Jon Poppe
The title question of this post is something so many of us are asking each other regularly these days. The discussion usually begins after we learn of yet another very impressive recruit committing to Columbia Football.
It seems ridiculously early to start discussing next year's crop of incoming freshmen, the high quality of so many of the 2026 commits compels me to do so in this podcast I'm making available for paid subscribers to my Substack only.
Enjoy.
Hugo Merry
No, Lion PK Hugo Merry is not short (he’s 6-2) but there isn’t too much to talk about when it comes to Special Teams personnel as we stand about a month away from training camp.
I’ll break down in this mini-podcast some of the key news for this unit, which actually doesn’t have an incoming freshman joining the kicking corps.
Players mentioned in this podcast:
Hugo Merry
Braden Dougherty
Columbia’s existing tight end corps is talented, but not exactly deep.
Rising junior Braden Dougherty showed amazing talent as a clutch receiver last season, but his production slacked off after Chase Goodwin’s injury midseason.
I’ll look at this unit, including the one incoming freshman joining the crew at TE, in this podcast.
Players mentioned in this podcast:
Braden Dougherty
*BTW, as documented on my LionFeeders sit, Braden James is the second-ever commit from the Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri, and the first from that school since Brandon Buckley '08.
Chase Goodwin
What a difference a year makes!
At this time last year, Columbia was a total mystery at the QB position, without any starters returning, let alone anyone who had led the Lions to even one victory under center.
Now, Columbia has no fewer than three returning players who have engineered starting wins under center and a total of four guys who have completed at least one pass in an Ivy game.
I’ll take a look at CU’s sudden embarrassment of riches in this podcast.
Players mentioned in this podcast:
Jack Smiechowski
Columbia’s linebacking corps is another position group where graduation has taken a toll. Losing Anthony Roussos & CJ Brown is not easy, but it’s also rare to have two returning linebackers with All-Ivy ability.
They are senior Jack Smiechowski & junior Charlie Newton.
I’ll take a closer look at them, several other guys in the mix, and the man overseeing this position, Linebackers Coach Justin Woodley, who appears to be a genius coach in the making.
To hear the mini-podcast, click here.
Players mentioned in this podcast:
Jack Smiechowski
Charlie Newton
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Griffin Johnson
My latest mini-podcast (they will get longer as we get closer and into the 2025 season) is a short preview of the position group I think is the biggest question mark for the Lions right now.
Columbia’s running attack goes into 2025 needing to adjust to the graduation loss of Joey Giorgi ‘25, who finished his career as the number 2 all-time leading rusher in program history.
I’ll take a look at who’s coming back in this position group and the newcomers.
You can check out the podcast by clicking here.
Players mentioned in this podcast:
Columbia will boast a very talented and veteran offensive line in 2025, led by All Ivy honoree Noah Jordan at Right Tackle.
I look at the other key returning veterans and speak about each of the incoming seven freshman OL’s (plus one Long Snapper) in today’s podcast that you can hear by clicking here.
Players mentioned in this podcast:
Noah Jordan