After establishing themselves as a regular Liberty League (LL) and NCAA playoff contenders in the prior decade, the Hobart College Statesmen have developed into a Top 20 caliber DIII football program. The Statesmen enter their 121st season coming off a 10-1 overall campaign which included another undefeated regular season and the program’s third consecutive LL championship. During this run, the Class of 2015 has an incredible regular season record of 26-1. The only loss came back at the end of the 2011 season to a Mike Hermann led RPI team, 28-27.
Although many fans think 2014 will be more of the same for Hobart, graduations of All-Americans such as Steven Webb and Devin Worthington as well as experienced leaders like Jolyon Davis and Michael Green leave big shoes to fill. Fortunately the program has developed a great deal of depth and there is still plenty of talent on both sides of the ball for the Statesmen.
Below is a positional overview of the team, starting with the special teams unit. Normally I'd preview the offense first, but given the "top down" look of the blog, I think it'll read better going ST, Defense, then the "O".
The Statesmen’s special teams unit was bolstered by the addition of SO PK Sean Kirshe in 2013. Kirshe averaged 57.2 yards on kickoffs and was second on the team with 53 points scored (44 on PATs and going three of five with a long of 35 yards on FGs). These long kicks helped the coverage team finish first place finish in the LL in 2013. Going into 2014, FY PK Will McCool will compete for time with Kirshe.
Given Yosh Karbowniczak's graduation the Statesmen will need to find a new punter. Kirshe (who punted four times in 2013 with a 26.75 average) and SR WR Elvin Souffrant (who averaged 33.31 YPP during the 2011 season) are potential successors.
Hobart will look to maintain (and/or improve) their success in the return game. The Statesmen finished second in the LL in kickoff returns with a strong (22.4 YPR) and first with a 9.7 YPR on punts. Last season a wide variety (10) players returned kickoffs. I imagine several players will be given opportunities to do the same in 2014. Last season SR WR and Co-Captain Troy Robinson fielded the majority (30) of the punts, racking up 266 yards with a long of 35 yards.
More news later this week on the preseason preview and news from camp.
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