Updated Recruits/Newcomers List
Below are the names of the 23 incoming freshmen we know about for next season. Brian England is included, even though there is some confusion about whether he's headed to CU or Brown.
Considering Columbia will probably only bring 30 or so freshmen onto the roster, this might be as complete a list we'll see until the team releases the official list in May.
1. Ben Britzius C Wheeler (GA)
2. Corey Claire QB South Plantation (FL)
3. Mike Egley DE Ford City (PA)
4. Brian England DL/TE Raritan (NJ)?
5. Greg Fontela LB Belen Jesuit (FL)
6. Alex Gross RB/LB Fairmont (OH)
7. Nico Guitierez WR (CT)
8. Paul Havas QB St. Paul's School (NH)
9. Marc Holloway LB West Catholic (PA)
10. Shane Kelly QB Temple U. (transfer)
11. Andrew Kennedy DE Staples-Westport (CT)
12. Bryan Kipp OL Xaverian Brothers High School (MA)
13. Zack Kourouma RB Minnechaug (MA)
14. Nate Lentz, FB Clearwater Catholic (FL)
15. Adam Mehrer WR/DB Clover Hill (VA)
16. Matt Moretto RB/LB Cornwall (NY)
17. Michael Murphy S St. Joseph by-the-Sea (NY)
18. Calvin Otis S Lawrenceville (NJ)
19. Clifton Pope TE Iona Prep (NY)
20. Ian Quirk OL Tuscarora (MD)
21. Joe Stormont K/S Stillwater (MN)
22. Matt Stotler DE/TE Yorktown High School (VA)
23. Augie Williams WR Grossmont (CA)
posted by Jake @ 10:07:00 PM
28 comments
28 Comments:
I believe Augie Williams may be a baseball recruit. See this link: http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/preps/20070212-2148-p-commit12.html
Sorry about the broken link. Here it is again broken in two (you'll have to reassemble it in your browser to view the page):
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/preps
/20070212-2148-p-commit12.html
The semi-official word is that the class is complete at 30
Literary Lion:
Thanks so much for the info and also, thanks for using an alias! Most of the other commenters just use "anonymous" and it makes it hard for me to make it clear who I'm responding to.
30 sounds about right. Let's hope for the best and maybe we'll get some more names before the summer.
Jake, you have Nico Guitterez listed as a running back, although I thought he only played wide receiver in high school. Is that a typo or a proposed postion change? As to Augie Williams, let's hope that he plays both football and baseball at Columbia as his high school stats in both sports in San Diego are pretty darn good.
Literary:
I believe you are correct about Guitterez... making the change now.
I remember a kid named augie coming on a recruiting trip this winter. So yeah, i'm assuming he's playing football for sure, and who knows about baseball.
Are any of our recruits in the Masorti/Knowlin ready for prime time category?
Isn't the League limit 30?
I think some teams gets to have 2-3 more recruits than 30 based on the size of the roster.
I believe the Ivy League limit is 120 recruits over a four year period, which averages out to 30 recruits a year. So if you recuit less than 30 in one year, you can make it up with additional recruits in another year as long as the 4 year average is 120. I think this is how it works.
It's been alleged that some schools recruit two-sporters whom they put on the other sport's list but know/expect they'll play FB.
It's very hard to try and predict who might contribute early, but my guess would be Moretto and Holloway at LB and Kennedy at DE.
It seems like defensive and offensive linemen take the longest to develop at the college level. But I really hope Kennedy can be an exception because I am very concerned about the loss of Darren Schmidt and Todd Abrams in the front 3. Phil Mitchell is coming back at one end, and he could start being a force as he will be a junior... but he'll need help.
Britzius was on briefly http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=59349&bw=), briefly. He's at Wheeler HS, Marietta, GA; was The Sylvan Scholar Athlete for the week of October 6, 2006
http://www.wheelerhigh.com/
Mitchell and Bashaw are the ones to beat as I see it.
Kennedy, Otis, Moretto and Holloway seem to have the size and speed to make an immediate impact in Columbia's high speed,mobile defense. However, the two linebackers from Florida--Fontela and Lentz--have great stats so you can't rule them out either. In fact, all of the known defensive recruits seem to have a chance to break into the two deep early in the season. The real question is offense. We do not seem to have many skill players coming in next year. Is there a punt receiver/kickoff returner in the group?
Yes, Kourouma.
Our defensive system recognizes that it is impossible to recruit enough big DLs. It is easier to recruit LBs; basically Schmidt was a LB; so was Abrams; Mitchell was a true DE. We can recruit DEs and LBs; since this league doesn't have great passers, we play a defense which basically has 7 LBs on the field. While it is tough for one LB to hold off the block of a 300 pound OL, we have a defense based on speed and on swarming to the ball. Frankly, it's brilliant. That's why Phil Estes thought NW should have been coach of the year. I predict that this will catch on at other schools, although I hope not. Preparing for us will be an offensive coordinator's nightmare. This should inform your thinking on how we recruit. Granted, we still need a stud nose guard to tie up the center and a guard, but even there the key is a player with a low enough center of gravity to get under the pads of the guy across from him at the line of scrimmage.
I think these are all excellent points, especially the stuff about the linebacker-heavy/speedy defense. We can only hope the scheme will create as much confusion for our opponents as it seemed to last season.
Thaanks Jake, and keep up the great work. Now I can tell my wife that there really are other people out there who are as crazy about columbia football as I am. I am already bummed that I will be away for the Spring game. Here's hoping that nuanced observors such as you, Dr.V and others provide complete accounts. We will miss Lion Mom's insights.
I am crazy indeed.
Can any of our anonymous friends tell us anything about the other 8 or 9 recruits in terms of positions or profiles?
The reason why you will probably not get any additional info is because Penn typically tries to steal recruits after they have given verbal commitments.
Doesn't Penn already have a full class?
This may be new: from Richmond Times-Disptach, 3/13: Adam Mehrer will play football at Columbia; from Clover Hill, Midlothian, VA
receiving stats:
in 9, 36grabs 645yds 17.9 7TDs
Played D, with 21 unassisted, 17 assisted.
At this time (1:30AM), that's all I can get.
Thanks Internetter, I will add Mr. Mehrer's name to the list immediately.
Without tips from my readers, it's obvious this football blog would be a mess.
Story on andrew kennedy 3/14/2007:
http://www.westport-news.com/sports/ci_5438535
Post a Comment
<< Home