NEW YORK— Quarterback
Ty Lenhart, defensive back
Ben Mathiasmeier, offensive lineman
Stew Newblatt, and linebacker
Justin Woodley will serve as 2021 Columbia Football team captains, Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football
Al Bagnoli and the Columbia Football program announced Tuesday evening.
A Gambrills, Md. native, Lenhart has played in 19 career games with nine starts at quarterback. Over his two-year career, he has completed 60 percent of his passes (201-335) for 2,056 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, rushed for 202 yards on 114 carries and nine touchdowns, and has registered four career 200-yard passing games. He was named the John Toner Homecoming Player of the Game vs. Penn in 2019 after combining for three touchdowns and 253 total yards while completing 14 of 20 passes for 158 yards and rushing for 95 yards and two touchdowns. As a sophomore, he completed 60.5 percent (127-210) of his passes for 1,278 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore in 2019 and threw for 778 yards, a touchdown and completed 59.2 percent of passes (74-125), rushed for six touchdowns and nine yards on 40 carries as a first-year in 2018. Lenhart majors in Political Science.
A preseason First Team All-Ivy League honoree, Mathiasmeier earned Ivy League honorable mention honors in 2019. As Columbia's William V. Campbell Award nominee for the second year in a row, the Katy native is a two-time Academic All-Ivy League honoree who has played in all 30 career games with 13 starts, including 10 consecutive contests at strong safety. Over his three-year career, he has made 97 career tackles (58 solo) with three interceptions, 3.5 tackles for loss, and registered two fumble recoveries. After leading the Lions in tackles (67), solo tackles (43), and interceptions (2) in 2019, he was named team's Most Valuable Defensive Player at the 2019 team banquet. Mathiasmeier is an Economics major.
An offensive lineman, Newblatt has seen action in 11 career games with one start. In 2019, he started the season opener at right guard before suffering a season-ending injury. As a first-year in 2018, he played in all 10 games on the offensive line and on special teams. A Clarkston, Mich. native, Newblatt majors in American Studies.
The fifth-year senior Woodley has battled injuries in both 2018 and 2019 but has played in 14 career games with four starts at middle linebacker. In his three-year career, the Chula Vista, Calif. native has made 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, broke up three passes, recovered a fumble, intercepted two passes and scored a touchdown on a recovered blocked punt. He was named preseason Third Team All-Ivy League selection prior to his junior year and started one game before suffering a season-ending injury. As a first-year in 2017, he was named the team's Ken Germann Freshman of the Year after totaling 19 tackles, two interceptions, and 1.5 tackle for loss. Woodley is a Psychology major.
Columbia opens its 2021 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 18 when it hosts Marist at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET.
