MEDFORD, MA (September 10, 2025) -- The old adage that change is in the air can at times be an overly used cliché at anytime of uncertainty, but in the case of the 2025 Tufts University football squad, it's one that has real relevance as the Jumbos get set for their season opener Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Brunswick against Bowdoin College.
For the last four seasons, the most important position in sports was filled by a familiar face for the Jumbos in now-graduated
Michael Berluti. The New England Small College Athletic Conference's (NESCAC) only player ever to surpass 10,000 yards of total offense was a force for Tufts, as his ability to change a game with his feet and arm were difficult to game plan for. Furthermore, the Jumbos lost big pieces on defense including two starting defensive linemen and all five of the starting secondary. Change is most certainly in the air for the Jumbos, but despite the new faces, head coach Jay Civetti is confident in this year's group to continue the success of recent years.
The Jumbos are coming off a 7-2 campaign in 2024, one that finished as the NESCAC runner-up while Tufts has won 19 games over the last three seasons. The three-season win total ties the most in a three-year stretch in program history, a history that enters its 150th year in 2025. The Jumbos were 4-1 at home last year, but an even more impressive 3-1 on the road in a conference where road wins are tough to attain and even tougher to accumulate during a year. With success breeds expectations, and the expectations for Boston's NESCAC squad is to pick up where they left off in 2024.
Despite the 12 starters gone coming into the year, the Jumbos do return six players offensively and four on defense to help with the transition. Two of those players,
Khallid Calhoun and
Vince Gilchrist, have taken over as captains this year and have been fantastic leaders throughout the offseason and preseason. Civetti, now in his 15th year at Tufts and his 14th season with the Jumbos, has been very pleased with the ownership this team has taken and its accountability.
Civetti has seen three seven-win campaigns in his tenure as the head football coach, but each was followed with a year of either four or five wins. After speaking with him during the preseason, he sees the talent to post his second four-year stretch with a plus-.500 record. With the change in the air, it's about seeing it as an opportunity for growth, and the Jumbos certainly aren't afraid of it.
A position breakdown is below:
QUARTERBACK
All the talk all offseason for the Jumbos has been how the Jumbos replace
Michael Berluti, but the Jumbos have a talented and deep quarterback room full of guys that have watched Berluti for multiple seasons and are ready to be the guy in the saddle. Junior
Justin Keller has been getting a lion's share of the reps with the starters this fall, and looks like he will be under center for the Jumbos when the season starts Saturday. Keller, a strong and powerful ball carrier, scored on his first carry of his career last season and also understands and knows the offense well. While he hasn't attempted a pass at Tufts, he profiles as a solid passer and dual threat signal caller.
Right behind Keller this fall has been sophomore
Hudson Weidman, a sophomore from Boxford, Massachusetts. Civetti has already mentioned that Weidman will get opportunities as well early and often this season, as Weidman has show the ability to push the ball downfield with his arm. A solid runner in his own right, Weidman will join Keller as a duo that should be very adept at moving the ball for the Jumbos.
Senior
Aidan MacLean will be a strong asset in the room for Tufts, as he helps mentor a pair of highly touted newcomers in Tor Maas and Nate Johnson.
RUNNING BACK
Over the last 10 years or so, the Jumbos have always been able to turn and hand the ball to a dependable running back and this year looks like an embarrassment of riches in that department. Back for his second season for the Jumbos is
Christian Shapiro, who sits at the top of the depth chart after finishing third in the NESCAC in rushing yards last year with 672, hitting paydirt eight times. His eight touchdowns were the second-most in the league among running backs, and his bruising running style saw him get better and better throughout games.
Senior
Khallid Calhoun got his fair share of attempts in 2024, rushing for 4.1 yards per carry on his 26 attempts. Calhoun is a great change of pace back with his quickness and vision, as he has played a ton of snaps for the Jumbos. The big wild card in the backfield this year is the return of 2023 All-NESCAC tailback Chartellis Reece, who missed the 2024 season. Reece rushed for 808 yards and eight scores in 2023, earning NESCAC Second Team honors. He led the NESCAC in rushing that season, and is back to form a fantastic trio for the Jumbos.
WIDE RECEIVER
Tufts has some of the league's all-time greats at the wide out position over the last four years, as names like Phil Lutz, Jaden Richardson and
Cade Moore litter the NESCAC and Tufts' record books. It's always been a position of strength, and this year should be no different. While there is no established top guy, the depth of guys that have played a ton of meaningful snaps is apparent.
Graduate student
Henry Fleckner joined the squad two seasons ago, and instantly became a dependable, efficient slot receiver for the Jumbos. In nine games last season, he finished with 22 grabs for 277 yards. Junior
Matt Rios was the team's deep threat last year, as he averaged nearly 19 yards per catch on his 18 grabs. He posted 335 yards through the air, scoring once.
Senior
Matt Greco is another sure-handed target for the Jumbos, as he pulled in 13 balls for 80 yards, while senior
CJ Burton has been a consistent contributor for the Jumbos as well. Burton tallied 18 receptions in 2024, racking up 158 yards through the air. The team is excited about the progression of sophomores
Keller Rogers and
Granville Anderson II, as both have put in the work this offseason. Rogers was a big-play option as a first-year, scoring once while averaging 23 yards per catch in his seven receptions last year. Anderson is a tough, physical player that is great with the ball in his hands. Look for Anderson to get the ball in a bevy of ways to make use of his skills.
TIGHT END
Tufts returns the entire tight end room from 2024, a group that was very important in all aspects of the offense.
Jack Elliott was one of the team's leading receivers last season, pulling in 16 balls last year for one score. He was fourth on the team in receiving yards.
Ned Righellis was a dynamic blocker for the Jumbos, but is very athletic and should his his targets go up this year. Junior
Eli McElwaney is another strong option at tight end due to his physical nature coming into his junior season.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Jumbos have consistently had one of the most stout offensive lines in the conference, and Tufts brings back a pair of starters this season including Preseason All-American guard
Jack Lynch. An All-Region performer last season, Lynch has started for two seasons and will be an anchor for the Jumbos on the left side.
Brad Abbott also returns as the left tackle after teaming up with Lynch to form a wall on the left side of the line. The Jumbos have to replace the departure of the Maiava triplets from the line, but
Charlie Kremin has already stepped up at center and has been solid in preseason. Kremin has experience in the system as a junior, and will be more than capable of making the calls in the middle.
On the right side,
Dillon Armstrong enters his senior season and is slated to step into the starting lineup on the right side at guard. Armstrong will pair with
Ian Miller on the right side, as Miller has played a ton of meaningful snaps both on special teams and on offense during his career. At 6-5, Miller is an imposing presence at tackle, and will help set the edge for the Jumbos. Seniors
Speros Grapsas is another name to look out for during his senior year, while fellow seniors
Yann Silva and
Jared Vacher will add competitive depth for the Jumbos. Junior
James Thom and sophomore
Carter Campbell are also names to look out for on the line this season.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Tufts defensive line was disruptive in 2024 last season, posting 14 sacks while helping post the the fourth-best total defensive mark in the NESCAC. The squad graduated important starters in
Javier Rios and
Dom DeCrescenzo, along with key passing down rusher
Kyle King and
Jalen Hill but do return one starter in
Vince Gilchrist along with 2023 sack leader Suleiman Abuaqel. Gilchrist posted one sack last season along with 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss at the defensive end spot. Abuaqel chalked up four sacks back in 2023 in seven games, adding five tackles for loss.
This unit will look for the emergence of players like
Will Astorino and
Justin Slabaugh, while
Parker Scott comes back ready to make an impact after playing in six games last season as a sophomore. Also be on the look out for sophomore edge rusher
Mario Crocitto, who has looks solid in preseason.
LINEBACKERS
A case can be made that the linebacker position for the Jumbos are the most experienced group on the entire roster, as all three returning starters are back to that unit was among the team's leading tacklers. Senior
Jeff Xu has been among the starting middle linebackers for two seasons, as he finished last season with 40 tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery in nine starts.
All-NESCAC performer
Johnny Ferrelli also is back after having a monster season with 42 tackles, seven for loss, along with a team-high five quarterback hurries. Ferrelli will once again be counted on to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.
Riley Yaker was another big time contributor last season for Tufts at linebacker, making 21 takes while adding three hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Xu, Ferrelli and Yaker are all athletic and fast, which allows them to rush the quarterback and play in coverage.
The team has been impressed with the depth at linebacker, as
Trevor Hillier also had a very strong season last year as a junior at outside linebacker, making 16 stops while adding two hurries and a sack. Sophomore Dazer VanLeeuwen has stepped up and in the middle and will be a key contributor on special teams as well as a reserve at backer, and Ryan Horrigan played in seven games last season and should have an increased role coming into 2025.
SECONDARY
The Jumbos defensive backfield will have some new names roaming in coverage this season, but still players that had big roles on special teams and in passing down packages. Senior
Nate Sousa played in all nine games last year as a defensive back, breaking up a pass, and will look to step into a starting role this season. Senior classmate
Steven Rauso also played in all nine games, making 13 stops while breaking up one pass, and fellow senior
Ryan Saccu will step into a bigger role at the rover position.
Sophomores
Amari Watson and
Cameron Pineda are having strong camps and have emerged as names to watch this season, as Watson played in all nine games last year making three tackles.
Lloyd Walter came on during his first-year but missed last season due to injury. He is back to strengthen the secondary, while senior Jevon Coney also has dealt with injuries but looks good to go for the 2024 season. Junior
AJ Lysko was an important special teams and secondary piece last year, making nine tackles, and will be counted on again for important snaps.
Colin MacLean, having switched over from receiver, will also look to make an impact as a senior.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Jumbos special teams' unit over the last few seasons has been a definite strength, highlighted by the performances from now-senior kicker
Vaughn Seelicke. The all-time leader in points after touchdowns, field goals and field goal makes in a game nailed 14 field goals as a junior, including going 12-for-15 from inside 40 yards last year. He will once again be counted on to make big kicks this season as a senior.
Junior
Andrew Leigh was the starting punter last season as a sophomore, making 29 punts while averaging 38.1 yards per game and 11 inside the 20. He also blasted a pair of punts over 50 yards, and posted just one touchback showing his touch around the red zone. Fellow junior
Caden Lawlor took the majority of kickoff duties, and posted six touchbacks while averaging 52.7 yards on kickoffs.
All three players that returned kicks have moved on, so look for a combination of
Keller Rogers,
Granville Anderson II and others to fill the role.
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The Jumbos take on Bowdoin College this Saturday, September 13 at 3 p.m. before hosting Wesleyan University Saturday, September 20 at 7 p.m. for the home opener.
--JUMBOS--
