The 2023 football roster has now been updated, clearing up some questions about who is and isn't coming back this fall. These questions have always been a big part of the off season in Ivy League football, but COVID and the transfer portal have made the mysteries more numerous and difficult to unravel.
Here are a couple of quick takes:
GOOD NEWS
Senior WR JJ Jenkins, who had a breakout year for the Lions last year, is coming back. That gives CU a formidable returning wide receiving corps of Bryson Canty, Marcus Libman, Jenkins, and the oft-injured but sure-handed Wills Meyer also in the mix. Also keep an eye open for sophomore Edan Stagg in this group.
We already knew that QB's Caden Bell and Joe Green were returning, giving the Lions a rare level of depth at the game's most crucial position. But the videos of spring practices show that both Green and Bell are participating, which is a bit of a surprise for Bell because 5th year seniors usually have to take the spring semester before their final seasons off to remain eligible (this must be a result of special COVID rules).
NOT SO BAD NEWS
The 2023 offensive line will not be totally devoid of game experience. Zach Mills and Andrew Pruske both got on the field a lot last year and Pruske had some starts. Judge Niland played in one game. Braeden Bellmer made the travel team but did not play. Luke Painton is still listed as a TE, but I guess we're keeping his move to LT a "secret."
RB Nicolas Nesbitt has left the team, but Joey Giorgi, Ty'Son Edwards, and Malcom Terry are back, and Jake Langdon is recovered from his ACL tear last year.
NOT SO GREAT NEWS
DB Brian Bell-Anderson is not returning, leaving a hole in the secondary. But there is still a lot of experience among last year's backups along with the super-talented returning starters Seth Parker and Aaron Brebnor.
WHO KNOWS?
There are 33 returning seniors on the roster, and it's usually a very good sign to have 30 or more of those in Ivy ball.
... And we're still waiting on the official release on incoming freshmen.
17 comments:
Seems like we have more talent at quarterback than ever before with not only Bell and Green, but Simpkins, Greer and McCauley. Extraordinary depth at the qb position particularly if you add the two promising freshman qb's to the mix.
With J.J. Jenkins coming back there is no question that our top three receivers are the best in the Ivy League. If I remember correctly, Bryson Canty was the sophomore to make first team all-Ivy and Libman is a threat to go the distance wherever he catches the football. Extraordinary depth with Wills Meyer and the player you mentioned from Louisiana who was our top rated recruit two years ago.
I would like to see a power back emerge for short yardage situations. Edwards is probably the closest we come in that regard.
Spring game is on Saturday, April 22 @ 11:30 am
We certainly need a "power back" or "wildcat" in short gain situations and the coaching staff needs to be very creative in that regard. At this time, the coaching staff is probably considering all five of the running backs on the roster, namely Edwards, Giorgi, Terry, Huerta and Langdon, as the possible "power back." However, none of those players are nearly as big as two of our best defensive linemen, Justin Townsend and Josh Powell. My understanding is that Townsend and Powell both excelled on offense in high school, Townsend at running back, and Powell at quarterback. Townsend and Powell now weigh about 245 and 235 respectively, which is probably much more than their high school weights. Of course, there may be reasons why neither of these players are likely to play "power back." Just wondering.
Marcellus Wiley was an occasional power back. So was Des Werthman.
i remember wiley gaining a critical first down in a game at Baker Field in wind so powerful punts into it went nowhere and the refs had to hold the ball on the turf between plays lest it literally blow away. wiley leapfrogged over the D (was it Lehigh's) helping that terrific Lions team secure a 3-0 win.
Even with all the depth Columbia has at quarterback this year, the Lions need to be careful not to lose the top two guys to injury, particularly in a non-conference game. That one of the many reasons why the development of the back-up QB'S will be crucial to the Lions' success this year. My understanding is that only two of our qb's have seen varsity action thus far at Columbia. However, I have heard some good things about several of the back-ups so it will be exciting to see what happens.
Re injuries to our top two QBs having to be avoided at costs, one more reason not to play an early game against Fordham—remember Brackett and Nottingham both being mauled at Rose Hill.
I'd be more inclined to put a TE as an H-back for those power plays you're talking about. Size is the same and ball control are much better than a defensive lineman. Having said that, the wildcat didn't serve the team well at all last season and a lot of players didn't like it at all.
A number of these guys played multiple positions in high school and played them well. however, at this level, I don't love the idea of defense playing offense and vice versa. Keep the ball in the hands of the guys who practice with it every day.
The Wildcat last year probably cost us at least the Princeton game and was bungled on other occasions; coach Al needs to tell Coach Fab that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Or doing the same thing over and over again is the definition of insanity.
"Or doing the same thing over and over again is the definition of insanity."
Or, doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different outcome...is the definition of insanity.
Yes!
I stand corrected; not sure how I booted that one; sort of like a botched wildcat play from the 2 yard line.
After yesterday I think we found out power back!!!
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Any reports on the spring game? I coulldn’t make it.
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