FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Vandy74]

The Mole, what are your thoughts on this so far?

Re-Revised top 3 NESCAC Position Groups 2023
QBs: Tufts, Trinity, Middlebury
WR:  Tufts, Middlebury Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby
TEs: Hamilton, Wesleyan, ?
OL: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
DL: Wesleyan, Tufts, Middlebury
LBs: Colby, Tufts, Trinity
DBs: Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin
Punter:  Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts
K: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury

As a Middlebury fan, I have a few comments.  As much as I'd love to see punter Cole Crider back next fall, I'm quite certain he's gone the way of the diploma.  He's listed on the 2020 season practice roster and has a bio mugshot for each of the four academic years.  Secondly, while he has carried the football for only 131 yards and suffered two season ending injuries since the 2019 season,  FY Alex Maldjian earned Co-ROY honors at running back that year, scoring 10 rushing TDs while averaging just over 100 ypg.  Having missed all of the '21 slate, he was very rusty in last season's opener against Amherst, as well as in the first half of the Wesleyan game.  In the second stanza, however, he seemed to have found his rhythm again, gaining about 60 yards before the second injury occurred with just over two minutes remaining.  I know nothing about the nature of the injuries, but if he can still play football he's eligible for the coming season.  He was not a member of the 2020 practice squad, and was listed as a junior in 2022.  If he does decide to play, he ought to be among the better running backs in the conference.

[Scoops]

If Middlebury is relying on Maldijan coming back, then they will continue to be largely ineffective in their run game. To my knowledge, he's coming off two pretty severe knee injuries, which is essentially a death penalty as a RB. Even IF he is able to come back, what are the realistic chances that he's able to regain the form that made him ROY in the first place? It's truly unfortunate how things have unfolded for him, as I hear he is a phenomenal person and teammate. You have to feel bad for the kid given all his promise as an athlete. But if Coach Mandigo is going to win games, he has to have a better answer at that position.

[GroundandPound]

44 for Midd not returning this fall but their punter is returning. Run game for Midd is needed via jimmies and joes and via X s  And O s.

[Vandy74]

If Middlebury is relying on Maldijan coming back, then they will continue to be largely ineffective in their run game. To my knowledge, he's coming off two pretty severe knee injuries, which is essentially a death penalty as a RB. Even IF he is able to come back, what are the realistic chances that he's able to regain the form that made him ROY in the first place? It's truly unfortunate how things have unfolded for him, as I hear he is a phenomenal person and teammate. You have to feel bad for the kid given all his promise as an athlete. But if Coach Mandigo is going to win games, he has to have a better answer at that position.

Scoops, I wasn't particularly optimistic about Maldjian's ability to return, but without knowing the nature of his injuries I was hoping for the best.  I used to have a good source of insider info concerning Middlebury athletics, but she had the audacity to retire from the MC coaching ranks seven or eight years ago. 

As for MC's winning without a credible ground attack, the Panthers have seldom had much of a running game over the past two decades, although I agree the group returning this season does look lean, even by Middlebury standards. 

[Vandy74]

44 for Midd not returning this fall but their punter is returning. Run game for Midd is needed via jimmies and joes and via X s  And O s.

Cole Crider must have taken the 2021 Spring semester off and foregone the abbreviated baseball season.  I hadn't considered that possibility but now see that he isn't listed on that roster.  Very good news.  I'm puzzled as to why John McCool isn't returning since based on the info provided in his football bio he has the academic eligibility to play another season at Middlebury.   

[lumbercat]

The coaching transition at Middlebury this year will be interesting. My hunch is that Mandigo might structure a shade different balance of attack. With Air Houdini retired I think the big guy might run it a little more..... I'm not connected up there-- just a guess.
The focus in recruiting and everything else throughout the Panthers program evolved in recent years to focus significantly on the passing game- Nobody recruited QBs like Houdini. He was willing to expend his recruiting chits mostly on the passing game.....and it worked.
In his final year Ritters D was uncharacteristally far below prior standards so my thought is the new HC will focus on stabilizing the D and specifically the pass defense to start.

At the end of the day the Ritter passing attack was the NESCAC version of passing arsenals created at a higher level by Sid Gilman or Don Coryell.

[Scoops]

To be entirely fair to Coach Ritter, they have had successful ground games in the past, but I think it has largely predicated on the QBs ability to run that has driven it. Jernigan for example allowed Maldijan to have his success because he was an equal run threat. Even Leibowitz was a threat to pull it down, and gave them a semblance of balance in that sense. But it's definitely something that has to be addressed with Coach Mandigo. I certainly believe he will continue their run of success. I think fixing the run game should be step one.

[SpringSt7]

Jernigan was an outstanding runner, and just a total gamer. Feels like we've already forgotten how good he was that year, maybe in part due to the COVID gap and the underwhelming senior year. But 2019 he was absolutely awesome.

[Charlie]

Jernigan was an outstanding runner, and just a total gamer. Feels like we've already forgotten how good he was that year, maybe in part due to the COVID gap and the underwhelming senior year. But 2019 he was absolutely awesome.

I believe he had a great year but the TE that year and QB carried that team and opened up the run game. The defense that year as well was very good

[SpringSt7]

I agree, the QB was excellent during Jernigan's 2019 season.

[Scoops]

We do know that Jernigan WAS the QB right???

I agree, the QB was excellent during Jernigan's 2019 season.

[SpringSt7]

I can guarantee that at least one of us does.

[lumbercat]

Joe Willie Jernigan was very good but the best Middebury QB in recent memory was MaCallum Foote with Donnie McKillop in second place.

[nescac1]

I put together a list of contenders for the best NESCAC QB since 2000 (much before that, records, and memories, start to get scarce).  It's amazing how many Middlebury guys make the preliminary list - a testament to the tremendous talent they've had at that position, but also, for sure, the coaching / system.  Guys with an * were OPOTY at least once:

Amherst: Nick Kehoe

Bowdoin: Oliver Kell

Middlebury: Donald McKillup*, Mike Keenan, McCallum Foote*, Matt Milano*, Jared Lebowitz, Will Jernigan*

Trinity: Spencer Fetter, Eric McGrath*, Sonny Puzzo

Tufts: Ryan McDonald*, Michael Berlutti

Wesleyan: Mark Piccirillo, Brennan Carney, Jesse Warren*

Williams: Bobby Maimaron*, Pat Lucey*, Pat Moffitt*, Sean Keenan, Joe Reardon*


My top five of this era would include, in order, Foote, Lucey, McKillup, Maimaron, and Berlutti (just how high he gets is TBD, but he could move up as high as second on this list with two more big years).  That's going to be a very, very tough group to crack.  Honorable mention to Milano, Puzzo, Fetter, Moffitt, Reardon, and Piccirillo. 

It's crazy just how good Amherst has generally been without a lot of real difference-makers at QB - a testament to stacked defenses and awesome running attacks. 

[Scoops]

You're not the one I'm worried about haha

I can guarantee that at least one of us does.