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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Game-Breaking Skill Players Are Focus Of Sixth Video Preview Episode
September 11, 2015 | Football
PRESEASON VIDEO PREVIEW SERIES: Defensive Line l Linebackers l Defensive Backs
Offensive Line l Quarterbacks l Offensive Skill
Throughout the preseason, GoPrincetonTigers.com will be doing its annual video preview series, going position-by-position through the team as it gets closer to its Sept. 19 season opener at Lafayette.
The senior duo of DiAndre Atwater and Seth DeValve has accomplished plenty at Princeton already. Both were key pieces during the record-smashing 2013 Ivy League championship season, and both figured to be key pieces in Princeton's hope for a repeat last year.
There were moments of brilliance for both, but they were interspersed between far too many other moments in the training room, or on the sideline.
As you will see below, Princeton doesn't lack for options at the skill positions, especially at running back. There are a number of freshmen that the coaching staff believe could factor into this year's Ivy League race. Somebody will step up and surprise in a key spot.
But the numbers back up this belief: If Atwater and DeValve can stay on the field, this offense could be scary.
Top Returners
DiAndre Atwater • 5.6 y/rush in career, including 7.4 last season; 1,122 career yards
Seth DeValve • in last seven starts, has averaged 8.1 catches for 92.7 yds per game
Scott Carpenter • 2014 All-Ivy League honoree; 20-236, 1 TD
Names To Remember
Isaiah Barnes, James Frusciante, AJ Glass, Trevor Osborne, Dré Nelson, Joe Rhattigan
Freshmen Who Could Impact
Graham Adomitis, Stephen Carlson, Jesper Horsted, Alex Parkinson, Cody Smith, Charles Volker
In the first four games of last season, Atwater had games of 80, 107 and 131 rushing yards, but then the injury bug hit hard. He missed both the Harvard and Dartmouth games (as did DeValve), and the offense produced almost nothing in either one. He has a combination of speed, power and vision that few possess, and head coach Bob Surace believes that this has been his best camp.
While you want to see Atwater on the field all 10 games, part of the process is making sure you aren't wearing him out on every offensive series. This is where the afore-mentioned depth comes into play, and it really is impressive depth. Classmate Dré Nelson is a track standout and an All-Ivy special teams returner; he is a legitimate threat to break an explosive play any time he touches the ball.
The junior duo of Joe Rhattigan and AJ Glass have both had flashes of strong play during their underclassman years, but following the graduation of Will Powers, both will need to step up a reliable option as runner, receiver and blocker. Powers rarely got the same attention as Atwater, but he was as reliable as they come.
A freshman pair to pay close attention to is Charles Volker and Cody Smith. Volker was a New Jersey state champion in the 100, so there are no concerns about his breakaway speed. An offense this complex is rarely mastered as a freshman (outside of Chuck Dibilio's historic 2011 season), but Volker will get his opportunities to do what he does best — run. Smith is as talented a fullback as Surace has brought in; it isn't a position used in great quantity, though Smith could force more packages with him on the field.
While DeValve's absence through most of the 2014 season was disappointing, his return this season is enormous considering the graduations of Matt Costello '15 and Connor Kelley '15, as well as the early development of the new quarterbacks. Simply put, you can throw a jump ball to DeValve and trust he'll catch it, and you can throw a quick check to him and trust he'll pick up extra yardage.
He may run and catch like a wide receiver, but he looks like a linebacker. And most cornerbacks would have little interest in tackling a linebacker running full speed at them.
If (when?) DeValve draws double teams, it will be on the rest of the receivers to take advantage. The one returner who seemed to make late strides was junior James Frusciante, who had a touchdown at Yale and is the most likely candidate to become Princeton's possession receiver. It was a role Costello thrived in for four years, and one Frusciante has the hands and route-running ability to handle.
Junior Trevor Osborne showed flashes, but didn't have the same consistency late last season. The same holds true for senior Isaiah Barnes, but both have had their best preseasons. Surace is also excited about his freshman class, which includes a number of big, physical targets that could get on the field fairly quickly.
Returning All-Ivy tight end Scott Carpenter will be a security blanket for the young quarterbacks. He only caught 20 passes last season, but he made explosive plays out of several of them while also proving to be a capable blocker. Injuries have hampered the depth at the position this preseason, but Surace is hopeful that Travis McHugh could provide some depth after a terrific spring.