Prime Acquisition

Nicolas Nesbitt

It took a few days, but we've finally identified the new Columbia commit from Arizona is none other than 5-9 190 pound RB Nicolas Nesbitt from Chandler HS in Chandler, Arizona. 

Nesbitt is one of the most promising RB prospects coming to Columbia in several years. He also had offers from Dartmouth, Penn, Brown, Lafayette, Bucknell, Morehead State, among others. 

According to my LionFeeders all-time Columbia Football commitment database, Nesbitt will be the third player from Chandler HS to come to CU after Kaleb Pitts '20 and Ej Odigwe '15. 

Nesbitt gave a short interview just today explaining his reasons for choosing Columbia and more. 

So here is the updated list:

1. JD Bengston LB 6-2 220 lbs. Tift County HS Tifton, GA

2. Aaron Brebnor DB 6-0 175 lbs. North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, GA 

3. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

4. Bryson Canty WR 6-3 190 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

5. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

6. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

7. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

8. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

9. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

10. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

11. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

12. Jake Langdon RB 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

13. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

14. Terrell Long WR/DB 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

15. Rocco Milia DB/WR 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

16. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

17. Nicolas Nesbitt RB 5-9 190 lbs. Chandler HS Chandler, AZ

18. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

19. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

20. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

21. Shawn Riley DB 6-3 220 lbs. Trinity Episcopal HS Richmond, VA 

22. Charlie Sessa TE/WR 6-5 215 lbs. Hinsdale Central HS Hinsdale, IL

23. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

24. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

More from Georgia

JD Bengston

6-2 220 pound LB JD Bengston from Tift Country HS in Tifton, Georgia has committed to the Lions. 

Here's a short write-up about him from a local recruiting site. 

Bengston will be the first Tift County grad to come to Columbia Football.

So here is the updated list:

1. JD Bengston LB 6-2 220 lbs. Tift County HS Tifton, GA

2. Aaron Brebnor DB 6-0 175 lbs. North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, GA 

3. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

4. Bryson Canty WR 6-3 190 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

5. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

6. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

7. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

8. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

9. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

10. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

11. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

12. Jake Langdon RB 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

13. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

14. Terrell Long WR/DB 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

15. Rocco Milia DB/WR 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

16. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

17. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

18. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

19. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

20. Shawn Riley DB 6-3 220 lbs. Trinity Episcopal HS Richmond, VA 

21. Charlie Sessa TE/WR 6-5 215 lbs. Hinsdale Central HS Hinsdale, IL

22. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

23. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

Georgia DB

Aaron Brebnor

6-0, 175 pound DB Aaron Brebnor from North Gwinnett HS near Atlanta, GA has committed to the Lions.

Brebnor had offers from Army, and Tennessee-Martin.

North Gwinnett is the same high school where Columbia found current sophomore OL Will Hamilton. Brebnor is just the second North Gwinnett grad to come to Columbia Football.

So here is the updated list:

1. Aaron Brebnor DB 6-0 175 lbs. North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, GA 

2. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

3. Bryson Canty WR 6-3 190 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

4. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

5. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

6. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

7. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

8. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

9. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

10. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

11. Jake Langdon RB 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

12. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

13. Terrell Long WR/DB 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

14. Rocco Milia DB/WR 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

15. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

16. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

17. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

18. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

19. Shawn Riley DB 6-3 220 lbs. Trinity Episcopal HS Richmond, VA 

20. Charlie Sessa TE/WR 6-5 215 lbs. Hinsdale Central HS Hinsdale, IL

21. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

22. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

Virginia Athlete

 

Shawn Riley

6-3, 220 pound DB Shawn Riley from the Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, VA has committed to the Lions. 

Riley had offers from William & Mary, Lafayette, Fordham, and a few others.

Riley will be the first Trinity Episcopal grad to come to Columbia Football. 

Despite the COVID-19 uncertainty, we now have 21 reported commits for 2021. At this time in 2019, we had 15. 

So here is the updated list:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Bryson Canty WR 6-3 190 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

3. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

4. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

5. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

6. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

7. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

8. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

9. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

10. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

11. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

12. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

13. Rocco Milia 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

14. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

15. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

16. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

17. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

18. Shawn Riley DB 6-3 220 lbs. Trinity Episcopal HS Richmond, VA 

19. Charlie Sessa TE/WR 6-5 215 lbs. Hinsdale Central HS Hinsdale, IL

20. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

21. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

Another Tall Order

Charlie Sessa

6-5, 215 pound TE/WR Charlie Sessa from Hinsdale Central HS in Hinsdale, IL has committed to the Lions.

He had offers from Brown, Colgate, and Valparaiso. 

Sessa is a newcomer to organized football. which is a profile that often leads to great success in the Ivies. (longer term stars usually get snatched up by bigger football programs).

Speaking of bigger programs. his brother Michael Sessa was a four-year backup QB at Michigan.

Sessa will be the third Hinsdale grad to come to Columbia Football, joining current senior Josh Bean and Mike Marsh '05. 

At 6-5, Sessa is just the latest Lion commit measuring in at 6 feet or taller. Looking at the current list of 20 commits, (see below), the average height is 6-3. 

Another trend may be coming into focus as well, which is it appears Columbia is aggressively recruiting during COVID while some other schools may be holding off a bit amid the uncertainty. It also appears that Columbia is targeting a number of offerees and commits playing at schools with suspended or severely cut back football seasons that are not getting the bigger time offers they would have received from major FBS programs. 

So here is the updated list:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Bryson Canty WR 6-3 190 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

3. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

4. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

5. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

6. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

7. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

8. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

9. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

10. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

11. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

12. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

13. Rocco Milia 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

14. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

15. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

16. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

17. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

18. Charlie Sessa TE/WR 6-5 215 lbs. Hinsdale Central HS Hinsdale, IL

19. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

20. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

Winning Another Recruiting Battle

Bryson Canty

6-3 190 pound WR Bryson Canty from Reagan HS in Pfafftown, NC has committed to the Lions.

Here's an article from this summer describing Canty as a 3-star recruit. He also had offers from Princeton, Penn. Yale. Dartmouth, Army, Navy, Air Force, among others.

Canty will be the second Reagan HS grad to come to Columbia Football, following current freshman Gabriel Hollingsworth.  

Remember, you can check the names of every HS that's ever sent a player to the Columbia Football program on my exclusive Lionfeeders site.

So here is the updated list:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Bryson Canty WR 6-3 190 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

3. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

4. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

5. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

6. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

7. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

8. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

9. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

10. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

11. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

12. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

13. Rocco Milia 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

14. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

15. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

16. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

17. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

18. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

19. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

2021 Harvest Continues

Rocca Milia

6-3 195 pound DB Rocco Milia from Brother Rice HS in Bloomfield Hills, MI (Detroit area), has committed to Columbia. I know the coaches must be overjoyed to grab a DB taller than 6-1.

Milia had offers from several schools including Penn, Fordham, Indiana State, and a preferred walk-on offer from Michigan.

At Brother Rice, he also plays WR, and he caught a TD pass in a game Friday. 

According to my LionFeeders database Milia will be the third Brother Rice grd to come to Columbia Football, and the first since DL standout Dominic Perkovic '18. 

John Iannuzzi

Also joining the pride is 6-4 300 pound OL John Iannuzzi from the Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, MA. 

Iannuzzi had offers from Cornell and Lafayette, among others.

He will be the first Dexter grad to come to Columbia (last year's Dexter commit Stephen Brooks changed his commitment to Georgetown).

So here is the updated list:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

3. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

4. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

5. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

6. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

7. John Iannuzzi OL 6-4 300 lbs. Dexter Southfield HS Brookline, MA

8. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

9. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

10. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

11. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

12. Rocco Milia 6-3 195 lbs. Brother Rice HS Bloomfield, MI

13. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

14. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

15. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

16. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

17. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

18. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

A Good Gamble

Justin Townsend #36

6-2, 220 pound LB Justin Townsend from Randolph HS in Randolph, NJ has committed to Columbia.

Townsend is a extremely impressive-looking prospect who may have become a plausible target for Columbia instead of a major FBS program because of a left knee injury he suffered in his freshman year.

It's not clear what position Townsend will play for the Lions, but a tweet he posted announcing his commitment put him at DE. 

In Randolph's first game of the season this weekend, Townsend starred on offense with two TD receptions.

Townsend will be the first Randolph grad to come to Columbia Football.

So here is the updated list:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

3. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

4. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

5. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

6. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

7. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

8. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

9. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

10. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

11. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

12. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

13. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

14. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

15. Justin Townsend LB 6-2 220 lbs. Randolph HS Randolph, NJ

16. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

#15

Jack Larsen

The 15th reported commit to the incoming 2021 freshman class is 6-4 235 pound DE/TE Jack Larsen from Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, New Jersey. 

Larsen will be the ninth Seton Hall grad to come to Columbia, in a group that includes recent TE grad Rory Schlageter.

So here is the updated list:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

3. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

4. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

5. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

6. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

7. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

8. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

9. Jack Larsen DE/TE 6-4 235 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

10. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

11. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

12. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

13. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

14. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

15. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

Two More

 Two more high school seniors have committed to Columbia in the last 36 hours. 

Jalen Smith

First is 6-0, 170 pound CB/WR Jalen Smith from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.  Smith seems like another one of those 6-foot and taller corners Al Bagnoli's staff has been keen on for years now. 

Smith had offers from Morgan State and Trinity, but I feel like he had some other schools sniffing around as well. 

Smith will be the fourth McDonogh School graduate to come to Columbia Football, and joining current freshman QB and McDonogh grad Kris Jenner.

Patrick Wade

Next we have 6-6, 235 pound TE/WR Patrick Wade, who is doing his senior year at IMG Academy in Florida but also attended St. Sebastian's School in Needham, MA. 

Wade will be the first IMG grad to come to Columbia and the second player from St. Sebastian's.

Wade is also an extremely highly-rated 1st baseman, and it appears he will be playing both varsity football and baseball at CU.

Here now is our list of 14 reported commits for 2021:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

3. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

4. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

5. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

6. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

7. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

8. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

9. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

10. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

11. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

12. Jalen Smith CB/WR 6-0 170 lbs. McDonogh School Owings Mills. MD

13. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

14. Patrick Wade TE/WR 6-6 235 lbs. IMG Academy Bradenton , FL

Filling out the List

The good news is that we now know the names of all the new 2021 commits the coaches have been crowing about on social media. I'll briefly profile them and add them to the list below. 

The bad news is that parents of current students tell me that Columbia is still not planning to return to normal on-campus living and classes through the NEXT fall semester. In other words, no real campus life until 2022. 

If that's the case, I don't see how Ivy League football or any team sports recruiting can go on or whether these sports will ever be able to really recover. 

So, let's just keep an eye on all of this for now.

Chase Harleston

CA WR, part one

The first of two California-based WR's the coaches tweeted about is 6"3 185-pound Chase Harleston from the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles.  Harleston is a great combination of speed, hands, and height. 

He had offers from Penn, Dartmouth, Cornell, Army, Air Force, Cal Poly, Fordham, UC Davis, UNLV, San Diego, and Northern Arizona.

Harleston will be the fifth Harvard-Westlake grad to come to Columbia Football.

Terrell Long

CA WR, part two

Next is 6"3 180-pound Terrell Long from the Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, CA.  Long also had solid offers from Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Cornell. 

Long will be the second Sierra Canyon grad to come to Columbia Football.

Jake Langdon

Indy RB

Another new commit is 6"0 185-pound RB Jake Langdon from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. He had offers from local schools like Valparaiso and Butler. 

Langdon will be the first Cathedral HS grad to come to Columbia Football. 

So, here is the list of our 12 known 2021 commits:

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

3. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

4. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

5. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

6. Chase Harleston WR 6-3 185 Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles, CA

7. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

8. Jake Langdon 6-0 185 lbs. Cathedral HS Indianapolis, IN

9. Terrell Long 6-3 180 lbs. Sierra Canyon Chatsworth, CA

10. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

11. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

12. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

LionFeeders Database Updated!

Los Fresnos HS

My growing LionFeeders database of just about every man who has been listed on the Columbia Football roster over the year is now updated to include the current freshman class. 

As always, I hope this serves as a valuable tool for our coaches as they recruit across the country.

One Known, One Unknown

Augustus Rice (left)

Since my last posting, the coaches have tweeted about two new commits for the fall 2021 incoming freshman class. 

Friends have helped me identify the big lineman from Texas they mentioned, but not the WR from California.

(The lineman from Maryland I couldn't confirm earlier was indeed Anthony D'Angelo.

The lineman is 6-6 305-pound OT Augustus Rice from Waller HS in Waller, TX. Rice had offers from several schools, including Dartmouth, Cornell, and Tulane.

Rice will be the first Waller HS grad to come to Columbia Football.

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

3. Anthony D'Angelo OL 6-4 245 lbs. Kent Island HS Stevensville, MD

4. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

5. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

6. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

7. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

8. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX 

9. Augustus Rice OL 6-6 305 lbs. Waller HS Waller, TX

Getting Back to Work

 

As disappointed as I am about no Columbia Football this fall, there is a possibility that there will be some kind of season this spring... and so with that in mind, let's look at some of the news since the academic semester began:

Official New Class

-I'm a bit hesitant to officially update the freshman class of 2020 without ever knowing if they will truly have a freshman season, but the official Columbia Football website has all the incoming freshmen listed on the roster now. I'll add them to my LionFeeders all-time recruitment database by the end of the week, but here are some notes and updates:

1) Right at the top of the list alphabetically is a late addition in 6-5, 235-pound DL Quentin Autry from Notre Dame HS in Lawrenceville, NJ. Autry will be the first Notre Dame HS grad to come to Columbia Football.

2) Another late addition is 6-3, 295-pound OL Noah Mallard from Denmark HS in Cumming, GA.  Mallard will also be the first CU Football player from Denmark HS. 

3) 6-4, 290-pound OL Zach Mills originally committed for 2019, but took a PG year at Massachusetts' Williston Northampton Prep after graduating from Mandarin HS in Jacksonville, FL. Mills is the second Mandarin HS grad to come to Columbia Football after QB Joe Winters '06. He's the 5th Williston Northampton grad to come to the CU Football program. 

4) 5-11, 165-pound WR Isaac Silva from Hawaii's Saint Louis School was another late add. Silva will be the first St. Louis School grad to come to Columbia Football since Joe Almony '70.

5) Speedy CB Trey King dropped his Columbia commitment for Trinity. 

6) Cooper Thomas also did not make it onto the incoming roster, but he may be deferring for a year as I see no evidence of a commitment elsewhere. 

2021 Class

Believe it or not, schools are still giving out offers for next season's freshmen even as we don't know much about what will happen with this season. 

Columbia has eight commitments for 2021 so far.

They are: 

1. William Butz LB 6-2 210 lbs. Riverside HS Leesburg, VA

Butz would be the first to come to CU Football from Riverside HS

2. Patrick Colicchio OL 6-4 280 lbs. Bergen Catholic Oradell, NJ

Rare recruiting win of a kid offered by all eight Ivies. Would be 13th Bergen Catholic grad to come to CU Football.

3. Raleigh Erwin DL 6-2 245 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

Would be thirst Lake Travis HS grad to come to Columbia Football. Lake Travis is where we found the talented Brock Kenyon '17.

4. Austin Grier QB 6-0 200 lbs. Vance HS Charlotte, NC

Will be first Vance HS grad to come to CU Football.

5. Hayden McDonald DB/WR 5-10 170 lbs. O'Dea HS Seattle, WA

Will be first O'Dea HS grad to come to CU Football.

6. Lucas Mireur DB 6-1 180 lbs. Westlake HS Austin, TX

May be the best of the '21 class so far. Will be third Westlake HS grad to come to CU Football. 

7. Judge Niland OL 6-4 237 lbs. Lake Travis HS Austin, TX

Yes, we've been busy in Austin this year. 

8. Still unidentified commit from Maryland, but I believe it's OL Anthony J. De'Angelo from Kent Island HS in Stevensville, MD

Another Tough Loss

Massachusetts State Senator Martin Dunn '79 died last week. As Frank Furillo '70 tells me: 

"He was involved in Democratic politics in MA for many years, and would always sponsor a bus trip for a group of 40 annually to one Columbia away game (usually (Dartmouth, Harvard or Yale) ….. he’d pay for the bus, the beer, and the after party at a local watering hole near the game …. Generous and well-liked are words that best describe Marty Dunn."

A formal obituary is here. 

All's that's Been Lost

 Today is September 12, 2020. 

Today should be the beginning of "game week" to start the Ivy League football season.

Today should have been the day I publish my final predictions for the upcoming year.

Today should have been a lot of things.

But instead, Columbia Football and most of the rest of college football is silent and we don't even know when our sport will resume.

As much as I'm feeling pretty bereft about missing my favorite part of the sports year, my real sympathies go out to the student athletes and the student body in general. Something has been stolen from them, and there's really no knowing if the theft was in any way justified. Not only are sports canceled, but Columbia's entire fall semester is a sham of online classes that takes away the true educational atmosphere that is interacting with classmates and professors in and out of class. 

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the COVID-19 lockdowns and cancellations weren't a major reason why I've taken almost 5 months off from posting here, even as the incoming 2020 freshmen class was announced and we've learned of new commitments for 2021. I will resume with some updates and analysis beginning this week.

But for now, I just wanted to express what I think all of us are feeling: frustration and sadness. 

One Gain, One Loss

Isaac Silva

Based on his Twitter feed, we have a new commit to the incoming freshman football class in 6-0, 180 pound WR Isaac Silva from St. Louis High School in Hawaii.

Silva reportedly had a preferred walk on offer at Syracuse.

According to my LionFeeders database, Silva will be the second St. Louis HS grad to come to Columbia Football after Joe Almony '70.

King Gone


Based on his Twitter feed, DB Trey King from Texas has dropped Columbia in favor of Trinity College. 

So here is a revised look at our incoming freshmen and new players class as it stands now:

1. David Bartholomew DE 6-7 235 lbs. St. Francis HS Athol Springs, NY

2. Braeden Bellmer OL 6-4 260 lbs. Puyallup HS Puyallup, WA

3. Courtney Brown LB 5-11 200 lbs. Shadow Creek Pearland, TX

4. Dominic Busby TE 6-4 220 lbs. Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ

5. Jackson Coker WR 5-11 170 lbs. Westlake HS, Austin, TX

6. Ben Corniello OL/DE 6-2 250 lbs. Daniel Hand HS Madison, CT

7. Ty'son Edwards RB 5-11 195 lbs. Marcus HS Flower Mound, TX

8. Reid Englert DE 6-3 230 lbs. Ridgefield HS Ridgefield, CT

9. Joey Giorgi RB/LB 5-11 200 lbs. Grafton HS Grafton, WI

#10. Joe Green QB 6-4 205 lbs. Skyline HS Sammamish, WA

11. Gabriel Hollingsworth QB 6-3 207 lbs. Reagan HS Pfafftown, NC

12. William Hughes K/P 5-11 150 lbs. Chantilly HS Chantilly, VA

13. Kristopher Jenner QB 6-5 225 lbs. McDonough School Pomfret, MD

14. James Knox DL 6-4 240 lbs. Newtown HS Newtown, CT

15. Clarence Krebs OL 6-5 275 lbs. Servite HS Anaheim, CA

16. Noah Layton OL 6-5 280 lbs. Benilde-St. Margaret's HS St Louis Park, MN

17. Marcus Libman WR 6-1 185 lbs. Pinnacle HS Phoenix, AZ

18. Carter McFadden DB/WR 5-10 165 lbs. Montgomery HS Montgomery, NJ

19. Wills Meyer WR 6-2 190 lbs. Southlake Carroll HS Southlake, TX

20. James Miller TE/LB 6-4 230 lbs. Ridgewood HS Ridgewood, NJ

21. Mahari Miller ATH 5-10 160 lbs. Springfield Central HS Springfield, MA

22. Seth Parker DB 5-10 168 lbs. Hoover HS Hoover, AL

23. Patrick Passalacqua OL 6-2 265 lbs. Old Tappan HS Old Tappan, NJ

24. Savon Rawlins TE/DE 6-4 230 lbs. Lawrenceville School Princeton, NJ

*25. Scott Rossati FS K 6-3 205 lbs Grosse Point HS, Grosse Point Farms. MI

26. Anthony Roussos LB 6-0 210 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL

27. Isaac Silva WR 6-0 180 lbs. St. Louis HS Honolulu, HI 

28. Reid Spachman DE/LB 6-3 225 lbs. Blue Valley North HS Overland Park, KS

29. Cooper Thomas LB 6-2 215 lbs. St. Thomas HS, Houston, TX

30. Mason Tomlin CB WR 5-9 160 lbs. Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh, PA

31. Nico Valencia WR 6-0 185 lbs. Los Fresnos HS Los Fresnos, TX

#transfer from San Diego State University

*also did PG year at Hotchkiss School