Meet the Leading Lions: Paul Delaney

Backstory

Lions fans always get excited whenever Columbia grabs a new recruit from Des Werthman's Alma Mater of Loyola Academy in suburban Chicago.  My contacts at that school had very high praise for Delaney even before he committed to Columbia. Delaney came to the program in the recruiting push created by the 2009 kicking debacle when the Norries Wilson staff totally dropped the ball by failing to replace Jon Rocholl '09. The result is that now Columbia still has a good deal of kicking talent on the roster.

Career Highlights

-Finally got his chance to hit the field with the varsity in his sophomore year of 2011.

-Punted 57 times, (when you go 1-9, you're likely to need to punt almost six times a game), even though he split duty with two other punters. 

-Had eight punts of 50+ yards and put 15 kicks inside the 20. 

-Delaney's toughness and talent was best on display in week 7 against Yale in that freak October snow storm. He was battered and even apparently knocked out a few times, but kept coming back. And late in the game, he boomed a 62 yards punt that Yale fumbled at its own five leading to Columbia's last TD in the 16-13 loss. 

Scouting Report

6-3, 215 pound punters don't grow on trees. Delaney's size and strength make him a big asset, especially in the Ivies. Still hard to completely gauge his talents because he hasn't had the best protection.

Jake's Take

Columbia has FIVE kicker/punters on the roster coming into the season, and I can't imagine Head Coach Pete Mangurian is happy about that. Punters Greg Guttas and Tyler Feely have strong talent, but Delaney has shown the best consistency so far. 

Columbia will move to that rugby-style "protect the punter" formation this year, and that could really boost Delaney's numbers in a big way.