Thirty-two new players are set to join the team for the upcoming season, representing 17 different states. California, Florida and Massachusetts each have four players represented in the class, tying for the most recruits coming from any one state. New Hampshire has one representative in the recruitment group, as listed running back Cody Patch will join the team from Lebanon High School. The team will also have one transfer, with freshman wide receiver Robbie Anthony joining the team after a season at Clemson University.
The class also brings in various family members of former and current Big Green athletes. Chris Boudreaux, coming in listed as a tight end, is the son of former Dartmouth basketball standout and Board of Trustees member Gail Koziara Boudreaux '82. Co-captain Tim McManus '11 will be joined on the field by younger brother Ryan McManus when the team begins play in the fall.
Co-captain Shawn Abuhoff '12 said the Big Green is excited for the contributions from next year's freshmen.
"We understand that we were only a couple players away, and we're really pushing for the Ivy title," he said. "Every year there are a few freshmen that really make an impact off the bat, and it's exciting."
The new team members will fill a variety of positions.
Abuhoff said coaches focused on seeking players to serve on special teams.
"Really we weren't exactly trying to primarily focus on one aspect," Abuhoff said. "We wanted to get a couple guys who could help in our special teams game. We got one of the better kickers in the country, actually," he said in reference to Riley Lyons.
In addition to special teams players, the team heavily recruited offensive linemen. The Big Green will head into camp in the fall with a projected six recruits joining the offensive line, continuing the team's strong focus on protection that led to only seven sacks allowed last season. The team also expects to add five wide receivers from the new recruits.
"We tried to get a little depth at [defensive back] and receiver as well as offensive linemen because we will be graduating a good portion of them," he said.
While the recruits are expected to begin practice in their given positions, they might change positions as the team goes through camp, according to Abuhoff.
"Every year there are always guys that come in at one position and switch early on in the season," Abuhoff said.
Abuhoff stressed that the real contributions of the freshman will be in the special teams, especially early on in the season before freshmen have had time to be assessed. He said that much of the success of the football team comes not from the immediate talent of the young players but from the time spent together over the course of four years.
"The college game has changed to the point that you don't see many freshmen making an impact immediately, but [associate head coach Chris Wilkerson] puts freshmen in the position to make contributions right from the start in special teams," Abuhoff said.
Incoming freshmen will not be limited solely to special teams play. Coaches do not decide on positions based on class year or seniority, but instead assign players to team roles due to skill and practice intensity, according to Abuhoff.
"The biggest thing for [head coach Buddy Teevans] is that no position is set, so if a freshman comes in and performs better than a senior at his position, he will take over that position for some time or maybe even permanently," he said.
