PRINCETON, N.J. — Columbia football posted 14 student-athletes on All-Ivy League Teams to set a new program record. The Lions' selections were highlighted by first-team honorees wide receiver Bryson Canty, defensive lineman Ben Corniello and defensive back Hayden McDonald.
Columbia placed six on the second team, including left guard John Iannuzzi, right tackle Noah Jordan, running back Joey Giorgi, linebacker Anthony Roussos, linebacker Jack Smiechowski and punter William Hughes. Picking up honorable mention selections were tight end Braden Dougherty, defensive tackle Patrick Passalacqua and defensive backs Aaron Brebnor, Carter McCray and Carter McFadden.
Canty makes his second appearance on the first team after making 43 catches for 760 yards. His nine touchdowns are No. 18 in FCS and are the third most for a Lion wideout in a single season. Canty was named Ivy League Player of the Week twice and posted three 100-yard receiving games from three different quarterbacks.
Corniello started all 10 games as an interior defensive lineman and racked up 30 tackles, including 5.0 for a loss. His 2.5 sacks led the squad. The native of Madison, Connecticut, had a career-high seven tackles and a sack in the Lions' win over Cornell to help earn a share of the Ivy League title.
McDonald, who was named a Buck Buchanan National Defensive Player of the Year Finalist, was one of three unanimous selections on defense after leading the Ivy League with five interceptions. Additionally, he ranks No. 2 in FCS in interceptions per game. McDonald added seven pass breakups and registered 68 tackles, both good for second on the team.
Iannuzzi and Jordan were mainstays on the offensive line, which helped Columbia gain 393.0 yards per game, the second-highest mark in program history. The Lions rushed for over 200 yards on three occasions, all victories.
Giorgi was the Ivy League's second-leading rusher at 860 yards, and the total ranks as the sixth highest in program history. He was Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week on October 7 and had four 100-yard rushing games, all of which were Columbia victories.
Roussos led the team in tackles for the second consecutive year with 76. He registered double-figure tackles on four occasions, including season-highs of 12 in wins over Penn and Yale. Smiechowski added 66 tackles and was the team leader with 7.0 for a loss. The junior had 10 or more tackles in back-to-back games at Harvard and Brown.
Hughes rounds out his career with a third consecutive All-Ivy League selection. The Fairfax, Virginia, native averaged 39.8 yards per punt, had five of over 50 yards and pinned opponents inside the 20 eight times. His 80-yard punt against Dartmouth was the longest in the Ivy League this season and set a new program record.
Dougherty made an impact in the passing game (13 catches, 167 yards, two touchdowns) and was a strong blocker in 1 starts. Passalacqua, a team captain, set a career-high with 32 tackles and added a sack. Brebnor posted 39 tackles, an interception and broke up six passes. McCray made an immediate impact, starting Columbia's final six games with 27 tackles, an interception and eight pass breakups. McFadden ranks No. 4 in FCS in passes defended (1.5 per game) and picked off three passes to go with 50 tackles.
The Lions' Academic All-Ivy League representative was senior offensive lineman Pat Colicchio. Colicchio started all 10 games at right guard and shifted to center in two games. He is a film major from Bernardsville, New Jersey.
The 2024 Asa S. Bushnell Cup Presentation, honoring the Ivy League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, will take place on Monday, Dec. 16, at the iconic Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York. The Coaching Staff of the Year will also be announced at the event. The Bushnell Cup finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
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