Offense Preview

QB – With Grant Jordan out of the mix, the quarterback competition seems to be a 3-way battle between Reno, McCaughey, and Howe.  McCaughey is the most experienced of the group as he played the majority of the first two contests last season and completed 60.4% of his passes for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception. When Jordan was knocked out of the Holy Cross contest, McCaughey stepped in admirably and the offense did not lose a beat under his leadership. McCaughey’s talents in both the passing and running game were evident in the Holy Cross game, however, the combination of a disastrous defeat in all facets of the game at Cornell and the return of Jordan from injury, limited McCaughey’s playing time the remainder of the season. Howe was projected by many to start at quarterback for the Bulldogs in 2024 given that he was Nolan Grooms’ backup in 2023, but only saw limited action at the end of the Cornell game and completed just 33.3% of his passes for 9 yards and an interception. Dante Reno was a highly regarded recruit who spent the last year and a half at South Carolina before transferring to Yale to play for his father. Reno likely has the edge in the competition as Yale would like to develop a younger quarterback who can flourish in the system over the next few years, but if Reno struggles and the coaching staff does not respond effectively, the situation could deteriorate into a nightmare scenario for the team’s morale.

RB – Captain Josh Pitsenberger will lead the Bulldogs’ ground attack as he seeks his fourth straight All-Ivy season. Pitsenberger is a physical back with solid speed who can impact the ground game or the passing game. Last season, Pitsenberger seemed to gain momentum as the season progressed, culminating in a fantastic performance at Harvard. Daal has been impressive in practice and in limited game action last season. In the opening win at Holy Cross last season, Daal averaged 7.0 yards per carry and scored a rushing touchdown. Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni is a very talented freshman who will likely factor into the rotation as a home-run threat with the ball in his hands. Adams and Pandolfi could see carries if others are injured and should play roles on special teams as they continue to develop.

OL – The offensive line should be a strength of the team as five players with starting experience return. St. Aubyn had a stellar sophomore season at tackle and there are high expectations for his continued development. Bennett was a 1^st Team All-Ivy selection in 2024 and is poised for a dominant finish to his career. Charron has been one of the most consistent offensive performers at guard, starting at the position since his sophomore season. Lewis was able to break into the starting lineup in 2024 at guard with his size and strength. Bluhm started four games at center in 2023 and likely remains the best option at center. One knock on the offensive line could be a lack of depth, however, Reno has recruited well at the position and there should be a number of viable options in the event of injuries.

TE – The tight end position was hit hard by graduation, but Spencer Mermans returns as the best run blocking tight end from a year ago. The Yale coaching staff certainly knows how to develop run blocking tight ends as Jackson Hawes was recently described by the Buffalo Bills’ staff as the best blocking tight end that they have ever scouted. Beyond Mermans, there is very little experience at the position as Smith, Tattersall, and Sanders only saw limited action in 2024. Developing a tight end who can be a check-down receiving option for our signal caller will be a vital task of the coaching staff this season.

WR – The return of Mason Shipp is a huge win for a positional group that was the hardest hit of all by graduation. Shipp gives Yale a legitimate No. 1 wideout with the size, strength and speed to beat press coverage. Shipp recorded 39 catches for 431 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2024 while sharing targets with the departed Pantelis, Nenad and Felton. Santiago made an immediate impact as a freshman with his superior size and hands. Expectations are through the roof for Santiago in 2025 as he has the talent to dominate opposing FCS defensive backs. There is a dramatic drop in experience beyond Shipp and Santiago on the depth chart with Brown, Maltarich, Stephens, McKoy, Kemp, Collyer, and Smith seeing little previous action. Kemp and Stephens have been the most productive wideouts (excluding Shipp and Santiago) and they have combined for just 3 catches over their careers. The coaching staff is hopeful that sophomore transfer Clayton Sobecki can make an impact at wideout after a season at the Air Force Academy. The coaching staff turned to Nico Brown when Pantelis went down with an injury in the Princeton contest, so expect Brown to have a more prominent role in 2025. Given the talent of the young wideouts, it would not be a surprise to see a freshman or sophomore start as the No. 3 wideout.