The Stampede is Gonna Hunt You Down: Amherst College Season Preview
2017 Record: 7-2
Projected Record: 8-1
Projected offensive starters (*7 returning)
QB – Oliver Eberth ’20*
RB – Jack Hickey ’19*
WR — Will Kelsch ‘19
WR – Bo Berluti ‘19*
WR – James O’Reagan ‘20*
TE — Harry Boeschenstein ‘20
C – Dan Papa ’20*
LG – Jack Tyrell ’19*
LT – Brendan Coleman ’20*
RG – Jack Griffiths ’19
RT – Nick DiPrinzio ’22
Projected defensive starters (*11 returning)
CB – Nate Tyrell ’19*
CB – Avery Saffold ’20*
DB– John Rak ’19*
DB— John Ballard ’20*
LB – Jack Barrett ’19*
LB – John Callahan ’19*
LB —Andrew Sommer ’19*
DE/LB – Andrew Yamin ’19*
DL – Greg Franklin ’20*
DL – Matt Albino ’21*
DL – Blaine Fox ’20*
Projected specialists (*2 returning)
PK – John Rak ’19*/Andrew Ferrero ’19
P – Henry Atkeson ’20*
KR/PR – Avery Saffold ’20/Trey Jarmon ‘20
Offensive MVP:
RB Jack Hickey ‘19
Hickey will look to make a name for himself this season as the best tailback in the NESCAC. Max Chipouras has held the title the last few seasons, but Hickey has been hot on his tail. The Mammoths should hold possessions longer than the Bantams this year with a better QB, and Hickey’s strong O-line anchored by Dan Papa, Jack Tyrell, and Brendan Coleman should open up holes for him to run in. He averaged a ridiculous 6 yards per carry and totaled 640 yards on the ground and nine TDs. He split carries with Hasani Figueroa last year, limiting his overall touches, but since Figueroa is out of the picture, Hickey could figure to handle a bigger workload and surpass Chipouras as the NESCAC lead rusher.
Defensive MVP:
DE/LB Andrew Yamin ’19
As Amherst switches between the 3-4 and 4-3 defense, Yamin switches between defensive end and linebacker, called the buck position. He was one of many reasons why Amherst had the best defense in the league in 2017 and should likely hold that title in 2018. They are masters at stopping the run game and Yamin’s versatility should really shine through in his final campaign as he looks to best his All-NESCAC and All-New England season with 54 tackles, 13.5 sacks and take the Mammoths back to the promise land. There is a statistical discrepancy, however, as Herosports posted that he only had 12.5 sacks, but regardless, he is any NESCAC QB’s worst nightmare.
Biggest Game: November 3rd @ Trinity
Amherst needs to take this one from the Bantams, and if everything I’ve said before this point is correct, they should beat them with some attitude. Assuming all else goes to their plan, this game could be an explanation point in a dominant season and it would show that Amherst hasn’t just come to win, they’ve come to embarrass the conference in 2018. Watch out chickens, it’s time to get plucked.
Best Tweet:
https://twitter.com/AmherstCollFB/status/1036300487295942656
I don’t know how you could best a video of an offensive lineman catching a punt, so there’s no need to try. Amherst has some inspiring material on their twitter that really got my blood pumping for football, but Dan Papa couldn’t have looked more graceful on this reception and if he ever got back there during a game, I think I’d lose it.
Everything Else:
Ollie Eberth did a remarkable job in his first campaign as a starter last season, pushing former NESCAC POY Reece Foy mostly out of the picture. He did a great job of finding his two favorite targets in Bo Berluti and James O’Reagan and should continue to do so this year with a receiving corps falling second only to Middlebury. Amherst has the most balanced offensive attack of any team with both ground and air games that should rank among the league’s best, making them particularly difficult to defend.
Amherst’s team really looks scary to opponents on the defensive side. Last season they ranked second with 103.6 yards per game allowed on the ground and have many returners for the new season. Nate Tyrell and All-NESCAC CB Avery Saffold should anchor the secondary which is just another strong point in a loaded team that ranked #1 in the conference with just 168 passing yards/game allowed. K/DB John Rak and John Ballard should each improve on their past seasons and limit most of the NESCAC receivers. The Amherst red zone defense was their only weak point last season, allowing the fourth most total point at 19.2 per contest but allowing the fewest yards. That trend might change though as Jack Barrett, John Callahan, and Andrew Sommer will return in the linebacking core and Greg Franklin, Matt Albino, and Blaine Fox will set up on the D-line. Amherst has a ton of returning talent and looks like the strongest all around team on paper with Wesleyan right with them. Amherst will be one of the favorites to bring home the NESCAC crown and barring injuries and breakout players from other teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if they secured it.