Buff State to Join Liberty League (Probably)

D3football.com reported that Buffalo State is in the final stages of becoming the 7th member of the Liberty League, saving the conference's playoff automatic qualifier and necessitating some inter-league scheduling between the LL and the Empire 8.

Buff State and Hobart have scrimmaged each other in the preseason for the last couple of years but haven't faced off against one another in a regular season game since 1993 (a game which I was in attendance for and was a 10-0 shut out upset of the Bengals who were nationally ranked at the time). The all-time series between the two schools is deadlocked at 3-3. It's likely Buff State and Hobart will resume this match up in the 2018 season, or 2019 at the latest.

Last season Buff State finished 5-5 and 3-5 in the E8.

A link to the article posted earlier today can be seen here.  D3football.com added to their coverage of this topic on their April "Around the Nation" podcast as well. Tune into the entire thing here (or fast forward to the 11 minute mark if your main concern is Buff St's move to the LL).

Thanks for reading (and listening) and go 'Bart!

The Latest on the Class of 2021

Coach Drach kept busy on Twitter earlier this week with another group of student athletes who plan to attend Hobart as part of the Class of 2021. The final tally, including these seven, is a total of 47 new Statesmen joining the squad this fall. With this deep and strong recruiting class, Hobart Football is in good shape for years to come.

Hopkinton HS SR QB Jimmy Adams is "another weapon coming in from New England." Tall, strong armed and able to tuck and run when needed, Adams is another prototypical pocket passer that's a great fit for Coach Drach's #AirShow offense. Jimmy's highlight reel can be seen here.

Another recruit from "Strong Island", Chris earned All-County honors as LT for the Class 1 Long Island Champions, Garden City HS. While probably undersized to play OT in college, Chris' ability to lock down DL will get him looks at guard. A versatile athlete, Ciurina may be looked at for defense as well. Chris' highlight reel can be seen here.

Although he hails from MA, Jack used his PG year to get on Coach Drach's radar at NHS in NH where he starred at RB. With 4.5 speed, Coach is looking for Jack to "[jump] on the I90 train to Hobart" and to convert to WR. With break away speed, Daley will be a coverage match up problem for opposing DBs. His highlight reel can be seen here.

Thomas Hamrah is a stocky and tough nose guard who joins a number of future classmates in this class from NJ. With a low center of gravity and strong legs to push past would be blockers, Hamrah creates problems for opposing team's gap assignments. His highlight can be viewed here.

Nick will join ABHS teammate Cal Sullivan as yet "another defensive back from Acton Boxboro" on the Statesmen squad. At 6' 193 lbs, McCarthy brings size and strength to the Hobart secondary.

Pelow earned the "Section II Defensive Player of the Year" award as a LB for Bethlehem HS. He can cover and is a hitter who plays with a fast motor. His highlight reel can be viewed here.

I hope you've enjoyed these previews of the 2021 recruiting class. I'll have more on Hobart's LL opposition and their 2017 schedules in my next post.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

A (Sweet 16) Recruiting Update

Coach Drach has tweeted out another group of 16 student athletes who are joining the Hobart College Football Class of 2021 over the past week. I reported on a couple of these players around national signing day, but we'll dive in and preview them again as part of the latest group below:

Coach Drach describes Gonzaga College HS SR TE Jake Bergmann has his "kind of TE; can play physical at the LOS and split to be a WR". Tall and with a wide wing span, Bergmann brings a lot of versatility to the Hobart offense.

A "1st Team All State from Virginia coming up to Hobart to be a Big Dog" is how Coach Drach described Stone Bridge HS SR OL Dillon Carey. A team leader, Dillon was a captain of the Bulldogs who earned a 9-2 overall record in 2016.

Nick Cosgrove is another "versatile athlete that can run and catch the ball out of the backfield" according to Coach Drach. While he was a good ILB for Shenendehowa HS, he "sounds like a FB" for college, according to Coach.

"Coming from way out on Strong Island" is Westhampton Beach HS SR OL Sal DiBennetto. Big and strong, Sal is a solid T prospect who played both RT and LT in HS. Sal's highlight reel can be viewed here.

Coach Orlando Patterson '10 has helped Hobart land another member of last year's Evergreen & NESPAC Champions in Tabor Academy's PG LB Sean Donovan. Donovan has the ability to quickly read and pursue the ball and he was often used on blitzes. His highlight reel can be seen here.

Portsmouth Abbey School SR DE Will Ensign is the first player in the Class of 2021 from my home state of CT. Listed as a DE, Will plays more like an OLB given his pass rush skills. He seems to have a big motor and plays with a lot of emotion / fire. His highlight reel can be seen here.

Jon'Avin Freeman joins Hobart from the City of Brotherly Love, having played at and attended the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia. A QB/OLB prospect, Coach Drach say Jon'Avin "can sling the rock and knock some heads." He covers well and closes in on ball carriers quickly. His highlight reel can be seen here. 

Hoffman is staying close to home "representing the 315". He was part of a Braves squad that finished the 2016 season with a 6-3 record.

I previewed Matt a few weeks ago (see post on 3/3/17) based on an article from the Eagle Tribune. He was an all star at Safety, a position of need for the Statesmen, in HS and will look to earn time at that position this fall.

One of four Spartans coming to Hobart, SR RB Alex Milliken was rated a "Top 100" player in the state of NJ and Coach Drach says Alex "can [really] fly." He reads blocks well and can go to another level when he breaks off a run. His highlight reel can be seen here.

Yves was an interior DL for the NJ State Champion Saint Joseph Regional HS. With a low center of gravity and a quick first step, Montissol can get under and shed would be blockers in pursuit. His highlight reel can be seen here.

Jabbar Morris is another OLB / RB recruit that has athleticism and speed. He has good vision, scrape technique and is quick in closing in on ball carriers. His highlight reel can be seen here.

Keaton Nichols is "like a rock" according to Coach Drach and I believe the first member of the Class of 2021 from the "Granite State" of NH. Nichols will be looked at as DE given his size, but he also played LB at Salisbury.

SR WR Tyler Pierson who I also previewed earlier in the year (see post on 2/2/17). Coach Drach says Tyler can "jump through the roof" and at 6' 5", there won't be many jump balls he won't come down with.

Last but not least are twin brothers Michael and Ryan Rossiter who are joining two other Sparta HS classmates as part of the Statesmen Class of 2021. Michael, who goes by Mike, bring "intensity in the middle of the defense" as a LB. His brother Ryan was a WR who was an "offensive talent". Mike's highlight reel can be seen here and Ryan's can be viewed here.

Congratulations and welcome to all of these future Statesmen.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Hobart Lands 10th Contest for 2017

Hobart College will avoid a nine game season with what's a blockbuster scheduling move, adding area and national powerhouse Saint John Fisher College to the 2017 slate.

This is quite a bold move considering Fisher's recent success, and the fact Hobart hasn't beaten the Cardinals since the 2011 season. The Statesmen lead the all-time series by a 11-7 margin but SJFC has beaten Hobart four of their last five meetings, the last by a 27-6 margin in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Playoffs. With this addition the Statesmen will likely have one of the strongest schedules in the East Region, if not the nation.

A link to the updated schedule can be seen here.

The contract is for a home and home series with the initial game happening in Week 2 of the 2017 season. Look for more of these LLvsE8 match-ups as both leagues look to retain their AQ access to the NCAA tournament.

Congratulations to both schools on setting up a real treat for D3FB fans!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Even More Recruiting News!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The recruiting news keep coming in so here's another group of eight student athletes who've joined the Statesmen Football Class of 2021:

Cooley is a prototypical "Mike" ILB who has good vision and pursues to the ball. With good size at 215 lbs., Nathan (who goes by "Nate") will be tough for opposing offenses to block. His highlight reel (which shows him to be a physical hitter as well) can be seen here.

"Another outstanding student athlete coming down I-90" is how Coach Drach introduced Emmett to Statesmen fans. With a 40 yard dash in the 4.5 zone, Forde is fast and a play maker whether he's making receptions as a slot receiver or in coverage and making interceptions as an OLB. His highlight reel can be seen here.

As reported on this blog back on 2/9/17, Worcester Academy PK Kyle Hackett is coming to Hobart. This is a key add given the graduation of Sean Kirshe '17.

Out of Potomac, MD, Andres may be small in size but he's got speed and strength in spades. He starred as a RB at Bullis High, but will be converted to DB and could be used on special teams as a return man or offense as a slot receiver. Coach Drach likes his "quickness" and ability to "lock down any WR". His highlight reel, which focused mostly on his running skills, does show off his athleticism and can be seen here.

Hunter joins the Statesmen from the Pennington School where he starred as a CB / WR. While he is a strong cover corner, he also packs a wallop when it comes to tackling. You can check out the highlight reel of this "prime time player" here.

I actually reported on Zach's commitment to Hobart a few weeks ago after seeing the news in a local news report on National Signing Day. You can find that post (which includes his highlight reel and HS accolades) on this blog back on 2/19/17 if you're interested.

Coach Drach called Smith a "scholar student athlete who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder". He brings good size and skill to the OL where he'll likely look to continue either at RT or perhaps at guard. His highlight reel can be seen here.

From the Green Mountain state, Urie is a pass rusher who's "physical off the edge". Collin also played QB which should help his reads as an OLB. At St. Johnsbury Academy he tallied 56 tackles, two INTs and 6.5 TFL as a SR. Helping his team to an 8-3 overall record, Collin should fit in well with Hobart's 4x4 scheme having played the same in HS. He can cover, close on ball carriers and looks like a strong add to a unit (OLB) that the Statesmen are looking to reload for 2017. You can see Urie's highlight reel here.

We will have more recruiting news soon! Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

More Recruiting News!

Hobart College Football OC Jon Drach continued tweeting this week about more incoming recruits for the Class of 2021. The majority in this group hail from NY and NJ but there are a few from New England schools represented as well. 

Let's meet these 12 new Statesmen student athletes! Starting and introducing below in alphabetical order is:

Coach Drach describes Isaiah as "quick as a cat" and "strong as an ox". He does have a good first step and reminds me of Troy Johnson '15 as far as his playing style and stocky build goes. You can check out Boone's highlight reel here.

Fusco is viewed as "versatile" and able to "play both sides of the line" so his final position may not be determined until preseason camp, but his highlights make me think he may be best suited for DL or DE, but that'll be the coaching staff's call.

 

Giacobbe is the first New Englander in this group and one who Coach Drach says is a "physical WR [that can] catch the ball in traffic and stretch the field". His ability to line up in several positions and break off to take the top of a defense makes him a perfect fit with the "Team Air Show" offense Drach likes to run. Mike's highlights can be seen here.

Josh played LT for Alexander HS but could move inside guard in college. He has good technique as a blocker and Coach Drach calls Hylkema "Western New York strong". Josh's highlight reel can be seen here.

Leonhardt is a solid LB from just outside of Boston. He scrapes, pursues to the ball and hits his opponents hard. Coach Drach referred to him as "savage", and he certainly seems to play that way. He also can long snap which may get him some varsity experience as a FY. His highlight reel can be seen here.

At 6'5" Maute brings some size and accuracy to bear for the Statesmen. He completed basically every two of three of his passes as a SR QB, going 168 for 254 (66%+) for 2,755 yards with 28 TDs and only six INTs. He is a drop back style of passer that's a great fit for Hobart pass friendly (or as Coach described "grip it and rip it") offense. His highlight reel can be viewed here. 

Post comes from nearby Canandaigua so it's no surprise Coach described Joe as a "Finger Lakes talent staying close to home." CAHS runs a 4x4 defense similar to Hobart's which will help Post in getting up to speed at the collegiate level. Joe sees the field well and can close in fast. His highlight reel can be seen here. 

Another nearby get, Chris Reed is a "coach's kid" and brings a nice combination of "instincts, toughness and power" according to Coach Drach. Reed could get some looks early on given his size and football smarts. He can also long-snap, which may give him some varsity experience as a FY on special teams as well. His highlight reel can be viewed here.

Thomas is a tall receiving threat at 6'4" who apparently has a "defensive mindset" given he likes to deliver "punishment" to would be tacklers. That mindset was likely developed as a DE for BHS but I am not surprised Coach Drach is happy to have Salamida paving the way in the running game plus being a jump ball threat downfield as a TE. Thomas' highlight reel can be viewed here.

Simmons stood out to me for two reasons, first being the somewhat obvious 6'8" and 320 lbs tale of the tape. What I also noticed was he hails from the same HS as all-time Statesmen great Tyre Coleman '15. Coach Drach raved that Corey is "brawler up front" and a three sport athlete, starring on the gridiron, hardwood and diamond. He is an honors student to boot, and will likely look to compete to back up SO OL John Deveney at LT (which is where he played in HS) or compete elsewhere (perhaps at RT) as a FY.

Cal could be the future answer to the question of who will take over at FS for Hobart after the graduation of Matt Cragg '17? Tall, with a long stride and a good tackler, Sullivan will likely learn the playbook as an understudy to an upperclassman unless he really impresses in camp. His highlight reel can be seen here. It's been a few years since the Statesmen had a DB as tall as Cal, where the coaches often referred to the secondary as the "itty bitty committee" for the last couple of seasons, but that moniker will go out the window with the addition of Sullivan. This player brings both "speed and length" which is exciting, especially for a key defensive position (FS) Hobart will need to reload at in the fall.

Another tough nosed New England defensive player, P.J. Tziachris brings "size and strength off the edge" according to Coach Drach. Hobart will likely see more players like P.J. come to Geneva thanks to Asst Coach Orlando Patterson '10. Orlando was LB who also attended Tabor and who tallied 29 tackles while tying for the team lead in sacks with 3.5 and second on the team with 4.5 TFL his senior season (2009). He added an INT to go with two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

For more on P.J., you can check out his highlight reel here.

While that's a ton of information to digest, don't lose your appetite because a very big scheduling announcement is imminent. More on that once the contract is official!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Statesmen Take to Twitter (Again) to Announce Newest Members of the Class of 2021

Hobart College OC Jon Drach sent out the first official announcements on the newest members of the Statesmen Football family this morning, tweeting out four customized photos of incoming student athletes for the Class of 2021. Coach Drach intends to continue to do this on a weekly basis going forward so stay tuned!

Let's meet some of our newest Statesmen!

First up is Huntington HS SR CB / RB Jared Leake. Coach Drach described Jared as a "blanket in coverage"and Hobart fans know there's been a good precedent of talented players from Huntington, most recently LB Trayvon Toney '16.

Jared's highlight reel can be seen here. He helped the Blue Devils earn a 5-3 conference and 5-5 overall record in 2016. He also plays lacrosse but will likely focus on football in college.

From Miller Place HS Hobart will welcome a three sport student athlete in SR FB / LB Shane White. Coach Drach describes Shane as a player who "loves to hit" and based on what I've seen, I completely agree with that assessment. A wrestler and baseball player, White brings a dual threat combination of the endurance and leverage needed for success in wrestling with the hand-eye coordination of baseball. His highlight reel (which you can view here) is a continuous loop of Shane either pancaking LBs and DEs as a lead blocker and driving opposing offense players to the ground as a LB. Either way, his reputation as a hitter looks well earned!

Shane helped the Panthers to a 7-3 overall record in 2016 and looks to continue his gridiron success as a Statesman this fall.

A post-grad from Saratoga Springs, Trinity Pawling School's SR RB Dakota Harvey is a potential star in the making. Coach Drach calls Dakota an "amazing combination of power and speed" and basically wishes the rest of the LL defenses "good luck" in trying to stop his big and powerful runner. Dakota helped the Pride to a 7-2 overall record in the 2016 season. He rushed for 992 yards (7.1 YPR and 110.2 RYPG) and scored 10 TDs.

Dakota has D1 size and speed as his highlights show. A link to those can be seen here. The tale of the tape here points to Hobart having an offensive weapon with the size and speed they haven't had in some time.

SR OL / DT Alex Lanzana will come up from Mahwah HS (NJ) to be a part of the Statesmen OL. Coach Drach describes Alex as someone who can "win the LOS" for Hobart, a key to every football game. Alex played LT and was Captain of the Thunderbirds who went 11-1 in 2016.

Lanzana may end up at guard in college, but I like how he plays mean and to the whistle on every play. His highlight reel can be seen here.

This is a promising start to what we've already seen from earlier posts about the incoming FY class. Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

O'Connell III Honored at Ability Partners Foundation Gala

The Gates-Chili Post reported Monday on the 14th annual Ability Partners Foundation Gala, which was held at the Belhurst Castle in Geneva.

APF is a non-for-profit organization that has a long history of providing clinical, therapeutic, educational, and residential services to people of all ages and abilities.

SR OL and Co-Captain Patrick O'Connell III was recognized by the APF as Volunteer of the Year for his efforts to assist fundraising for Happiness House through the "Tackles and Touchdowns" program that has raised over $40K for kids and families in the Finger Lakes. The Tackles and TDs program was founded by former OL and Co-Captain Jarrid Blades '12 and has been continued on by fellow true Statesmen student athletes like O'Connell ever since.

A link to the article can be seen here. The story from HWSAthletics.com can be seen here.

Congratulations to Patrick for being a great Statesman and representative of the Hobart College Football family!

I'll post some recruiting news this weekend.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Central Catholic's Horgan Commits to Hobart

The Eagle Tribune reports that Central Catholic HS (Lawrence, MA) SR QB / DB Matt Horgan will join the Hobart College Statesmen this fall. Horgan was named an All-Merrimack Valley All-Star at Safety for the Raiders last fall, helping his team earn a 7-2 overall record.

He will likely stay at safety or DB for the Statesmen, but he can play wildcat QB if called upon (which we've seen Coach Drach go to on occasion).

A link to Matt's highlight reel can be seen here.

Please join me in welcoming Matt (pictured above on the right) to the Hobart Football family. Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!