Brown and Penn Classes Released
Let's all try to look afraid
Okay, they came out earlier this week, but we were focusing on our own class anyway.
The "experts" all say the Brown and Penn recruiting classes are the best ever. We should all just give up now.
The good news is that that these are the other schools, and we can be a little more free with our comments, (good and bad), about their recruits.
I've decided to lighten things up a bit.
Here are some random thoughts:
BROWN
Nathan Bernstein OL 6'3" 270 Charlotte, NC
Are you kidding me? A 6-3 270-pound Jewish boy from North Carolina who plays football? Somebody tell me how we missed this kid! I think the challenge of taking classes at Brown while playing football are going to be a breeze for this kid after all that.
Paxti Colbern TE 6'5" 245 Anchorage, AK
Anyone want to tell me the last time we had an Alaskan kid play in the Ivies? Anyone?
Ibeabuchi Jeremiah Oteh DB 6'0" 185 St. Louis, MO
Comes from a great program with a good track record of sending stars to Brown in particular. Might get a chance early. I look forward to mispronouncing his name early and often in the broadcast booth.
Reed Watne DB 6'0" 195 Los Angeles, CA
Boy, there were a lot of defensive backs in this class. This guy may be the best of all of them. He could also be the guy from L.A. who freezes his butt off in Providence in November.
PENN
Joe Bonadies 6’5, 275 Leonia High School
Ranked as one of the top 12 high school centers in America. From Leonia? Really? Leonia is kind of a small town. I know it as that place that I get stuck in when I get lost getting to the George Washington Bridge. I also know it as the hometown of a lovely co-worker. She is very nice. Wait, what were we talking about again?
Brandon Colavita 5’9, 205 Washington Township High School
Comes from Ralph DeBenardo's high school... he looks good. Can we just start calling him "Rocky" right now? Please? (Hello, any old-time Detroit Tigers fans out there?).
QB Andrew Holland 6’1, 200 St. Ignatius High School
Super high school program. There are a lot of BACK-UPS from St. I. who have ended up playing impact roles on Ivy teams. This kid started. As an added bonus, he gets to get out of Cleveland for the next four years, (I get to make that joke because I used to live there too. Back off, LeBron).
LB Steve Lias 6’2, 230 Upper St. Clair High School
I think we're all supposed to be afraid of him. Let's refer to him as "He Who Shall not be Named!"
QB Billy Ragone 6’1, 190 Cheshire High School
Columbia was among a number of other schools hoping to get him. Solution: let's find some guy who looks A LOT like him and take that guy to the prom.
Have a great Memorial Day everyone!!!
posted by Jake @ 2:57:00 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Jakes - your comments are great!
I don't have the energy to get out my old media guides to find out, but at one time fairly recently, COlumbia had a kid from Alaska, not sure he worked out - maybe he was related to Sarah Palin. I do remember the pretty good tv show about football in america, and the gridiron kids in alaska have a helluva time finding or having a decent football field, due to permafrost, rocks, etc. but as we all know from Samoa, etc. - they do play the game there.
Jake, I like your comments on the misguided kids who go to Penn - as woody allen might say, the cultural advantage to going to Penn is probably the superior cheese steaks. And the coaches who are highly spoken of by Coach Wilson. I remember ole Marcellus Wiley saying, Penn is a dirty school - while I would not reach that far - let's face it - whether it is the Broad St. Bullies or Eagle fans booing Santa Claus - well, they are a breed apart - can we keep them that way?
I somehow have a good feeling about this incoming class of Lions- skeptics aside and they are numerous - let's hope for the best. I did have a good time talking with a coworker from Bergen CAtholic about our incoming freshman RB - Gerst is it? Let's face it - that is a great program. In the meantime, I'll say it again - GO LIONS! Beat Fordham!
Forget the hype from Penn and Brown; it's meaningless
Jake, I'm not sure you have it right with DeBernardo and Colavita. My understanding is that DeBernardo attended Westwood H.S in Washington Township, New Jersey (Bergen County). Colavita went to the Washington Township in the southern part of New Jersey. Common error.
Heavyweight wrestler Jed Wade was from Wasila, Alaska. However, I do not believe he played football at Columbia. I don't believe the Lions have had any football players from Alaska--at least in recent memorey.
We did have a FB recruit from Alaska who disappeared after the first year.
I remember that Alaska recruit...I think his last name was Smith (not certain, though). He was a fullback or tight end.
Looks good. One disappoint is the lack of running backs. One RB and FB in the list. Both look good, but, this is an area of weakness and I was hoping for a few more. Another kicker would have been nice too.
We had a DE from Homer, not sure what happened to him. See here:
http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/documents/fb-04-columbia.asp
friend12 is correct that there are only two players listed as running backs in the incoming clase--Nick Gerst and Andrew McHugh. However, there are at least two others who can play the position, namely Robert Sigmon and Brian Deveau. Sigmon is listed as a wide receiver, but he also played running back at Viera HS in Florida and has 4.6, 40 speed and 4.33 in the shuttle. I saw his recruiting film on line and he did some nice things at running back, but even better things at wide receiver, which is probably why he's listed as a wr. As to Deveau, he's shown as a defensive back, but I find it difficult that the Lions would utilize a guy with his remarkable offensive stats on defense. After all, he ran for close to two thousand yards, although I'm uncertain whether he played quarterback and running back, or just quarterback. But then running for two thousand yards is not easily, from either position.
As for incoming talent, we have to assume that the coaches know what they are doing in recruiting on a positional basis. Jordan Davis was a high school QB, but it was clear that he was being recruited as a RB. We ahve some excellent young talent at RB and FB; while everybody wanted to see another Johnathan Reese, in this league the trenches are what wins and loses games. but I have seen Nick Gerst's game film, and he could really be a good one at RB.
The Alaska wrestler graduated in 2008
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