Ivy League Sports

Since his arrival at Princeton, head coach Roger Hughes has worked tirelessly to build a foundation based on a winning culture for the Tiger football program. That foundation is now in place. Not since 1996 has a Princeton football team come into a year with at least three consecutive seasons of .500-or-better records. It is now a program that will not sneak up on anybody this season. Their presence has been announced over the last three seasons, and now they plan on staying in the championship hunt on an annual basis. It’s what winning programs do.

The prospect of a starting offensive line featuring as many as three sophomores could be a frightening one. But coming off last season, when the starting line had combined for zero varsity snaps prior to the opener, there is reason for optimism. The 2007 offensive line won’t be an overpowering one, but it will suit the strengths of its skill players: quickness. They can get out on the perimeter and support the run game, which can come from anywhere in the spread formation. Princeton returns three starters, who will likely assume both tackle positions as well as the center spot. Senior Brendon Swisher, who moved from tight end to left tackle last season, will stay in that position and anchor the line. He will provide blind side protection for the quarterback, the role held by right tackle Mark Paski last season. The first freshman at Princeton to start every game of his freshman season on the offensive line, Paski is as technically skilled as any offensive lineman in recent Princeton history. The more he develops physically, the more dominant he will become. Juniors Nick Morgan and Matt Reynolds are two potential candidates to fill the vacancy at center. The guard positions will be competitive ones, and there are a handful of players who will vie for one of the starting roles or a spot in the rotation, including sophomores J.P. Makrai and Andrew Hauser and seniors Adam Flynn, and Robert Bruesewitz.

Princeton returns senior receiver Brendan Circle, who is coming off one of the most remarkable seasons by a Princeton receiver in several decades, to the lineup. He caught 56 passes, ninth most in Tiger history and third most in the last 15 seasons, and he recorded 835 receiving yards, fifth most in program history. A true possession receiver, Circle has spent the last two seasons moving the chains. He runs precise routes, including anything over the middle, and his hands are as reliable as any in the Ivy League. He’s also an impressive blocker, a crucial component in Hughes’ offense. Joining Circle on the outside is junior Adam Berry, considered by Hughes to be one of the most prepared players on his roster. Berry has worked hard to earn a potential starting spot this season. He caught at least one pass in nine of 10 games last season, and his average of 13.8 yards per catch was second on the team. He is a versatile threat who can beat you over the middle or down the field, and isn’t afraid to mix it up physically. Junior Will Thanheiser has impressed offensive coaches during the spring and could be a valuable piece in an offense that rotates its receivers based on formation. Sophomore Jeb Heavenrich, a California native, brings speed and also impressed during the spring.

The breakout receiver this season, though, might come from the tight end position. Senior Jake Staser moved from fullback to tight end last season and caught eight passes for 92 yards and two scores. His athleticism is off the charts, and he’s just as happy to run through you as he is to run past you. Two seasons ago, Jon Dekker turned into a trusted option for rookie quarterback Jeff Terrell, and Staser could quickly become the same thing for this season’s signal caller. Junior Billy Mitchell provides blocking insurance for a young offensive line.

Recently, the Princeton offense has featured a multiple-back attack. It’s a strategy that utilizes a versatility of skills, but more importantly keeps running backs fresh well into the fourth quarter. Senior Rob Toresco is the backbone of the backfield. He epitomizes everything that Princeton asks from its running backs. He blocks on the perimeter and in the passing game, catches passes out of the backfield, and is a trusted short-yardage runner. He is also terrific at "shortening" a game by keeping the clock running in the fourth quarter. The leading rusher from last season, junior R.C. Lagomarsino also returns. He is a shifty and elusive back with the speed to get outside and the quickness to find a hole on the interior of the line as well. The more times Lagomarsino touches the ball, the better it will be for Princeton. Fellow junior Pete Ploszek is another option in the backfield, who possesses more north-to-south speed and must continue to show that power running style that will make him a consistent fixture in the gameplan. Another nuance in the spread offense is sophomore Kenny Gunter. A converted quarterback, Gunter combines impressive speed with remarkable running power. If he can progress in the fall and find his own niche in the backfield, he will give the Tigers increased options.

Coming into fall camp, senior Bill Foran will be the No. 1 quarterback. Should Foran hold that position until the season opener, he may be the single most watched player in the Ivy League in 2007. His athleticism is obvious - which is crucial in the spread option - and has the ability to be a potent scrambler. If he can make the right decisions in the passing game, the offense could be terrific. He has a live arm and can certainly throw the ball down the field, but his accuracy will be tested in the short crossing routes that the offense depends on.

Classmate Greg Mroz is the most accurate of the passers. The younger brother of two former Ivy League quarterbacks, he has the pedigree to get the job done. He played well in the spring game, consistently hitting receivers in the hands. He will need to be a leader in the huddle and direct the offense if his number is called, but he has the necessary physical skills to be successful.

Junior Brian Anderson and freshman Brett Kan will also see some snaps in practice.

While the loss of All-Ivy lineman Jake Marshall leaves a void in the defensive rotation, coordinator Steve Verbit can feel confident in a trio of experienced juniors who have already made their presence known within the Ivy League. Anchoring one end of the line is Pete Buchignani, a full-time starter last season. Buchignani is a major physical presence at the end of the line who is crucial in the run game. He made 27 tackles last season, including five for loss, and has played significant minutes in 16 straight games. Opposite of Buchignani is Tom Methvin, who led all returning linemen last season with 33 tackles, including 15 solo stops, seven tackles for loss and four sacks. He has made a habit of making plays in the opposing team’s backfield, and there is no reason to expect any different in 2007. One of the hardest-working players on the defense is nose guard Matt Koch, who rotated with Marshall last season. Despite the unenviable task of often taking on the double team, Koch made 23 stops last season, including one for loss. The Tigers will look for others to step up and assume the remaining roles on the line for 2007.

The linebacking corps should also be in capable hands in Verbit's defense. Senior Tim Boardman led Princeton with 52 tackles last season and is an intense presence on the field who can excel against both the run and the pass. He had four tackles for loss and a sack last year, but he was most noticeable in the run game, helping keep opposing backs to minimal gains. A solid tackler, Boardman will need to add greater consistency in 2007. Joining Boardman inside will be senior Doori Song, who made some critical tackles early in the season and was a force behind the line of scrimmage on several third-and-short opportunities. He made 44 tackles last season, including 23 solo stops, and added six tackles for loss. Senior co-captain Jon Stem will move to one of the outside positions, where he can let his speed and game savvy take over. Stem recorded 35 tackles last season, including five stops for loss, and he led all linebackers with four pass breakups. Stem is a leader and is versatile enough to rush the quarterback one play and drop into coverage on the next. Competition for the other outside position will be a fierce one, with senior Pat McGrath, junior Collin McCarthy and sophomores John Callahan and Scott Britton in the mix.

The hardest-hit position due to graduation is in the secondary, where Princeton has lost two of the premier cover corners in recent Ivy history in Jay McCareins ’06 and J.J. Artis ’07 as well as four-year starter Tim Strickland ’07. Princeton returns experience at both corner and safety, but those players will need to raise their game to keep the Tiger defense near the top of the league standings. Senior Kevin Kelleher will assume the main leadership role in the backfield after two years of experience at the safety position. Kelleher made 39 tackles last season and led the team with four interceptions. A crop of experienced players are in the mix for two starting corner spots as well as a spot at safety. Sophomore Dan Kopolovich, a converted quarterback whose natural athleticism helped him make a smooth transition, and junior Tom Hurley both saw significant time last year. Kopolovich recorded 21 tackles and four pass breakups while Hurley recorded 28 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception. Sophomores Cart Kelly and Carlos Roque could also become fixtures in the secondary. Kelly, a star of ESPNU’s 2006 show “Summer House,” was a highly-touted recruit who may have the most potential to be a shutdown corner. Roque impressed the coaches in the spring and will look to do the same in the fall as he tries to work himself into the nickel and dime packages. Another name to remember is Barry Newell, a junior who returns after missing all of last season with an injury. He has proven to be an intelligent presence in the backfield and could jump into the cornerback rotation or move to safety.

Junior Ryan Coyle assumes the punting duties from departed senior Colin McDonough. Coyle replaced McDonough in two games last season and recorded a respectable 34.5-yard punting average. He had a strong spring and will enter the fall as the No. 1 punter on the depth chart.

Placekicking is a bit more of an open race. Junior Connor Louden handled most of the duties last season and was a perfect 25-for-25 on extra points. He hit nine of 16 field goal attempts. He is, however, trying to overcome offseason surgery, so his progress will be monitored closely. Sophomore Matt Lichtenstein made his good on his one field goal attempt last season; hitting a 25-yard kick against Dartmouth for a league-clinching 27-17 win. He had a strong spring, as did junior David Korn, as the two of them shared the kicking duties with Louden sidelined.