But I just want to add some color on the things that jumped out at me the most:
-The player I was most impressed with was freshman DE Ogonna Oraedu. On every one of the many snaps he played, he simply could not be blocked effectively. His fellow freshman D-lineman Andrew Nichols was very good too, but Oraedu was a true force. I certainly can't say whether he will contribute this year in a way similar to how now-sophomore Daniel DeLorenzi did on the D-line last year. But Oreadu sure looks ready now.
-Based on the way he looked in the scrimmage, Dillon Davis seemed like the best of the QB backups to Anders Hill. Davis threw a lot of crisp passes, and there was one play where he scrambled brilliantly and completed a brilliant pass on the run to Emerson Kabus. The gain was called back because Kabus had stepped out of bounds, but it was easily the most impressive play by a QB all day.
-All the wide receivers were especially sure-handed Friday.
-The backup offensive linemen opened a lot of holes for the running backs, but in general it was hard to judge how strong the RB's are right now. Montclair State was significantly smaller than even the Lion backups and the results were predictable in that way. Of course, that size difference was true two years ago when Columbia took on Kean College in a preseason scrimmage and Columbia was outplayed for a significant portion of that affair. So, we've certainly come a long way since 2015.
-The 70-yard punt block return for a TD was a pretty play. Ben Mathiasmeier , who grabbed the blocked ball and motored in for the score, proved the football writer's theory that the best players are almost always going to be the ones with the names you're most likely to misspell.
CU Receivers Update
The official preview of the Lions deep wide receiving corps included the surprise news that converted QB Kyle Castner is performing extremely well in his new position and seems likely to contribute in the regular season.
New Lion
The coaches announced that they had picked up a commitment from a Chicago-area/Illinois running back a few weeks ago, and now we know for sure that they were talking about 5-10 200-pound Ryan Young from Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
Young had offers from Cornell and Dayton, and one of the leading analysts of Illinois high school football thinks he's a major talent.
Young will be the first Wheaton Warrenville South grad to come to Columbia Football.
That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to nine:
1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy
2) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA
3) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR
4) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA
5) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ
6) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 pounds River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL
7) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA
8) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN
9) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL
Opponent Results
I watched the Wagner scrimmage... er, I mean opening game 37-7 win against Division II St. Anselm on the NEC streaming feed and there's precious little to learn from the experience. St. Anselm was completely over matched and it's really a travesty to count this contest as an official game. UCF transfer WR D'Eerren Wilson was a force against the light competition and was the star with 10 catches for 136 yards and a TD.
Things get a lot more real for the Seahawks this coming Saturday when they head to Pennsylvania for a game with defending NEC champ St. Francis. The following week, they come to Columbia for the Lions season opener.
Week four opponent Marist was over matched in its 45-6 loss at Bucknell Saturday night. The Bison scored those 45 points with just 261 total yards on offense, which tells you had poorly the Red Foxes performed when it comes to ball safety and field position. Bucknell scored two defensive TD's and held Marist to three of 16 on 3rd down conversions.
The Red Foxes hold their home opener against Stetson this Saturday.
Also in action this last Saturday before the Ivy teams finally start their season is Columbia's week two opponent Georgetown. The Hoyas take on the Pioneer League's Campbell College (North Carolina) on the road in a 6pm kickoff.
One More...
Kasim Hill
Maryland's freshman QB Kasim Hill was one of the stars in Maryland's shocking 51-41 win at Texas Saturday.
Hill is none other than the son of former Columbia Lion Joe Hill '94. Both of his parents are Columbia grads and raised Kasim in Crofton, MD.
1 comment:
Why couldn't we get young Hill to come to Morningside? (Probably the fact he is starting qb as a freshman at a big state program is my answer)
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