HERO Sports welcomes you to "Two-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 125 FCS programs, with two being released each day from June 18 to August 18 (with the final day having three in one day). Today we give you … Dartmouth.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
Dartmouth (8-2 IN 2017)
Ivy League (Dartmouth was T-2nd in 2017)
COACH: Buddy Teevens – 19th overall year/14th consecutive (87-91-2)
2017 OFFENSE: 27.4 ppg. (47th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 20.0 ppg. (26th in FCS)
SUM IT UP: Dartmouth's own press shop said it best: "Any time a quarterback needs to be replaced, intrigue will follow."
The Green Machine finished in a tie for second last season, marking the third time in four years that this program has posted a top-2 finish in the Ivy League standings. With the makings of another good offensive line in place, Dartmouth could continue to compete in the top tier of the conference, but it'll need to answer that all-important question: with Jack Heneghan gone, who's playing quarterback in Hanover?
There are a couple of potential answers. Jared Gerbino, who played as a Wildcat quarterback in spots last season, could potentially earn the job in a more full-time capacity. Florida transfer Jake Allen is young but could make a push as a more traditional option. There's also Derek Kyler, who was named the team's most-improved QB during spring ball.
This fall, one of those three guys will most likely lead Dartmouth. For a program that's only finished below third in the Ivy League once since 2011, expectations will be high no matter who's under center.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Dartmouth challenges Yale for the Ivy crown. Big Green served up Yale's only loss of the season last year. That will be even more challenging this season, with Yale stacked and the game in New Haven. If Dartmouth pulls off the early-October upset, it would be in the driver's seat for it's second championship in four seasons.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: LB Jack Traynor (First-Team All-Ivy – Led Team w/ 98 tackles).
THE NEXT FIVE: OL Matt Kaskey (First-Team All-Ivy); OL Pat Kilcommons (Second-Team All-Ivy); WR Hunter Hagdorn (Two-Time Second-Team All-Ivy, Conference Rookie of the Year in 2016); DB Isiah Swann (Second-Team All-Ivy, 27 Tackles, 6 PD, 2 INTs, 1 FF); AP Jared Gerbino (Averaged 4.98 YPC in '17 as Wildcat QB).
TOP NEWCOMER: QB Jake Allen (University of Florida transfer).
DID YOU KNOW?: Dartmouth was the last American college to be chartered before the start of the American Revolution.
THE QUOTE: “I appreciate the opportunity that Coach Teevens has given me. I am lucky to be married to a member of the Class of 1981, and our oldest son is an ’06, so our Dartmouth roots run deep. I look forward to helping Dartmouth continue its championship tradition.” -Assistant Coach Dave Shula, on being hired as Dartmouth's new Wide Receivers Coach.
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #4Stripes
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @DartFootball
The @DartFootball game at Yale will be televised on ESPNU on Friday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. It is the first #DartFB football game to be aired on an ESPN network since 1990 and sixth ever: https://t.co/kx3Q4tsEOb #IvyFootball
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) May 31, 2018
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TOP-10 NEEDS: What Every Top-10 Team Needs to get to Frisco
