Class of 2026 - Part III

Hope your weekend is off to a great start! Coach DeWall '00 introduced four more Statesmen joining the Class of 2026 this morning on Twitter. I am very interested in this group as this is the first time I've seen 3 of these 4 student athletes.

We will start off with Lawrence Academy (MA) RB/LB Fenix Figueroa (what a great name btw). At 6' 250 lbs., Fenix is a bruising north-south runner who can bowl over would be tacklers. You can see for yourself in his highlight reel. Originally from Lynn, MA it looks like Fenix either did a PG or transferred for his senior season to LA. Regardless, he looks like another great add to the run game for Hobart.

Up next is another prospect from "Strong Island", Walt Whitman HS OL/DL Belendjy Geneus. Based on his highlight reel, it looks like Geneus will be an OL for Hobart. With no height and weight listed in his Hudl profile, we can only guess if he has OT size. He plays RT on this film, but I could see him being looked at as a guard. Time will tell. Either way, with OL being an area of need, we are starting to rack up some solid players for this key position group.

A slightly more familiar face, to me anyway, is Morris Catholic HS (NJ) WR/DB Dante Galella. I wrote about him around six weeks ago. His height and speed will cause a few "arguments' amongst the coaching staff on whether he should be utilized at WR or DB. He can play both well and is a nice add in either position.

We wrap up this update with a young man from my home state of CT, Canterbury School DB Tommy Candelora. He plays bigger than his current size (5' 10" 170 lbs.) and can lower the boom on opposing WRs. He has solid field vision and speed to close gaps to make big plays. You can see his highlights here.

That's it for today's update. Will have four more tomorrow and the following days until we run out of updates. 

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Class of 2026 - Part II

For today's slate of new Statesmen Football FY players, you won't have to go far on this blog or the NYS Thruway. I posted about this outstanding student athlete DB Alex Smith from Christian Brothers Academy (NY) last week.

Bolstering the OL is big Ben Goodell out of Phillips Andover Academy (MA). He is a PG, originally from Malden, MA who brings size (6'3" and 300 lbs.) and skill to the OL for Hobart. You can check out his highlight reel here. Based on the film, it appears as though Ben played RT and DL for PA. He definitely has strong pass and run blocking skills, which I know Coach DeWall places a high premium on. 

Up next is another student athlete I featured over two months ago, Germantown Academy's (PA) OLB Mike McGhee. Mike has a "great motor" and reminds me a little bit of SR OLB Emmett Forde '22. I am definitely intrigued to see how this young man develops as a college level player.

The final update for today's group is Sayvillle HS (NY) QB Jack Smalley. SHS is a well-regarded, hardnosed, and "blue collar" program out of "Strong Island." I didn't have Smalley on my radar until today and based on his highlight reel, he sees the field well, has a strong arm and good pocket presence.

Please join me in welcoming this latest group of Statesmen to the Class of 2026 and the Hobart College Football family!

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart! 

Class of 2026 - Part I

Hobart College Football HC Kevin DeWall '00 kicked off the introduction to the next class of Statesmen with four tweets earlier today. 

Without further ado, let's meet the Class of 2026:

First up is Dante Randle from Valley View HS (PA). Dante is a player I haven't seen before, but based on his highlight reel, he looks like a strong DE prospect. At 6'1" 215 lbs. he may be a little undersized, but Coach Gray and the S&C coaches will bulk him up. He has sound technique and is equally a strong pass rusher and run stopper.

Next is Immaculata HS (NJ) WR Anthony Ruscetta, who was one of the very first recruits I wrote about earlier in the year. 

Up next is Brighton HS RB Tahj Jackson. I wrote about him in early April, and he looks like a fantastic add to the offensive backfield.

Last and certainly not least, is another "new" name (to me anyway) in Cape Henlopen HS (DE) OL Lucas Ruppert. A big road grader who can pull and move well for a guy his size (6' 3" and 310 lbs.), Ruppert played RG for the Vikings, but I could see him used as an OT in college. You can check out his highlight reel - full of pancakes and otherwise flattened would be tacklers here. I'll have to double check, but I believe Lucas is the only Statesmen from DE on the roster (and maybe the first one from DE in quite some time). 

I expect four more profiles to be released tomorrow and over the subsequent days. Given I know the Class of 2026 will likely crack 30+ players, we will have daily updates for about the next week, so stay tuned.

Congratulations to these new Statesmen and their extended football families! 

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Statesmen Gridders Grab Multiple Academic and Athletic Year-End Awards

It's been a great month to be a Statesman, as several members of the Hobart College Football team have been recognized for their on-and-off field achievements. 

Starting off with Charter Day, several (football) Statesmen student athletes received academic awards from across the board. These individuals (pictured above, L-R) included FY DL Alex Karpawich, JR DB Abdoulaye Diallo, JR LS Jordan O'Connor, FY OL Colt Lyndaker, FY QB Johnny Colombi, SO WR Marcus Lenz, SO DB Matt Brown, SO DB Joe McCoy, JR QB Joseph Pelletier, SO WR Benjamin Farrell, and FY OL Ethan Kowalski.

SR LB C.J. Calero and SR DE Kyle Spano were recognized by the National Football Foundation by being named to their Hampshire Honor Society. This award goes out to players across all divisions who've maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better. You can read more about this award here. 

Last, but certainly not least, SR OLB and All-American Emmett Forde was named as Hobart's most outstanding athlete (along with SR A Ryan Archer of the lacrosse team) at the recent Block H awards dinner. Several classmates of Forde's including SR LB C.J. Calero, SR FS Cal Sullivan, as well as SO DB Matt Brown, and JR DB Abdoulaye Diallo also were recognized with awards. 

The football team individual awards included:

JR RBs Rayshawn Boswell and Tim Denham, Jr - Bill Middleton Memorial Award (Offense, MVP)

SR OLB Emmett Forde - Bob Toner Defensive MVP

JR/SR TE Mike Zaccone - Cullen '37 Memorial Award (Special Teams, MVP)

SR LB Brian Aguilar - Harter Family Award ("Love of the Game" / "Desire to Win") 

SR FS Cal Sullivan - Silver '39 Memorial Award (Scholarship)

SR DL Isaiah Boone & SR DB Jared Leake - Mike Roberti '90 Memorial Award (Sportsmanship)

SR LB C.J. Calero - Zornow '47 Memorial Award (Perserverance)

JR/SR OL Kieran Paskewitz - Tyron Award (Outstanding Lineman) 

FY LB Anthony Romano - Rookie Award (ROTY)

You can read more about it, and access the awards ceremony program itself, here. And here.

Congratulations to all these outstanding Statemen student athletes, football and otherwise!

I hope to have some more recruiting news soon, as the announcements on the Class of 2026 should begin to come in after May 1st.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

CBA's Smith to Become a Statesman

Christian Brothers Academy (NY) SR DB Alex Smith tweeted out yesterday that going to Hobart College and playing for the Statesmen would be his "Next chapter." He had an impressive SR season at CBA, racking up 82 total tackles, 17 TFL, 2 FF, 2 INTs, 8 PBU and 6 PD plays.

You can see more on his highlight reel here. 

From the film you can see he's strong in coverage, closes in fast and is a sure tackler. At 6' 175 lbs. he has good size and will likely add to that once he's in Coach Gray's strength program. 

Smith will be the second CBA player on the Hobart roster, joining JR RB Tim Denham, Jr., who graduated from CBA in 2019.

Only a short drive down the thruway from Geneva, I am certain Alex and the extended Smith family will be regulars at Hobart Football games going forward.

Please join me in welcoming Alex and his family to the Hobart College Football one.

Pleasantville's Cotter Signs with Statesmen

Sleepy Hollow HS HC Jerry Flora tweeted out earlier this week that he was "Excited to announce that Kieran Cotter a RB Prospect from Pleasantville High School in NY and a Golden Dozen Honoree has committed to attend Hobart College to play football. Coach DeWall runs a great program and I'm happy for you. Great working with you."

Cotter had strong SR year with Pleasantville HS, rushing for over 1,300 yards and scoring 12 TDs for a 12-1 Class B State Runner Up team. While smaller in stature (5' 9" and 175 lbs.), Cotter plays big, bowling over and/or out-running would be tacklers.

You can check out his highlight reel here.

While I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see him in the offensive backfield, I could also see someone with Cotter's athleticism get a chance on defense. He seems like a tough kid, and not afraid to initiate contact. That said I could see him get some looks at safety and/or OLB.

Time will tell where Cotter plugs into the Statesmen system, but there's no denying he looks like a great addition to the team. Please join me in welcoming Kieran and the extended Cotter family to the Hobart College Football one!

Thanks as always for checking the blog and go 'Bart! 

 

Cardinal Hayes' Johnson Commits to Statesmen

Last Thursday, SR OLB / TE Tafari Johnson took to Twitter to announce that he will be coming to Hobart. Johnson has good size (6' 2" 215 lbs.) speed, and versatility, being able to drop back in coverage, pick off opposing QBs and rush.

You can check out his highlights here.

Below was his statement regarding becoming a Statesman:

Please join me in welcoming Tafari and the extended Johnson family to the Hobart College Football one!

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Syosset's Broggy Commits to Statesmen

We're back with some more recruiting news!

Remember how in the Recruiting Roundtable post I mentioned how the Statesmen needed to add more depth to their OL/DL?

A step in that direction happened today as Syosset HS (NY) SR OL Quinn Broggy announced his commitment to Hobart College, posting this photo on his Twitter feed:

Broggy brings brawn (6' 2" 260 lbs.) and brains (over a 4.0 GPA, named as one of Nassau County's best scholar athletes by the National Football Foundation) to Geneva after being wooed by programs such as Wesleyan (CT), Hamilton, and Pace University.

A strong pass and run blocker, Broggy played LT for SHS, but he projects as probably more of an interior OL based on his size. You can check out his highlights here.

Ultimately it appears as though a trip to Hobart back in January may have sealed the deal for Broggy (shown below with who I assume is his dad):

Please join me in welcoming Quinn and the extended Broggy family to the Hobart College Football one. 

Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart!

Brighton's Jackson Signs with Statesmen

Coach Steve Lian of Brighton HS (NY) recently announced signing commitments from his Class of 2022 which included SR RB/|DB Tahj Jackson. Jackson has good size (5' 11" and 190 lbs.) and speed (clocking in at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash).

You can see more of his highlights here.

Tajh looks like a strong addition to the Hobart Statesmen program, and his family (pictured above), won't have to travel far to see him play, living just down the road in Rochester.

Please join me in welcoming Tajh and the extended Jackson family into the Hobart Football one.

Thanks for reading as always and go 'Bart!