Sunday, March 29, 2015

NC State freshman receiver Bo Hines transferring to Yale

Spring practice got underway for Yale last week. The Bulldogs’ potential top playmaker for the upcoming season, however, won’t be playing.
No, he’s not hurt. In fact, he’s never caught a pass for the Bulldogs or even left a single cleat mark on the Yale Bowl field.
His name is Bo Hines.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Yale spring practice notes

Yale’s spring session is underway. The Bulldogs got back on the field on Wednesday. The spring will culminate with the Blue-White scrimmage on April 18.

“It was a good first day,” Tony Reno said. “We’ve been doing things to increase speed, strength and technique drills. But it’s nice to add that football element to it now. Our focus in spring is increasing the quality of practice and do what we need to do to get better in all areas. Today was a good step in that direction.”

Some position changes of note…

Victor Egu bounced between OLB and ILB. He is playing ILB…Andrew Johnson has moved from QB to WR…Spencer McManes is playing LB instead of QB…Austin Reuland is now in the mix at RB. He played WR last year.

K Blake Horn was back on the field after missing last year with injury. He will compete for the placekicking duties. Also, DB Spencer Rymiszewski is back on the field after suffering a season-ending concussion last year.

Expect a competitive battle at RB between Candler Rich, Deshawn Salter, John Barton and Reuland.

A handful of players will compete for time at WR: Ross Drwal, Chris Williams-Lopez, Myles Gaines, Blake Rowlinson, Mike Siragusa, Robert Clemons and Matt Rubino.

OL Mason Friedline, OL Khalid Cannon, DT Ben Bedard and CB Jamal Locke are all sitting out this spring for precautionary reasons.

Logan Scott, along with Rafe Chapple and Stephen Barmore will compete for the backup QB job. Chapple had a strong outing his first day.

A reader asked about QBs on the incoming recruit list. Tre Moore is the lone QB of the newcomers. Expect the incoming class to be made official in early April. Also, I spoke with Bo Hines last night. Expect a feature story on him coming up in the next few days.

I will be at Yale practice on Monday. 

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Yale Pro Day and more

Yale Pro Day will take place on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Connecticut Sportsplex in North Branford.

LB Will Caughan, OLB/S Charles Cook and WR Grant Wallace, along with former WR Chris Smith will participate, along with players from other Connecticut schools (see complete list at bottom of this post).

A few NFL scouts are expected to attend.

UPDATE: Deon Randall has decided not to pursue football and accepted a job at Imperial Capital, an investment bank in Los Angeles.

Tyler Varga, the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, will have his Pro Day on March 31 at Tolland’s Star Hill Family Athletic Center. Scouts from most, if not all, NFL teams are expected to be in attendance.

Vashsel to be named defensive coordinator

Steve Vashel is expected to take over as defensive coordinator this upcoming season. Vashel just finished his third season as defensive backs coach for the Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, Yale made it official earlier this month and named Jordan Stevens as its new defensive line coach. Stevens previously served as Maine's defensive line coach.

Portal 31 had reported Sean McGowan would take over as defensive coordinator. That is not the case, however. He will serve as linebackers coach. McGowan, a Cheshire native, coached two seasons at Boston College as the team's special teams coordinator and SAM linebackers coach.

The coaching moves come after the resignations of defensive coordinator Rick Flanders and defensive line coach Carlton Hall.


Spring practice

Just a reminder, spring practice for the Bulldogs begins Wednesday and will finish up with the annual Blue-White scrimmage on April 18. Practices are open to the public. I will update with a complete practice schedule soon. 

YALE PRO DAY PLAYER LIST

PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL

Will Vaughn LB Yale ‘15 

Charles Cook OLB/Safety Yale ‘15 

Grant Wallace WR Yale ‘15 

Chris Smith WR Yale ‘14 

Julian Hayes RB Monmouth ’15 

Zac Williams DE Southern CT ’15 

Jamie Martinez OL Sacred Heart University ‘15 

Troy Moore DL Sacred Heart University ‘15 

Jake Bussani LS/DB Wesleyan University ‘15 

Tyrell Holmes WR Central CT ’15 

Josh Aleaze OLB Central CT ’15