Before getting on with today's news, a reminder that there will be a story about Dartmouth's first practice of the preseason posted tomorrow evening on BGA Overtime and it's available to everyone.
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No one on the national scene is as knowledgeable about Ivy League football as old friend Craig Haley, senior editor at The Analyst and former Princeton beat writer. With that in mind, here's how someone I've sat next to in many a press box has projected the Ivy League race to finish this fall (LINK):
1. Harvard
2. Penn
3. Yale
4. Dartmouth
5. Princeton
6. Brown
7. Cornell
8. Columbia
Of Dartmouth, Haley writes:
While the Big Green are replacing three-year QB Nick Howard, Jackson Proctor’s dual-threat skills should blossom in his senior season. Coach Sammy McCorkle returns plenty of veterans across the offensive line and with WR Paxton Scott (131 career receptions), RB Q Jones and all-purpose threat Sean Williams. Braden Mullen’s 5.5 sacks ranked fourth in the league even though he played in only the first five games due to injury. As a freshman, place-kicker Owen Zalc was 17 of 21 (81%) on field goals, leading the league with 76 points.
Haley lists these Five Players to Know in the Ivy League:
Shane McLaughlin, RB, Harvard
Isaiah Reed, DB, Brown
Jared Richardson, WR, Penn
Jameson Wang, QB, Cornell
Jake Willcox, QB, Brown
And here are his Five Must-See Matchups in the Ivies this fall:
1. Yale at Harvard (Nov. 23)
2. Harvard at Penn (Nov. 16)
3. Princeton at Harvard (Oct. 26)
4. Penn at Dartmouth (Oct. 5)
5. Yale at Penn (Oct. 26)
Finally, here's his Fast Fact Ivy League trivia that surprised me:
The Ivy League had five league games decided in overtime last season – the most among the 13 FCS conferences. Additionally, the teams went OT in three non-league games.
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Dartmouth's freshmen are in town in advance of tomorrow's start of the preseason. Click through this series of photos and click on the players themselves for IDs in this posting from Big Green social media:
New faces in The Woods🌲#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/CxcmZ11AKi
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) August 22, 2024
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Because he spent the past two years as a grad transfer at Syracuse it's easy for the media to overlook that corner Isaiah Johnson '22 is a Dartmouth grad and former Big Green standout. Undrafted last spring, Johnson has had an impressive preseason with the Miami Dolphins. A few outtakes from a Miami Herald story (LINK):
The Dolphins kept former undrafted rookies Nik Needham and Kader Kohou on their 53-man roster, and they now face similar decisions with Storm Duck, Isaiah Johnson and Jason Maitre.
Though Maitre has had a good camp, Duck and Johnson present the most difficult decisions when Miami trims its roster to 53 by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
And . . .
Johnson has outstanding size (6-3) and an NFL body, and Duck was the highest-regarded pro prospect of the three back in April.
Both have made a compelling case during training camp.
Per Pro Football Focus, Duck and Johnson have limited opposing quarterbacks to a 39.6 passer rating in their coverage area, tied for sixth best among every NFL cornerback who has been targeted at least five times through two weeks of preseason.
Falcons and Commanders quarterbacks were 0 for 5 targeting Johnson, and 1 for 9 (for 16 yards) throwing against Duck.
And . . .
The Dolphins gave $32,500 guaranteed to Johnson . . .
A reminder that defensive end Niko Lalos '20 is making another strong bid for a spot on the New Orleans Saints roster and offensive tackle Matt Kaskey '19, fresh off another UFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions, is in camp with the Los Angeles Rams.
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EXTRA POINT
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They even have a comfy couch where old-timers can sit and read the newspaper while sipping their coffee during hot stove league talks about the Red Sox.
Check out the listing for "arguably the most historic and nicest general store in Vermont," HERE.
