With the NFL Draft kicking off Thursday evening, there figure to be lots of Delby Lemieux notes this week, but we start today with a very brief look at Dartmouth spring practice at the midway point in a posting from the athletic communications office HERE.
(Here's hoping you already checked the detailed BGA Overtime story after Saturday's practice HERE.)
Now on to the Lemieux news.
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What's left of the venerable Sporting News has a piece headlined NFL Draft sleepers: The best FCS, HBCU & small-school players you should know in 2026. The posting names 10 players, and Lemieux is one of the 10. From the post (LINK):
7. Delby Lemieux, OL, Dartmouth
Offensive lineman Delby Lemieux was a three-time All-Ivy League selection at Dartmouth and a two-time All-American, leading to his invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl. He would be the first Dartmouth player drafted to the NFL since 2004, when Casey Cramer was selected.
Over his time in college, Lemieux played in 35 games, with 30 pressures allowed, three sacks allowed and a 3.1% pressure rate. He's best fit for an interior role despite playing tackle at Darmouth, technically sound but with the strength and technique to create running lanes well.
Lemieux's pass protection is a concern, despite his 305-pound frame and athleticism. He is the No. 36 consensus interior offensive lineman on the board, per NFL Mock Draft Database.
"Lemieux is very athletic and will have no issues as a pulling center or in getting to his landmarks on outside zone," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote of Lemieux. "He’s low-cut and can fit up blocks with leverage but needs to add more bulk."
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The Analyst has a piece headlined FCS Football in the 2026 NFL Draft: Who, What and Everything You Need to Know that lists Key FCS Prospects in 2026 NFL Draft. The posting takes a look at 26 prospects, with Lemieux ranked 16th. From the story (LINK):
Delby Lemieux, Dartmouth, OG/C (6-5, 305)
• Consensus Big Board Ranking: 397
• 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America First Team
• Allowed only three sacks in 950 career pass-blocking snaps, per FCS Football Central.#
An ESPN piece headlined 2026 NFL draft rankings: Jordan Reid's top 499 prospects has Lemieux as one of 60-plus players given a "sixth-round" grade. It has him listed at No. 311 overall. He is not among the site's top 15 centers. (LINK)
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It's never too early to start thinking about next season. Chuck Burton, the guru of Lehigh Football Nation, offers a few thoughts on Dartmouth's Week One opponent after the Mountain Hawks' spring game HERE. He has high praise for the team's defense and one receiver in particular, and doesn't sense any hangover from last year's 12-1 season and No. 9/10 national ranking.
HERO Sports has a piece headlined FCS Spotlight: Lehigh RB Luke Yoder that takes a look at the returning All-America tailback who has run for 3,067 yards and 30 touchdowns in 35 career games HERE.
What the story does not mention is Yoder will be joined this fall by sophomore Trey Tremble, who ran for 3,361 yards, had 1,232 receiving yards and scored 65 touchdowns as a first-team, all-state selection in nearby Allentown. He has transferred to Lehigh after beginning his career at Army West Point.
The HERO piece ends this way:
Richard Nagy was promoted to head coach after three years as Lehigh’s defensive coordinator.
With a new head coach, plus the additions of William & Mary and 2025 semifinalist Villanova to bolster the league’s depth, can the Mountain Hawks remain atop the Patriot?
There is still a strong core of standouts returning to challenge at the top, including Yoder, quarterback Hayden Johnson, offensive linemen Aidan Palmer and Langston Jones, tight end Joseph Marranca, and safety Nick Peltekian.
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EXTRA POINTWith the temperature topping 70 degrees last week, I broke out the flip-flops I live in all summer and set this up . . . a little prematurely, I suppose. This was early in the day and the stuff kept coming . . .
These poor things hung in there the best they could:
