Did Ivy Concussion Rules Bag us a Top DB?

Blake Wooden


Blake Wooden, a 6-1, 180 pound DB from high school powerhouse American Heritage in Plantation, Florida has committed to Columbia.

Wooden joins fellow American Heritage HS DB Will Allen on the 2017 incoming Columbia freshmen parade, and of course their former American Heritage teammate and current Columbia kicking sensation Oren Milstein '20. It should be noted that in the entire history of Columbia football before Al Bagnoli became head coach, the Lions had never bagged a player from American Heritage, and now we have three.

But there's another fascinating angle to this story: Wooden's father Shawn is a former NFL player who has been at the forefront of NFL retirees suing the NFL for hiding the truth about concussions. 

Based on that, I have to think that the Ivy League's extremely strict rules and concussion protocols may have played a big role in Blake choosing Columbia. That's especially true since he had some FBS interest, including an offer from Fresno State.

This brings our unofficial list of publicly announced incoming freshmen to 26:

1) Luke Adams RB/LB 6-2 210 lbs. Notre Dame Prep Pontiac, MI

2) Jalen Allen RB 5-11 185 lbs. Cranbrook-Kingswood HS Bloomfield Hills, MI

3) Will Allen III DB 5-9 164 lbs. American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL

4) Josh Bean QB 6-2 200 lbs. Hinsdale HS Hinsdale, IL

5) Dillon Davis QB 6-1 206 lbs. Aledo HS Aledo, TX

6) Myles Davis WR 5-10 175 lbs. Walter Payton HS Chicago, IL

7) Seth DeVary OL 6-4 275 lbs. Larue County HS Hodgenville, KY

8) Alexander Filacouris RB 6-1 200 lbs. Half Hollow Hills West HS Dix Hills, NY 

9) Graham Flinn DB/WR 6-1 180 lbs. Benedictine College Prep HS Richmond, VA

10) Tyson Hugee DB 6-0 170 lbs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Philadelphia, PA

11) Emerson Kabus WR 5-10 170 lbs. St. Augustine HS St. Augustine, FL

12) Josh Kaminsky DL 6-4 280 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

13) Cameron Lipton-Martinez TE/DE 6-5 225 lbs. Montclair HS Montclair, NJ

14) Ben Mathiasmeier DB 5-10 190 lbs. Cinco Ranch HS Katy, Texas

15) Marquavious Moore RB 5-11 202 lbs. Harding Academy Memphis, TN

16) Carson Powell DB 6-0 190 lbs. Cardinal Newman HS Palm Beach, FL

17) Bailey Rotsky DB/WR Mayfield Heights HS Mayfield Heights, OH

18) Jonathan Rowe OL 6-3 283 lbs. Audrey Kell HS Charlotte, NC

19) Drew Schmid P 6-0 205 lbs. La Jolla Country Day La Jolla, CA  

20) Dwayne Warren WR 6-3 198 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

21) Hank White OL 6-6 250 lbs. Buford HS Buford, GA

22) Ashton Cooper Wilson DE/LB 6-3 230 lbs. Merritt Island HS Merritt Island, FL

23) Peter Wise OL 6-5 290 lbs. Brunswick School Greenwich, CT 

24) Blake Wooden DB 6-1 180 lbs. American Heritage HS Plantation, FL

25) Justin Woodley LB 6-2 210 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA

26) Jack Young WR 6-2 185 lbs. Mt. Lebanon HS Pittsburgh, PA