Jake Wanamaker
As some readers already guessed, transfer WR Jake Wanamaker IS eligible to play for the Lions THIS SEASON.
This is confirmed thanks to a reply to a direct question I asked Head Coach Pete Mangurian late yesterday.
Like many others, I had believed Wanamaker had to sit out a year because he was transferring from another FCS school, UT San Antonio.
I'm still not 100% sure why this rule does not apply to Wanamaker, but I am going to assume it's because he already sat out a red shirt year in 2010. Anyone with better knowledge of the Byzantine NCAA transfer rules is welcome to let us know in the comments section.
Wanamaker's addition to the this year's active roster elevates the level of the Columbia WR corps quite considerably. He may also get into the mix as a punt or kickoff returner.
6 comments:
That's terrific news. It's been a long time coming, but we finally have the best incoming group of wide receivers in the Ivy League in Wanamaker, Bell, Connors, Dobitsch, Hollis and Gross. Add in returning top quality players like Andrada, DiNovo, Grant, Nelligan, Prince, Ross, Sigmon and the Lions are suddenly loaded at the wide receiver position. Here comes the fun part, we also have a top quality,former pro star wide receivers coach in Wendell Davis, ready to instruct these guys and make each of them much, much better. For years we have complained that with a few notable exceptions, Columbia's wide receivers didn't scare anyone. I suspect all that going to change this season.
Tell me more about Wanamaker. Do we think he is a likely starter? One thing we lacked last year was breakaway speed. Does he have it?
Yes to both questions, but he is not the only incoming Lion football player with very good speed. Bell, Gross, Connors, Dobitsch, Hollis, McCarthy, Patmon, Rehm Cahall and Blackshear all have shown breakaway ability at the high school level. I particularly like Bell, Gross and McCarthy on film.
Wanamaker has good size as well as speed. Same with Gross and McCarthy, although the latter is slated to play defense. It doesn't hurt to have guys with breakaway speed on defense as Maddox showed last year. The ideal defensive back is one who can step in front of a receiver, intercept a pass and run the ball back for a touchdown.
to anonymous above-glad you included Andrada, Ross, and Sigmon in the discussion about WR--they seem to have been overlooked by some of the emailers in the recent past. I closely followed the JVs in 2010 and 2011. Andrada played very well. Ross and Sigmon bring varsity experience to the table, a valuable commodity. The three of them make the corps of receivers surprisingly deep.
If I remember correctly, Sigmon made the longest gain in the spring intrasquad scrimmage, namely a catch and run of nearly 90 yards. Unfortunately, I can't check my memory, because there are no easily available stats. Maybe Jake knows.
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