LANCASTER, Pa. – The 2025 season was one for the record books as the Franklin & Marshall football team made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament after capturing the Centennial Conference Championship with a thrilling 29-28 overtime victory against Johns Hopkins. That win gave the Diplomats the outright claim to the Centennial Conference title after an undefeated conference slate and was the program's eighth Centennial Championship in school history. The Diplomats graduated several key players from that championship team, but have 12 returning all-conference players looking for another postseason run. Including last year's NCAA Tournament bid which ended in the second round of the national tournament, the Diplomats have played in a postseason game eight times since the 2016 season.
Offense
Quarterback
Four-year starter Ty Tremba graduated with numerous school records to his name as the Diplomats need to replace that veteran experience as the team's signal caller. Junior Na'Rome Rayborn is a top returning option on the team. An offensive weapon that was additionally used in the running game and as a wide receiver, Rayborn saw multiple snaps as a wildcat quarterback during his rookie campaign. He also owns the distinct honor of his only pass attempt to date going for a touchdown as he had a 10-yard touchdown completion during the victory over Montclair State in 2024. Another name to watch for is sophomore Jadon Prinzivalli who transferred to the Diplomats last spring after starting his collegiate career at Virginia Military Institute. The veteran leader of the quarterback room is senior Paulus Zittrauer who has appeared in five career games under center.
Running Back
Sophomore Louis Paris broke into the starting lineup during the second half of his rookie campaign and rode that momentum to second-team All-Centennial Conference honors. Paris averaged 4.2 yards per carry while amassing 505 yards and three touchdowns. However, no impact felt bigger than Paris hauling in the make-or-break two-point conversion against Johns Hopkins in the de facto championship game. Senior Seth Taylor and sophomore Jayden Richards have also seen significant time in a position group full of underclassmen.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Gary Lewis was the star of last year's receiving corps as he earned All-America honors and was Franklin & Marshall's first-ever semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III Heisman). His graduation will give the chance for several seniors to step up during their final season with the Diplomats. Jack Harrison is the top returning target as he had 487 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Hudson Zawadzkas (331 yards, 3 TDs) and Matt Eitner (266 yards, 2 TDs) were also reliable options in the passing game, with Michael Poruban showing great promise in a 2024 season where he had 322 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Junior Michael Breheney is another experienced option that teams will need to keep an eye on. Ben Shutt is the incumbent starter at the tight end position after playing in all 11 games last season.
Offensive Line
Aidan Toomey is the leader of the offensive line and has already received D3football.com Preseason All-America honors after first-team All-CC and all-region honors a season ago. He has played in every game of his collegiate career. Chris Logue earned second-team all-conference recognition. Tripp Ready, Christopher Solecki, and Liam Henry were also regulars along the offensive line as they played in every game, while juniors Logan Holland, Ben Ostroski, and Noah Trama also have extended experience creating holes up front.
Defense
Defensive Line
The Diplomats should definitely be able to get pressure on the quarterback this season as senior Austin Hadley is a returning second-team All-CC selection from the championship team after recording 61 tackles in 2025. Fellow senior Quincy Long was a second-team all-conference honoree in 2024 after registering 14.5 tackles for loss that season before being limited by injury a year ago. Junior Owen Banghart stepped up to fill that role last season and recorded 3.5 sacks among his 28 tackles. Senior Connor Eustice is an experienced veteran who played in seven games last season, registering a sack during the win versus Catholic. A spot on the line will open up with the graduation of All-CC nose tackle LT Kelley.
Linebackers
A traditional strength of the team, the Diplomats are once again very deep at linebacker where they return three All-Centennial Conference players from a season ago. Senior Connor Hille and sophomore Kyle Checchio were both first-team picks for the championship team. Checchio made 73 tackles during his rookie season, featuring 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage, as he later went on to grab an all-region nod. Hille made 72 tackles and was active in the passing game with seven pass deflections. A two-time all-conference performer, he has also forced four fumbles during his career. Chris Albero is another senior leader who made 55 tackles last year en route to second-team All-Centennial Conference recognition. Declan MacCabe, Mike Pembroke, Dean Coscia, and Braeden Post all saw substantial playing time on defense and special teams and will once again look to be a factor this fall.
Secondary
Oscar Marx had a breakout season at safety last year as his 16 pass deflections ranked as the fourth-highest single-season total in program history. He earned first-team All-CC recognition in a season that saw him return an interception 88 yards for a touchdown against McDaniel. Senior Rafe Carner is the most experience cornerback on the roster as he has played in every game since transferring to the Diplomats at the beginning of his sophomore season. Carner picked off two passes and made 40 tackles a season ago. Nick Aravides and Trey Comella have limited experience to fill the holes left by graduation, while seniors Jeremy Friend and Stefan Merino are two more senior leaders who will help solidify the backend of the defense.
Special Teams
The specialists were just that a season ago as Michael Fleming (kicker), Ivan Harlamov (punter), and Will Galligan (long snapper) were all first-team All-Centennial Conference selections, with Galligan eventually earning All-America accolades for his role in the special teams. Fleming converted 10 of his 13 field goal attempts, converting a long of 42 yards in his first year as the regular place kicker. Harlamov was further honored as an all-region selection for his punting, with his 39.0 career average ranking as the second-best mark in school history.
Eian Kilpatrick and Oscar Marx handled the majority of the kick return duties during their rookie campaign. Kilpatrick averaged nearly 20 yards per return, while Marx was just under 15 yards on average for the season. Chris Albero is back on punt return. The F&M senior is currently among the top 10 players in program history in punt return average and ranks just outside of the top 10 with 310 punt return yards during his career.
Coaching Staff
The Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year returns with Michael Phelan set to begin his second season as head coach in Lancaster. Phelan has kept the championship staff together and will hope that consistency sets the foundation for another strong campaign.
Schedule
The 2026 season sees the Diplomats simply swap home and away contest against the same 10 opponents. The season opener under the lights (and postgame fireworks) will be Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m. against Lebanon Valley. F&M will then look to avenge its only defeat of the 2025 regular season when it travels to Westminster (Pa.) during week two before Catholic concludes the non-conference slate. Centennial Conference play begins on the first Saturday in October at home against Gettysburg, with Dickinson, Ursinus, and Carnegie Mellon also making the trip to Shadek Stadium. Road trips in the conference will take the Diplomats to Muhlenberg, McDaniel, and Johns Hopkins.
In the Polls
After advancing to the NCAA Tournament last season, the Diplomats begin the 2026 season receiving votes in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) national polls. The defending champions were additionally picked to finish third in the Centennial Conference preseason vote of the conference's head coaches. Johns Hopkins was tabbed as the preseason favorite, with Carnegie Mellon picked as the projected runner-up despite not receiving any first-place votes.
Follow Along (Social Media)
All of your favorite Diplomat athletic teams are available on social media. Follow them throughout what promises to be an exciting 2026 season.
