Buffalo Wild Wings Spring Game Preview
4/13/2017 2:46:00 PM | Football
Everything you need to know about Saturday's Columbia Spring Football Game. Complete preview on which players to watch, which players will be sidelined and entire preview of each position group on the field. Kickoff is at Noon at Robert K. Kraft Field. SPRING ROSTER
PLAYERS TO WATCH ON SATURDAY
Anders Hill and Quarterbacks
Anders Hill will enter the fall as the favorite to start at quarterback and undeniably so as his performances improved with every game last season. In the last three games of 2016, he completed 60 percent of his passes, threw six touchdowns and passed for 616 yards. The question is, who will backup Hill? A host of players including Matt Dame, Ryan Suitt and Daniel Hong have taken snaps this spring. Dame and Suitt have taken the majority of the snaps.
Linebackers
This fall, Columbia must replace three starting linebackers in Gianmarco Rea, Christian Conway and Keith Brady, a trio that combined for 68 career starts and 36 percent of the Lions' tackles in 2016. Players who saw action at linebacker last year include Jalen Williams, Michael Murphy, Matt Tofano, Sean White, Calvin Falkenhayn, Jacob Young and Parker Tobia.
With two-sport athlete Lynnard Rose competing for Columbia's baseball team and Chris Schroer out with an injury, returning freshman Tanner Thomas is likely to receive the bulk of the carries on Saturday. Thomas is coming off a freshman season that saw him run for two touchdowns and 107 yards on 34 carries. On Saturday, Columbia will suit up only three running backs: Thomas, Alex Gibson and Van Neils.
Punting Game
Columbia lost its top two punters from the 2016 season in All-Ivy League Second Team selection Cameron Nizialek and Matthew Panton. Nizialek led the conference in punting at 44.8 yards per punt average (34-1,524) and Panton played a key role in placement punts as he averaged 40.5 yards per punt (42-1,703) and placed 17 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Players who will factor into the punting mix include Chris Alleyne, junior Parker Thome and Noah Zgrablich.
Experienced Linemen
Columbia is extremely experienced on both lines as three starters and eight of its top-10 players return on the offensive line and all four starters and seven of its eight top players return to the defensive line. That mix of experience, talent and strength will make for an interesting battle on Saturday.
PLAYERS YOU WON'T SEE ON SATURDAY
Dominic Perkovic, DL. Injured.
Lynnard Rose, RB. Competing with the baseball team this spring.
Denzel Hill, DB. Awaiting an NCAA appeal for a fifth year of eligibility.
Landon Baty, DB. Injured.
Chris Schroer, RB. Injured.
Turner DeMuth, RB. Injured.
COACHING POSITION CHANGES
Offensive Coordinator Mark Fabish shifted from coaching the Wide Receivers to Tight Ends.
John Audino is now coaching Running Backs after he coached Tight Ends last year.
Todd Gilcrist is now coaching the Wide Receivers. He coached the Running Backs last year.
COMPLETE COLUMBIA SPRING PREVIEW
In 2017, Columbia returns 13 starters (seven on offense and six on defense) and 61 letterwinners to a youthful and talented team that finished 3-7 overall and tied for a sixth place finish in the Ivy League with a 2-5 record. The 2016 Lions concluded their season with a victory at Brown, while five of their seven losses were decided by 10 points or fewer. Three All-Ivy League picks return in freshman placekicker Oren Milstein, junior defensive back Cameron Roane and junior defensive lineman Lord Hyeamang. Additionally, Columbia will return players who accounted for 88 percent (162 of 185) of its points scored, 82 percent (1,651 of 2,014) of its passing yards, 51 percent (1,037 of 2,014) of its receiving yards, 60 percent (3 of 5) of its starters on the offensive line and 49 percent (333 of 680) of its tackles in 2016.
Please note: class years are current during spring ball, meaning that all players will move up a class this fall. In addition, newcomers arriving in the fall may factor in on playing time. The following is an overview of each of the areas of Columbia's returning players:
OFFENSE
Columbia returns seven starters and a host of other key contributors to a unit that averaged 326 yards of offense per game.
Junior quarterback Anders Hill is back to anchor an offense that improved with every game. Starting eight of 10 games in 2016, Hill completed 144 of 268 passes for 1,651 yards and 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 258 yards on 132 carries and two touchdowns. He ranked among Ivy League leaders in several categories including passing average (No. 6 at 165.1), passing efficiency (No. 7 at 111.8) and total offense (No. 5 at 190.9). Most impressive is what Hill accomplished over Columbia's final three games of the 2016 season against Harvard, Cornell and Brown, a period which saw him complete 60 percent (49 of 82) of his passes for 616 yards, six touchdowns and only four interceptions.
Backing up Hill will be a host of quarterbacks including freshman Matt Dame and sophomores Ryan Suitt and Daniel Hong. Freshman Hunter Petlansky and sophomore Kyle Castner, both quarterbacks in 2016, are making position changes to tight end and wide receiver respectively.
At running back, Columbia must replace departed senior All-Ivy League Second Team selection Alan Watson. Midway through the 2016 season, Watson emerged as the Lions' feature back as he ranked fourth in the Ivy League in rushing yards per game (62.7) and led the Lions in rushing yards (627), carries (133) and yards per carry (4.7). He also caught 17 passes for 120 yards and totaled three 100-yard rushing games, including two consecutive to close out the 2016 season. He also led the Lions in all-purpose yardage (816 yards).
In replacing the speedy Watson, the Lions will count on freshmen Tanner Thomas and Lynnard Rose, along with junior Chris Schroer. Thomas ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries last year and Schroer rushed for 167 yards on 43 carries (3.9 yards per carry) and also caught eight passes for 55 yards. Rose, who accumulated 313 all-purpose yards, contributed primarily as a kick and punt returner. Also vying for playing time in the backfield include junior Turner DeMuth, along with freshmen Van Neils, Alex Gibson.
Despite losing seniors Scooter Hollis (36 catches, 363 yards), Cameron Dunn (32 catches, 332 yards, 2 TDs) and Toure Douglas (seven receptions, 68 yards) to graduation, Columbia returns its two most productive and most dangerous wide receivers from last year in freshmen Josh Wainwright and Ronald Smith II. In nine games, Wainwright led the team in receptions (42), receiving yards (515) and touchdown receptions (5) in 2016. He also caught a touchdown pass in each of Columbia's last three games and also finished second on the squad in all-purpose yardage with 800. He finished fifth in the Ivy League in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game and seventh in the league in all-purpose yards per game. In only five games and two starts, Smith led Columbia in yards per reception (16.3) and receiving yards per game (68.4) while finishing with 21 catches for 342 yards and four touchdowns. His most outstanding performance came in an 11-catch, 195-yard outing vs. Cornell last year.
In addition, freshman Christian Everett (eight catches, 93 yards) and sophomore Tre Gabriel (1-5) both saw extensive playing time in 2016. Sophomore Kyle Castner makes a positions switch from quarterback to wide receiver. In addition, the Lions return several other receivers including junior Marcus Briscoe, sophomore Brandon Krcilek (2-8), along with freshmen Kaleb Pitts, Ian VanDenBerg and Christian Boujaoude.
At tight end, freshman Rory Schlageter emerged as a starter toward the end of the 2016 season. Other tight ends who could factor into the playing rotation include juniors Bailey Popeck and Zach Dansby along with freshmen Kyle Baskin and Ben Hill. Freshman Hunter Petlansky moves from quarterback to tight end. Graduated senior John Hunton finished the 2016 season with eight receptions for 94 yards.
On the offensive line, Columbia returns eight of its top-10 players on the depth chart and three starters from the 2016 squad. With as much talent, depth and experience returning, once again the offensive line could be a team strength in 2017. Departed are two seniors in Kendall Pace (left tackle) and Nathan Gibbs (right guard). An All-Ivy League Second Team selection in 2016, Pace started all 40 games played during his four-year career and proved to be one of the program's all-time top offensive linemen, while Gibbs started all 20 games over the last two seasons.
Columbia's three returning starters include sophomore left guard Charlie Flores (15 career starts), sophomore center Tyler Schonewolf (10 career starts) and junior right tackle Bewley Wales (20 career starts). Also returning to compete for starting positions include five other letterwinners with experience. Sophomore Brock Anglin, who served as Pace's backup last season at left tackle. Junior Markham Paukune saw extensive action in seven games and two starts last year at right guard and junior Ben Robbins played in two games. Freshman Parker Coogan (two games played in 2016) and junior Mike McGrath (three games) both have an opportunity to earn playing time. Other offensive lineman who will compete for playing time include juniors Reid Stables, Pat Denny and Peter Szymanski, sophomore Adam Armesto, freshmen Joseph Scowden, John Fischer II, Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal, Drew Schoeberl and Isaac Werkman.
DEFENSE
Columbia returns six starters, including its entire defensive line and a host of other key contributors to a unit that ranked among the nation's best in several statistical categories including third down conversion defense (No. 5, 29.3), first down defense (No. 7, 177.0), team tackles for loss (No. 14, 7.6 per game), In addition, Columbia ranked No. 39 in total defense (354.9 yards allowed per game) and No. 43 in scoring defense (24.7 points per game allowed).
Columbia returns a host of defensive lineman to the squad in 2017. All four starters and seven of its eight top players return to the unit including Second Team All-Ivy League honoree Lord Hyeamang, junior Dominic Perkovic, junior Connor Heeb, sophomore Mike Hinton. A junior, Hyeamang ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 38 (17 solo), fourth on the team in tackles for loss (7.0-22) and forced a fumble in 2017. Another defensive tackle, Perkovic started seven of eight games and contributed 31 tackles (12 solo) and 3.5 for loss. Both Heeb (22 tackles) and Hinton (16 tackles) started all 10 games at defensive end last year.
In addition to the starters, several returning players earned significant playing time last season. Those players include junior Alex Holme, freshman Daniel DeLorenzi and freshman Arman Samouk. Holme, who made 24 tackles in 10 games and three starts last year is basically a fifth starter, stalwart on the line and key contributor on special teams. DeLorenzi, who saw action in nine games and emerged as the season wore on, was a terror last year on third down as he led the Lions in both sacks with five (5-23) and quarterback hurries (seven). He also made 16 tackles, including 6.0 for loss. Samouk played in nine of 10 games last season and made eight tackles with one sack.
Other returnees who could factor into the playing rotation include junior Ian Tyler (10 tackles, six games), junior David Donovan, junior Charles Melka (one game), freshman Max Mullaney (one game), junior Greg Washington (three games), sophomore Cole McDonough, freshman Zach O'Neill, junior Collin Breckenridge (one game), junior Liam Talty (one game), freshman Alex Robin (two games, two tackles) and freshman LinDon Harris (two tackles, two games played).
In contrast to the defensive line, Columbia lost all three of its starting linebackers from the 2016 team. Those players lost include First Team All-Ivy League selection Gianmarco Rea and outside linebackers Keith Brady and Christian Conway. A candidate for Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, Rea enjoyed one of the best defensive seasons ever experienced by a Columbia player as he led the Ivy League in tackles (108), ranked 12th nationally in solo tackles (5.8 per game), led the Lions and ranked No. 23 nationally in tackles for loss (15-46), made five sacks and six quarterback hurries. He also reached double figure tackles in nine of 10 games on the year and concluded his four-year 35-game career with 218 tackles (110 solo), 20 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. Brady ranked third on the team in tackles (71) and totaled 9.5 tackles for loss, while Conway contributed 65 tackles (35 solo), four sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Those three players accounted 36 percent (244 of 680) of Columbia's tackles and comprised three of the team's top four tacklers in 2016. Their experience will be difficult to replace.
But the Lions have several athletic and talented linebackers to fill the void. Among those challenging for starting roles and playing time include freshman middle linebacker Jalen Williams, freshman Michael Murphy, freshman Matt Tofano, along with sophomore Sean White. Williams played in eight games, made five tackles and contributed primarily on special teams last year. He is a prime candidate to replace Rea at middle linebacker. Murphy made seven tackles in seven games and also saw action on special teams. Tofano played in nine games with six tackles last year and White saw action in nine games.
Other linebackers who are competing for playing time are junior Parker Tobia, sophomore Jacob Young, who also competes on Columbia's wrestling team, junior Clay Caruso, sophomore Calvin Falkenhayn (nine games, four tackles) and sophomore Jason Vravick.
At defensive back, the Lions return two junior starters in Second Team All-Ivy League selection Cameron Roane and safety Landon Baty. In 10 starts while playing tight man-to-man coverage, Roane proved to be the Lions' best cover corner. He totaled 35 tackles (22 solo) and broke up seven passes, which ranked No. 18 in the Ivy League. Baty ranked fifth on the team with 55 tackles (32 solo), intercepted two passes, defended seven passes, which ranked No. 18 in the Ivy League as a free safety in 2017 and broke up five passes.
Columbia continues to wait on an NCAA eligibility decision for senior cornerback Denzel Hill, who has requested a fifth year. Prior to last season, Hill moved over to the defensive side of the ball from his previous receiver position and proved to be effective, seeing action in all 10 games with one start, seven tackles and a forced fumble.
Others who will factor in at defensive back include freshman safety Hunter Lunsford, sophomore safety Ryan Gilbert, junior cornerback Colinn Early and junior Dylan Weldon. Lunsford, who returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Harvard, contributed primarily on special teams last year. Gilbert, who played in all 10 games last year, made 12 tackles and ranked No. 7 in the Ivy League in forced fumbles (two). Early served as a backup cornerback and played primarily in Columbia's nickel package. Weldon saw action in three games last year.
Others who could contribute are freshman Benjamin McKeighan, freshman Jonathon Webster (two games) and junior Tyler Holmes (eight games).
Columbia lost two starters to graduation in cornerback Jared Katz and Second Team All-Ivy League selection/free safety Brock Kenyon, who made 71 tackles (43 solo) and led the Lions with three interceptions.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams proved to be a team strength last year as the Lions ranked among national leaders in several categories including net punting (No. 18, 37.66), kick return defense (No. 12, 17.33), fewest blocked kicks allowed (No. 15, 1.0) and most blocked punts (No. 8, 2.0).
Special Teams Coordinator Justin Stovall returns a host of players from last year's roster. Unanimous First Team All-Ivy League selection and first-year Oren Milstein returns after a breakout 2016 season as the Lions' field goal kicker. Last year, Milstein converted 12 of 13 field goals and finished a perfect 16-16 on point after attempts. A candidate for the Fred Mitchell Award (national placekicker of the year), Milstein ranked among national leaders in both field goal percentage (No. 2 at .923) and field goals per game (No. 15 at 1.23), while leading the Ivy League in field goals (12), field goal percentage (.923) and placing second in kick scoring (5.7 ppg.). He also led the Lions in scoring (52 points) and kicked two clutch game-winning field goals in wins over Wagner and Dartmouth. A two-time Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week dual honoree, Milstein also set school records for most field goals made (5 at Wagner, Oct. 8), and most kick scoring points scored in a game (15 at Wagner, Oct. 8).
Sophomore kickoff specialist Chris Alleyne returns to the squad after a successful 2016 season. Alleyne registered 27 touchbacks in 35 total kickoffs for a phenomenal 77.1 percent rate. Junior Noah Zgrablich, who was injured in 2016, hit 14 kickoffs for 776 yards in 2015.
At punter, Columbia lost two stellar senior graduates in Cameron Nizialek and Matthew Panton. An All-Ivy League Second Team punter, Nizialek led the conference in punting at 44.8 yards per punt average (34-1,524) and booted 25 punts of 50 yards or more. In addition, Panton played a key role in placement punts as he averaged 40.5 yards per punt (42-1,703) and placed 17 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Replacing that duo will tough but Columbia has a host of players who will factor into the mix including Alleyne, junior Parker Thome and Zgrablich.
Sophomore Patrick Eby returns for his third year at Columbia as its long snapper. His trademark sprint after snap hustle, along with his on and off-the field magic tricks will continue to dazzle fans in 2017. Offensive lineman Bewley Wales returns as a backup long snapper. Thome, who also plays wide receiver, served as Columbia's backup holder in 2016.
Columbia returns its top two return men in freshmen Lynnard Rose and Josh Wainwright. As a running back, Rose was primarily the Lions' No. 1 kickoff returner and No. 2 punt returner. He returned 12 kickoffs for 219 yards (18.2 average) with a long of 27 and eight punts for 57 yards (7.1 average) with a long of 31 yards. As a wide receiver, Wainwright also served as the Lions' No. 1 punt returner and No. 2 kickoff returner in 2016. He ended up leading the team with 277 total return yards and ranked second in all-purpose yardage (800). He led the team in punt returns (14-104) for a 7.4 average and ranked second on the squad in kick returns (8-173) with a 21.6 average. He also had a 54-yard kickoff return. Freshman Tanner Thomas also saw action returning kicks (7-130 yards).
