FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

It is rare-to-never that a frosh recruit will be a difference-maker at one of the top NESCAC programs ... unlike some other sports, football is just so dependent on strength and size so while recruits are relevant to the future, not so much to next year. 

The very early prognosis: Trinity is clearly the favorite in the league, with basically its entire offensive and defensive line coming back, more experience at QB, and the only real question being who replaces Leo (if Barnard comes back, watch out).  Given the kind of talent they have been bringing in for years, I'm sure they have more stars in the pipeline ready to shine.  Plus they get the Ephs at home.  Williams a clear number two -- Lucey is the best QB in the league, the Ephs have a very good o-line and tons of quality depth at RB, but who will Lucey throw to?  Those receivers just dominated the league the last two years and will be tough to replace.  Williams should have a very strong defense, particularly up front where much of the front seven returns.  Amherst could compete with either as the Jeffs have perhaps the two best RB's in the league and are usually solid on defense, but the passing game is a major question mark for the Jeffs with a new QB/WR combo replacing some very talented guys.  Middlebury loses more than any other top team. 

[Trin9-0]

Nescac1: That's a pretty accurate synopsis of the top 3 teams. I haven't an indepth look at Williams or Amherst so I can't speak intelligently about their rosters beyond what has already been said.

At this point all I can say about the Bantams is that they will be experienced and deep. They graduated only 8 seniors, granted three of which (Leo, Allen, Soules) were all legit player of the year candidates. They also lose Swiniarski who holds almost every school kicking record. Trinity will also need to find wide recievers as their top two Olenoski and Pratt will be gone.

Filling in at RB will likely be Jordan Quinones and Lemi Joyner. Quinones has seen plenty of action as a back up to Pierandri, Finkeldey and Leo while Joyner has probably seen fewer carries but is supposed to be very talented from what I've heard.

Brett Sheridan will take over the kicking duties. He was the primary kick-off guy for the Bants the past few years and would attempt the occasional long field goal. He's returning this year after taking a year away from football.

They need to find recievers for McGrath to throw to other than "Jolting" Joe Clark. Hopefully the return of the entire offensive line will mean the Bants can rely on running the ball.

There are really only two games on the schedule; September 28th at home vs Williams and November 2nd at Amherst. The Bants haven't lost at home since Williams in 2002 and the Jeffs always play Trin tough at home. Both should be excellent games.

I think that Trin is the team to beat and considering they rebounded from their shellacking at Williamstown to win their remaining 6 games 163-3... i think it's safe to say the Bants are hungry for another 8-0 season.

[labart96]

Speaking of Trinity, how many guys on their roster are from CT (TGP checked the Trinity webpage, but you have to click on each listing one at time - bit tedious)?

Reason TGP asks is that he grew up about 12 miles away from Trinity's campus (too close to home to go to school there, but always thought well of Trinity).

[bant551]

My best guess is that there are no more than 20-25% from CT.

Definitely remember a bunch of guys from CT, but maybe moreso or at least 20% from Massachusetts, but only a few, proud New Yorkers such as myself.

Once Priore arrived, they did start getting a much more geographically-diverse team at Trin... so that may cut into the number of CT guys... I think he also emphasized New York a lot more, as that is where he grew up.

The percentages from CT 5 years ago, I think, were much higher.

[Trin9-0]

There were 23 Connecticut players on the Trinity roster last year (30%) Second was Massachusetts with 21. Followed by: NJ 8, PA 5, NY 5, MD 4, CA 3, FL 3, and VA, GA, OH, and MO all with 1.

When I was a freshman at Trin there seemed to be an overwhelming majority of players from Eastern Mass. I'd say there was at least 50-55% from Mass then maybe 25% CT and only a handful from NY, PA, NJ.

Priore did a great job of expanding the area that Trin recruited while still getting talented kids from CT and MA. It will be interesting to see over the next couple of years how Devanney does as a recruiter.

TGP: Where in CT are you from? Did you play college ball?

[labart96]

There were 23 Connecticut players on the Trinity roster last year (30%) Second was Massachusetts with 21. Followed by: NJ 8, PA 5, NY 5, MD 4, CA 3, FL 3, and VA, GA, OH, and MO all with 1.

When I was a freshman at Trin there seemed to be an overwhelming majority of players from Eastern Mass. I'd say there was at least 50-55% from Mass then maybe 25% CT and only a handful from NY, PA, NJ.

Priore did a great job of expanding the area that Trin recruited while still getting talented kids from CT and MA. It will be interesting to see over the next couple of years how Devanney does as a recruiter.

TGP: Where in CT are you from? Did you play college ball?

Thx for the info. 

Yeah, TGP grew up in Avon and played at Hobart.  Actually played a couple scrimmages/JV games against Hamilton so TGP did have some exposure to NESCAC ball.

The irony of those games was that one of TGP's teammates from Avon played for the Conts, but since he was also on defense, we never had a chance to butt heads on the field.

[nescac1]

Here is actually one recruit who may well have an instant impact:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=45003&season=2007

For those of you who don't have espn insider access, Ben Kettering, a fast 6'6 receiver who put up big numbers in West Virginia, I read elsewhere he is going to Amherst.  Sounds like he got a lot of Div-I attention and has a size / speed combo rarely seen in NESCAC.  Should be a Brendan Fulmer type impact guy. 

[frank uible]

The report on Kettering reads as if his speed is 4.90+. Fulmer's was about 4.70. Moreover, Fulmer did not become an impact player until he was a junior.

[nescac1]

Sorry Frank, I should have mentioned, after I happened upon this kid and saw to my surprise Amherst listed with all those Div I's, I googled him, hence learning that he is in fact going to Amherst.  At the same time, I learned that he has 4.6, but I realize that is omitted from the report I pasted before:

http://virginia.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?sid=&script=/content.asp&cid=505981&fid=&tid=&mid=

It's pretty rare, as far as I know, that a kid who is 6'6 w/ 4.6 and great stats goes the NESCAC route, let alone someone listed on these type of recruiting sites and apparently recruited by various Div-I's.  Obviously, all very speculative, but seems strange -- either he just really loved Amherst and was happy to play at D-III, or he must suffer from a serious lack of coordination. 

[frank uible]

The legitimacy of the 4.6 is suspect in that it is substantially inconsistent with the text of the scouting report to which you first referred. That scouting report makes the prospect appear to be a tall willowy receiver with good hands/catching ability and (by DIII WR standards) mediocre to poorer than mediocre speed/quickness.

[bant551]

The other reason someone being looked at by D-I schools would go NESCAC is that they are a legacy.

I'd agree that the 4.6 claim could very well be from his high school coach or something.  I've heard that college coaches get videos all the time of coaches timing their high school players on a video camera, and the clock showing 4.4-4.6 speed.  The college coach times it himself while watching the video, and its closer to 5.0. 

Anyway, I'm sure there will be much uproar if this kid is, indeed, a D-I prospect and plays in the NESCAC.  People seem to get their panties in a bunch whenever quality players enter the league.

[cruiser]

only when there is a question as to the player's academic qualifications...

[Col. Partridge]

Without knowing anything about this kid, the fact that he is from West Virginia raises questions about his academic qualifications.

http://www.timeswv.com/sportscentral/local_story_039020544.html?keyword=secondarystory

"It's definitely going to be an experience to say the least," Kettering said. "It's a long drive and not a short flight, either. "

I'm sure the tragically hip Amherst posters from the hoops boards will make him feel right at home.

[bant551]

Good point Cruiser... I failed to be "intellectually honest" in my post, by mentioning all of the great specific examples provided by these self-proclaimed "academic watchdogs".  Further, they've been able to do so without having embarassing examples of standards at their own schools exposed, by posters with pesonal knowledge of those teams and the players on them!

Wait a minute...

[cruiser]

wait a minute...i intentionally was not specific in my post. i was merely stating that, especially on this board, the conflicts with potential recruits or incoming recruits tend to be focused around academics rather than "good players". also im pretty sure i never mentioned intellectual honesty at all or anything about that topic. i was just stating what ive noticed on this board