Last year heading into the first game of the season, it was hard to predict what was in store for Columbia’s offense. Going into Saturday’s season opener, the Lions’ offensive situation is both clear and positive, as all but one of the expected starters for the Light Blue have starting experience.
In 2008 the Lions started two quarterbacks—Shane Kelly and Millicent Olawale—and it was anyone’s guess as to who would be under center each Saturday. After leading the Light Blue to its two wins against Dartmouth and Cornell and turning in a strong spring, Olawale—a senior and one of the Lions’ six captains—was awarded the starting spot by head coach Norries Wilson. Olawale led the Light Blue with 392 rushing yards last season to go along with 398 passing yards on 81 attempts.
Olawale and the Lions can’t win games without the offensive line.
“That unit knows that we’re expecting them to go out and we’re only going to be as good as they play,” Wilson said. “So they get ridden a lot harder than some other guys.”
The line is anchored by senior captain John Seiler and features experienced players in seniors Evan Sanford and Will Lipovsky and junior Ian Quirk. The only new starter for the Lions on offense this season will be sophomore Jeff Adams, who will be defending Olawale’s blind side at left tackle.
Given protection, Olawale will have plenty of throwing options as all of the Lions’ top receivers are back, led by senior captains Austin Knowlin and Taylor Joseph. Knowlin and Joseph led the Light Blue receiving corps with 39 and 30 receptions in 2008, respectively, but were eclipsed for the team lead in receiving yards by Mike Stephens, who will be looking to repeat his breakout sophomore performance this season. After being a top target in his freshman campaign in 2007, Nico Gutierrez will try to be a threat again this year after he was hampered by injuries during his sophomore season and caught just one pass.
Tight end Andrew Kennedy helped to make up for the loss of Gutierrez’s input, as he caught the fourth-most passes on the team in ’08. Entering his junior season, though, Kennedy may be competing with another junior who caught the attention of players and coaches this offseason.
“I heard all summer Clif Pope had gotten better, and you know what? The guys weren’t joking,” Wilson said. “Clif Pope has transformed himself as a football player.”
In stark contrast to the 2007, Columbia established itself on the ground last season thanks in part to the duo of Jordan Davis and Ray Rangel. Davis’ playing days are done, but Rangel came back for his senior season in top condition according to Wilson. Rangel was the Lions’ workhorse in ’08, leading the team with 91 carries and grinding out 329 yards.
While Rangel is expected to provide solid yardage with punishing runs, junior Zack Kourouma could be the lightning to Rangel’s thunder. He didn’t get many touches in his sophomore season, but when he got hold of the ball, the speedster showed the kind of threat he can be.
Though the Lions are loaded with playmakers, Knowlin is their most dynamic player. Going into his senior season, he’s on pace to break a pair of Columbia receiving records. He needs just 20 receptions to pass Don Lewis (1981-1983) on Columbia’s career receptions list and 479 yards to break Bill Reggio’s career receiving yards mark. Wilson knows that getting him the ball will be crucial to the team’s success.
“[We’ve] got to get him [Knowlin] the football. He can make plays so we’ve got to find ways to get him the football,” Wilson said. “We can’t give him the ball 66 times. We can’t hand it to him 30 and throw it to him 30 or we’re not going to win. But when we get opportunities to get him the football and get him in space, we’ve got to take advantage of them.”
Though the offense has for all intents and purposes remained the same, there will be a change on special teams that will affect how the offense operates. Kicker Jon Rocholl finished his Columbia career and junior Joe Stormont did not return to the team, leaving the Lions to rely on a freshman for the kicking duties. If Wilson isn’t confident in whoever is chosen to kick field goals, the offense will have to convert on fourth down.
“The kicking situation is going to be between [Tai] Izawa and [Gregory] Guttas,” Wilson said. “If I’m not confident in what’s going on in the kicking game, we’ll be trying to get first downs in the red zone.”
Chock full of experienced playmakers, Columbia’s offense has the weapons to put up points against any opponent. The Lions’ climb toward the top half of the Ivy League will depend on whether the offense can live up to its potential.
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