Schwieger adjusts to star role in Dartmouth offense as sophomore

This year, sophomore Nick Schwieger will be featured in Dartmouth’s offense as its starting running back. This is Schwieger’s first season as a full-time starter, after spending his freshman year filling in for a variety of roles. Even though he was injured mid-season, Schwieger still saw time returning kicks, participating in punt protection as the upback, and acting late last season as a part-time tailback. The fact that he played so many positions can be attributed to his versatile athletic background, which goes back before college.

As a student at Bishop Feehan High School in Massachusetts, Schwieger played multiple sports. He starred as a football player, but also actively participated in track and basketball. In football, he was Bishop Feehan’s star running back, was selected to the Shrine All-Star Game, and led his team to a Division II Super Bowl victory.

Therefore, it is no surprise that Schwieger is being asked to kickstart the Big Green’s anemic offense. Five games into the season, Schwieger has rushed for 366 yards on 100 attempts, and has scored one touchdown (a 19-yard run against Penn).

Dartmouth also asks him to run its Wildcat packages, where the tailback takes the snap. According to Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens, Schwieger “does a nice job with the football [in Wildcat situations]. He can throw and he can run.” Although he has only attempted one pass this season, Teevens has hinted that Schwieger’s throwing ability will be displayed at some point.

As a running back, Teevens describes Schwieger as “powerful” and with “great balance,” and as a “wonderful guy who plays hard and always works.” Schwieger’s talents, combined with an “offensive line that has done a better job opening some seams than Dartmouth has historically,” have formed a potent rushing attack this year.

The Big Green running game has had its ups and downs this season. In Dartmouth’s week two game against No. 6 New Hampshire, Schwieger carried the ball 26 times for an impressive 119 yards. The following week against Penn, he had another strong outing, rushing the ball 22 times for 85 yards, and a touchdown in a game that ended in a close 24-30 loss.

However, against Yale’s stout, league-leading defense, he struggled with just 18 attempts for 53 yards, a 2.7 average. Last week against Holy Cross, Schwieger gained 86 yards on 20 carries. That game also featured his lone pass of the season.

On Saturday against Columbia, look for Schwieger to carry the ball early and often, both because of his talents and to keep the loaded Columbia offense off the field. In addition, since this is Dartmouth’s Homecoming game, several trick plays in the Wildcat may appear to raise the crowd’s enthusiasm.

Though Dartmouth is currently winless at 0-5, Lions coach Norries Wilson says this record is “deceptive” because of the strong schedule they’ve faced so far. Schwieger and the Big Green can’t be underestimated, and the Light Blue will have to come up ready to limit the running game if they hope to leave Hanover with a win.