The Hobart College football team is firmly entrenched as one of the top programs in the nation. Since the start of the 2010 season, the Statesmen are in the top 20 in both total wins (15th with 53) and winning percentage (16th, .815). Over the past six seasons, Hobart has won four Liberty League Championships, made four NCAA playoff appearances, and reached the NCAA quarterfinals twice.

The 2015 Statesmen had to deal with the graduation of the 2014 D3football.com National Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Tyre Coleman and the highest Division III player ever selected in the NFL Draft, offensive lineman Ali Marpet as well as the addition of two new coordinators, Jon Drach (offense) and Kory David (defense). It speaks volumes about how far the program has come that last season's 7-3 record (5-2 in the Liberty League) is seen as a down year.

This team has no intention of staying down. These Statesmen are rising.

One of the most successful coaches in Division III football, Mike Cragg returns for his 22nd season at the helm. He begins the year with an overall record of 141-57 (.712), ranking 14th among active coaches in winning percentage and 21st in total wins. Cragg welcomed back 42 lettermen, including seven starters on offense and eight on defense.

Hobart will have a six-man leadership team this year with three captains on each side of the ball. The defense will be led by free safety Matt Cragg, defensive end James Hedger, and linebacker Marcus Jemison, while the offense will be guided by guard Patrick O'Connell III, center Nick Testani, and quarterback Shane Sweeney.

The defense will have a couple of big shoes to fill with the graduation of linebacker Trayvon Toney and tackle Tucker Gumkowski, both All-Liberty League selections, but with so much talent and experience returning all signs point to another strong campaign. Three returning starters earned All-Liberty League honors, including a 2016 D3football.com second team preseason All-American in Jemison.

In 2015, the Hobart defense ranked in the top 10 in the nation in four categories, including second in passing yards allowed per game (129.5) and sixth in total defense (246.0 yds/g). The Statesmen were 33rd in the nation and second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game. In fact, only Springfield scored more than 24 points against Hobart last year.

The Statesmen were not as strong on offense, especially early in the season, but finished the year on fire. During the season-ending three-game win streak, Hobart averaged 439.7 yards and 37.7 points per game. The Statesmen lit up the scoreboard through the air, tossing 13 touchdowns over the final 12 quarters against just a single interception.

Fans can expect the offense to hit its stride sooner with so much returning, including five all-conference picks. Those five all-stars don't include Sweeney and his record-breaking arm or his top target, Jack Pfohl (48 receptions).
 
DEFENSIVE BACK

The Statesmen have All-Liberty League talent across the board in the secondary. But they won't all get to start. Last season, cornerbacks junior Tom D'Antonio and senior Todd Collier both earned all-conference praise, while senior free safety Matt Cragg garnered honorable mention in 2014 before being slowed by injuries a year ago.

In his first season as a full-time starter, D'Antonio had 45 tackles, seven breakups, an interception, and scored a touchdown on a 72-yard fumble return. A two-year starter, Collier had 33 stops, a team-high 10 breakups (2nd in the Liberty League), and a pair of picks. Cragg missed three games due to injury, but still managed 11 tackles and three breakups.

Collier and Cragg are expected in the lineup for opening day, but the third spot will go to junior cornerback Daryl Scales. He was by far the top performer in spring ball and continued his hot play during preseason camp, making a pair of interceptions in the team's scrimmage against Buffalo State. D'Antonio will miss Week 1 as he awaits medical clearance following offseason surgery. Sophomore Sam Wheeler will also see quality playing time at cornerback this year with sophomore CJ Boleware and first-year Jayson Prince contributing at free safety, giving the Statesmen a formidable look in nickel and dime packages.
 
LINEBACKER

The linebacking corps has always been a strength at Hobart and this season will be no different. Jemison is the marquee name with 153 career tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks to his credit. The outside linebacker's speed and athleticism will force opposing coaches to scheme against him, a fact that Hobart's coaches hope to exploit by moving him around in the formation, getting him snaps at defensive end and in the secondary. Sophomore Kai Brandford is a very good athlete who's gotten bigger, stronger, and faster during the offseason. He starts the year as Jemison's understudy, but could also see time on the opposite side of the formation as it will be tough to get Jemison off the field. Senior Austin Gallegos and first-year David McCarthy give the position added depth and are expected to contribute on special teams.

Senior Michael Harper will start at the other outside linebacker spot. He delivers punishing hits and is tough to beat in the passing game (7 PBU, 4 INT). Junior Will Hoffer has delivered solid performances over the past two seasons and will be Harper's backup with sophomore Bobby Lewis and first-year Josh Walker pushing him for a spot on the two-deep.

The Statesmen entered last season with two of the best inside linebackers in the Liberty League in Trayvon Toney and Jacob Stanley. Their graduation would have left a big hole in the middle of the defense if not for the Week 4 season-ending injury Stanley suffered. That allowed Almamy Conde to move into the starting lineup and gain experience under Toney's tutelage. Conde started the final five games of the season, recording 30 tackles to finish eighth on the team. Now a junior, he will be the veteran starter passing his knowledge on to a newcomer. Junior Gabriel Smith and first-year Jedh Downey had a fierce competition for the starting spot beside Conde. Downey, who led Northern Valley Old Tappan to the state championship last year, won the job coming out of camp, impressing the coaches with his nose for the ball. Though lacking experience, the coaches believe they have quality depth at inside 'backer in juniors Christian Coons and Michael Clancy and first-years Robert Bottoni, Collin Hudgins, and Jake Spreckman.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE

Hobart's line is strong and stout but is still working on developing a push to limit the time passers have to try to wear down the secondary. Hedger and senior tackle Jake Russell return to the starting lineup.

A three-year starter, Hedger had 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 2015. Junior Brandon Ball has been steadily improving throughout his career and on Saturday at Brockport he'll bookend Hedger in the starting lineup. He lacks Hedger's experience with just 10 career games and five tackles under his belt. Ball will be pushed for playing time by sophomores Elijah Auringer, AJ McFarlane, and Al Smith. McFarlane and Smith worked hard in the weight room during the offseason and will be a part of the rotation. McFarlane has the size (6-3, 260), speed, and skills to contribute at tackle as well. Auringer had offseason surgery to repair an injury that he played through as a high school senior and last year.

Russell is back for his second season as a starter. He logged 20 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 2015. The Statesmen will be deep at tackle and expect to use a five or six-man rotation that is likely to include Russell, junior TJ Adams, junior Zackary Robak, sophomore Sean Moore, first-years Reid Crobok and David Rodriguez, and possibly McFarlane. The starter next to Russell for Week 1, Robak played in all 10 games last year, starting three, while producing 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. He's a strong, physical rusher, capable of occupying two blockers at once. Moore is strong, tough, and deceptively quick. The latter feature will earn him time in passing situations. Adams earned a spot on the two-deep thanks to a strong preseason camp. Crobok is strong at the point of attack, like Robak, while Rodriguez is a faster, pass rushing lineman.
 
QUARTERBACK

Junior Shane Sweeney won the starting nod in preseason camp last season, but took a while to hit his stride due to an early season injury. He finished strong, however, torching Rochester for a Hobart game-record six passing TDs in the season finale. Sweeney set program season records for pass attempts per game (29.6), completions per game (18.4), and passing yards per game (221.0). Against Hobart's top opponent, then No. 25 St. Lawrence, he was at his best, completing a season-high 28 passes (2nd most by a Hobart QB) on a season-high 46 attempts (also 2nd on the Hobart single game list). The starting job is his to lose this season. The question is who will be his backup.

The list of candidates for the No. 2 job was long at the beginning of camp. Sophomores Anthony Pino and Adam Wallerstein and first-years Jack Brotzki, Ryan Hofmann, and Marco King all brought something different to the table, but by the end of the preseason, Pino had won the job. A dual threat, he threw for over 6,000 yards and 65 touchdowns in high school while also running for 15 TDs. A fierce competition throughout camp, expect the battle for No. 2 to continue in the early weeks of the season.
 
WIDE RECEIVER

Hobart's depth and talent at wide receiver prompted Offensive Coordinator Jon Drach to use less two-back formations and more three wideouts. The offense boasts all-star caliber receivers in seniors Jack Pfohl and Sean Cunningham and junior Brandon Shed. Pfohl had a team-high 48 receptions last year, the most receptions per game (4.8) by a Statesman since Tyler Vincent '10 in 2008 (5.2). Shed was a second-team All-Liberty League pick after leading Hobart with 700 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. His yardage and TD totals are the most by a Statesman since 2007 (James Wright 923 yds, 12 TD in 11 gms & Ryan LiDrazzah 840 yds, 9 TDs in 11 gms). Cunningham had 26 receptions for 204 yards (3rd on the team in both categories). He produced 58 percent of his receptions and 49 percent of his yardage in the final three games of the season.

Competing for spots on the two-deep are sophomores Joseph Barrocas and Jake Henzes and first-years Jake Catalioto, Isaiah Hill, Ray Conley, John DelliSanti and Nate Davis. Barrocas is the only one with a collegiate reception (4 rec, 59 yds, TD) and is expected to get more chances this season, while Henzes has a strong grasp of the offense and will see expanded playing time this year. The Class of 2020 receivers is a talented bunch that will force the coaches to find ways to get them on the field.
 
TIGHT END

Junior Zach Withers won the starting tight end job late last year and finished the season with 10 catches for 137 yards and four touchdowns. He capped the season with three receptions for 46 yards and two touchdowns at Rochester and was named to the 2015 All-Liberty League second team. Sophomore Matt Woods switched from quarterback to tight end this year and has performed well as a pass catcher in the preseason. First-year Israel Almestica (6-foot-5, 245 lbs.) has the size and strength to contribute as a blocker from Day 1 and is expected to grow into a larger role as he learns the offense.
 
RUNNING BACK

Like last season, Hobart will rely on a running back by committee approach. Senior Bradley Burns, junior Joe Letizia, and sophomore Tynard Barfield will share the workload in the running game this season. Burns was second on the team in carries (49) and rushing yards (219) last season behind starter Conner Hartigan '16. Burns had arguably the most memorable run of the 2015 season, leaping a would-be tackler during a 36-yard TD against Endicott. The play was featured on CBS' Best of College Football show as the GEICO Play of the Year. Barfield nearly equaled Burns' production in his first season on campus, posting 199 yards on 45 carries while scoring a team-high four rushing touchdowns. He also added six receptions for 88 yards and a TD. Letizia ran for 36 yards on just 11 attempts last year, but will see more meaningful snaps thanks to the graduation of three of the five Statesmen with more carries last season. First-year Brian Haeffner, who holds the Garden City High School career records for rushing yards (3,140) and touchdowns (47), could also work his way into the mix.

When Hobart does use a fullback, look for returning veterans Dylan Quay and Sean Bright to get the call with first-years Omari Davis and Chris Kocovic adding depth.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
To say that Hobart's offensive line is big may be an understatement. This year's line features eight players listed at 6-foot-4 or taller and six that tip the scales at 300 pounds or more. That doesn't include returning All-Liberty League picks O'Connell (6-2, 290) or Testani (6-3, 295). O'Connell will attempt to earn his third straight all-league nod while starting at a new position for the third year in a row. After breaking into the lineup at right tackle in 2014, he switched to left tackle last year and moves to left guard this year. Testani will hold the center of the line for the third straight year as the starter.

Sophomore John Deveney (6-5, 285) will be tasked with protecting Sweeney's blindside at left tackle. Senior Justin DiJiulio (6-4, 280) will man the right tackle spot and sophomore Jack Koch (6-2, 285) will start at right guard.

The depth at tackle is impressive. Junior Sean Plunkett (6-6, 350) and first-years Micah Holloway (6-10, 300) and Trevor Lawrence (6-5, 270) are all expected to see important playing time. A transfer to Hobart, Plunkett's father, Patrick '81, and uncle, Daniel '85, both played for the Statesmen. Holloway is a sophomore academically, but missed last season due to injury. Lawrence is a true first-year, who developed his nimble footwork as a nationally ranked fencer.

Senior Matthew Mancuso (6-4, 305), junior Alex Helm (6-3, 305), and first-year Elijah Weiss (6-2, 340) will serve as big-bodied backups at guard.

Junior Stephen VanHoesen (6-2, 270) will back up Testani in the middle, but knows the system so well that he is likely to fill in anywhere on the line throughout the year.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS

Hobart returns All-Liberty League honorees at both kicker and punter in senior Sean Kirshe and junior Rio Schmidt, respectively. Kirshe was tied for third in the league with five field goals made last season, including a season's best 37-yarder at Union. After a 7-for-7 effort on PATs against the Dutchmen, he was named the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week. Schmidt finished third in the conference in field goal average (35.9), the best by a Statesman since Yosh Karbowniczak '14 in 2012 (37.2).

Cunningham is penciled in to handle punt return duties again this season. He was third in the league with an 8.4 yards per return average last season. Cunningham, who also plays for Hobart's Division I lacrosse team, broke a 59-yard return for a touchdown in the win over Endicott last year.

Barfield led the Liberty League in kickoff return average (25.0 yds/ret) last year, but since he's poised to take on a greater role in the backfield, he won't be handling that task this season. Speedy first-years Brian Haeffner and Isaiah Hill will start at Brockport.
 
SCHEDULE

For the first time since 1991, Hobart will open the season against a team other than Dickinson. The Statesmen travel to Brockport to open their 123rd varsity season on Sept. 3. It will be the ninth all-time meeting between the schools (Brockport leads 5-3), the first since 1982 (a 21-12 Hobart road win) and the first season-opening meeting since the series opener back in 1949 (a 30-6 Brockport road win).
A week later, the Statesmen will travel to Endicott with a 2-0 lead in the budding rivalry.

Hobart will make its Boswell Field debut under the lights on Homecoming and Family Weekend against longtime nemesis Ithaca. The Bombers, who will join the Liberty League in 2017, lead the series 25-4, but the Statesmen have won three in a row at home against IC.

League play begins with back-to-back home games against Union and Merchant Marine on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, respectively. Hobart has won six in a row over the Dutchmen, narrowing Union's series lead to 50-47-2. The following Saturday, the Statesmen will look to maintain their dominance over the Mariners, who have lost 12 in a row to the Purple and Orange.

A trip to Troy on Oct. 8 follows with Hobart looking to avenge a 21-20 loss in Geneva last season. The Engineers' victory evened the all-time series at 29-29-1.

With a week off to prepare for Springfield on Oct. 22, the Statesmen hope to reverse last year's shocking 35-13 loss in Massachusetts. It was the Pride's first win over Hobart since joining the Liberty League in 2012.

The Statesmen close out October with their final conference contest at WPI, putting their perfect 12-0 mark against the Engineers on the line.

Nov. 5 is a date no doubt circled on both Hobart and St. Lawrence's schedules. The Statesmen aim to prove that last year's 19-17 win in Geneva was no fluke while the Saints look to get revenge.

The regular season concludes on Boswell Field on Nov. 12, when Hobart hosts Rochester for the annual Centennial Cup game. The Statesmen have won five in a row and 11 of the past 12 games against the Yellowjackets.