HUGE Loss

If this report is true, Columbia defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa is leaving the staff to go back to Boston College.

From the first day that Lempa came to CU, I've made no mystery of my opinion that he is best coach in the entire group. Losing him is a tough blow, no other way to say it.

We'll keep our eyes and ears open to see who will replace Lempa in this very key position.

Signing Day Shots (Part 2)

Toure Douglas signs with mom and dad

Lubbock Corner

It took me a while, but a player who committed to Columbia all the way back in September has finally appeared on my radar.

6-1 200 lbs. DB Nick Annabi is coming to the Lions from Coronado HS in Lubbock, TX.

You can see Annabi's senior and junior highlight reels below:

Annabi is a two-time All District player from what is indeed a very tough Texas high school football region.

He had 80 tackles and eight INT's this past season for Coronado.

Annabi will be the first documented Coronado grad to play for the Lions.

Here's our unofficial list of commits so far:

1. Nicholas Annabi, DB 6-1 200 lbs. Coronado HS, Lubbock, TX

2. Michael Bigach, OL 6-6 245 lbs. St. Ignatius HS, Cleveland, OH
3. Tony Bonadies, OL 6-5 315 lbs. Leonia HS, Leonia, NJ
4. Keith Brady, LB 6-2 205 lbs. Lakota East HS, Liberty Township, OH
5. Billy Carson, DL 6-3 280 lbs. Lexington HS, Lexington, SC
6. Toure Douglas, WR 6-4 188 lbs. Vineland HS, Vineland, NJ

7. Cameron Dunn, WR 6-3 210 lbs. St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, OH

8. Nathan Gibbs, OL 6-4, 285 lbs. Hickory HS, Hickory, NC

9. Kelly Hilinski, QB 6-6 220 lbs. Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, CA

10. Denzel Hill, WR 6-3 185 lbs. North Point HS, Waldorf, MD

11. John Hunton, TE 6-5 235, lbs. Southside HS, Fort Smith AR

12. Ben Kaplan, WR 6-4 180 lbs. St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, IL

13. Tyler Kwiatkowski, LB 6-3 220 lbs. Mount Carmel HS, Mount Carmel, PA

14. Charles Melka, DL 6-4 238 lbs. Benet Academy, Lisle, IL

15. Eric Mourkakos, OL/DL 6-3, 235 lbs. Dwight-Englewood HS, Englewood, NJ

16. Cameron Nizialek, K/P 6-3 195 lbs. Freedom HS, South Riding, VA

*17. Brett Nottingham, QB 6-4 212 lbs. Monte Vista HS, Danville, CA

18. Kendall Pace, OL 6-5 250 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS, Forestville, MD 

19. Will Peoples, S 6-1 190 lbs. Buckingham, Browne & Nichols, Cambridge, MA

20. Gianmarco Rea, FB/LB 6-2 215 lbs. Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills, MI

21. Connor Spears, WR 6-6 205 lbs. Bishop Heelan HS, Sioux City, IA

22. Parker Tobia, LB 6-1 200 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ

23. Richard Wolff, OL 6-3 254 lbs. Crespi HS Encino, CA

*=Transfer from Stanford University, junior status 

Some Signing Day Shots (part 1)

I like to post as many pics of our incoming players as I can.

I'll start now with the group shot from Detroit Country Day School featuring incoming LB Gianmarco Rea.

Please send more so I can post them here.

Big Billy C.

Those of us hoping for a big DT to add to this recruiting class just got our wish.

6-3 280 lbs. Billy Carson from Lexington HS in South Carolina has committed to the Lions.


You can see his latest highlight video by clicking here.


You can see his junior highlight video below:

Carson comes from a high school team that was one of the top squads in the country, especially in his junior year when the team was led by current University of South Carolina WR Shaq Roland.

Carson would be the first Lexington grad to join the Lion program, but he would keep the spirit of South Carolina alive at Wien Stadium as fellow Palmetto stater Will Patterson is graduating this May.

Here's our unofficial list of commits so far:

1. Michael Bigach, OL 6-6 245 lbs. St. Ignatius HS, Cleveland, OH
2. Tony Bonadies, OL 6-5 315 lbs. Leonia HS, Leonia, NJ
3. Keith Brady, LB 6-2 205 lbs. Lakota East HS, Liberty Township, OH
4. Billy Carson, DL 6-3 280 lbs. Lexington HS, Lexington, SC
5. Toure Douglas, WR 6-4 188 lbs. Vineland HS, Vineland, NJ

6. Cameron Dunn, WR 6-3 210 lbs. St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, OH

7. Nathan Gibbs, OL 6-4, 285 lbs. Hickory HS, Hickory, NC

8. Kelly Hilinski, QB 6-6 220 lbs. Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, CA

9. Denzel Hill, WR 6-3 185 lbs. North Point HS, Waldorf, MD

10. John Hunton, TE 6-5 235, lbs. Southside HS, Fort Smith AR

11. Ben Kaplan, WR 6-4 180 lbs. St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, IL

12. Tyler Kwiatkowski, LB 6-3 220 lbs. Mount Carmel HS, Mount Carmel, PA

13. Charles Melka, DL 6-4 238 lbs. Benet Academy, Lisle, IL

14. Eric Mourkakos, OL/DL 6-3, 235 lbs. Dwight-Englewood HS, Englewood, NJ

15. Cameron Nizialek, K/P 6-3 195 lbs. Freedom HS, South Riding, VA

*16. Brett Nottingham, QB 6-4 212 lbs. Monte Vista HS, Danville, CA

17. Kendall Pace, OL 6-5 250 lbs. Bishop McNamara HS, Forestville, MD 

18. Will Peoples, S 6-1 190 lbs. Buckingham, Browne & Nichols, Cambridge, MA

19. Gianmarco Rea, FB/LB 6-2 215 lbs. Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills, MI

20. Connor Spears, WR 6-6 205 lbs. Bishop Heelan HS, Sioux City, IA

21. Parker Tobia, LB 6-1 200 lbs. Bergen Catholic HS, Oradell, NJ

22. Richard Wolff, OL 6-3 254 lbs. Crespi HS Encino, CA

*=Transfer from Stanford University, junior status