Six Footballers Named to Phil Steele Preseason All-Ivy Teams

HANOVER, N.H. — The 2021 Preseason All-Ivy League Football Teams as selected by Phil Steele were announced last week with six Dartmouth players included, headlined by strong safety Niko Mermigas.

Four players were named to the second team, three of whom come from the offensive side of the ball — quarterback Derek Kyler, and offensive linemen Evan Hecimovich and John Paul Flores. Place kicker Connor Davis also earned a spot on the second team, while nickelback John Pupel claimed a spot on the third team.

Mermigas, a fifth-year senior, is the lone returning defensive starter from the 2019 squad. The native of Wexford, Pennsylvania, was fourth on the team with 47 tackles (one going for a loss) and one interception while breaking up five other passes and forcing a fumble, earning All-Ivy League honorable mention. For his career, Mermigas has 62 stops (38 solo) with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 26 games.

Part of a platoon behind center the last two seasons, Kyler enters the 2021 campaign as Dartmouth's most accurate passer having completed 68.2 percent (193-of-283) for 2,437 yards and 25 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He is also an effective runner, gaining an average of nearly four yards on his 78 carries. But the native of DeKalb, Illinois, will have to find new targets to throw to this season as the leading returning receiver had nine catches two years ago.

Hecimovich, a fifth-year senior center from Lisle, Illinois, and Flores, a senior tackle from Arlington, Texas, both started all 10 games in 2019 for a Big Green offense that led the Ancient Eight in rushing yards (167.0 per game) and was second in scoring (33.3 points). No other offensive line allowed fewer sacks (14) and contributed to a higher team passing efficiency (173.08, second in the country) as well, helping Hecimovich receive All-Ivy League Second Team honors at the end of the season.

Hailing from Traverse City, Michigan, Pupel provided the third-most tackles on the 2019 Dartmouth defensive unit as just a sophomore. The senior made 55 stops (33 solo) with two going for a loss while breaking up three passes as well.

Dartmouth opens the season on the road at the Valparaiso Beacons on Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. Fans can tune into the game by listening through the official website of Big Green athletics, DartmouthSports.com, with Brett Franklin and Matt Corsetti calling the action.

Schedules