For Rensselaer football, 2003 was a good year, but the start of 2004 was not.
The Engineers, after having a historic run through the NCAA playoffs, were left with the realization that there would be glaring holes at several critical positions thanks to the departure of numerous standout seniors.
The football class of 2004 included star quarterback Dan Cole, who broke every conceivable Rensselaer passing record, two dangerous wide receivers in Flynn Cochran and Pat Hughes, versatile linebacker/defensive back Jai Echols, and defensive back Mike DeFilippi, among others.
Replacing such a quality group as this is certainly no easy task, but that is exactly what head coach Joe King and the rest of the RPI coaching staff attempted to do over the off-season.
The Engineers received commitments from 50 different players of a variety of talents, sizes, skills, positions, and demographics.
Most of the newcomers are from the surrounding area: New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Others are coming from as far south as Maryland.
The football class of 2008 includes four quarterbacks, one of which is Troy High product Josh Chiappone. However, RPI mainly tried to address its other needs with this class as the coaching staff focused on bringing in both defensive and offensive linemen and defensive backs.
And while all these players will be expected to produce for Rensselaer, some faster than others, they will have time to develop since the Engineers are not completely lacking in any particular area.
