WORCESTER – Holy Cross two-time All-American linebacker Jacob Dobbs has unfinished group enterprise to take care of.
The Crusaders tore by final season with a marketing campaign unmatched in program historical past. Holy Cross went undefeated within the common season, captured its fourth straight Patriot League title and superior to the quarterfinal spherical of the FCS playoffs with a faculty report 12 wins.
Dobbs is again for a fifth season at a faculty that doesn’t have a graduate program as a result of he was extra spectator than a participant in final yr’s historic run. Holy Cross opened the 2023 season at residence towards Merrimack on Sept. 2 and has two FBS opponents on its non-league schedule, Boston College and Army.
Dobb was the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a secure guess to reclaim that honor headed into week 4 of the 2022 season.
But his run ended at Colgate the place he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow, a state of affairs exacerbated by tears within the triceps and forearm. He would miss the subsequent 9 video games whereas the Crusaders program reached new heights. Dobbs underwent surgical procedure and an in depth rehab that was all-encompassing and time-consuming, however he confirmed up at coaching camp revitalized and able to go.
“It’s been blessing just to be out here,” mentioned Dobbs. “It is so exciting to be out there at full go, full throttle with no restrictions. I am doing all the things I was having to stand behind in the spring and observe from a distance.”
Under dual-threat quarterback Matt Sluka, the Crusaders compiled 5,842 yards of complete offense, 449.4 per recreation and 37.4 factors per recreation, eighth-best in FCS. Those numbers count on to go increased with many of the talent positions gamers and offensive line again this season.
Dobbs feels the HC protection will contribute to exceeding these offensive stats. Every time the protection forces a three-and-out or return specialist Delvin Haskins flips the sphere, Holy Cross is able to scoring.
“When you have that kind of offense backing you up, every time we take the field, we know that if we do our jobs, they are going to do their jobs,” mentioned Dobbs. “We know they are going to pop and it’s not if, it’s when.”
Harvard Crimson
CAMBRIDGE – The Crimson start their one hundred and fiftieth season with a agency dedication to guard the home.
Harvard beat the percentages by going 5-0 on the street final season, a report that will usually be indicative of a championship run. But the Crimson have been 1-4 at Harvard Stadium, which left them in fourth place within the Ivy league behind Yale, Penn, and Princeton. Three of the house defeats have been by single digits and will have gone the opposite method.
“There is no question that hurt and there was one of them where we missed three field goals,” mentioned Harvard coach Tim Murphy. “It was very irritating at each stage as a result of if you win on the street your group exhibits lots of character.
“But we just didn’t finish against teams we needed to finish against.”
With no redshirts, fifth-year gamers or graduate college students allowed on the group, Harvard faces a rebuilding state of affairs each season. The Crimson return 4 starters on offense and 4 on protection.
Last yr’s beginning quarterback Charlie Dean and the 2 guys behind him on the depth chart all graduated together with tailback Aidan Blodget, who rushed for 1,216 yards and 10 touchdowns. The protection has three returning starters on the entrance 4 led by FCS preseason All-American deal with Thor Griffith.
“You can make a case that every year is a rebuild for no other reason than in our program, we graduate 25 kids every year,” mentioned Murphy. “We feel we can be in the thick of things if we keep making progress and the quarterback position overall, I’m very optimistic about that.”
UMass Minutemen
AMHERST – UMass coach Don Brown leaned heavy on the switch postal and went gentle on the highschool recruits in a concerted effort to construct an older group for the 2023 season.
The UMass exit on the NCAA switch portal was one of many busiest off-ramps in FBS on the finish of the 2022 season and earlier than and after spring apply. UMass introduced 13 transfers on Feb. 1 alone, 9 from Power-5 applications and 5 from Arizona, Brown’s final cease earlier than taking the UMass job.
“We have gotten older and I think we have some leadership coming from the upper classes and some of those guys that were in the transfer portal but it is all good,” mentioned Brown.
“I think we are a lot better than we were a year ago without question. Now the question is can we transfer it from the practice field to the game field and that’s the challenge.”
Brown acquired prompt gratification for his team-building when the Minutemen opened the season with a 41-30 victory over New Mexico State on Aug. 26 at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M.
Clemson switch Taisun Phommachanh gained the beginning QB job in coaching camp over incumbent Brady Olson. Phommachanh accomplished 10-of-17 passes for 192 yards whereas speeding for 96 on 17 carries.
UMass performed a second straight street match towards SEC energy Auburn the next Saturday. UMass performs its first residence recreation towards Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 9
New England
The UConn Huskies, one of many 4 FBS impartial applications, win six video games final season and claimed top-dog standing in New England with victories over UMass and Boston College. The Huskies are led up entrance by guard Christian Haynes, a Sporting News first group preseason All-American.
The New Hampshire Wildcats (7-1) have been co-champions of the CAA final season below first-year head coach Ricky Santos. Returning tailback Dylan Laube led FCS with 194.3 all-purpose yards per recreation. The protection is led by edge rusher Josiah Silver.
The Rhode Island Rams are ranked within the Top 25 in three main FCS polls going into the season. Right guard Nick Correia has began 37 straight video games and was a 2022 All-CAA first group choice.
Maine appears to enhance on final yr’s 2-6 report within the CAA. Offensive lineman Kevin Jones and defensive again Buggs Brown are All-CAA preseason picks.
Source: www.bostonherald.com