Ivy League spring football outlook

(STATS) – The old guard in the Ivy League (well, the recent one) didn’t just get a punch in the face last season, it got a dose of reality.

It finally isn’t just the same ‘ol Ivy.

Harvard and Penn, which have dominated the league for two decades, stepped aside as champion Yale and surprising Columbia didn’t just turn the league upside down, but did so with a number of young players in key positions. Even Cornell’s struggling program knocked off Harvard and Princeton, the league’s preseason co-favorites.

The old and the new should come together to form a deep title race in 2018.

Following is a look across the Ivy League with spring practices underway in college football:

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BROWN

HEAD COACH: Phil Estes (114-85, 20 seasons)

2017 RECORDS: 2-8, 0-7 Ivy (8th)

SPRING PRACTICES: March 19-April 28

WHAT TO KNOW: Brown’s fall last year was surprising considering Estes’ success over two decades. There is a need for considerable improvement offensively, starting with quarterback consistency. With Estes, new offensive coordinator Kevin Decker and new offensive line coach Chris Zarkoskie – all former New Hampshire players – that kind of influence is likely. The new system can rely on veteran wide receivers, led by Jakob Prall. The defense is strong on the line even with the loss of All-Ivy standout Dewey Jarvis. Aggressive defensive tackle Michael Hoecht is this year’s standout. The Bears also will welcome back senior linebacker Isaiah Thompkins from a season-ending injury.

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COLUMBIA

HEAD COACH: Al Bagnoli (13-17, three seasons; 247-116 overall)

2017 RECORDS: 8-2, 5-2 Ivy (Tie/2nd)

SPRING PRACTICES: March 20-April 21

WHAT TO KNOW: A number of key players, including 15 starters, return from a team that was one of the bigger surprises in the FCS. Who replaces quarterback Anders Hill is the key issue in the spring. The offense boasts wide receiver talent in Josh Wainwright and Ronald Smith and a strong offensive line to block for the new QB. The defense has concerns as it replaces three key lineman and lock-down cornerback Cameron Roane. The Lions also are seeking a new punter because, in an oddity, Parker Thome became the third punter in as many years to graduate early and leave to punt at an SEC school.

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CORNELL

HEAD COACH: David Archer (12-38, five seasons)

2017 RECORDS: 3-7, 3-4 Ivy (Tie/5th)

SPRING PRACTICES: March 22-April 28

WHAT TO KNOW: The Big Red made enough progress in Archer’s fifth season that he received a contract extension afterward. They jump right into the season by opening for the second straight year against Delaware and Yale, so there won’t be any holding back. Senior quarterback Dalton Banks is seeking better accuracy after throwing 14 interceptions in each of his two seasons as the starter. A number of skill position players also are back, although the Big Red have to build depth at wide receiver. Despite the loss of All-Ivy safety Nick Gesualdi, the secondary is a strength with the return of D.J. Woullard and David Jones.

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DARTMOUTH

HEAD COACH: Buddy Teevens (87-91-2, 18 seasons; 121-168-2 overall)

2017 RECORDS: 8-2, 5-2 Ivy (Tie/2nd)

SPRING PRACTICES: April 10-May 5

WHAT TO KNOW: The quarterback job is the biggest storyline of the offseason, with juniors Jake Pallotta and Jimmy Fitzgerald (injured last season) and sophomore Derek Kyler trying to replace Jack Heneghan, who was excellent in his senior campaign. The other players in the skill positions are experienced, the depth will grow with running back Miles Smith being healthy and returning to his 2016 form. While the defense is strong on the back end, it’s retooling up front. Defensive tackle Jackson Perry, who missed most of six games, can plug a whole in the middle.

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HARVARD

HEAD COACH: Tim Murphy (168-71, 24 seasons; 200-116-1 overall)

2017 RECORDS: 5-5, 3-4 Ivy (Tie/5th)

SPRING PRACTICES: March 26-April 21

WHAT TO KNOW: Coming off the program’s first sub-.500 finish in the Ivy League in 1999, the Crimson expect to rebound quickly this year. They were missing two standout players last season, left tackle Larry Allen Jr. and safety and captain Zach Miller, and both will return in 2018. In addition, the Crimson bring back 15 starters (nine on offense and six on defense). They didn’t have their usual strong play at quarterback, so there’s a need for improvement. Running back Charlie Booker and wide receiver/returner Justice Shelton-Mosley are the go-to players as seniors.

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PENN

HEAD COACH: Ray Priore (20-10, three seasons)

2017 RECORDS: 6-4, 4-3 Ivy (4th)

SPRING PRACTICES: Feb. 26-April 7

WHAT TO KNOW: A four-game winning streak to end last season lifted the 2015 and ’16 Ivy champs. It’s an important spring as the Quakers get junior Nick Robinson or sophomore Ryan Glover solidified at quarterback. They’re seeking chemistry with the wide receivers following the loss of All-American Justin Watson. But the Quakers should be run-oriented with the return of Karekin Brooks (840 yards, nine touchdowns) and Abe Willows. Because All-Ivy defensive end Louis Vecchio is graduating in the spring, Ivy League rules prohibit him using his final season of eligibility, so he will move on to Vanderbilt as a grad transfer. That’s in addition to the Quakers retooling in the secondary behind safety Sam Philippi’s lead.

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PRINCETON

HEAD COACH: Bob Surace (38-42, eight seasons; 56-45 overall)

2017 RECORDS: 5-5, 2-5 Ivy (7th)

SPRING PRACTICES: March 6-April 7

WHAT TO KNOW: The Tigers expect a quick rebound after a disappointing season. Their offense will rev up quite nicely despite the loss of quarterback Chad Kanoff, last year’s Ivy offensive player of the year. John Lovett, who won the award in 2016 in an all-purpose role, is expected back in the summer to be the senior starter under center, able to get the ball to deep running back (led by Charlie Volker) and wide receiver (led by Jesper Horsted) units. Still, the offense must replace three starters on the line. Defensive lineman Kurt Holuba also returns from injury. Counting Lovett and Holuba, the Tigers will have 17 returning starters.

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YALE

HEAD COACH: Tony Reno (33-27, six seasons)

2017 RECORDS: 9-1, 6-1 Ivy (1st)

SPRING PRACTICES: March 30-April 26 (spring game is April 21)

WHAT TO KNOW: Not only did the Bulldogs win their first Ivy title since 2006, but they did so last year with a lot of young players in the skill positions, including quarterback Kurt Rawlings as a sophomore and running back Zane Dudek a freshman. The offense returns six starters and gets back running back Alan Lamar, who missed last season, but it needs to replace three starters on the offensive line. The loss of outside linebacker Matthew Oplinger, the Ivy defensive player of the year, is huge, but the defense returns eight starters. It appears the Bulldogs will keep the proverbial bar high this year.