FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[NESCACFball24/7]

I can only speak for tufts but from what I have been told they are bringing in 25+ recruits and I have only seen 11 announce publicly. I can tell you right now there are some big gets in that class that will change your mind. Like I said earlier, I've been told this is one of their better classes in years.

[Charlie]

With "signing day" done with, it's been interesting to see the new additions to the league based on what's been put out on social media. Early look, but I think so far Amherst has probably brought in the best talent, although they don't seem to have brought in big numbers, and seems they they didn't bring in much of any receiver talent.

Williams clearly figured out that they can't just run the ball every single play, and that starts with getting an actual quarterback. I don't think the guys they got are game changing talents, but they're more impressive than what they've got. McHugh is interesting as an athlete. He can at least go play receiver if it doesn't work out behind center.

Coach Coyne brought in impressive numbers, and a handful of fairly talented guys. I'm impressed by his effort in drawing from a lot of different areas. 14 different states by my count.

The rest of the league has been fairly unimpressive. I like the QBs that Middlebury brought into the fold. Very disappointing classes from Tufts Trinity and Wesleyan so far, but I'm sure they'll have a late surprise or two. More of the same from Hamilton, and Bowdoin.  Really disappointed in Colby. Big regression in their recruiting from what they've done the last few years. Especially when they were knocking on the door of relevancy. I'm sure there will be a few more commitments, but interesting at this stage of the game to project who could have gotten better.

While I agree on some of your opinions in that Amherst has a few Gems I disagree with you on the Williams , Trinity and Colby. Williams definitely went for their needs at QB with McHugh , Renzella. They also filled their RB/LB needs with Marvan and few other players rounding out their class. They loaded up at some skilled positions. They also recruited with the idea that these kids can play multiple positions. I think next year they will be playing .500 ball but this class is very exciting Williams coaching staff optimistic. I believe they did not prepare well for the transition from Maimaron and did not recruit well behind him. I understand they do not recruit like Trinity who have 7 to 9 QB in camp. But they definitely wiffed the last couple years at recruiting that position. Despite that they still played hard with the revolving players at the QB position.

Trinity recruited the three best LB in state of MA with Pereira , Toyias , McGowan. All were either MVP or DPOY in their respective Leagues. Staff really high on Toyias and McGowan with initial indication that Pereira is being moved to another position. They have also landed two excellent CB , WR and a ton of OL. Their QB they also landed from Choate big with an excellent arm. They feel they have their QB sucessor on staff once Fetter graduates. This to is an excellent class probably better than last years. However you never can tell as they rarely play freshman.

Colby landed a RB , WR and two excellent DB. Colby like Williams does not put out a great deal of fanfare in their recruiting process like the Wesleyan and Amherst of the league. So you have to look for their recruits on Twitter. I agree with you dissappointed with Bowdoin , Hamilton and Tufts. Although these teams and I don't agree with it try to capture the players who did not get into Ivy League or on the last cusp of being taken at the D1/D2 levels. I think Tufts has some rebuilding to do especially on the OL. If Berluti has to scamble every game dont know if he will last a season. I do know they are actively looking to bring in WR for their QB.

Bates from the lower teared teams had a very good class they really searched everywhere for recruits and while it is a tough sell landed a few good ones. I think if they can keep the staff together for a few years they will be poised to make a jump up the standings.

Middlebury had an excellent QB recruiting class. They also landed some big DL but like Colby does not put a great deal of fanfare in their recruiting. They are also going through a Coaching transition with HC and staff so they have other dealings going on.

This would be my Recruit Rankings for this incoming class.

1.  Trinity
2.  Williams
3.  Amherst
4.  Colby
5.  Bates
6.  Middlebury
7.  Tufts
8.  Wesleyan
9.  Bowdoin
10. Hamilton


** I did not have all information compiled as of yet on Middlebury so they could move up the ranks. Based on some initial recruits who have committed

[Scoops]

I can only speak for tufts but from what I have been told they are bringing in 25+ recruits and I have only seen 11 announce publicly. I can tell you right now there are some big gets in that class that will change your mind. Like I said earlier, I've been told this is one of their better classes in years.

From what I've seen, the only tape that impressed at all are an OL from Connecticut, and a LB from Louisiana. There's an interesting WR from the brooks school, but he looks incredibly raw. Outside of those three, the rest of the class looks really average. The last few classes that they had were really impressive, particularly because it seemed like they finally used their location advantage and started focusing their recruiting in football hot-beds like TX, CA, GA, FL. I don't understand why they would give up the one advantage they have in pursuit of seemingly average local talent. I hope the rest of the class lives up to what they've done in previous years, but time will tell if they have a few hidden gems.

[lumbercat]

With "signing day" done with, it's been interesting to see the new additions to the league based on what's been put out on social media. Early look, but I think so far Amherst has probably brought in the best talent, although they don't seem to have brought in big numbers, and seems they they didn't bring in much of any receiver talent.

Williams clearly figured out that they can't just run the ball every single play, and that starts with getting an actual quarterback. I don't think the guys they got are game changing talents, but they're more impressive than what they've got. McHugh is interesting as an athlete. He can at least go play receiver if it doesn't work out behind center.

Coach Coyne brought in impressive numbers, and a handful of fairly talented guys. I'm impressed by his effort in drawing from a lot of different areas. 14 different states by my count.

The rest of the league has been fairly unimpressive. I like the QBs that Middlebury brought into the fold. Very disappointing classes from Tufts Trinity and Wesleyan so far, but I'm sure they'll have a late surprise or two. More of the same from Hamilton, and Bowdoin.  Really disappointed in Colby. Big regression in their recruiting from what they've done the last few years. Especially when they were knocking on the door of relevancy. I'm sure there will be a few more commitments, but interesting at this stage of the game to project who could have gotten better.

Don't rely totally on Twitter and social media.
Colby incoming class is very strong and I agree with other poster on this Tufts class from what I have heard- very strong.
All of the nonsense that has been circulated on this board about Tufts recruiting struggles could not be further from the truth. While Civetti is not one of the better game managers in the league, recruiting is his strength. One of the very best in that area.

[nescac1]

So based on various posters I have concluded that Williams, Amherst, Trinity, Tufts and Colby are all bringing in loaded, historically impactful and/or generally mediocre and highly disappointing recruiting classes.  For the record, I agree!

[Charlie]

With "signing day" done with, it's been interesting to see the new additions to the league based on what's been put out on social media. Early look, but I think so far Amherst has probably brought in the best talent, although they don't seem to have brought in big numbers, and seems they they didn't bring in much of any receiver talent.

Williams clearly figured out that they can't just run the ball every single play, and that starts with getting an actual quarterback. I don't think the guys they got are game changing talents, but they're more impressive than what they've got. McHugh is interesting as an athlete. He can at least go play receiver if it doesn't work out behind center.

Coach Coyne brought in impressive numbers, and a handful of fairly talented guys. I'm impressed by his effort in drawing from a lot of different areas. 14 different states by my count.

The rest of the league has been fairly unimpressive. I like the QBs that Middlebury brought into the fold. Very disappointing classes from Tufts Trinity and Wesleyan so far, but I'm sure they'll have a late surprise or two. More of the same from Hamilton, and Bowdoin.  Really disappointed in Colby. Big regression in their recruiting from what they've done the last few years. Especially when they were knocking on the door of relevancy. I'm sure there will be a few more commitments, but interesting at this stage of the game to project who could have gotten better.

Don't rely totally on Twitter and social media.
Colby incoming class is very strong and I agree with other poster on this Tufts class from what I have heard- very strong.
All of the nonsense that has been circulated on this board about Tufts recruiting struggles could not be further from the truth. While Civetti is not one of the better game managers in the league, recruiting is his strength. One of the very best in that area.

Best description I have heard about Civetti yet. Gtreat recruiter suspect game manager. As I stated I heard making a big push in the WR department. They tried on bolstering there LB Corp but could not persuade any of the top three away from Trinity. Again way to early and Tufts does not create a great deal of fanfare on recruiting.

[lumbercat]

So based on various posters I have concluded that Williams, Amherst, Trinity, Tufts and Colby are all bringing in loaded, historically impactful and/or generally mediocre and highly disappointing recruiting classes.  For the record, I agree!

Amherst has scored some D3 5 stars, but overall a thin class for the Mammoths. Williams admissions much, much looser than the Jeffs. Those I converse with say the Ephs have never been this easy in Admissions.
Trinity, Colby and Tufts loose as a goose, green light with Williams close by surprisingly.

[lumbercat]

Interesting developments at Bowdoin.

Hammer showing some frustration and pushing for more leniency in admissions. Some tension there. Admission response was they dropped their admission criteria pretty significantly after JB Wells firing and after 3 years there has been no improvement in the program. 3 wins in 3 years.  Wells had a better record with much stiffer admissions standards.
AD Ryan on the hotseat again. Hearing repeatedly that old loyal Polar Bear check writing alums running out of patience once more.

[nescac1]

I'm pretty skeptical of claims, without hard evidence, of different admissions standards for recruits between Williams and Amherst.  Those schools seem, with a few exceptions here and there, to operate pretty much in lockstep when it comes to admissions bands / standards for athletes.  And at least a few of the Williams recruits with high profiles publicly announced offers from Amherst as well, e.g. Jon Marvan, Holden Gering, and Ethan Shames.  Not sure about the QBs but I think at all these schools a star QB who is highly coveted may be a special case.  Sometimes this stuff can be sour grapes.  Over the last three seasons Williams has been in the aggregate a lot better than Amherst on the gridiron and there seems to be a lot more community support for football games at Williams, so it's not shocking that more recruits may be attracted to the Ephs right now when the schools are otherwise equal in every way. 

[Charlie]

I'm pretty skeptical of claims, without hard evidence, of different admissions standards for recruits between Williams and Amherst.  Those schools seem, with a few exceptions here and there, to operate pretty much in lockstep when it comes to admissions bands / standards for athletes.  And at least a few of the Williams recruits with high profiles publicly announced offers from Amherst as well, e.g. Jon Marvan, Holden Gering, and Ethan Shames.  Not sure about the QBs but I think at all these schools a star QB who is highly coveted may be a special case.  Sometimes this stuff can be sour grapes.  Over the last three seasons Williams has been in the aggregate a lot better than Amherst on the gridiron and there seems to be a lot more community support for football games at Williams, so it's not shocking that more recruits may be attracted to the Ephs right now when the schools are otherwise equal in every way.

Agreed this year more than ever admissions seem to be somewhat lax. However one can clearly see that players wanting to play for  Williams more than Amherst. Despite this fact Amherst will still get a few good players in recruitment Sadly Bowdoin will not improve. I thik that another house cleaning will be in Bowdoins future. However who ever takes over the football program will not improve unless admissions is less restrictive. I am not saying open the flood gates but if Williams has shown they can lower there standards perhaps Bowdoin can do the same for a few years to make them somewhat respectable. Hamilotn is also not too far behind Bowdoin.

[lumbercat]

I'm pretty skeptical of claims, without hard evidence, of different admissions standards for recruits between Williams and Amherst.  Those schools seem, with a few exceptions here and there, to operate pretty much in lockstep when it comes to admissions bands / standards for athletes.  And at least a few of the Williams recruits with high profiles publicly announced offers from Amherst as well, e.g. Jon Marvan, Holden Gering, and Ethan Shames.  Not sure about the QBs but I think at all these schools a star QB who is highly coveted may be a special case.  Sometimes this stuff can be sour grapes.  Over the last three seasons Williams has been in the aggregate a lot better than Amherst on the gridiron and there seems to be a lot more community support for football games at Williams, so it's not shocking that more recruits may be attracted to the Ephs right now when the schools are otherwise equal in every way.

I would cling to the skepticism right along with you if were a Williams guy- but the Amherst culture right now is not as pro athletics as it is at Williams. A little tic in the old lockstep N1.

[NescacFam]

Lumbercat - Not splitting hairs here, but JB Wells was fired after his fourth season at Bowdoin. He was head coach from 2015-2018 and finished his career with an overall record of 3-31. During that four year stretch, Bowdoin finished 2-6, 0-8, 0-9, and 1-8 respectively. Under Wells, Bowdoin went through the longest losing streak in program history of 24 games. Wells' four years with the team marked the shortest tenure of any head football coach since Peter Kostacopoulos' three-year run between 1965 and 1967.

In his first three years at Bowdoin, BJ Hammer's record is 4-24. Bowdoin has finished 0-9, 1-8, and 3-6 respectively. The Polar Bears finished with three wins in a season for the first time since 2013 and ended the year 3-1 at home to post their first winning campaign at Whittier Field since 2011. Additionally, four players were named All-NESCAC in each of the last two seasons, the most for the program since the 2009 season.

Building a program takes time. But I strongly believe that any coach at Bowdoin has been, is, and will be at a significant disadvantage fighting an uphill battle with the administration, admissions, and culture. Until those are aligned, Bowdoin will continue to be in this cycle.

[lumbercat]

With the concessions made in hiring Hammer there is some unrest with the progress of the program to this point. The program was not in shambles when Wells left despite his record. The thinking seems to be the Bears would have performed much better for Wells if he had the benefit of current admissions structure.

[Charlie]

With the concessions made in hiring Hammer there is some unrest with the progress of the program to this point. The program was not in shambles when Wells left despite his record. The thinking seems to be the Bears would have performed much better for Wells if he had the benefit of current admissions structure.

What benefit of admissions structure are you referring to ? I do not see admissions being at all flexible in their standards currently.  Bowdoin looses too many top athletes and it is by choice. At some point Bowdoin has to look at what is important and frankly football is not tops on their priority list. You can clearly see if you look at Williams recruiting the last five years. They did not do a great deal of recruiting numbers wise or change their admissions standards. After one year of a below par season I would say and I could be wrong this is one of their biggest recruiting classes. In doing this I am sure admissions stretched the boundaries for its players. I believe they significantly retooled at skilled positions. Bowdoin has never done this to the best of my knowledge nor will they. Sadly we will year after year have these conversations.

[lumbercat]

Charlie
Bowdoin admissions more flexible with the arrival of Hammer than they were in Wells era.