2016 Record: 3-5
Projected 2017 Record: 2-7
Projected Starters: Offense (*Returning)
QB: Christian Sparacio ‘18*
RB: Jake Schwern ‘19
WR: TBD
WR: Mark Snyder ‘18*
WR: Matt RIchman ‘19
TE: TB
OL: Chris Bedigian ‘19
OL: Luke Borda ‘18
OL: Travon Bradford ‘18
OL: TBD
OL: TBD
Projected Starters: Defense (*Returning)
LB: Bryan McAdams ‘18*
LB: Sebastian Philemon ‘19*
LB: TBD
DB: Don Vivian ‘19*
DB: Ian Dickey ‘18*
DB: Will Caffey ‘19*
DB: TBD
DL: Sam Gomez ‘18*
DL: AJ Carrigan ‘19
DL: TBD
DL: TBD
Offensive MVP: QB Christian Sparacio ‘18
Colby’s offense was nothing to write home about last season, and they lost arguably their two biggest threats; RB Jabari Hurdle-Price and WR Sebastian Ferrall, who did not graduate and simply isn’t returning to school. This puts incredible pressure on Sparacio to step up, even with those security blankets out of the picture. He is the presumptive starter and got the brunt of the action, but was challenged last year by first year Jack O’Brian ‘20, and there is a Dartmouth transfer, Harry Kraft ‘19, who will also press him. Sparacio has the ability to hold onto his job, but the Mules need more than that if they want any hope of matching last year’s win total.
Defensive MVP: DB Don Vivian ‘19
Colby retains much of their solid defensive core from last season, and Vivian is the biggest prize of that returning crop. He picked off two passes and broke up five, but his greatest contributions are as a run stopper and tackler. He tallied 63 tackles, a number usually reserved for linebackers, and made an impact in the backfield with three tackles for loss. Vivian heads up a defense that is as experienced as any in the NESCAC, and should be the Mules calling card this season.
Biggest Game: vs. Bates, October 28
NESCAC football is exciting, yes, but it is also stratified. For the most part, you know at the beginning of the year which five teams will be competing for the title. This puts the teams that are outside of that upper tier in a competition for an award I like to call “The Best of the Rest.” Fans of those upper teams often dismiss games between those teams, but they are often the most enjoyable to watch. This game could very well decide the “Best of the Rest,” assuming neither team makes a miraculous leap to the upper tier. Additionally, the game could decide the CBB winner, which is a fierce regional rivalry. Mark this one down as one to check out.
Best Tweet:
GAME WEEK! #BTP #BurnTheShips pic.twitter.com/V4EuaWX7jf
— Colby Football (@Colby_Football) September 10, 2017
Summary:
Colby surprised many last year by tallying three wins, and they return a good deal of that team this season, with the notable exception of star WR Sebastian Ferrall ‘19, who is not returning to the school. Without him, the Mules will have to rely heavily on their experienced defense and try to manufacture offense as best they can.
Defensive back Don Vivian ‘18 is a First Team candidate, and he leads an experience secondary that is Colby’s greatest strength. They also return a talented duo of linebackers in Bryan McAdams ‘18 and Sebastian Philemon ‘19. Defensive line could be an issue, as they are still waiting on several position battles to work themselves out. Stopping the run is critical to NESCAC success, and it’s very tough to do that with an inexperienced offensive line.
On offense, the Mules greatest returning weapon is kicker (yes kicker) John Baron ‘18. Many NESCAC teams struggle to find consistent placekickers, and many teams aren’t particularly bothered by that. But having one is a real weapon, particularly for a team like COlby that lacks a truly dominant red zone weapon. Baron is a key to Colby’s chances this year, especially if they get into games that come down to the wire. Aside from that, offense is going to be a real problem for Colby. They will need to see vast improvement from QB Christian Sparacio, which will not be helped by the loss of Farrell and starting running back Jabari Hurdle-Price. If they don’t get it, junior transfer Matthew Kraft ‘18 (of the New England Patriots Krafts) will be waiting in the wings.