Fabulous at 40!

I think it's safe to say this has been a pretty good week for Columbia football recruiting.

Two more excellent recruits have committed to Columbia.

Let's start with a position a lot of fans have been wondering about for months: kicker.

Oren Milstein


Check out 5-9 165 pound Oren Milstein from American Heritage HS in Plantation, FL. Yes, that's the same school that has won two Florida state titles in the last three years. Milstein made the All State team in a state where the high school football is super high quality.

In the 2014 playoffs, Milstein was 6-6 on FG's with a 48-yarder and a game winning 38-yarder as time expired in the state semifinals.  (Postgame interview here)

Just yesterday, the leading Georgia Bulldogs fan site singled out Milstein as someone who they wanted to fill the serious kicking need in Athens.

And here's what the famous Chris Sailer kicking camp program had to say about Oren, who had offers from Georgia and Northwestern:

"Oren is an outstanding kicker. He has a big leg and shows great range. Field goals are excellent. Kickoffs are also near the top of his class. He is showing great improvement from camp to camp. He has a great attitude and work ethic. Like his college future. He should continue to impress college coaches this summer and earn more offers. Will make a fine addition to a college program. Great prospect."

Oren will be the first American Heritage grad to come to Columbia football.

Josh Wainwright


Next is Texas 6A All State Honorable Mention Josh Wainwright. The 5-11 170 pound WR has flipped his commitment to Northern Arizona to come to Columbia from Bowie HS in Austin, TX. He also had an offer from Lafayette. The way he looks on his highlight reel kind of reminds me of Austin Knowlin '10. 

Here's an interview with Wainwright from just before this past season.

Wainwright will be the first Bowie grad to come to Columbia football.

Here's our unofficial list of commits now at 40!:

1) Kyle Baskin WR/DB 6-4 210 lbs. Quakertown HS Quakertown, PA

2) Christian Boujaoude WR 5-11 165 lbs. Monmouth Regional HS Eatontown, NJ

3) Parker Coogan OL/DT 6-2 270 lbs. Kingwood HS Houston, TX

4) Matt Dame QB 6-2 185 lbs. Suncoast HS Riviera Beach, FL

5) Danny De Lorenzi LB 6-3 230 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ  

6) Chris Everett WR 6-2 200 lbs. Whitney Young HS Chicago, IL

7) John Fischer OL 6-3 290 lbs. Sacred Heart-Griffin HS Springfield, IL

8) Michael Geraghty DE 6-3 242 Bishop Gorman HS Las Vegas, NV

9) Alex Gibson RB 5-10 195 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

10) LinDon Harris DE 6-2 215 lbs. Sidwell Friends Washington, DC

11) Ben Hill TE/DE 6-3 230 lbs. Christian Brothers HS Memphis, TN

12) Tyler Houston DE/TE 6-3 245 lbs. Olentangy HS Lewis Center, OH

13) Hunter Lunsford DB 6-1 195 lbs. Consumnes Oaks HS Sacramento, CA

14) Ben McKeighan WR/DB 6-0 187 lbs. Scottsdale Prep/Cheshire Academy (PG year) Scottsdale, AZ

15) Levi McQuinn LB 6-0 205 lbs. Fort Myers HS Fort Myers, FL

16) Oren Milstein K 5-9 165 lbs. American Heritage HS Plantation, FL

17) Max Mullaney LB 6-2 225 lbs. Colts Neck HS Colts Neck, NJ

18) Michael Murphy LB 5-11 194 lbs. Plant HS Tampa, FL

19) Van Neils RB 6-0 210 lbs. Mankato East HS Mankato, MN

20) Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal DE/OL  6-4 250 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

21) Zach O'Neill DE/OL 6-2 225 lbs. Monsignor Farrell HS Staten Island, NY

22) Will Ontiveros WR/DB 6-2 175 lbs. Assumption HS Davenport, IA

23) Hunter Petlansky QB 6-2 225 lbs. Modesto Central Catholic HS Modesto, CA 

24) Kaleb Pitts WR 6-3 175 lbs. Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ

25) Alex Robin DT 6-0 260 lbs. Vestavia Hills HS Vestavia Hills, AL 

26) Lynnard Rose RB/DB 6-0 180 lbs. Second Baptist HS Houston, TX

27) Arman Samouk DT 6-2 270 lbs. Copley HS Copley, OH

28) Rory Schlageter TE 6-3 225 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

29) Drew Schoeberl DE/TE 6-5 250 lbs. Columbus North HS Columbus, IN

30) Joseph Scowden OL 6-4 290 lbs. Montgomery Bell HS Nashville, TN

31) Ronald Smith 6-3 190 lbs. DB/WR John Burroughs HS St. Louis, MO

32) Tanner Thomas RB 5-10 183 lbs. Farragut HS Knoxville, TN 

33) Matt Tofano LB 6-2 217 lbs. Archibishop Mitty HS San Jose, CA

34) Ian Vandenberg WR/RB 6-2 198 lbs. Paw Paw HS Kalamazoo, MI

35) Josh Wainwright WR 5-11 170 lbs. Bowie HS Austin, TX

36) Jonathon Webster DB  6-0 180 lbs. Eastside Catholic HS Sammamish, WA

37) Taylor Weldon DE/TE 6-2 240 lbs. Soutland Academy Americus, GA

38) Isaac Werkman OL 6-6 265 lbs. Lewis & Clark HS Spokane, WA

39) Jared West LB 5-11 205 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS Kankakee, IL

40) Jalen Williams LB 6-0 215 lbs. Hewitt-Trussville HS Trussville, AL

A 3 Star Rose

Lynnard Rose


One of the problems with recruits who have offers from all eight Ivy schools is that you often can't tell whether your Ivy school has the inside track.

Lynnard Rose's decision to come to Columbia feels like a seminal moment in what is Head Coach Al Bagnoli and his staff's first true foray into recruiting for this program. While many signs point to Rose being an impact player for the Lions, just getting him to commit here and commit now is a significant achievement.

I'll get to the football fundamentals in a second, but fans about my age will love to know that Rose is the son of Lyndon Rose a Bahamas native who played and started at point guard for the University of Houston's "Phi Slamma Jamma" basketball team from 1980-82.  That was the Hakeem Olajuwon/Clyde Drexler/Michael Young team, (though Olajuwon didn't really emerge as a star until the year after Rose graduated). Lynnard's older brother L.J. is playing for the UH basketball team right now. Lyndon's late older brother Cecile starred for the Cougars too, leading them to the NIT championship game in 1977 and an NCAA tournament berth in 1978. He sadly passed away in 2013.

Lynnard's mom Marilyn sits on the board of Texas Southern University.

For Lynnard to decline the offer to play at UH, a school with so many family ties, is another sign that Columbia is finally recruiting up to its potential.

Okay, back to the football. In Rose's highlight video you can see his speed and his abilities as a runner and shutdown defensive back. He will be the first Second Baptist High School grad to come to Columbia football.

In Texas, they separate the all state teams by public and private schools. Rose made the 1st Team as a defensive back this year.

Also check out this interview with Rose from early last fall where he makes a point of wanting to play right away.

Here's our updated unofficial list:

1) Kyle Baskin WR/DB 6-4 210 lbs. Quakertown HS Quakertown, PA

2) Christian Boujaoude WR 5-11 165 lbs. Monmouth Regional HS Eatontown, NJ

3) Parker Coogan OL/DT 6-2 270 lbs. Kingwood HS Houston, TX

4) Matt Dame QB 6-2 185 lbs. Suncoast HS Riviera Beach, FL

5) Chris Everett WR 6-2 200 lbs. Whitney Young HS Chicago, IL

6) Danny De Lorenzi LB 6-3 230 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ 

7) John Fischer OL 6-3 290 lbs. Sacred Heart-Griffin HS Springfield, IL

8) Michael Geraghty DE 6-3 242 Bishop Gorman HS Las Vegas, NV

9) Alex Gibson RB 5-10 195 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

10) LinDon Harris DE 6-2 215 lbs. Sidwell Friends Washington, DC

11) Ben Hill TE/DE 6-3 230 lbs. Christian Brothers HS Memphis, TN

12) Tyler Houston DE/TE 6-3 245 lbs. Olentangy HS Lewis Center, OH

13) Hunter Lunsford DB 6-1 195 lbs. Consumnes Oaks HS Sacramento, CA

14) Ben McKeighan WR/DB 6-0 187 lbs. Scottsdale Prep/Cheshire Academy (PG year) Scottsdale, AZ

15) Levi McQuinn LB 6-0 205 lbs. Fort Myers HS Fort Myers, FL

16) Max Mullaney LB 6-2 225 lbs. Colts Neck HS Colts Neck, NJ

17) Michael Murphy LB 5-11 194 lbs. Plant HS Tampa, FL

18) Van Neils RB 6-0 210 lbs. Mankato East HS Mankato, MN

19) Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal DE/OL  6-4 250 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

20) Zach O'Neill DE/OL 6-2 225 lbs. Monsignor Farrell HS Staten Island, NY

21) Will Ontiveros WR/DB 6-2 175 lbs. Assumption HS Davenport, IA

22) Hunter Petlansky QB 6-2 225 lbs. Modesto Central Catholic HS Modesto, CA 

23) Kaleb Pitts WR 6-3 175 lbs. Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ

24) Alex Robin DT 6-0 260 lbs. Vestavia Hills HS Vestavia Hills, AL 

25) Lynnard Rose RB/DB 6-0 180 lbs. Second Baptist HS Houston, TX

26) Arman Samouk DT 6-2 270 lbs. Copley HS Copley, OH

27) Rory Schlageter TE 6-3 225 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

28) Drew Schoeberl DE/TE 6-5 250 lbs. Columbus North HS Columbus, IN

29) Joseph Scowden OL 6-4 290 lbs. Montgomery Bell HS Nashville, TN

30) Ronald Smith 6-3 190 lbs. DB/WR John Burroughs HS St. Louis, MO

31) Tanner Thomas RB 5-10 183 lbs. Farragut HS Knoxville, TN 

32) Matt Tofano LB 6-2 217 lbs. Archibishop Mitty HS San Jose, CA

33) Ian Vandenberg WR/RB 6-2 198 lbs. Paw Paw HS Kalamazoo, MI

34) Jonathon Webster DB  6-0 180 lbs. Eastside Catholic HS Sammamish, WA

35) Taylor Weldon DE/TE 6-2 240 lbs. Soutland Academy Americus, GA

36) Isaac Werkman OL 6-6 265 lbs. Lewis & Clark HS Spokane, WA

37) Jared West LB 5-11 205 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS Kankakee, IL

38) Jalen Williams LB 6-0 215 lbs. Hewitt-Trussville HS Trussville, AL

BREAKING: Rose Commits

RB/CB Lynnard Rose has committed to Columbia. 

This is another major "get."  Rose had offers from SMU, Houston, and Rice. Every Ivy school reportedly offered him as well. 

MORE LATER

3 Stars from Vegas

Michael Geraghty


A Rivals 3-star DE from possibly the best high school football program in the country is coming to the Lions.

His name is Michael Geraghty from Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas. He's a 6-3, 242 pound DE. Geraghty made a huge splash as a sophomore in 2013 before succumbing to a series of injuries that cost him most of the rest of the HS career. But he did come back for the end of last season and seems to have fully recovered.

Geraghty is not coming to an unfamiliar place. Gorman is the high school Alma Mater of rising junior Dylan Weldon and rising sophomore Daniel Hong. Geraghty would be the fifth Gorman grad to come to CU football overall.

Taking a bet on top rated high school stars with some injury history is a common strategy in the Ivies. Obviously the risks can be high, but the rewards can be immeasurable. This current recruiting class now has two players like that in Geraghty and Levi McQuinn.

Here is our updated unofficial list:

1) Kyle Baskin WR/DB 6-4 210 lbs. Quakertown HS Quakertown, PA

2) Christian Boujaoude WR 5-11 165 lbs. Monmouth Regional HS Eatontown, NJ

3) Parker Coogan OL/DT 6-2 270 lbs. Kingwood HS Houston, TX

4) Matt Dame QB 6-2 185 lbs. Suncoast HS Riviera Beach, FL

5) Chris Everett WR 6-2 200 lbs. Whitney Young HS Chicago, IL

6) Danny De Lorenzi LB 6-3 230 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ 

7) John Fischer OL 6-3 290 lbs. Sacred Heart-Griffin HS Springfield, IL

8) Michael Geraghty DE 6-3 242 Bishop Gorman HS Las Vegas, NV

9) Alex Gibson RB 5-10 195 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

10) LinDon Harris DE 6-2 215 lbs. Sidwell Friends Washington, DC

11) Ben Hill TE/DE 6-3 230 lbs. Christian Brothers HS Memphis, TN

12) Tyler Houston DE/TE 6-3 245 lbs. Olentangy HS Lewis Center, OH

13) Hunter Lunsford DB 6-1 195 lbs. Consumnes Oaks HS Sacramento, CA

14) Ben McKeighan WR/DB 6-0 187 lbs. Scottsdale Prep/Cheshire Academy (PG year) Scottsdale, AZ

15) Levi McQuinn LB 6-0 205 lbs. Fort Myers HS Fort Myers, FL

16) Max Mullaney LB 6-2 225 lbs. Colts Neck HS Colts Neck, NJ

17) Michael Murphy LB 5-11 194 lbs. Plant HS Tampa, FL

18) Van Neils RB 6-0 210 lbs. Mankato East HS Mankato, MN

19) Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal DE/OL  6-4 250 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

20) Zach O'Neill DE/OL 6-2 225 lbs. Monsignor Farrell HS Staten Island, NY

21) Will Ontiveros WR/DB 6-2 175 lbs. Assumption HS Davenport, IA

22) Hunter Petlansky QB 6-2 225 lbs. Modesto Central Catholic HS Modesto, CA 

23) Kaleb Pitts WR 6-3 175 lbs. Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ

24) Alex Robin DT 6-0 260 lbs. Vestavia Hills HS Vestavia Hills, AL 

25) Arman Samouk DT 6-2 270 lbs. Copley HS Copley, OH

26) Rory Schlageter TE 6-3 225 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

27) Drew Schoeberl DE/TE 6-5 250 lbs. Columbus North HS Columbus, IN

28) Joseph Scowden OL 6-4 290 lbs. Montgomery Bell HS Nashville, TN

29) Ronald Smith 6-3 190 lbs. DB/WR John Burroughs HS St. Louis, MO

30) Tanner Thomas RB 5-10 183 lbs. Farragut HS Knoxville, TN 

31) Matt Tofano LB 6-2 217 lbs. Archibishop Mitty HS San Jose, CA

32) Ian Vandenberg WR/RB 6-2 198 lbs. Paw Paw HS Kalamazoo, MI

33) Jonathon Webster DB  6-0 180 lbs. Eastside Catholic HS Sammamish, WA

34) Taylor Weldon DE/TE 6-2 240 lbs. Soutland Academy Americus, GA

35) Isaac Werkman OL 6-6 265 lbs. Lewis & Clark HS Spokane, WA

36) Jared West LB 5-11 205 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS Kankakee, IL

37) Jalen Williams LB 6-0 215 lbs. Hewitt-Trussville HS Trussville, AL

Two More

Kaleb Pitts


It's getting busy!

Two more players have committed to Columbia in just the last few hours.


First is 6-3 175 pound WR Kaleb Pitts from Hamilton HS in the Greater Phoenix area.  He also had offers from Army and San Diego.

Local scouts described Pitts as having a breakout senior season this fall.

Pitts hails from the same HS as rising sophomore WR Brandon Krcilek. He and Krcilek are the only Hamilton grads to come to Columbia football.


Second is 6-6 265 pound OL/DL Isaac Werkman from Lewis and Clark HS in Spokane, Washington. It's hard to get more info on Werkman for now, but he will be the first Lewis and Clark grad to come to Columbia football.

Here's our new list of 36 unofficial commits:

1) Kyle Baskin WR/DB 6-4 210 lbs. Quakertown HS Quakertown, PA

2) Christian Boujaoude WR 5-11 165 lbs. Monmouth Regional HS Eatontown, NJ

3) Parker Coogan OL/DT 6-2 270 lbs. Kingwood HS Houston, TX

4) Matt Dame QB 6-2 185 lbs. Suncoast HS Riviera Beach, FL

5) Chris Everett WR 6-2 200 lbs. Whitney Young HS Chicago, IL

6) Danny De Lorenzi LB 6-3 230 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ 

7) John Fischer OL 6-3 290 lbs. Sacred Heart-Griffin HS Springfield, IL

8) Alex Gibson RB 5-10 195 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

9) LinDon Harris DE 6-2 215 lbs. Sidwell Friends Washington, DC

10) Ben Hill TE/DE 6-3 230 lbs. Christian Brothers HS Memphis, TN

11) Tyler Houston DE/TE 6-3 245 lbs. Olentangy HS Lewis Center, OH

12) Hunter Lunsford DB 6-1 195 lbs. Consumnes Oaks HS Sacramento, CA

13) Ben McKeighan WR/DB 6-0 187 lbs. Scottsdale Prep/Cheshire Academy (PG year) Scottsdale, AZ

14) Levi McQuinn LB 6-0 205 lbs. Fort Myers HS Fort Myers, FL

15) Max Mullaney LB 6-2 225 lbs. Colts Neck HS Colts Neck, NJ

16) Michael Murphy LB 5-11 194 lbs. Plant HS Tampa, FL

17) Van Neils RB 6-0 210 lbs. Mankato East HS Mankato, MN

18) Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal DE/OL  6-4 250 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

19) Zach O'Neill DE/OL 6-2 225 lbs. Monsignor Farrell HS Staten Island, NY

20) Will Ontiveros WR/DB 6-2 175 lbs. Assumption HS Davenport, IA

21) Hunter Petlansky QB 6-2 225 lbs. Modesto Central Catholic HS Modesto, CA 

22) Kaleb Pitts WR 6-3 175 lbs. Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ

23) Alex Robin DT 6-0 260 lbs. Vestavia Hills HS Vestavia Hills, AL 

24) Arman Samouk DT 6-2 270 lbs. Copley HS Copley, OH

25) Rory Schlageter TE 6-3 225 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

26) Drew Schoeberl DE/TE 6-5 250 lbs. Columbus North HS Columbus, IN

27) Joseph Scowden OL 6-4 290 lbs. Montgomery Bell HS Nashville, TN

28) Ronald Smith 6-3 190 lbs. DB/WR John Burroughs HS St. Louis, MO

29) Tanner Thomas RB 5-10 183 lbs. Farragut HS Knoxville, TN 

30) Matt Tofano LB 6-2 217 lbs. Archibishop Mitty HS San Jose, CA

31) Ian Vandenberg WR/RB 6-2 198 lbs. Paw Paw HS Kalamazoo, MI

32) Jonathon Webster DB  6-0 180 lbs. Eastside Catholic HS Sammamish, WA

33) Taylor Weldon DE/TE 6-2 240 lbs. Soutland Academy Americus, GA

34) Isaac Werkman OL 6-6 265 lbs. Lewis & Clark HS Spokane, WA

35) Jared West LB 5-11 205 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS Kankakee, IL

36) Jalen Williams LB 6-0 215 lbs. Hewitt-Trussville HS Trussville, AL

More on Vandenberg

Ian Vandenberg

Just a few more notes on new commit Ian Vandenberg.

Not only will he be the first Paw Paw HS grad to come to Columbia football, he would also be the first Kalamazoo, MI resident to do so. 

Vandenberg took an official visit to Cornell this month and had some interest from Harvard, Yale, and Fordham. Central Michigan offered him a preferred walk-on spot. 

He was also a standout at a big combine conducted last year. 


Here's the new unofficial list, which is up to 34:

1) Kyle Baskin WR/DB 6-4 210 lbs. Quakertown HS Quakertown, PA

2) Christian Boujaoude WR 5-11 165 lbs. Monmouth Regional HS Eatontown, NJ

3) Parker Coogan OL/DT 6-2 270 lbs. Kingwood HS Houston, TX

4) Matt Dame QB 6-2 185 lbs. Suncoast HS Riviera Beach, FL

5) Chris Everett WR 6-2 200 lbs. Whitney Young HS Chicago, IL

6) Danny De Lorenzi LB 6-3 230 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ 

7) John Fischer OL 6-3 290 lbs. Sacred Heart-Griffin HS Springfield, IL

8) Alex Gibson RB 5-10 195 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

9) LinDon Harris DE 6-2 215 lbs. Sidwell Friends Washington, DC

10) Ben Hill TE/DE 6-3 230 lbs. Christian Brothers HS Memphis, TN

11) Tyler Houston DE/TE 6-3 245 lbs. Olentangy HS Lewis Center, OH

12) Hunter Lunsford DB 6-1 195 lbs. Consumnes Oaks HS Sacramento, CA

13) Ben McKeighan WR/DB 6-0 187 lbs. Scottsdale Prep/Cheshire Academy (PG year) Scottsdale, AZ

14) Levi McQuinn LB 6-0 205 lbs. Fort Myers HS Fort Myers, FL

15) Max Mullaney LB 6-2 225 lbs. Colts Neck HS Colts Neck, NJ

16) Michael Murphy LB 5-11 194 lbs. Plant HS Tampa, FL

17) Van Neils RB 6-0 210 lbs. Mankato East HS Mankato, MN

18) Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal DE/OL  6-4 250 lbs. Central Bucks High School East Doylestown, PA

19) Zach O'Neill DE/OL 6-2 225 lbs. Monsignor Farrell HS Staten Island, NY

20) Will Ontiveros WR/DB 6-2 175 lbs. Assumption HS Davenport, IA

21) Hunter Petlansky QB 6-2 225 lbs. Modesto Central Catholic HS Modesto, CA 

22) Alex Robin DT 6-0 260 lbs. Vestavia Hills HS Vestavia Hills, AL 

23) Arman Samouk DT 6-2 270 lbs. Copley HS Copley, OH

24) Rory Schlageter TE 6-3 225 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

25) Drew Schoeberl DE/TE 6-5 250 lbs. Columbus North HS Columbus, IN

26) Joseph Scowden OL 6-4 290 lbs. Montgomery Bell HS Nashville, TN

27) Ronald Smith 6-3 190 lbs. DB/WR John Burroughs HS St. Louis, MO

28) Tanner Thomas RB 5-10 183 lbs. Farragut HS Knoxville, TN 

29) Matt Tofano LB 6-2 217 lbs. Archibishop Mitty HS San Jose, CA

30) Ian Vandenberg WR/RB 6-2 198 lbs. Paw Paw HS Kalamazoo, MI

31) Jonathon Webster DB  6-0 180 lbs. Eastside Catholic HS Sammamish, WA

32) Taylor Weldon DE/TE 6-2 240 lbs. Soutland Academy Americus, GA

33) Jared West LB 5-11 205 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS Kankakee, IL

34) Jalen Williams LB 6-0 215 lbs. Hewitt-Trussville HS Trussville, AL