When September rolls around and the University of New Haven begins the quest for a third straight NCAA playoff appearance, head coach Chris Pincince has more answers than questions.
However, heading into the final week of spring practice, that is certainly not the case.
"We have a long way to go, a lot of people who have never played college and other people who have never played college football for us," Pincince said. "We have some talented kids who have played for us who are out there as well, but a lot of uncertainty right now with a lot of our positions."
One of the biggest issues that has yet to be resolved is who will be the starting quarterback after Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) was putting up big numbers over the last two seasons.
Jack Chandler (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty) has been in the program the longest and his familiarity with the New Haven offense has been beneficial for him and his coaches. Stony Brook transfer Josh Zamot (Millville, N.J./), sophomore Brady Lafferty (Southington, Conn./Southington) and freshman Paul Hammond (Boston, Mass./Arlington) are also getting the chance to show what they can do.
Whoever wins the job will be surrounded by playmakers. Receiver Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy), tight end Kevin Foelsch (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) and running back Christopher Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) gives the Chargers three of the best offensive players in the Northeast-10.
Hunter Cobb (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) and Jake Conlan (West Haven, Conn./Trinity-Pawling) are also back at the running back position.
"It is going to come together," Foelsch said. "We have a lot of new guys and I am excited to see [the growth] and that is the biggest thing right now."
Pincince said one priority will be to get Holmes the ball early and often.
"He gained a little weight," Pincince said. "We are trying to get him to move around a little more, not have him stand in one place. We are trying to get him the football more in the future. Instead of 3-6 times a game, we are trying to see if we can get it to him 10-12 times a game in different roles so he has some learning to do with that."
All-Conference offensive lineman Xavier Bryson (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover / Fork Union Military Acad.) is also returning for the Chargers. The defense will be led by defensive end Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) and linebacker Damon Burton Jr. (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute), both first-team All-NE10 players in 2022.
Quander was the first player Pincince mentioned when it came time to highlight the Chargers who have been standing out during spring drills.
"Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) has added some weight in the offseason, he has worked very hard and has done a wonderful job," Pincince said. "Dev Williams is embracing an opportunity to be a starting outside linebacker and Dev O'Malley has done a great job at the inside linebacker position.
"Kevin Foelsch (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) is taking strides and can still be a good football player. Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy) has done a couple of good things out there as he is adjusting to a new role. The Ais brothers are talented kids, they have a long way to go from a football standpoint, but they are talented out there."
Spring practice wraps up on Saturday as the coaches get one last chance to evaluate the players in the spring.
"Everybody will get reps, everybody gets a shot to get evaluated," Pincince said. "We started with 106-107 players and are down to 102.
Unless you are injured and can't practice, you are getting reps out there.
"We don't really care about scores of scrimmages or stuff like that, we just want to see if there is somebody we can trust in the future."
Speaking of the future, when pro scouts were in evaluating New Haven players last year, Holmes and Foelsch were the returning players drawing the most attention.
"A lot of them are asking what is his weight, what is he running?," Foelsch said. "I don't look too much into it, but it is awesome to know what scouts are coming and looking at you. I have always played football my whole life so if the opportunity comes to play pro, I will do it."
Degenhardt is the former Charger drawing the most interest right now from NFL teams. Degenhardt, Khyon Fitzpatrick (Union, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and some of the other players who moved on played on two NCAA playoff teams. Now the members of the 2023 New Haven team want to do more than just make it into the playoffs.
"We have been kind of coming up short in the playoffs," Foelsch said.
"It is nice to get there, but we want to take the next step and the next step is winning the region and really becoming a household name."
HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY HONORS
Twelve members of the 2022 New Haven team were inducted into the Hampshire Society by the National Football Foundation and that is the most among Division II programs.
Offensive linemen Will Ayers, Zack Donovan (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) and John Tyrrell (Bronx, N.Y./Iona Prep), defensive linemen Jason Dooling (Sunrise, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) and Mazon Walker (Huber Heights, Ohio/Anthony Wayne), linebacker David Onyemem (Dracut, Mass./Central Catholic), receivers Zhyaire Fernandes (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) and Terrell Ford (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore West), defensive backs Isaac Etienne (Winterhaven, Fla./Auburndale), Greg Emerson (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) and Kahari Kirklin-Whitfield (Reading, Pa./Reading) join Degenhardt as former Chargers being honored for having grade-point averages of at least 3.2.
