Well we’re now into the final two weekends of the College 7s season. We’re going to preview all four brackets at the USA Rugby College 7s Nationals, and give you some ideas on who we think will win.

 

First off, the Men’s DI:

Pool A

Central Washington

Kennesaw State

New England College

South Carolina

CWU just underwent a coaching change. Tony Pacheco, who was also the All American 7s coach, so knows a thing or two about the Olympic version of the game, has left, and while we got a call back regarding our inquiry as to who is coaching the team, we’ve yet to connect - so it’s a question-mark.

What is interesting is that the CWU Athletics Director, Dr. Dennis Francois, is accompanying the team to Cary.

Also accompanying the Wildcats is a cast of very impressive players. Tanner Barnes is an experienced 7s All American. Vili Toluta’u is a Scholz Award nominee and a powerhouse forward. Scott Dean is very skilled and Ian Wright possibly the most cerebral of the players. And we’ve not even mentioned 15s Eagle cap Aladdin Schirmer (or his younger brother, Maverick), or recent 7s cap Seth Halliman. Suffice to say, this team is loaded.

All that gets in their way, really, is injury, dumb decisions (ahem, Denver 2015), and lack of unity.

New England College also has undergone a coaching change this season, and one wonders whether new Head Coach Tal Bayer will have had time to put his stamp on things. Regardless, even with an interim staff NEC pulled off some impressive results, highlighted by a win over Kutztown at the Kutztown 7s. They are shifty, move the ball well, and like to take their gaps.

South Carolina is playing in both the USA Rugby tournament and the CRC, but the lineups will be very different. USC is pretty deep, so the Cary team, which is made up of guys who would like to play their way into the CRC squad, will be working very hard, but it will be tough.

KSU pulled off a bit of an upset in winning the SIRC. They showcased some good athletes and some power, but the 7s experience at the top is likely too much.

Our pick: Central Washington to win the pool, and New England College to be 2nd.

 

Pool B

Cal Poly

Fordham

Lindenwood

St. Bonaventure

Lindenwood is the defending champion, and the Lions won in 2015 by being very aggressive and just taking the little chances they saw. It wasn’t always flashy, but they hit hard and made their tackles. This year, Lindenwood brings a relatively young group, although 2015 tournament MVP Mickey Bateman returns, as does longtime star Morgan Findlay, and four other players who were on the 2015 winning squad. This could be a nice coming out party for Kentucky product West Parker.

St. Bonaventure is a superb 7s team that won the Kutztown  7s plus a couple of others. Coach Tui Osborne knows his stuff.

Cal Poly could be a dark horse. The Mustangs always play good 7s, even if they haven’t had much time to prepare. Keli’i Dominguez and Alex Wormer are two exciting players on a pretty exciting team.

Fordham won the Empire Conference series, and they have some nifty and young talent from Southern California bolstering a group that plays well together. They could be a big surprise.

Our pick: Lindenwood wins the pool for sure, and it’s a dogfight after that.

 

Pool C

Alabama

Arkansas

Saint Mary’s

West Virginia

Wow, this is a tough one from the top to the bottom - in fact we’re not sure who the bottom team is here. This is a very, very tough pool. Saint Mary’s has to be thought of as the #1 group, though. Even though they finished playing 15s less than three weeks ago, they jumped right into Olympic rugby, with Joey Reavey and Kingsley McGowan coaching them. The Gaels won the Pacific Western tournament, and the big find may well have been thundering Henry Hall, who has emerged as the kind of physical force they need.

Scholz Award-winner Dylan Audsley, Vili Helu, Nick Schlobohm, Aaron Matthews … the tea is stacked. Holden Yungert is back from an injury that saw him miss the spring 15s playoffs, and he’s hungry, and playing well. 

Arkansas has been playing superbly throughout the season, and is pretty uncompromising. Alabama, led by senior Ross Depperschmidt and Matt Schick is senior-heavy and pretty 7s savvy. West Virginia won the Big XII and is a smart group.

Our pick: Saint Mary’s 1st, and then we’re not sure. All three remaining teams are very good.

 

Pool D

AIC

Bowling Green

Oklahoma

San Diego State

You know we hold AIC in high regard, and you also know that at the crucial moment, the Yellowjackets have faltered. Regardless, they are built for 7s, have experience, and with Deshae Edwards, Jihad Khabir, Scholz Award finalist Gavan D’Amore-Morrison, Chrstian Adams, and Adrian Ray, they can scored from anywhere, in a variety of ways. Khabir is a game-changer.

Bowling Green has a rich 7s history and the Falcons boast a lineup that is 80% juniors and seniors, led by Griffen Palmer and Mike Powell. 

Oklahoma almost won the Big XII and the Sooners have had plenty of time to prepare for this tournament, with plenty of young talent. San Diego State is a bit of a wild card, and could have trouble against teams that have been playing a lot more 7s this spring. (We've had a look at San Diego State's player notes that they submitted to USA Rugby - hey Aztecs, you guys are adorable.) Watch out for Adahir Aquilera - he's a dangeorus power runner.

Our pick: AIC to win the pool and probably Bowling Green to come second, although Oklahoma could certainly finish there, too.

 

Pool E

Davenport

Iowa

James Madison

Texas A&M

JMU looked all kinds of good in the ACRC 7s, and Mo Katz is an unlikely-looking but very effective 7s player as a prop (in both 7s and 15s no less). For Texas A&M it’s been a struggle to get back to the upper echelon of the game, and this tournament could be a big step. They’ve got some powerful runners and players who can see the field. Davenport - what to think of Davenport. The Panthers made the final in 2015, but their best player, JP Eloff, is no longer with them.

So now what? Well it’s not like they have no one. Mike Houston and Brady Gent were HS All Americans at 7s, while Anthony Welmers and Dominique Bailey have been collegiate All Americans. They don’t have, necessarily, that special make-something-out-of-nothing guy, but they can run, and they will tackle hard.

Iowa is a team we don’t know much about. They didn’t win the Big Ten, but instead won the Plate. They have had their moments, but can they string enough of them together? Taylor Young is a three-time all-conference player, but they need more.

Our pick: We really don’t know. Our sense is it will come down to JMU v Davenport … but this is a tough pool to pick. 

 

Pool F

Arizona State

North Texas

Notre Dame College

Wyoming

This is a fun pool, and could bring a few surprises. But, Notre Dame College is as effective a 7s group as you’ll find. North Texas won the Southwest, and Wyoming won the Rocky Mountain tournament, but the team I think is really raring to go here is Arizona State. They are piled high with players who understand the game of 7s and play it well - Ryan Spiwak, Alex Sandstrom, Matt Brennan, Kavin Bauer, Kevin Woo. All of these guys have played high-level 7s. 

Notre Dame College has more overall pace, but Arizona State plays a good, cohesive game.

Our pick: Notre Dame College might win this, but ASU will likely get the wild card.

 

 

So for the top eight, we’re looking at Central Washington, Lindenwood, Saint Mary’s, AIC, and Notre Dame College.

Then from Pool E someone will emerge, we’re not sure.

As for the wild card entries, remember the best two second-place teams get in, and that is usually based on points difference. We kind of think NEC or Bonnies is nicely-poised to score big, and we’re going to say Arizona State, too.