2026 Princeton Football: Defensive Preview

Torian Roberts

Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC

September 14, 2026 | Football

By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com

It's unusual to say that one side of the ball could build off a winless month, but the Princeton football defense found something last November that it plans to carry over into 2026.

Frankly, it has been chomping at the bit to carry it over.

The 3-7 record Princeton has carried for the last nine months doesn't reflect the strides made by its defense late in the fall. The Tigers allowed 20 points or fewer in each of their final four games. In Week 9, Princeton held Yale to 13 points; over the next two weeks, the Bulldogs averaged 44 points against two NCAA qualifiers. Only two teams held Yale to 13 points over the final two months of the season: Princeton and 2025 FCS national champion Montana State.

There were key seniors on that defense that Princeton will miss, but the cupboard is anything but bare. There are a few potential standouts leading the way, but the overall depth on this side of the ball is what has head coach Bob Surace and the defensive coaching staff — led by new defensive coordinator Mike Weick — most excited about the 2026 season.

Defensive Linemen
Senior Rocco Marcelino is a strong starting point for the defensive line conversation, especially since he has the strength and versatility to move either inside or outside. He made 11 tackles last season, including four in an early win over Columbia, and he can be a run stopper in the interior. Classmate London Robinson made a strong recovery from a 2024 injury last season (22 tackles), and Surace thinks he has made more strides after a full year away from the injury. The third senior with significant experience on the line is Caden Wright, who has played in 17 games over the last two seasons.

Having experienced seniors provides a good starting point, but there are a number of guys who have impressed in the preseason and will be vying for major playing time. Junior Dane Borene is a 6-6 junior who played in almost every game last season, and he turned that experience into the foundation for a terrific offseason. Borene and classmate Chris Oliver, who also played in nine games last year, have made strong cases to be big parts of the rotation this year.

Sophomore Nate Stohl could have been the Ivy League Rookie of the Year last fall had he not shared a locker room with Josh Robinson, who rewrote the Princeton offensive record books on the way to that honor in 2025. Stohl had multiple tackles in each of the final five games last year, including four against Harvard, and he looks like a potential force on the line for years to come.

While Robinson may have stolen some shine from all the rookies, Stohl himself overshadowed a freshman class that showed potential last season. Both Michael Albert and Ethan Brown found their way to the line rotation and have looked strong in the preseason. Classmate Konstantin Paschos has also impressed this preseason as he battles for playing time along with the freshman duo of Tommy Borgia and Will Berry.

"I feel good that we can find nine or ten guys and have a very good rotation," Surace said. "You always want somebody to turn into the guy and have a Mike Catapano or Caraun Reid type of season, and I think we have a few candidates for that level of impact. We'll need to see it on Saturdays."

Linebackers
Surace isn't just looking for a standout to come from the defensive line. He specifically pushed two-time All-Ivy inside linebacker Chase Christopher to take that final step and become an offensive wrecking ball.

"Chase has been really good for two years, but we challenged him in the spring to find another level," said Surace, who has coached a who's who of the best inside linebackers of the Ivy League this century. "He has really taken that challenge to heart, and I've been proud of the work he has put in."

Christopher leads all returning Princeton players with 152 career tackles, and he ranked 10th in the Ivy League with 7.9 stops per game last year. If the defensive coaches were going to write in two starters at inside linebacker during the preseason, Christopher's name would be written in pen.

The name next to him? Penciled, erased, and penciled again.

"We have a few positions where we have some really good options for a particular starting spot, but we're looking for somebody to take it and run," Surace said. "I've been happy with the way a lot of our inside guys have been playing. We have real depth there."

Start with senior Mavrick Torrico, who played in 17 games over the last two seasons, mostly on special teams. He had one of the better offseasons at the position and has made a big push in camp. Juniors Ryker Jones and Sam McCormick bring great athleticism to the position and will likely contribute on both the defense and special teams. Mavrick's younger brother Dylan is a sophomore now and seems fully comfortable at the position as well, and there are a handful of others who have looked good.

There is a dominant three-headed monster at the outside linebacker position between juniors AJ Pigford and Jake Moore and senior Robert Sanders. That trio combined for 13.5 tackles for loss and each recorded between 23-26 tackles last season. Pigford had a critical interception in the win over Columbia, and his midseason injury was really felt by the defense. Moore took advantage of the extra playing time late, including a nine-tackle, one-sack performance in the season finale against Penn. Sanders is the most experienced of the group, having played in 18 games over the last two seasons. He has 23 tackles, including 3.5 for loss last season.

"Those three give us more than just depth at the position," Surace said. "They're all elite players. Our job will be to put them in the right spots and turn them loose."

The SAM position returns two experienced players in juniors Stephen Ordille and Connor Cronin, both of whom played every game last season and have had strong preseasons. Ordille had 29 tackles last year, including 3.5 for loss, while Cronin added 17 and two quarterback hurries.

Senior Jay Mentink and sophomore John Teti have impressed early at the rush linebacker position. Mentink brings experience from the 2024 season, but he missed all of 2025 due to injury. Teti has a full year in the defensive system and looks more comfortable at the position.

Defensive Backs
Similar to the outside linebacker position, Surace has three returners with top-end talent leading a deep group of cornerbacks. Senior Torian Roberts, a second-team All-Ivy League honoree last season, leads that group and should be one of the most respected corners in the league. He has played in every game of his career, recording 42 tackles and four interceptions last season. Roberts had a career-best three breakups in the season finale against Penn and had two interceptions one week earlier against Yale.

Senior Evan Haynie also earned All-Ivy League recognition last season, and he's played 26 of 30 games over the last three years, including each of the last 20. Haynie had 38 tackles, six breakups and three interceptions last season, including ones in back-to-back games against Harvard and Cornell.

The excellence of Roberts and Haynie has slightly overshadowed junior Casey Etienne, Jr., but he came on strong last season and will be counted on heavily this year. Junior Josh Dalgetty and sophomore Clayton Gary have turned heads in the preseason too, giving the coaching staff the depth as well.

"We had a staff meeting in preseason and receivers coach Brian Flinn talks about how this is the best set of corners his guys have faced since he's been here," Surace said. "They're all playing at a high level, so we'll need to be creative to find ways to get more of them on the field."

Look behind the corners and you'll find plenty of experience at the safety position too. Seniors Kavon Miller and Kyler Ronquillo combined to play in every game the last two seasons, and Miler played in every game of his freshman season as well. Ronquillo ranks third among all returning Tigers with 41 tackles last season, while Miller had 24.

AJ Schwartz, Bradley Eaton and Darwin Walker II have all had strong offseasons and will vie for playing time at the position. Glenie Cross III once played every game as a freshman, but has battled through injuries every year since then. If he can stay on the field as a senior, he could be a wild card for the defensive staff.

Special Teams – Punting
The lone first-team All-Ivy League selection for Princeton last season was punter Brady Clark, who also eared FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist honors. He averaged 44.8 yards per punt last season, and he sent 11 over 50 yards. He is a three-time All-Ivy honoree who has given Princeton consistent excellence at the position.

Junior Luke Gnepper and freshman Liam Engelhardt are vying for the starting long snapper position.

Coming Wednesday: Princeton offense preview

Season Tickets on Sale
Albany – Sept. 26 – 3 p.m.
Brown – Oct. 17 - 12 p.m.
Cornell – Oct. 31 – 12 p.m.
Dartmouth – Nov. 7 – 12 p.m.
Penn - Nov. 21 – 12 p.m.