Top Stories Heading into Preseason

The Bulldogs will be reporting to campus this afternoon for the start of preseason camp.  Here are the top storylines heading into the season:

Who will start at WR?  Bo Hines is finally healthy and Chris Williams-Lopez enters his senior season, so one is inclined to assume that those two will be on the field with the first string offense.  The 3rd WR spot will be a toss-up as there are several great players that can fill that role such as Klubnik, Siragusa, and Shohfi.  Drwal, Herring, Locke and Marcinick have all seen extensive action and could contend for a starting spot with a fantastic camp.  Incoming freshman Darrion Carrington might enter the mix if any injuries arise and there are still several talented WRs on the roster that we haven’t even mentioned.

What defense will show up?  Will the defense that fell apart against Colgate and Lehigh reappear this year?  With the coaching adjustment at defensive coordinator and the return of two All-Ivy defenders that missed last season, the defense on paper seems stronger.  Much of the success will depend on the development of young linebackers, the one area of relative inexperience on this side of the ball.  The defensive line has no excuse not to manhandle opposing fronts.

How has Rawlings developed?  We won’t know for certain how productive the offseason was for Rawlings until September 16th against Lehigh.  If Rawlings continues to improve at reading defenses, he could be one of Yale’s greats, but with his limited body of work, it’s simply too early to tell what kind of player he can become in the future.  Rawlings and his top receivers really need to nail down the timing of routes this camp.

Which freshman will make the biggest impact?  Awodiran comes in as the highest rated recruit by national recruiting sites, but rookies like Melvin Rouse or Darnell Robinson could find themselves starting if seasoned defensive backs go down with injuries.  Reno will play the best player regardless of age and that leaves openings on the offensive line and linebacker corps that could shake things up.

Can the special teams units continue to improve?  We return our starting K/P  Alex Galland, LS Hunter Simono, and holder Rafe Chapple, so the key spots are filled with experience.  The special teams units will need to further develop in the areas of protection and kick coverage, but all the ingredients are there for success on this side of the ball.