The Most Important Position?

Columbia's linebacking crew could turn out to be the best unit on the team, and one that may benefit the most from the added year to help injuries heal. 

Perhaps the best player on the entire team is LB Scott Valentas, now officially a junior. Valentas was twice named Ivy League Rookie of the Week and he played a big role in Columbia's wins over Penn and Harvard. 

Seniors Cam Dillon and John Harris also return and they bring a combination of talent and experience to the table. 

Then there's the encouraging presence of Justin Woodley on the roster. When he was injured in training camp in 2019 with a separated shoulder and then re-injured that shoulder in the Princeton game in week three, it seemed like his playing career was over. Thus, the fact that he is coming back for a 5th year should lead us to believe Woodley may be healed enough to again make an impact. Simply put, if he is ready to play at near the level he was before he first injured himself against Princeton in 2018, he could be an All Ivy player. 

Also coming back with some playing experience are seniors Cameron Brown, Devin Hart, and junior TJ McGarry.

The exciting newcomers at LB are led by Mike Roussos' brother Anthony Roussos, who was one of the best "gets" of the 2020 freshman class. 

Joining Roussos from the 2020 freshman class. (now officially sophomores), is the exceedingly speedy CJ Brown. who played outside LB and safety in HS and the coaches chose to plant him at LB. 

Freshman Rocco Milia looks promising coming out of the Brother Rice program in the Detroit area... his very Italian name and that Detroit pedigree have me hoping he'll follow in the footsteps of Gianmarco Rea '17, who was such a standout LB for the Lions. 

I'd say this group could be dominant if Valentas picks up where he left off, Dillon is healthy, Harris improves slightly, Woodely comes back at 90% of his 2018 level, and one of the newcomers like Roussos gets into the mix. 

That's crucial because many coaches have told me that linebacker is the most important unit on a college football team. From a Columbia standpoint that seems true as the two best Lion teams of the past generation, (1996 and 2017), both had standout linebacking crews (1996's LB's were led by Rory Wilfork, and the 2017 team had Michael Murphy, Woodley, and some talented role players). 

This year's linebackers will need to pick up what could be some significant slack from an inexperienced DL, so excellence here is non-negotiable if the Lions want to get back into contention in 2021.