Blair Academy Bucs
2021:
- 5-2
- Scored 207 points: 29.86 average
- Allowed 136 points: 19.43 average
- Wins included Peddie, Espiscopal academy (Pa.), and Kiski School (Pa.)
- Losses were to Hun and Wyoming Seminary (Pa.)
Graduation:
- TE Mike Higgins – Rutgers
- LB Jude Buchanan – Old Dominion
- OL Losini Maka – Georgetown
- LB Pat Nicholls – Fordham
- WR Keith Delaney – Amherst
- QB Dan Schuster – RPI
Offense:
- Formation: Multiple Spread with Pistol
- Returning Starters: 5
Quarterback:
- Micah Balzarini, Junior, 6-3, 190 – projected starter
Running Back:
- Yaneik Gallego, Junior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter
- Brayden Phinney, Junior, 6-2, 215 – will spell Gallego
Wide Receiver:
- Moussa Kane, Senior, 6-1, 185 – 3-year starter
- Richie Hosein, Post-Grad, 5-10, 175 – projected starter
- Robert Walker, Junior, 6-2, 185 – competing
- Kaleb Nelson, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – competing
- Carson Bowman, Sophomore, 5-11, 165 – competing
- Malcolm Ouattara, Post-Grad, 6-2, 195 – competing
H-Back:
- Carter Neves, Junior, 6-1, 230 – projected starter
- Brayden Phinney, Junior, 6-2, 215 – will see action here, in addition to playing running back
- Malcolm Ouattara, Post-Grad, 6-2, 195 – will see action here, in addition to playing wide receiver
Offensive Line:
- Babawale Fadeyibi, Senior, 6-3, 240 – returning starter at left tackle
- Nolan Neves, Post-Grad, 6-1, 250 – projected starter at left guard
- Declan Coyle, Senior, 6-1, 245 – returning starter at center
- Michael Beydoun, Post-Grad, 6-0, 270 – projected starter at right guard
- Nathaniel Zawoiski, Senior, 6-2, 275 – returning starter at right tackle
Defense:
- Formation: Multiple 40
- Returning Starters: 2
Defensive Line:
- Babawale Fadeyibi, Senior, 6-3, 240 – returning starter at end
- Nolan Neves, Post-Grad, 6-1, 250 – projected starter at end
- Nathaniel Zawoiski, Senior, 6-2, 275 – projected starter at tackle; saw action
- Michael Beydoun, Post-Grad, 6-0, 270 – projected starter at tackle
- Declan Coyle, Senior, 6-1, 245 – part of rotation at tackle
Linebacker:
- Brayden Phinney, Junior, 6-2, 215 – projected starter on inside
- Carter Neves, Junior, 6-1, 230 – projected starter on inside
- Yaneik Gallego, Junior, 5-11, 195 – projected starter on outside; rotated
- Malcolm Ouattara, Post-Grad, 6-2, 195 – part of rotation on outside
Secondary:
- Moussa Kane, Senior, 6-1, 185 – returning starter at safety
- Robert Walker, Junior, 6-2, 185 – competing at safety
- Malcolm Ouattara, Post-Grad, 6-2, 195 – competing at safety
- Richie Hosein, Post-Grad, 5-10, 175 – projected starter at cornerback
- Kaleb Nelson, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – competing at cornerback
- Carson Bowman, Sophomore, 5-11, 165 – competing at cornerback
Special Teams:
- Sophomore Jack Armbruster is the kicker and junior Brayden Phinney or junior Carter Nieves will punt
- Kane and Gallego are the return men
Schedule:
- Friday, 9/9, Kiski School (Pa.) at home
- Saturday, 9/16, at William Penn Charter (Pa.)
- Saturday, 9/24, at Germantown Academy (Pa.)
- Friday, 9/30, at Episcopal Academy (Pa.)
- Saturday, 10/8, Hun School at home
- Saturday, 10/15, Capital Prep Harbor (Ct.) at home
- Saturday, 10/22, at Hill School (Pa.)
- Saturday, 10/29, Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) at home
- Saturday, 11/5, at Peddie
Concerns:
- Youth that needs to step up and compete
- Depth
Recruiting:
- Kane verballed to Duke
- DB Royce Mulholland (injured) verballed to Bates
- Fateyibi has a Georgetown offer
- Zawoiski will attend a high-academic school from 1-AA to D3
- Hosein has interest from Marist
- Beydoun has D2/D3 interest
- Others need a good year
- Underclassmen:
- Phinney may go Power-5 and has a brother playing at Boston College
- Balzarini will go to a high-academic school in 1-A or a 1-AA league such as the Ivy League
Coach’s Comments:
“We have a good number of guys coming in to go with players who are returning. We have four juniors and four post-grads arriving who can contribute and are good players. This can help make us a good team.” – Head Coach Greg Bowman