Hamilton Garner takes time out with mom
Backstory
For a while there, Garner was simply known as "the OTHER tight end from Georgia."
A standout student who has sacrificed much to get to Columbia, Garner was not expected to be an impact player early on.
That's because Columbia's coaches had been high on a player named Chris Mooney who even got some playing time as a freshman in 2010.
But Mooney shocked fans last spring when he left the team, putting Garner on the hot seat faster than anyone ever expected.
At 6-5 and 232 pounds with good speed, no one should have been too worried.
Career Highlights
With only one season with the varsity under his belt, this rising junior really doesn't have a serious "top 5 games" list or comparative year-by-year stats just yet. But
-Started all 10 games in his sophomore season of 2011 and finished with 24 receptions for 339 yards and led the team with six receiving TD's. Made Honorable Mention All Ivy.
-Made his first catch early in the first quarter of his second varsity game; an eight yard grab against Albany.
-First TD came a week later at Princeton, a 29-yarder late in the 4th quarter.
-First multiple TD game came a week after that against Sacred Heart when Garner had two scores in the 36-25 loss.
-Caught his first TD pass on national TV with a 16-yard score against Penn live on Versus network in week 5.
-Caught the crucial game-tying TD in the 1st OT in the 35-28 double OT win over Brown in week 10.
Scouting Report
-Has great height, but needs a little more meat on his bones to be a more effective blocker and become tougher to tackle in the open field.
-Really good speed and reminds people a bit of Andrew Kennedy '11 when he streaks open right down the middle of the field.
Jake's Take
Garner missed the spring game with an injury and Head Coach Pete Mangurian seemed to be a little skeptical about him in his personal blog earlier this year. But I strongly expect Garner to not only start for the Lions this fall, but also again be one of the top two tight ends in the Ivies.
And that's even with the addition of the mystery H-back we expect to have on the field this season.
That's mostly because of the good rhythm he has with QB Sean Brackett and all his hard work the last two years.
3 comments:
Garner is a very tough player who handled the tight end position extremely well as a sophomore. He is a sure-handed receiver who catches the pigskin in traffic. Defenders have a difficult time guarding him because of his size and speed. I would expect him to be a key player in this year's offense.
.... 65 days til opening game .... 37 days till camp starts .... I am getting pumped (hope springs eternal ... especially when you are over 60) .... if Coach M wnats the alums to "get to know the kids", why not have a barbeque at Baker with alum and kids .... charge the alums .... could do it when camp ends or right before practice with pads starts ... anybody up for it ????
Great idea--nothing is better than a Texas-style barbeque at Columbia's Baker Field. That would make our many players from the Lone Star State right at home.
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