Twenty-one letter-winners will return on offense, including all but one of last season's starting offensive linemen. In 2005, Dartmouth experimented with four freshmen starters on the line and allowed a league-high 54 sacks as a result. However, the team can look forward to the return of two 300-pound sophomores who missed last season because of injury.
"We expect continued development and a much stronger and steadier performance on the offensive front," head coach Eugene "Buddy" Teevens '79 said. "We need to be more consistent on offense."
On defense, Dartmouth can expect the return of seven starters and 15 letter-winners. Two-talented seniors will also return as fifth-years.
Among the many qualities that Teevens looked for in his new players are physical size and speed. Teevens found much success in the former trait.
"Twelve of the 30 [recruits] are big bodied, offensive or defensive line types," Teevens said.
On the offensive end, Teevens brought in Chris Burns, Bo Hurley, Alex Jenny, Robert Mitchelson and Alex Stonehouse.
Hurley, one of the biggest players recruited this year, comes from Schertz, Texas, and stands tall at 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds. Texasfootball.com ranked him as the seventh-best offensive guard in the nation, ahead of players who plan to play for Louisiana State University and the University of Texas.
Mitchelson, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound running back from Oklahoma, who boasts a 10.76 100-meter time, will be competing for time at a position that will lose two seniors to graduation.
Chris Burns, a swift 5-foot-10, 175-pound Texas tailback, joins the mix as one of the fastest players on the team. Burns attended the Woodlands, where wide-receiver Eric Paul '09 spent his secondary school years. The All-District and All-County player scored eight touchdowns in his last year and ran for 585 yards.
Stonehouse is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound offensive lineman, who hails from West Allis, Wis., and initially expressed interest in playing for Northwestern University.
Jenny, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound quarterback and native of Wayland, Mass., broke virtually every passing record at Wayland High School, throwing for 4,679 yards and 47 touchdowns. In his senior year, Jenny hit 59.9 percent of his throws and connected on 24 touchdown passes.
Six-foot-2, 195-pound linebacker Zech Glaize recorded 58 tackles, 44 assists, seven sacks and an interception last season playing for Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, Ga. Glaize is a two-time first-team All-Region selection and an honorable mention all-state who was also selected to the All-City/South Metro second-team.
On the defensive side, there is 6-foot-3, 225-pound Jeff Smith, who comes to Hanover all the way from sunny Jacksonville, Fla., where he attended the Episcopal High School. Smith made 79 tackles as a senior and was selected to play in the Northeast Florida Shrine Bowl All-Star Game. The All-First Coast Top-10 defensive lineman runs a 4.8 40-meter, bench presses 330 pounds and squats 515 pounds.
Six-foot-1, 190-pound Marlon Alebiosu, the defensive end who attended the King and Low-Heywood Thomas School in Stamford, Conn., was a Class C NEPSAC All-Star pick in his senior year.
Kyle Brong, who hails from Lehighton, Pa., is a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive tackle and a National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame scholar-athlete. Brong is a second-team all-state pick by both the Associated Press and the Pennsylvania Football News. Brong made 88 tackles in his senior year and was picked for the Lehigh Valley McDonalds's All-Star Football Classic.
"[The recruits] are good students academically. They surpassed the league academic requirements, and they're good football players too," Teevens said. "We've got guys who are really excited about Dartmouth College."
Last season, the Big Green struggled with running the football and defending against the run. The team had some size, but lacked depth, and as the season wore on, the Big Green wore down.
In the 2006 campaign, however, it is probable that a number of freshmen will see action on the field. Even older and more established players on the team will have to earn their spots next fall.
"We played a number of freshmen last year, and our philosophy is that our best players will play. We're creating a competitive atmosphere," Teevens said.
Those first-years that did contribute in 2005 can expect to increase their respective roles in the upcoming campaign. Starting quarterback Josh Cohen '09 will look to improve on his 2005 season. Classmate Milan Williams '09, second in rushing on the team, will also be returning next fall.
The most contested position on the field next season will be the kicking spots. Although it was not a recruiting focus this winter, it was nonetheless a weak point for the team last season.
There will be open competition for the kicking jobs. Tom Bennewitz '08, a quarterback, will get a look. In addition to taking snaps, Bennewitz also kicked in high school. Erik Estabrook '09, a wide receiver and kicker of some talent, will also be considered but will need to be more consistent in order to win the job.
Brian Scullin '09, who can also snap and kick, stands as the heir apparent to the punting job, although he too may see competition as the season draws closer.
The football program's plan for improvement isn't limited to bringing in more talented players. The strength program the team has been working on for the last several months has paid dividends.
"We're seeing more powerful guys, guys who are running better," Teevens said.
In all, the recruiting season appears to have been a success for the football program.
"We're really excited about them, but how they transition to college is really the key," Teevens said. "We believe we've strengthened our team."
Dartmouth starts spring practice today at 4 p.m. and practicing sessions will be held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday on Memorial Field -- currently being renovated for the fall season -- through the first week of May.
The annual Green-White Scrimmage, also known as the spring football game, is scheduled for May 6.
The 2006 football season commences on Sept. 16 when the Big Green takes on Colgate. Dartmouth will be playing Holy Cross over Homecoming weekend.
