And on to next year...

Jackson Coker


In past years, many of us would be angry when we didn't get the official list of incoming freshmen by early May.

But in a sign of how better management in the Bagnoli era has made us all calm down and learn to trust the new leadership, I haven't heard a peep of complaint so far. And then there are fans like me, who are hoping the delay means some late-deciding blue chip recruits will be added to the list when it is finally released.

A new commit who looks pretty good at WR did make a late decision to join the Lions this week. He's 5-11 170 pound Jackson Coker from Westlake HS in Austin, Texas. BUT he's for the class of 2020... making him the first commit for NEXT YEAR'S freshman Lions.

According to my LionFeeders database Coker will be the third documented Westlake grad to come to Columbia, after Roy Schwartz '15 and Zach Dansby '18.

Late Awards: Defensive Player of the Year

I never finished announcing my choices for the top Lions of 2018.

I did pick and post about RB Ryan Young as Freshman of the Year and K Chris Alleyne as Special Teams Player of the Year.

Now it's (past) time for my choice for Defensive Player of the Year.

In a year riddled with injuries, my choice was someone who came back from an injury-riddled 2017 and also bounced back from injuries minutes after it looked like he'd been knocked out of games for good.

I'm talking about DE Daniel DeLorenzi, who made 1st Team All Ivy and solidified himself as one of the top speed rushers in the Ivies.

The choice wasn't easy. I though graduating senior LB Sean White was a very underrated effective player who covered the run and the pass exceptionally well. And fellow graduating senior Landon Baty was a stalwart in the secondary and also a big emotional leader on the team.

But DeLorenzi stood out just a little bit more and seemed to get key sacks in close games. His final year should be an interesting one at Wien Stadium.

OL Transfer

Matt Klenk


6-4 300-pound OL Matt Klenk has transferred from the University of Buffalo to Columbia.

He should have sophomore standing and, as an FBS transfer, be cleared to play immediately.

Klenk graduated from Pittsford HS in Pittsford, NY and would be the first documented Pittsford grad to come to Columbia Football. He reportedly received a preferred walk-on

Columbia was already fielding a pretty veteran offensive line for this coming season, but Klenk figures to be a very hot contender to start and help take the unit to the next level.

Special Teams Player of the Year

When Head Coach Al Bagnoli came to the Lions, the place kicking situation was one of the more unsettling parts of the team.

But in just a few years, not only had it improved but it also boasted impressive depth.

Some of this was the result of shuffling the assets better. When Bagnoli took over in 2015, Cameron Nizialek '17 was tasked with place kicking and punting. Nizialek actually did not do a bad job as the kicker, but his punting was All Ivy caliber. Once relieved of the kicking duties in 2016, Nizialek indeed had an All Ivy season and even landed a post-grad starting punting slot with Georgia the following year.

As a freshman kicker, current rising senior Oren Milstein was a revelation was he put in one of the best kicking seasons in Lion history. He wasn't quite as good in 2017, but still one of the best in the league.

Then, 2018 began with what seemed like a tragedy in the making. Milstein was injured and kickoff specialist Chris Alleyne had to step in. 

All Alleyne did was post the best place kicking season in Columbia history. He went 15-18 on field goals, including 6-7 from 40 yards or more. He broke the all-time school longest FG record with a 51 yarder against Yale. And he was 5-5 on FG's in the three games Columbia won by one score or less.

Oh... and he was a perfect 24-24 on PATs.

Not only was Alleyne the clear best special teams player on a team with a lot of very good special teams performers in 2018, he's a definite contender for MVP of the entire team. 

New Coaches & Spring Practice Begins

New Coaches for Spring

Replacing the highly respected and liked assistant coaches Todd Gilchrist and Ricky Santos are former Dartmouth WR coach Jerry Taylor and the QB coach is now Ryan Larsen.

Taylor is very much a known quantity from his years at Dartmouth where he developed some of the Big Green's star wide outs including Hunter Hagdorn.

Larsen is more of a wildcard, even as he is thrust into what may be the toughest job on this Lions team: choosing and preparing a starting QB. The good news is there is talent. Based on my sources, rising junior Josh Bean could have returned to play more games last season but the coaches decided to be more cautious after his injuries. Rising sophomore John Foreback was unable to begin practicing with the team until the latter part of last season, but all reports say he was impressive and will challenge for the starting role as well. Rising sophomore Ty Lenhart, who ended up doing most of the emergency QB play last year is also back as is rising junior Dillon Davis.

Considering Columbia still managed to eke out a 6-4 record last season without any stability at QB, it's fairly obvious that some solid improvement and consistency under center is Job One for this off season.

Other key players back from injury are WR Josh Wainwright, LB Justin Woodley, and RB Dante Miller, and too many other wounded warriors to mention really. Their returns really add to what should be an exciting (less than) six month period between now and kickoff.

Ryan Young


Freshman of the Year

I know I made these nominations more than three months ago, and I also know the coaches have already handed out their official awards for the 2018 season. But I want to list my own winners over the next few days.

For Freshman of the Year, the competition was tough because so many freshmen contributed to individual wins, but rarely did they get the chance to make an impact on more than one game.

But RB Ryan Young was an exception. He was a major reason for the Lions win over Yale, but he also really contributed to the wins over Brown and Cornell too. I know the upperclassmen really appreciated him as the ranks of the Columbia backs got thinner and thinner.

It's not clear where Young fits into the Lions RB picture going forward, but his 2018 season was one he can cherish forever.