Saturday, May 19, 2018

The 2018 Freshmen

Columbia has unveiled the names of the 39 incoming freshmen football players for this coming fall.

The list is 39 players long, includes two names we didn't know about previously, and only has one name missing from the final unofficial list I compiled on signing day back in February.

First, let's get to the two new names.


Conner Collins

6-5, 270-pound OL Conner Collins from Myers Park HS in Charlotte, North Carolina was a Harvard commit as recently as National Signing Day in February. Collins will be the first Myers HS grad to come to Columbia Football.

5-11, 180-pound WR Ernest Robinson was a four year starter at Riverdale Country Day School and two-time MVP of his high school league. Robinson will be the seventh Riverdale grad to come to Columbia Football and the first since Evan Alvarez '11.

The one player we had on our unofficial lists who did not show up on this final list was Long Snapper Keaton Prevette, but let's see if he still shows up on the roster in the fall as a possible walk-on.

In the coming days, my LionFeeders database of all the documented players to come to Columbia Football listed by their high schools will be officially updated.

Based on the highlight videos, I pinpoint 11 incoming players who really stand out as of now. This is just my opinion, of course. My list is below with a very brief comment for each name:

1. Jordan Colbert CB (fast, good cover guy serious offers)

2. Connor Collins OL (experienced OL)

3. Cam Dillion LB (hitter, serious offers)

4. John Foreback QB (good size, big upside)

5. Jackson Heath TE (serious offers from other schools, looks tough)

6. Marquis Hubbard LB (hitter)

7. Derric Lee CB (lots of key offers, another Harvard decommit)

8. Dante Miller RB (JMU decommit, speed demon)

9. Mozes Mooney WR (all the tools, massive number of quality offers)

10. Mitchell Shinskie DL (quick DL, good offers)

11. Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB (hitter, good offers)


12 comments:

Tod Howard Hawks, Columbia College, Class of 1966 said...

It's now a bit after 4:00 am Sunday, May 20,2018.

Well, in my last post I said I was really looking forward to reading over this weekend the bios of all the incoming freshmen. So I started reading and I couldn't stop. And that's why I'm typing this post at a bit after 4:00 am. It was exhilarating.

I was impressed finding out that so many of our recruits turned down offers from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton to come to Columbia. Bagnoli and his staff really know what they are doing.

I know it's only mid-May right now, but I am really excited not only about our new recruits, but also about the entire Columbia football team. I know the competition among the Ivy teams this Fall will be fierce as always, but I can feel in my bones that Columbia will be awfully strong, again, this coming season.

As others have already said, the keys for Columbia to win in 2018, I believe, will be the QBs and the running backs. In virtually all the other positions, we seem to be loaded with bear.

I can't wait for September to arrive.

Tod Howard Hawks, Columbia College, Class of 1966 said...

Or is the correct expression (see post above) "loaded for bear"?

That's what 4:00 am will do to you.

Unknown said...

Yes, it's loaded FOR bear. If we were loaded WITH bear, we'd be that other place in Little Rhody.

And, yes, that's what we want to be loaded for, as well as for tiger, red, green, crimson, eli, and quaker (all singular just like bear).

Go Lions in 2019!

alawicius said...

Don't kill innocent animals for sport. Life is precious, everyone, man or beast, has a right to life.

Tod Howard Hawks, Columbia College, Class of 1966 said...

Does anyone know the backstory as to why Derric Lee flipped from Harvard to Columbia?

And alawicius, I think you reached a false conclusion about my use of the expression "loaded for bear." Really, now....

Unknown said...

Couldn't agree more. Just responding to the language issues raised in the previous posts.

Tod Howard Hawks, Columbia College, Class of 1966 said...

Dominic Dodson, 5'11", 185 lbs, CB, Central Catholic, Pittsburg, PA, becomes Columbia's first 2019 football commit.

By the way, where is oldlion? We haven't heard from him for awhile, and I miss his cogent comments.

oldlion said...

Old Lion is alive, well and basking in the fact that this is probably Al's greatest recruiting class to date. The depth of the class is what impresses me. Al ahs said that what he wants is competition ant every position. We have incredible depth across the defense. Hopefully we have the next Cam Roane at one corner. As far as the offense, it will be interesting to see if Al goes back to the system of RB by committee and the rotation of two QBs.

RLB said...

It seems there's a possibility of a tv deal on top of the ESPN+ arrangement. It would have some Friday night games. Definitely uncertain!

RLB said...

Luke Painton tweeted he's received an offer from Columbia.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5377871/Luke-Painton

Unknown said...

As the mom of one of the incoming players, I want to personally thank all of you for your support and interest in the team. Everything you are writing about the staff is exactly why he chose Columbia. Coach Bagnoli and his staff represent a generational opportunity for these boys. Ivy Championships are coming. We didn't know about this fan base though...this is amazing. Sincerely...Thank you all and I cannot wait for the season to start either.

Chen1982 said...

Heath highlight film reminds me of Penn’s Justin Watson when I watched the Penn game. With him added to the arsenal of receivers...Smith, Wainwright, Pitts, Kabus, Everett, Castlin....wow