Equipped with a stout secondary unit, a record-breaking quarterback and a flurry of exciting young talent, the Georgetown University football team is hungry to establish itself as a competitive team.
Last year, the Hoyas came agonizingly close to achieving their first winning season in 12 years, going 5-6 for their best record since 2019. Now, with a healthy squad, Georgetown believes it has the pieces to continue its upward trajectory within a tough Patriot League contingent.
The team retained many key players from the young 2023 squad after featuring 12 first-years playing significant roles among other underclassmen starters. Head Coach Rob Sgarlata said this added experience has been central to raising the team’s competitive ceiling throughout summer and fall training camp.
“You’re starting to see a lot of those guys, even though it’s only their second year, be some of the vets for us,” Sgarlata told Georgetown Athletics. “The competition level for all the spots, I think, is very high, and for me, that’s all we can ask for.”
This veteran leadership is particularly evident on offense in both the skill positions and the trenches. The all-Patriot League second-team duo of juniors Jimmy Kibble and Nicholas Dunneman will lead the wide receiving corps, which also returns seniors Brock Biestek and Cam Pygatt.
Sophomore tight end Isaiah Grimes adds another dynamic option following a promising first-year season, and senior running back Naieem Kearney will anchor the backfield after averaging 4.6 yards per carry last season.
Despite struggling with injuries last year, the offensive line led the conference in possession time and was second in sacks allowed. Junior captain Losini Maka will lead the group alongside graduate Richie Pinomi, junior Trevor Swan and sophomore Mosiah Talanoa as they hope to stay healthy and continue improving in the run game.
Junior Danny Lauter will take the mantle as the fourth starting quarterback in four years. The gunslinger broke a school record with 428 passing yards in his lone start last year against then-No. 19 Lafayette College and will be trusted to lead the team’s offense.
“Danny has a big-time arm, he’s extremely physically talented,” Sgarlata said. “He’s in that elite level. He can make all the throws, and he’s a competitor in practice.”
Lauter said he is confident in his transition into a starting role, particularly when surrounded by experienced starters throughout the offense.
“Having a lot of those guys come back and play a bigger role than they have on this team is going to be really great,” Lauter told The Hoya. “Even though we’re young, we have a lot of experience coming back, and it’s really going to help us all around.”
Although the Hoyas will not return any of its five all-Patriot League selections from the other side of the ball, senior defensive lineman and captain VeRon Garrison sees the makings of a dogged defensive unit.
“We are an attack defense that plays with relentless effort,” Garrison told The Hoya. “Our defensive coordinator, Coach Doherty, he instills that mentality in us every day when we go on the field.”
After tying for a Patriot League-high 10 interceptions last year, the defensive back room will return junior cornerback and former FCS All-American Freshman Wedner Cadet and sophomore standout safety Zeraun Daniel. The team will also look to sophomore cornerback Quincy Briggs, redshirt senior cornerback Kolubah Pewee Jr. and graduate safety Preston Murray for important contributions as it hopes to continue locking down opposing offenses.
The linebacker duo of graduate David Ealey III and sophomore GianCarlo Rufo will also prove crucial to Georgetown’s defensive efforts. Ealey led the team with 68 tackles last year along with 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble, while Rufo was fifth in tackles with 38 and accrued 5.5 tackles for loss in a breakout first-year campaign.
The defensive line proved to be a weak spot for Georgetown last year after finishing last in the conference with just 15 sacks while allowing the second-most yards per carry in the conference. Garrison will be tasked with leading the defensive line, and younger players such as junior defensive tackle John Caramanico and sophomore defensive lineman Cooper Blomstrom will vie for greater playing time.
Garrison said the Hoyas are willing to give freshmen and younger talents significant playing time should they prove themselves as capable players.
“They got a lot of good progression, and we’re expecting to play some of those guys,” Garrison said. “We don’t just come here and redshirt our freshmen. You can come in and take a starting spot just that quickly.”
“They’re pushing each other, they’re pushing us, they’re pushing the team, so it’s really good working with them,” Garrison added.
The special teams will return senior kicker Patrick Ryan and graduate long snapper Sebastian Alonso, while Dunneman and junior running back Mason Gudger will be responsible for punt returns and kickoff duties, respectively.
Faced with a tough division, the Hoyas remain optimistic about the outlook of the season in their hopes of pursuing a conference title.
“A successful season is just us going out and paying our hardest, playing our best and giving all we have throughout the season,” Garrison said. “We’re just really excited to get the season started.”
“We need everyone to come up, come out and show their support,” Lauter added. “I think we’ve done a really good job over the past couple of years of getting people out to the games and supporting all of our sports teams.”
