In a vote by the conference's head coaches, Ithaca College was recognized as the unanimous preseason favorite in Liberty League football in the 2024 Liberty League Football Preseason Poll. The Bombers went 9-3 overall last year and posted an unblemished 6-0 mark against league opponents. They closed out last season with their second consecutive outright Liberty League title. They also earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Division III Championship, where they advanced to the second round.
The coaches recognized the league's depth in the 2024 Liberty League football preseason poll following a year where two teams went to the NCAAs; first through fourth were only separated by 13 points, and there were multiple ties. Ithaca received six first-place place votes (coaches cannot vote for their team), tallying 36 points for top honors. Union College, last year’s league runner-up, trailed the Bombers by seven points for second, totaling 29 points. The Garnet Chargers earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship and advanced to the second round. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) received one first-place vote and tied for third with Hobart College; each team had 23 points. Both teams made a postseason appearance last year in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl and the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl, respectively. The University of Rochester rounded out the top five teams with 16 points for fifth, and the Yellowjackets were followed by Buffalo State University and St. Lawrence University, who tied for sixth with 10 points each.
Ithaca College
Ithaca will look to continue its recent success in the Liberty League and Division III as the Bombers open the 2024 campaign ranked 20th in the D3Football.com preseason poll. It won't be easy to claim the conference title for a sixth time since joining the conference in 2017; they shared the title with RPI in 2017, 2018, and 2021 before winning outright in 2022 and 2023. There will be big shoes to fill with the departure of All-Liberty League first-team selections Derek Slywka, who earned a spot on the Indianapolis Colts preseason roster this summer, A.J. Wingfield, and Ben Stola, the 2023 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. However, a strong veteran presence bodes well; 23 seniors, including Jalen Leonard-Osbourne, the 2023 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, are ready to lead. Leonard-Osbourne was named to the D3Football.com Preseason All-America third team. Last season, he rushed for 1,055 yards on 171 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per rush in 12 games. He recorded a team-high 11 rushing touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 401 yards to go along with three more scores. Classmate Jake Williams will also be essential to the Bombers' running game this season as he returns from injury. In two games in 2023, he had 14 carries for 85 yards. Williams was an All-Liberty League second-team honoree following the 2022 season, finishing with 825 yards rushing on 173 attempts and 12 touchdowns. Leonard-Osbourne and Williams will be joined by sophomore quarterback Colin Schumm, who played in nine games last year, including six starts in last season's final six games. Schumm totaled 808 passing yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 206 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns.
A pair of seniors and All-Liberty League first-team honorees headline this year’s Ithaca defense—Jake Connolly and Isaiah Couser. Connolly started all 12 games in the secondary for the Bombers in 2023 and was second on the team with 100 total tackles. In addition, he produced two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Defensive lineman Couser also started all 12 games and finished the year with 40 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and two sacks to go along with a forced fumble and a team-high 15 quarterback hurries. Other defensive returnees to keep an eye on include seniors Danny Portas (37 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups), Josh Miles (29 total tackles), and Tommy Moran (21 total tackles).
Union College
Union is eyeing a return atop the league standings this season after a successful 2023 campaign. Despite being picked fourth in the 2023 Liberty League Football preseason poll, the newly minted Garnet Chargers made some noise last season, finishing second in the conference with a 5-1 mark (10-2 overall). They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and advanced to the second round. Union welcomes a new head coach for the second straight year with Jon Drach at the helm. Drach is a seasoned Division III coach with nearly two decades of experience—head coach of Wilkes for the past six years and 11 years as an assistant coach at Liberty League foe Hobart. Drach will look to a strong returning core for the 2024 season, including All-Liberty League first-team honorees running back Mike Fiore and kicker Max Gluck. Fiore tallied a team- and league-high 102 points last year, thanks to 17 touchdowns (16 rushing, 1 receiving). He also topped the league in rushing yards (1,095) and rushing yards per game (91.3). Gluck was second in the Liberty League in scoring with 15 field goals and 43 points after touchdown for 88 total points. He ended the year 15-for-21 in field goals (71.4%), including a long of 40 yards, and he was 43-of-49 on points-after-touchdown (87.7%). Jonathan Anderson is also back to boost the offense; in 12 games, he rushed for 1,023 yards on 170 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per rush and 85.2 yards per game last year. He recorded five rushing touchdowns and caught eight passes for 29 yards. Anderson and Fiore were the 27th pair of teammates in DIII history to rush for 1,000 yards each in the same season. Union also welcomes back a trio of All-Liberty League honorable mention selections in Cole DaSilva, Nate Sullivan, and Ethan Vanderbrink to headline the defense. DaSilva finished the year second on the team in total tackles (72) while pacing the squad in solo tackles with 46, tackles for loss with 10, and a pair of forced fumbles. Sullivan recorded 22 solo tackles, 20 assists (42 total), and a team-best four interceptions. Vanderbrink led the squad in tackles for loss (11.5 for 44 yards) and sacks (4 for 28 yards). He totaled 34 tackles on the year.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI is seeking its first league title since 2021 as the Engineers return to the field with eight starters on offense and eight starters on defense from last year's squad. In 2023, they earned a ninth straight trip to the postseason (6 ECAC bowls, 3 NCAA tournaments). They finished the year in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl, defeating Widener to finish the year at 8-3 overall and 3-3 in league play. All-Liberty League first-team quarterback Jake Kazanowsky is back after an injury sidelined him during last year's final three games. In eight games during 2023, he passed for 1,757 yards while boasting a league-best 219.6 passing yards per game with 131 completions and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 247 yards on 65 attempts and five touchdowns. He was at the top of the league in passing touchdowns and completion percentage (66.5) while ranking third in total passing yards. One of Kazanowsky's top offensive weapons is back with the return of wide receiver Hayden Faraday (2023 All-Liberty League first team). In 11 games, Faraday recorded a conference-high 62 receptions for 873 yards (79.3 per game) and seven touchdowns. Tight end Shane Allison is also a top returner; last year, he made 13 catches for 115 yards (10.4 per game). Anthony D'Agostino (All-Liberty League first team) highlights the defensive returnees as he paced the team in total tackles (87), solo tackles (50), assisted tackles (37), and interceptions (2). Nate Sicard (All-Liberty League second team) returns after leading the team with 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and two fumbles recovered last season. He finished the year among the league's top five in forced fumbles (T-1st), sacks (2nd), fumbles recovered (T-2nd), and tackles for loss (3rd). Sicard also posted 49 total tackles (24 solo, 25 assisted).
Hobart College
Hobart had a successful 2023 campaign with an 8-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark against conference opponents. The team won three of its final four games of the year and appeared in an ECAC Bowl game for the third consecutive season. In 2024, the Statesmen will be a seasoned squad with 40 upperclassmen, and they are headlined by the return of senior linebackers Jaimen Bliss (All-Liberty League first team) and Anthony Romano (All-Liberty League second team), who played in all 11 games last season. Bliss finished the year second on the team in tackles with 74, and he recorded six tackles for loss. He tied for a team-best 34 solo tackles with Romano; Bliss also had 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. Romano amassed 80 tackles to lead the team, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks. Mike McGhee, an All-Liberty League honorable mention selection, rounds out Hobart’s top defensive returnees. He compiled 42 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 11 games. A pair of linemen will anchor the offense in Ethan Kowalski (10 games; second team) and Ashton Mejias (10 games; honorable mention), who earned All-Liberty League accolades in 2023. Quarterback Johnny Colombi is also back; in 11 games, he threw 136-for-246 (55.2%), 1,737 yards, and 11 touchdowns. As for special teams, Tobias Wefering (All-Liberty League second-team punter; honorable mention kicker) returns. Last season, he led the conference in punting average (41.0) and the highest percentage of punts inside the opponent’s 20 (42.3%), as well as most punts traveling 50 or more yards (8). Wefering also led the league placekickers in field goal percentage (9-of-12; 75%). He also went 39-of-41 on points after touchdowns and totaled a team-high 72 points on the year.
University of Rochester
Rochester (5-5, 2-4 Liberty League) has steadily improved over the last four seasons, matching its most wins since 2015 last year. The Yellowjackets open 2024 with a fully loaded roster, including Daniel Papantonis, a 2023 All-Liberty League second-team selection, who returns to lead the ground game. In eight games, he rushed 131 times for 661 yards and eight touchdowns; he also caught ten passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Papantonis paced the league and was among DIII’s top 20 in total all-purpose yards (1,152 yards, 143.7 per game) while ranking first in the conference and 31st nationally in kickoff returns (372 yards, 24.8 per return). The Yellowjackets also welcome Trey Johnson and Ryan Rose back. Johnson was Rochester’s top receiver for the second straight year. In 10 games, he caught 74 passes for 727 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson led the league in receptions per game (7.4) while leading the team in kick returns (14, 278 yards) as well as punt returns (6, 8 yards). Rose started all ten games at quarterback last season; he completed 191-of-325 passes (.588) for 1,974 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed 24 times and scored one rushing touchdown. Rose paced the league in completions (190), completions per game (19), and passing yards per game (197.4). Alex Wing, the 2023 All-Liberty League first-team punter, is also back. Last year, he punted 43 times for 1,659 yards (38.6 yards per punt) and placed 18 punts inside the 20-yard line. A pair of defensive backs will spearhead the defense with the return of All-Liberty League second-team honorees Jordy Tawa (59 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 3 interceptions) and Judah Thomas (35 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 6 interceptions). The duo played all ten games and combined for 94 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and nine interceptions.
Buffalo State University
A year of experience should translate well on the field for Buffalo State, with 20 returning starters (10 on offense, 10 on defense) to open the 2024 campaign. A pair of All-Liberty League second-team running backs—Ale Wilson and Tariq Nelson, highlight the Bengals’ offensive returnees. Wilson paced the team in rushing last year with 737 yards on 133 attempts with six touchdowns. He also made nine catches for 69 yards and one touchdown. Nelson was Buffalo State’s leading receiver with 40 receptions for 599 yards and three touchdowns. He has recorded a reception in 25 straight games, dating back to 2021. Darion Jones is also back after earning All-Liberty League honorable mention last season. He averaged 21.3 yards per kick return and was the only player in the conference to return a kickoff for a touchdown (95-yard return against Union). He was also second on the team in receptions with 36, closing out the year with 397 yards and one touchdown. Alex Westcott, an All-Liberty League first-team honoree, will boost the offense after playing all ten games last season. Westcott and the offensive line tied for 10th nationally in fewest sacks allowed (7). In addition, the Bengals welcome back All-Liberty League second-team honorees Kenneth Mosley and Sincere Green to lead the defense after ranking one-two on the team in tackles, solo tackles, and assisted tackles. Mosley had a team-high 40 solo tackles and 52 assisted tackles (92 total), 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and 1.5 sacks. He was second in the league for tackles. Green totaled 73 tackles, thanks to 37 solo and 36 assisted. He also posted four tackles for loss and three sacks. Among league leaders, he led the conference in forced fumbles (3) and was fourth in tackles per game (8.1).
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence kicks off 2024 as an experienced squad led by wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner Cole Salyards, who earned All-Liberty League second-team honors as a return specialist last season. In 10 games, he recorded 27 kick returns for the Saints for 594 yards, good for second among league leaders. He averaged 22 yards per game and recorded a season-long return of 43 yards. Salyards also recorded seven punt returns for 67 yards while pacing the team in receptions (45), receiving yards (561), and touchdowns (5). Salyards will be joined by quarterback Daniel Lawther, who returns for his senior campaign. Lawther only played in seven games last season due to injury, where he went 48-for-84 (.571) for 478 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he produced 137 yards and one touchdown. The Saints also welcome back a pair of All-Liberty League honorable selections to bolster the defensive corps in linebacker Ryan Surhoff and defensive lineman Thomas Our. Surhoff was third on the team in tackles with 48 while boasting a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Our finished the year with 36 tackles and a team-best five quarterback hurries. He also registered 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Other key returnees include kicker Clayton Fogler (18-for-19 extra points, 21 total points), safety Dan George (10 games, 49 tackles, 2 interceptions), and wide receiver Shea Goodwin (10 games, 378 yards, 2 touchdowns).
The 2024 season begins on Thursday, September 5th; RPI hosts the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and Buffalo State takes on SUNY Brockport at 5 PM and 7 PM. On Friday, September 6th, two games will kick off at 7 PM; Hobart will be home against Alfred, and Union will open the season on the road at Utica. Week One games wrap up with three on Saturday, September 7th: Endicott at St. Lawrence (noon), Rochester at Olivet in Michigan (noon), and Johns Hopkins at Ithaca (1 PM). Conference play begins on October 5th with three league games—St. Lawrence at RPI, Rochester at Ithaca, and Hobart at Buffalo State.
2024 Liberty League FB Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points (First Place Votes)
- 1. Ithaca, 36 (6)
- 2. Union, 29
- 3. RPI, 23 (1)
- 3. Hobart, 23
- 5. Rochester, 16
- 6. Buffalo State, 10
- 6. St. Lawrence, 10