For comparison sake, here is how the 2022 assist stat I mentioned in my previous post stacks up in relation to previous seasons:

2022: 7 1st year players placed in Top 20 for Total Assists: 2021: 2 1st year players in Top 20; (1 from MWC power Cornell-IA and the other from NJAC squad Rowan); Spring of ’21 4 1st year players in Top 20 (from HCAC power Transylvania, Covenant, Independent Maranatha Baptist and UMAC squad Northland); 2019–3 1st year players in Top 20 (from UAA squad Emory-that player was the most recent 1st year player to lead the nation in Total Assists (1,477); 2nd was from OAC power Otterbein, and the 3rd from C2C squad Christopher Newport: 2018; 2 1st year players (from UMAC power NW-MN and American Rivers Conference squad Dubuque).

So, more 1st year players finished strong as setters this last season than in the previous 4-interesting. To some observers, this may be a somewhat unexpected bonus. Either way, there’s been at least 1 squad that finds room for a 1st year setter to make a strong impact.