Marpet Retires From the NFL

Former Hobart Statesmen and Tampa Bay Buccaneers OL Ali Marpet announced via Instagram yesterday he has decided to retire from the NFL after seven seasons. While it was a surprise to many, I had an inkling after Super Bowl and Pro Bowl seasons, Marpet would hang it up early.

You can read about the reaction around the NFL in this article by ESPN's Jenna Laine.

His rookie year in Tampa he played with former Patriots OL Logan Mankins who had a pretty rough injury history, so he saw what the toll of a longer NFL career can look like first-hand. Over the years Marpet has had surgeries on his ankle, elbow and he has suffered a few concussions as well. He represented the Bucs on the NFLPA and has always had a bigger picture perspective thanks to his Hobart education (#whyD3).

While it's difficult for many to comprehend walking away from such a well-paying job, for those of us lucky enough to know Ali, he is way more than just a football player. He is too much of a deep, intelligent and self-aware person to throw the possibility of a long, healthy life away just for money. After 103 career starts, a Super Bowl Championship and a Pro Bowl nod, he really has done it all. I imagine the record he set as the highest ever drafted D3FB player will stand for quite some time as well. 

I suspect in time we will see Marpet involved in the Tampa community in forms of charitable work and perhaps some business ventures. Sometime in the spring of 2023 I hope to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Hobart in his and a few others (Tyre Coleman '15 will be a part of that group and deservedly so) honor. That will be announced at a later date.

In the meantime, as I texted him yesterday, congratulations on a great run. We've loved seeing him play since the "Bart days". Can't wait to see where life takes him next. 

Knowing Ali, it'll be something great.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart! 

Kent School Sends a "Boy Named Suh" to the Statesmen

Sometimes D3FB is a small world. 

Hobart's latest commit is Kent School (CT) SR OL/DL Tae Suh who tweeted out that he's "Proud to be a Statesmen!" earlier in the week. He and I connected over social media because my cousin Bethany Booth and her husband Tim, both teach at Kent.

Suh has been a student of Beth's and said she's been a big help to him in his writing classes. I have to say I had a chuckle at this recruiting photo. Suh definitely seems to have as big as personality as himself (6' 2" 280 lbs.).

Based on his highlight reel he was a RT and DE/DL for the Lions. An able blocker and run stuffer, Suh could develop into a solid contributor on either side of the ball in the near future (and he'll fit right in at Hobart in those khaki pants ;).

Please join me in welcoming Tae and the extended Suh family to the Hobart Football one!

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Fairport's Provenzano Picks Hobart

The Statesmen have added a couple more commitments over the past couple of weeks. 

The first was Fairport (NY) HS SR OL/DL Nick Provenzano. He tweeted out that he was "very grateful to be taking [his] next steps at Hobart WS". Based on Nick's highlight reel, Nick was a four technique DT/DL and C on the OL.

His coach Mike Wayne offered a lot of praise in response to Nick's tweet about his commitment to Hobart. Coach Wayne wrote, it "was an absolute pleasure to coach Nick for two seasons. The [Hobart] program is getting one heck of a player and more importantly a leader. Great school / great choice, congrats Nick!"

He joins SO/JR LS Jordan O'Connor, who is also a Fairport HS alum, on the team. 

Please join me in welcoming Nick and the extended Provenzano family to the Hobart one!

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart! 

Seton Hall Prep's Maddox, Jr. Selects Statesmen

Seton Hall Prep SR RB/DB Byron Maddox, Jr. (Union, NJ) took to Twitter to announce he'll be joining the Hobart College Statesmen.

Based on his highlight reel, Maddox, Jr. is a bruising north-south style of runner who's hard to take down in the open field. Standing 5' 10" 200 lbs. he's prototypical D3 RB who can come into the program and learn from some of the best in JR/SR RBs Rayshawn Boswell and Tim Denham, Jr.  

Please join me in welcoming Byron and the extended Maddox family to the Hobart College Football one!

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart! 

Red Land's Sklar Commits to Statesmen

Yet another recruit from the Keystone State (sense a trend here?) recently announced on Twitter that he will be coming to Geneva to join the Statesmen. Red Land HS SR WR/DB Sam Sklar (Lewisberry, PA) posted the below to declare his commitment to Hobart College.

Sklar has some good film and if his Hudl profile is correct, great speed (sub-4.4 40-yard dash!). He made 49 catches for 928 yards and 12 receiving TDs in his senior season. 

Please join me in welcoming Sam and the extended Sklar family to the Hobart College Statesmen one!

I'll have a lot more recruiting updates over the next few days so stay tuned!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Germantown's McGhee is Heading to Hobart

It could be a coincidence - I haven't asked HC Kevin DeWall '00 about this or not - but it sure seems like the ECAC win in PA last November seems to have paid dividends in the recruiting department. Even if it is a coincidence (and more likely the result of targeting more NJ & PA HSFB players by the coaching staff), it seems to be working pretty well so far!

The latest from the Keystone state to join the Hobart College Class of 2026 is Michael McGhee of Germantown Academy (Philadelphia, PA). At 6' 190 lbs. McGhee brings speed and toughness to the table as an OLB. While he has a way to go to prove himself to be in the same area code, McGhee's highlight reel did remind me a little bit of Emmett Forde '22.

McGhee has a nose for the ball, can scrape and rush well which plays perfectly into the Statesmen's defensive scheme. He was the Patriots team captain and earned first team All-Conference his senior season.

Please join me in welcoming Michael (or "Mike" which I believe is what he goes by) and the extended McGhee family to the Hobart Statesmen one!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

Episcopal Academy's Rodgers Signs with Statesmen

The Class of 2026 continues to grow with the recent announcement on Twitter by Episcopal Academy's SR WR/DB Mikhi Rodgers that he is "Extremely excited to announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at Hobart College! Very fortunate and grateful to have this opportunity. Now, it’s time to get to work #TheHobartWay".

Hailing from Philadelphia, PA; Rodgers was a strong student athlete, earning a nearly 3.5 GPA and multiple All-Conference honors his senior season as well as a "Delco Championship" with his team. Obviously, PA is a FB-talent rich state, so it's great to see Hobart pull a recruit from this hyper competitive area.

It would appear that Rodgers will likely be a boundary / weak side CB/DB based on his highlight reel. He shows good closing speed and has sound tackling technique, and he's not afraid to play physical off the line.

Welcome to Mihki and the extended Rodgers family to the Hobart Statesmen one!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart! 

Two for Tuesday (2/2) - Class of 2026 Starts to Take Shape

Various HSFB seniors across the country have begun announcing their commitments to D3 and other programs since the recent "National Signing Day". Over the coming weeks I'll do my best to track them down and preview some of the incoming FY players that plan to join the team in preseason camp.

Keep in mind these aren't necessarily binding commitments and so it's possible we may see some late departures for a wide variety of reasons, but for now, here's the start of the newest recruiting class for the Hobart Football Statesmen:

From St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, NJ) is a big (6' 3" 275 lbs.) interior line recruit that should add depth to this critical unit. Hobart has had a strong track record of recruiting out of the Garden State and I expect Alex continue that tradition.

Joining him will be Anthony Ruscetta a WR/TE prospect out of Immaculta HS (Somerville, NJ). You can check out his highlights here.

With his size (6' 4" and 205 lbs.) I could see him being looked at for a defensive role, but time will tell. His long stride and wingspan will cause matchup issues with most DBs in the LL.

I'll have more recruiting updates soon. Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Two for Tuesday (1/2) - Marpet Goes to Pro Bowl

In spite of years of statistical / PFF grades and general dominance on the field as one of the best interior OL in the NFL, it took former Hobart Statesmen and current Buccaneers OL Ali Marpet '15 until the end of his seventh NFL season to earn well-deserved Pro Bowl recognition.

He was the starting LG for the NFC side in what amounted to a "two-hand-touch" exhibition game were hitting / tackling wasn't allowed (hence why Ali had to give up on an attempt to save a pick six return early in the "game").

The smile on his face sums it up however, as the trip to Las Vegas was a great one, and although there is a lot of speculation for what's next for the Bucs post-TB12, at least Ali has pretty much checked off all the boxes you possibly could have hoped for during the past two seasons.

Later today I'll post the first of several recruiting updates on the Class of 2026, which is shaping up to be another strong one by HC Kevin DeWall '00 and the coaching staff. 

Thanks for ready and go 'Bart!