In the coming week, the Dartmouth football team will announce its early decision recruits for the Class of 2011. The team hopes to improve off of a repeat 2-8 (2-4 Ivy) season from last year with help from the new freshman class.
Eight men now comprise the Class of 2011 football squad and will be joined by many more in the spring. In years past, the team has landed more recruits through the early decision process. However, the coaching staff has said it is very pleased with quality of players taken in the first round of recruiting.
"We did not take as many guys this year as last year," said Adam Hollis, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. "We were more selective this year. We thought these men were the right eight."
The Big Green recruited one quarterback, two running backs, one tight end, three linebackers and a place-kicker for the Class of 2011 this winter.
William Deevy, who hails from Colorado, is the sole quarterback recruit. Playing for the Kent Denver School, he led his team to a 4-5 finish after an 0-4 start, with a 4-2 Metropolitan League record. He threw 15 touchdown passes in his junior season and averaged nearly 10 yards per pass that year. His father, Brian Deevy '77, is a Dartmouth alumnus.
Michael Cummings, who attended Deerfield Academy but is a native Virginian, plays tight end. He is 6' 5" and weighs in at 235 pounds. He led his team in receiving his senior year, pulling in 21 catches for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. He received All-New England honors this past season. His father, Daniel Cummings '75, is also a Dartmouth alumnus.
Tyler Green, who attends the Middlesex School in Concord, Mass., plays both linebacker and defensive lineman. Known for both his speed and strength, the 255-pound player clocked a 4.7 second forty yard dash. He was named a New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference All-Star his senior year.
Spencer Hood is a linebacker who played at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, Calif. Carlsbad is traditionally a powerhouse in the state, and this year was no different, as the team finished with a 10-0-2 record. Hood was named to California's all-state third team his senior year. His grandfather was a member of the Class of 1950.
Matt Kelly played for Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Fla., as a place-kicker and punter. He was part of a 9-3 team that reached the state 2A regional finals. He had a thirty-nine point senior season for the TC Crusaders.
Steven Morris is a 5'10", 180-pound running back and defensive back who played for Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Ill. He was part of a winning squad that reached the second round of the Illinois High School Association playoffs. A multi-threat player, he racked up over 300 yards rushing and almost 300 yards receiving with eight touchdowns.
Carter Scott is a linebacker who played for the Hammond School in Columbia, S.C. Scott helped lead his team to its first state title in over 14 years, and was one of only four members of his team to play in the North Carolina/South Carolina Private School Shrine Bowl.
The last of the eight recruits is Joseph Zimring, who attends the Mary Institute Country Day School in Saint Louis, Mo. He played running back and fullback for his high school team, which went 8-1 his senior season. Zimring, a senior captain, has been named all-league at the fullback position twice.
"All the recruits bring to the table something that's needed for the team," Hollis said. "They are great leaders. Most were captains on their football teams. Many come from very successful high school programs. We tried to recruit success."
Primary goals for this year's recruiting included building around the offensive line that the program assembled with last year's recruiting, highlighting the importance of landing a tight end and two running backs.
The program wants more speed in the offensive backfield as well as the secondary. With an aging kicking unit, the football team needed a place-kicker for future seasons, which the team addressed by recruiting Kelly.
This spring, the program looks to upgrade on defense, particularly to help out the line.
These eight players comprise the entire group of prospects that Dartmouth was seriously considering for it winter recruit class; no player that Dartmouth targeted decided on another school.
Many of the early decision recruits attended the College's football camp over the summer and are already familiar with the team's coaching style.
In addition to taking less winter recruits, the total recruit numbers are predicted to be lower than the usual 30 for each class.
Though it is too early to accurately predict how the Ivy League will turn out, Hollis is confident in a marked improvement with next year's squad.
"We finished the [2006] season off confident. We can beat any team on our [2007] schedule," he said.
The final standings for the 2006 season were somewhat deceiving in that Dartmouth played many close games but most often ended up on the losing side of things. A large core of seasoned players coupled with a strong recruiting class for the 2007 season could result in a surprising turn of fortune for a recently reeling Dartmouth squad.
Head coach Buddy Teevens could not be reached for comment as he is traveling on recruitment visits.
