New Hampshire ranks No. 14 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Wildcats lost 35-19 at Holy Cross in the second round of the 2022 FCS playoffs after beating Fordham 52-42. They finished 9-4 overall and 7-1 in the CAA.
Here’s a look at this year’s UNH football squad.
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Returning 2022 FCS All-Conference Players (3)
1st Team
PR Dylan Laube
DE Dylan Ruiz
DE Josiah Silver
2nd Team
RB Dylan Laube
3rd Team
KR Dylan Laube
Players In 2023 FCS Positional Rankings (5)
Offensive Outlook
UNH returns an experienced offensive line and some standout talent at the skilled positions after scoring 29.69 points per game in 2022.
Max Brosmer is back as a junior quarterback, coming off of a strong season where he went 263/420 passing for 3,154 yards, 27 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The 3,154 yards are the fourth-most for a returning FCS quarterback.
UNH will once again enjoy getting the ball to the best FCS all-purpose player: running back Dylan Laube. Last year, he rushed 245 times for 1,205 yards and 15 touchdowns, caught 49 passes for 464 yards and two TDs, returned 16 kicks for 413 yards and one score, and returned 18 punts for 246 yards and another TD.
The Wildcats bring back their top three receiving yards leaders with Laube at No. 3. WR Joey Corcoran led the team with 56 receptions and 670 yards (plus three TDs). TE Kyle Lepkowski caught 42 passes for 542 yards and two scores. The two leaders in receiving touchdowns return as well: WR Heron Maurisseau (15 catches, 342 yards, six TDs) and WR DJ Linkins (12 catches, 169 yards, five TDs).
The offensive line loses All-Conference left tackle Patrick Flynn, but it has four starters coming back: left guard David Perry Jr. (6’5″ 343 lbs), center Osho Omoyeni (6’3″ 290 lbs), right guard Matt O’Neill (6’4″ 309 lbs), and right tackle Dylan Poirier (6’4″ 311 lbs).
With the experience and playmakers in 2023, expect UNH to rank higher than No. 41 in FCS scoring this fall.
Defensive Outlook
UNH’s defense was below average last year, allowing 28.38 points per game to rank No. 66 in the FCS. The good news is the unit brings back its top five tacklers and nine of its 11 top tacklers.
Highlighting the defense is the All-American defensive end duo of Josiah Silver and Dylan Ruiz. Silver racked up 80 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks as a freshman in 2021, then totaled 55 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks last year. Ruiz broke onto the scene last fall as a sophomore, tallying 60 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, and 12 sacks.
The two finished No. 2 and 3 in team tackles. Leading tackler Ryan Toscano (LB) is back this fall after totaling 72 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and six pass breakups. Also returning are safety Max Oxendine (53 tackles, four pass breakups) and linebacker Bryce Shaw (46 tackles, 2.5 TFLs).
Defensive backs Randall Harris (CB), Noah Stansbury (CB), and Joe Eichman (safety) all made big plays last year. Eichman and Harris led the team with three interceptions each. Stansbury recorded six TFLs and five pass breakups.
Safety Zedane Williams, safety Noah Palm, and DT Nathan Kapongo all have solid experience to also help improve the defense in 2023.
The Wildcats will have heavy disruption on the edge of their defensive line. But the overall unit needs to improve if it wants to play beyond the second round of the playoffs. UNH ranked 55th in defending the run (155.8 yards per game) and 64th in defending the pass (225.2 YPG).
Schedule
9/2 at Stonehill
9/9 at Central Michigan
9/16 vs Dartmouth
9/23 at RV Delaware
9/30 vs Towson
10/14 vs UAlbany
10/21 at Stony Brook
10/28 at No. 25 Rhode Island
11/4 vs Villanova
11/11 at Monmouth
11/18 vs Maine
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
Bold indicates CAA games
