As I sat down to look at the Columbia Lions' roster for the upcoming season, that old interview I conducted years ago with a veteran coach came rushing back. He was talking about team building in the face of uncertainty, saying, "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 philosophy feels particularly resonant here in Morningside Heights. While Ivy League football doesn't operate with athletic scholarships in the conventional sense, the principle of investing in and developing talent over the long haul is absolutely central. Columbia's recent seasons have shown flashes of promise, and the key to converting those flashes into sustained success lies in the growth of their core players. This isn't about one-year wonders; it's about watching a foundation solidify. So, let's talk about the individuals who embody this long-term project, the rising stars poised to make this Columbia football season one to remember.
The conversation has to start with the quarterback position, the ultimate catalyst. And for me, the player who embodies the "rising star" label most compellingly is sophomore quarterback Caden Bell. I got a good look at him in the spring game, and there's a palpable calmness to his play that you don't often see in a player with only 127 pass attempts under his belt from last season. He completed a respectable 58.3% of his throws for 864 yards, but the numbers only tell part of the story. What impressed me was his pocket presence and his willingness to take the calculated deep shot. He averaged a solid 11.2 yards per completion, which suggests an offense looking for chunk plays, not just dink-and-dunk. With a full offseason as the presumed QB1, I'm expecting his command of the offense to leap forward. The real test will be his decision-making against the blitz packages that Harvard and Princeton will surely throw at him, but I have a strong feeling he's up for it. His development isn't a year-to-year question mark; it's the multi-year union Columbia's offense is building around.
Of course, a young quarterback needs reliable targets, and that's where Wills Meyer comes in. The junior wide receiver led the team with 37 receptions last year, and I see him as the quintessential security blanket. He's not necessarily the guy who will burn you with pure 4.4 speed on every play—though he's plenty fast—but his route running is crisp, and his hands are exceptionally reliable. He's the player Bell will look for on third-and-7 to move the chains. But the player I'm personally most excited to watch break out is Marcus Libman. As a sophomore, he only had 19 catches, but his 17.1 yards per reception average was eye-popping. Every time he touched the ball, it felt like something big could happen. He's that vertical threat who can stretch a defense and open up everything underneath. If Libman can double his target share and maintain anywhere near that efficiency, this receiving corps, alongside the steady Meyer, transforms from a question mark into a genuine strength. It's this kind of complementary skill set that takes an offense from functional to dangerous.
Switching to the defensive side of the ball, the name that keeps popping up in my notes is Anthony Roussos. The junior linebacker was everywhere last season, racking up 68 total tackles, which placed him second on the team. But it's his knack for disruptive plays that has me labeling him a star to watch. He led the Lions with 5.0 sacks and added 8.5 tackles for loss. In Ivy League play, where games are often won in the trenches and by winning key defensive downs, a player with Roussos's instinct for penetration is invaluable. I remember watching him diagnose a screen play against Cornell last year; he shot the gap so quickly it looked like he was in the backfield before the quarterback finished his drop. That kind of football IQ, combined with his athleticism, suggests he's on the verge of an All-Ivy caliber season. He’s the heartbeat of a defense that needs to be more consistent, and I believe he'll set the tone.
Finally, we can't ignore the big men up front. The offensive line's progress is the single biggest factor in determining this team's ceiling, in my opinion. It's a unit that returns three starters, and the continuity should pay dividends. I'm keeping a close eye on left tackle Jordan White. Protecting Bell's blind side is a massive responsibility, and White's development from a promising sophomore to a reliable junior will be critical. If this line can improve its pass protection—they allowed 28 sacks last season, a number that simply has to come down—and create more consistent push in the running game, it unlocks everything for the skill players. It's the less glamorous "longer union" the coach spoke of: the slow, steady building of cohesion in the trenches that makes everyone else look good.
So, as we look ahead to the kickoff, my focus is squarely on this core group. Columbia's season won't be defined by a single superstar, but by the collective ascent of players like Bell, Meyer, Libman, and Roussos. They represent the investment in development, the move away from year-to-year uncertainty toward building a lasting, competitive foundation. The Ivy League is as tough as it's ever been, but I like the pieces the Lions have in place. If these rising stars can elevate their games just a notch or two, and if the line gels the way I think it can, this Columbia team has the potential to be a very tough out for anyone on their schedule. It might just be the season where the long-term plan starts showing significant, tangible results on the field. I, for one, can't wait to watch it unfold.
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