FB: Liberty League

[Ice Bear]

Wow, Mary Hardin Baylor is breaking camp with 245 players.  I know it's all about tuition checks in the end, but at a certain point these roster numbers get skeevy.   

That is some crazy competition right there. Does anyone happen to know about how many players attend D1/D2 camps?

[unionpalooza]

Wow, Mary Hardin Baylor is breaking camp with 245 players.  I know it's all about tuition checks in the end, but at a certain point these roster numbers get skeevy.   

That is some crazy competition right there. Does anyone happen to know about how many players attend D1/D2 camps?

No rosters limits in D1 for spring or fall camp, though most big programs don't exceed 120 or 130.  In season roster limit is 120 but will drop to 105 next year.

[Oline89]

105 is the number for D1 next year,but they now have the ability to offer 105 full scholarships as well.  I have no idea how that will play out.  Rich get richer?  Less rich schools go all in on only 2 sports? 

[UfanBill]

New Union head coach Jon Drach got his first chance to see his Chargers hit someone in another color uniform this afternoon when Union traveled to Morrisville for a joint controlled practice/scrimmage on their ugly black turf field. Union will hold another scrimmage next week with Hartwick. To my knowledge this is the first time Union has held two scrimmages...I remember over a decade ago, under former coach John Audino, when Union scrimmaged Ivy League member Yale. I'm excited by what coach Drach brings. Winning begins with preparation.

[BSUfan15]

New Union head coach Jon Drach got his first chance to see his Chargers hit someone in another color uniform this afternoon when Union traveled to Morrisville for a joint controlled practice/scrimmage on their ugly black turf field. Union will hold another scrimmage next week with Hartwick. To my knowledge this is the first time Union has held two scrimmages...I remember over a decade ago, under former coach John Audino, when Union scrimmaged Ivy League member Yale. I'm excited by what coach Drach brings. Winning begins with preparation.

Its seems like this is more of the standard as of that. I know of multiple teams with two scrimmages/joint practices this year

[unionpalooza]

Finally starting to see 2024 rosters go up, and it's interesting to see the post-COVID era effects and the size of incoming classes.  I only looked at RPI, IC and Union (the latter is not up, but I know their numbers), but very even freshman numbers - 33 at Union and 32 at IC and RPI (the latter both down significantly versus last year).  Union will have 21 seniors/fifth years, RPI 26, and Ithaca 23.

Ithaca strikes me as the biggest change overall - they go from 51 upperclassman last year (15 of them graduate students) to just 36 this year, with a strangely small junior class (just 13).  RPI and Union both have 51 upperclassman on the roster.

Would be interested if anyone has returning starter numbers for IC, RPI or Hobart.  I will try and pull them together for Union.

[Bartman]

Hobart Roster:

46 Freshmen
23 Sophomores(3 transfers)
17 Juniors
21 Seniors

5 returning starters on Offense( 4 OLine, QB)
5 Returning starters on Defense( 3 of 4 top tacklers from 2023 return)
K/P Tobias Wafering returns (78% FG, 40 + yards per punt) is a strong weapon

Last years backups at RB and TE should be good, WR  positions are wide open with potential for Freshmen to step up.
DB has one starter and some good backup experience, but room for Frosh to step up.This team will need every minute of every game before Ithaca on 10/5 to gel and be ready to deliver a potential upset.

[Jersey42]

I posted the RPI returnees on Aug 10 and I made a minor adjustment this morning.  Some of the 2023 two deeps changed a little over the season because of injuries or player performance, but I think the summary is pretty good.

Here is the last 2023 two-deep I have.  It was from a late October game. The players with a red/orange background are not on the 2024 roster. Click on image to see it larger.

[Bartman]

I posted the RPI returnees on Aug 10 and I made a minor adjustment this morning.  Some of the 2023 two deeps changed a little over the season because of injuries or player performance, but I think the summary is pretty good.

Here is the last 2023 two-deep I have.  It was from a late October game. The players with a red/orange background are not on the 2024 roster. Click on image to see it larger.

Nice analysis.....RPI is always contending and it looks so again in 2024.

[unionpalooza]

I posted the RPI returnees on Aug 10 and I made a minor adjustment this morning.  Some of the 2023 two deeps changed a little over the season because of injuries or player performance, but I think the summary is pretty good.

Here is the last 2023 two-deep I have.  It was from a late October game. The players with a red/orange background are not on the 2024 roster. Click on image to see it larger.

Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing. Surprised to see the frosh qb McCormack left, he looked promising against Union. Any idea what happened?

[stlawus]

SLU is no different in terms of the first year class. 37 new faces at Leckonby this season.  Good amount of size with this group compared to years past.  One QB in the class probably would have been recruited higher if not for an ACL injury his junior year, so hopefully the staff can mold his potential.   

Will Lederman who took over QB duties last year with Lawther's injury is sliding into RB, which is a natural fit given his scrambling ability.  Really hope Lawther can put together a full season, he has had absolutely horrid injury luck in his first 3 years.  A very talented player who made team captain as a sophomore, he really deserves a full slate to show his ability.

SLU's main issue in recent years has been depth.  With more bruisers on the roster in terms of OL and DL I'm hoping SLU can strive to compete in most of the games and get to .500. 

[Jersey42]

Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing. Surprised to see the frosh qb McCormack left, he looked promising against Union. Any idea what happened?

I have no idea and unfortunately I have no inside information.
They do have two QBs (a sophomore and freshman) with excellent HS pedigrees.  There is also a returning junior who saw limited action in 9 of their 11 games.  We will see 

[Bartman]

No surprises with the LL preseason coaches poll:

1.      Ithaca
2.      Union
3(tie)  RPI(one first place vote)
        Hobart
5.      Rochester
6.(tie) Buffalo State
        Saint Lawrence

Home field could be a factor this year. Hobart has Ithaca and Union at the Boz, but will travel to RPI. Ithaca has RPI at home, Union has Ithaca  at home, RPI has Hobart and Union at home.

[unionpalooza]

No surprises with the LL preseason coaches poll:

1.      Ithaca
2.      Union
3(tie)  RPI(one first place vote)
        Hobart
5.      Rochester
6.(tie) Buffalo State
        Saint Lawrence

Home field could be a factor this year. Hobart has Ithaca and Union at the Boz, but will travel to RPI. Ithaca has RPI at home, Union has Ithaca and RPI at home, RPI has Hobart at home.

I think that's right on - the league seems wide open this year, and little things like home field may be the difference in some of these key games.  Based on what Ithaca and Union lose and RPI does not, seems like RPI ought to be a slight favorite on paper, but if I were voting I would just put all of them (and probably Hobart too) in a tie.

As for Union, they return two OL, both top RBs, and most of their receivers on offense, and one DL, one LB and most of their secondary on defense. (Exact math is a little tough given how starters shifted around last year.). The main key for Union will be whether/how quickly a young OL and a new starter at QB come along.  Thanks to Drach I think the offensive scheme will be much more interesting and dynamic (esp. relative to last year, where we just ran the same 8 plays over and over), so they should at the very least be fun to watch.  Personally, I think Patch Flanagan is going to be a meaningful upgrade over Donovan Pacatte, but only time will tell.

I also think this is the year UofR breaks into the top four, though I know we say that every year.  They return studs at QB, RB and WR, and the defense has been getting better every year; my hunch is they finally steal a game from the Big Four.

Very curious to see how Ithaca pans out.  They've had very strong recruiting classes, but man, they lose A LOT.  And their schedule is absolutely brutal, adding games against JHU, Endicott and Cortland to the RPI/Union/Hobart gauntlet. Seems entirely possible they finish 5-5 if it is indeed a down year them.

[Ice Bear]

No surprises with the LL preseason coaches poll:

1.      Ithaca
2.      Union
3(tie)  RPI(one first place vote)
        Hobart
5.      Rochester
6.(tie) Buffalo State
        Saint Lawrence

Home field could be a factor this year. Hobart has Ithaca and Union at the Boz, but will travel to RPI. Ithaca has RPI at home, Union has Ithaca and RPI at home, RPI has Hobart at home.

I think that's right on - the league seems wide open this year, and little things like home field may be the difference in some of these key games.  Based on what Ithaca and Union lose and RPI does not, seems like RPI ought to be a slight favorite on paper, but if I were voting I would just put all of them (and probably Hobart too) in a tie.

As for Union, they return two OL, both top RBs, and most of their receivers on offense, and one DL, one LB and most of their secondary on defense. (Exact math is a little tough given how starters shifted around last year.). The main key for Union will be whether/how quickly a young OL and a new starter at QB come along.  Thanks to Drach I think the offensive scheme will be much more interesting and dynamic (esp. relative to last year, where we just ran the same 8 plays over and over), so they should at the very least be fun to watch.  Personally, I think Patch Flanagan is going to be a meaningful upgrade over Donovan Pacatte, but only time will tell.

I also think this is the year UofR breaks into the top four, though I know we say that every year.  They return studs at QB, RB and WR, and the defense has been getting better every year; my hunch is they finally steal a game from the Big Four.

Very curious to see how Ithaca pans out.  They've had very strong recruiting classes, but man, they lose A LOT.  And their schedule is absolutely brutal, adding games against JHU, Endicott and Cortland to the RPI/Union/Hobart gauntlet. Seems entirely possible they finish 5-5 if it is indeed a down year them.

Agreed with everything said here. Solid post for sure!

I feel that the Oline is going to be the biggest piece to the puzzle for Union. I also agree that Patch, at least from the little I saw last year, may be a passing upgrade from Pacatte. Time will tell. I am certainly excited for the youngster. I am ecstatic about more dynamic play calling and really look forward to sitting back and watching. Questions with new faces up front on D will also linger for the Garnet. I am excited for some D3 football and a wide open LL.