Just over two weeks ago, high school seniors across the country decided which colleges they will attend to play college football. The Ivy League is different, as it does not have a signing day per se, but that does not mean that the Columbia football team missed out on the signing day excitement.
Recruits to Ivy League schools can give some element of commitment, but they still must be accepted to the school. No one from the athletic department can comment on prospective players until May when prospective students are accepted and the recruiting process finished.
But there are players who have committed to play Columbia football in the fall upon getting accepted to the school. Thus far, at least 15 players can be verified to have reported as coming to Columbia to play football for the Lions starting next semester.
According to the Doings-Western Springs, Jeff Adams, a 6-foot-7-inch lineman from Akron, Ohio “has been accepted to play [football] for Columbia.” In the same report, the newspaper claims that Adams received a letter from the University of California his junior year, but since has decided on Columbia.
On KIII television in Texas, quarterback Jerry Bell chose Columbia over Harvard and Yale, citing New York City as a factor in his decision.
In a Feb. 6 report, the Asbury Park Press listed two New Jersey natives as having decided on Columbia to play football. Wide receiver Peter Batesko from Catholic High School and defensive back Ryan Haslett from Holmdel both chose to don Columbia blue in the fall.
The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register wrote on Feb. 7 that Linsly High School’s Sam Cecil will play football for Columbia. Cecil is listed in the article as 6-feet 5-inches tall and 255 pounds. Later in the article, Cecil says that former Linsly quarterback and current Lions wide receiver Jason Pyles helped him make his decision.
Championship Subdivision News listed linebacker Alex Cornish of Maryland as having chosen to attend Columbia in the fall, while the Palm Beach Post reported that linebacker Will Claunch has declared his intention to attend Columbia, but will need to wait to see if he is admitted. The decision is expected to come around April 1.
Birmingham High School tight end Rafael Lopez has also “committed to Columbia,” according to Scout.com writer Brandon Huffman. In the article, Huffman says that
Lopez was not known for his receiving abilities, but it was his blocking that got him recognized.
Something that the Lions can always use more of is speed, and according to the official Web site for Lakeview Centennial Patriots football, they will get it in the form of A.J.
Maddox, who verbally committed during his official visit. According to a highlight video on the site, Maddox can play defensive back or a variety of offensive skill positions, but the most impressive statistic is that he can run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
The Journal News has reported that New Jersey natives Nick Mistretta and Kurt Williams of Don Bosco Prep will both be attending Columbia in the fall to play football.
Adding to a recent recruiting trend, two players—Evan Miller and Ross Morand—from St. Xavier in Ohio have orally committed to play for the Light Blue, according to the high school sports blog of the Cincinnati Enquirer. There are currently two graduates of St. Xavier on the Columbia football team—captain Drew Quinn and defensive end Lou Miller.
The Lions’ running game should get some help, as the official school Web site of Buckingham Browne & Nichols reported that fullback Nico Papas will attend. The 235-pound fullback is known best for his blocking ability, as opposed to his ball carrying.
The final known player to have signed with the Lions is defensive end J.D. Tyree from Virginia, as reported by the Martinsville Bulletin.
By the time that the semester comes to a close, many more players will probably commit to play with the Lions in the fall. Last season, there were 35 freshmen on the team, which means that these 15 are a good start, but there will definitely be more before the 2008-2009 schedule is finalized.