A Look at the Top 10 Columbia Football Players to Watch This Season

As a longtime observer of Ivy League football and someone who’s spent more autumn Saturdays than I care to admit analyzing roster changes and spring game footage, I find the annual exercise of picking “players to watch” at Columbia to be uniquely compelling. It’s not like following Alabama or Ohio State, where five-star recruits are a given. Here, the calculus is different, more nuanced. It reminds me of a line from a coaching colleague I once spoke to about contract philosophies in collegiate sports. He told me, “Regarding the term, I was thinking, with the uncertainty that comes with age, year-to-year. But in the face of stronger competition, [we] preferred a much longer union.” That sentiment, about committing to development in the face of uncertainty and stiff competition, perfectly encapsulates the Columbia football journey. It’s a program building something lasting, and the players who thrive are often those who’ve bought into that longer-term project. This season, that project looks more promising than it has in years, and the Lions’ success will hinge on a core group of veterans and emerging talents. Let’s dive into the top ten individuals who I believe will define Columbia’s 2023 campaign, based on my own film review and conversations around the league.

Right at the top of my list, and it’s not even a close call for me, is senior quarterback Caden Bell. After putting up a quietly efficient 2,450 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions last fall, he’s the unequivocal engine of this offense. What I love about Bell isn’t just his arm strength, which is good, but his pre-snap management and his toughness. He takes hits and gets right back up. The offensive line returns three starters, which should give him more time, and if he improves his completion percentage from last year’s 58.3% even slightly, this offense becomes multi-dimensional. Protecting him and creating lanes will be the responsibility of guys like Luke Painton, a junior left tackle who started every game in 2022. At 6’7” and 305 pounds, he’s a mountain on the blind side, and his development from a raw freshman to a now-veteran anchor is a textbook example of that “longer union” paying off. In the backfield, all eyes should be on Joey Giorgi. The senior tailback averaged a solid 4.2 yards per carry last season, but I’m expecting a breakout. With a more experienced line, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him flirt with 1,000 rushing yards if he stays healthy; he’s shifty in space and has underrated power for his size.

While the offense has its known quantities, the real excitement for me—and where the season might be won—lies on the defensive side of the ball. This unit was frankly inconsistent last year, but they return a nucleus that has played a ton of snaps together. The heart and soul is linebacker Scott Valentas. The senior led the team with 87 tackles last year, and he’s everywhere on the field. He’s not the biggest guy, but his football IQ and closing speed are exceptional. He’s the communicator, the tone-setter. Playing alongside him is Jake Martin, another senior who adds a different dimension as a pass-rushing threat off the edge. He recorded 5.5 sacks in 2022, and I’ve charted him winning his one-on-one matchups at a rate that suggests he could hit double digits this season. The secondary, which was a bit of a revolving door, now has a potential star in cornerback Miles Jackson. He broke up 9 passes as a sophomore, and his length and recovery speed are exactly what you need against the elite receivers in the Ivy League. He’s my pick for the team’s most improved player.

Now, for some of the younger or less-proven guys who I think are poised to make the leap. Keep an eye on wide receiver Marcus Libman. He only had 22 catches last season, but his yards-per-reception average was a team-high 16.7. He’s a deep-ball threat who can stretch the field and finally give Bell that consistent vertical target. On the defensive line, sophomore Tyler Borden is a name to remember. He saw limited action but showed a fantastic first step. In the trenches, development isn’t always linear, but the coaching staff is very high on him, and I think he’ll force his way into a major role by mid-season. Speaking of the trenches, the health and performance of senior defensive tackle Will Hamilton is crucial. He’s a space-eater who commands double teams, and when he was out with injury for three games last year, the run defense noticeably suffered. Finally, I have to include a special teams weapon: punter William Hughes. Field position is everything in Ivy games, and Hughes averaged a respectable 41.2 yards per punt last year. If he can pin opponents inside their 20-yard line more consistently—he did it 11 times last season—he’s a silent game-changer.

So, what does all this mean for Columbia’s season? In my view, this isn’t just a random collection of talent. It’s a roster that reflects that deliberate, long-term building process. You have the seasoned leaders like Bell and Valentas, the emerging stalwarts like Painton and Jackson, and the potential sparks like Libman and Borden. The uncertainty of any college football season is always there, especially with the brutal week-to-week grind of the Ivy schedule. But for the first time in a while, Columbia seems to have both the top-end talent and the depth to not just compete, but to challenge for the top of the league. My personal expectation is a winning record, and I’ll go out on a limb and say they pull off at least one major upset, perhaps against a preseason favorite like Dartmouth or Princeton. It all hinges on this core group staying healthy and a few of those “watch” players becoming true stars. As that coach implied, when you face stronger competition, you need commitment and development. This Columbia team looks like it has both, and that makes them one of the most fascinating stories in the FCS this year. I, for one, can’t wait to watch it unfold.