When Head Coach Al Bagnoli came to the Lions, the place kicking situation was one of the more unsettling parts of the team.
But in just a few years, not only had it improved but it also boasted impressive depth.
Some of this was the result of shuffling the assets better. When Bagnoli took over in 2015, Cameron Nizialek '17 was tasked with place kicking and punting. Nizialek actually did not do a bad job as the kicker, but his punting was All Ivy caliber. Once relieved of the kicking duties in 2016, Nizialek indeed had an All Ivy season and even landed a post-grad starting punting slot with Georgia the following year.
As a freshman kicker, current rising senior Oren Milstein was a revelation was he put in one of the best kicking seasons in Lion history. He wasn't quite as good in 2017, but still one of the best in the league.
Then, 2018 began with what seemed like a tragedy in the making. Milstein was injured and kickoff specialist Chris Alleyne had to step in.
All Alleyne did was post the best place kicking season in Columbia history. He went 15-18 on field goals, including 6-7 from 40 yards or more. He broke the all-time school longest FG record with a 51 yarder against Yale. And he was 5-5 on FG's in the three games Columbia won by one score or less.
Oh... and he was a perfect 24-24 on PATs.
Not only was Alleyne the clear best special teams player on a team with a lot of very good special teams performers in 2018, he's a definite contender for MVP of the entire team.
3 comments:
Alleyne had, as you put it, "the best place kicking season in Columbia history." Hard to argue with that choice. Would give Runners-up honors to Mike Roussos who showed a great deal of maturity as a Freshman in his role as Kick Return Specialist.
Still replaying that kickoff return vs Cornell (*smile*).
Remarkable season, especially for a kid who endured a great deal of patience waiting for his opportunity when perhaps it was overlooked the year before.
The distant field goals were what impressed the most!
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