transfer up a level.

Are you allowed to transfer to another NESCAC school like an Amherst , Williams and or Trinity providing you pass their academic standards. Again picking schools at random. I understand you do not gain an extra year and there is no financial consideration that goes along with doing this. But say a kid wants a shot at winning a championship and feels this is in best interest to do so by changing. Has this ever been done at the NESCAC level academics all being equal.

I have not seen this done

[RollConts18]

Interesting hypothetical with the transferring inside the NESCAC. I believe the NCAA rule is that if you transfer inside your conference you have to sit out a season, like the old transfer rules. I know that's the D1 rule, not sure about D3 though.