USALAX Way-Early 2026 Division I Men's Rankings:

[Zack80]

As we are back on the Way-Early thread.
I would mention that the addition of several nice midfield transfers to Penn State, strengthens my positioning Penn State at #5 in my premature rankings.

For Maryland last year, Spanos and Erksa got opponent's top 2 defensemen. Meanwhile at Yale, Leo Johnson and Chris Lyons were probably the focus of opponent's defense and got their opponent's top 2 defensemen. Next spring, Maryland's opponents can only cover 2 of the 4 with their top 2 defensemen.

 

[wgdsr]

As we are back on the Way-Early thread.
I would mention that the addition of several nice midfield transfers to Penn State, strengthens my positioning Penn State at #5 in my premature rankings.

For Maryland last year, Spanos and Erksa got opponent's top 2 defensemen. Meanwhile at Yale, Leo Johnson and Chris Lyons were probably the focus of opponent's defense and got their opponent's top 2 defensemen. Next spring, Maryland's opponents can only cover 2 of the 4 with their top 2 defensemen.

a situation here where it's tough to know how it'll shake out, as you have 4 guys for 3 spots, and then maybe a couple others peaking in, too. gun to my head, if i had to choose 1 that's 100% for att, it's spanos.

more interesting conjecture as that's all a tossup is what with middie lines? with 1 guy being odd man out, have to think they'll be doing the top 6 guys getting vast majority of run, going to be a big battle for that. or it may be a 1st line with some +1 or +2 guy(s) rotation? they do some of that with schultz late in the year?

 

[nocohalo]

I don't think anyone is worried about the Yale transfers enough to consider putting their top defenseman on them.

 

[Zack80]

a situation here where it's tough to know how it'll shake out, as you have 4 guys for 3 spots, and then maybe a couple others peaking in, too. gun to my head, if i had to choose 1 that's 100% for att, it's spanos.

more interesting conjecture as that's all a tossup is what with middie lines? with 1 guy being odd man out, have to think they'll be doing the top 6 guys getting vast majority of run, going to be a big battle for that. or it may be a 1st line with some +1 or +2 guy(s) rotation? they do some of that with schultz late in the year?

Leo Johnson is the only lefty among the 4 so that seems like a given too. So one is probably left with Erksa or Lyons playing midfield. Tillman does seem to like to have speed at the X, but in the end, I think Erksa's speed will be a better fit on the midfield. Also, there would be something to keeping an attackman who scored 62 goals 3 seasons ago, Lyons, near to the goal.

 

[nyclax]

erksa has not improved at all since his promising freshman year. he turns it over way too much and makes a lot of bad decisions to be playing full time on attack...he should run out of the box and be a situational dodger...take advantage of his speed without putting the ball in his stick too often.

 

[wgdsr]

Leo Johnson is the only lefty among the 4 so that seems like a given too. So one is probably left with Erksa or Lyons playing midfield. Tillman does seem to like to have speed at the X, but in the end, I think Erksa's speed will be a better fit on the midfield. Also, there would be something to keeping an attackman who scored 62 goals 3 seasons ago, Lyons, near to the goal.

if he's the only lefty in contention, maybe it's as simple as that. erksa or lyons. moving your leading 2x or 2nd scorer for a transfer his senior year is a rough look, could go any way, though. also could have several guys getting pieces of each position.

again, my initial reaction would be it'll be a top 6 more frequently, and a supplemental 2nd line. then moving guys around the formation. maybe ford is a precursor for higgins redshirting and then a reset in 2027.

 

[Zack80]

if he's the only lefty in contention, maybe it's as simple as that. erksa or lyons. moving your leading 2x or 2nd scorer for a transfer his senior year is a rough look, could go any way, though. also could have several guys getting pieces of each position.

again, my initial reaction would be it'll be a top 6 more frequently, and a supplemental 2nd line. then moving guys around the formation. maybe ford is a precursor for higgins redshirting and then a reset in 2027.

Rs freshman Johnny Gardiner, who was a pretty good recruit appears to be the #2 lefty attackman. Leo Johnson is a 5th year, was ILs #3 recruit in 2021, averaged 4.1 ppg in 2023 and 3.5 ppg last year, so it looks unlikely that Gardiner would beat him out.