The Liberty League is celebrating its 25th anniversary during the 2019-2020 academic year. Originally founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) in 1995, the conference was renamed the Liberty League during the summer of 2004. Each Thursday throughout the year, the Liberty League will be celebrating its silver anniversary by recognizing outstanding teams and individuals from its rich 25-year history.
Hobart College alumnus Ali Marpet '15 not only beat the long odds of making an NFL roster after playing Division III football, the five-year starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did so in unprecedented fashion.
An offensive tackle for the Statesmen, Marpet was taken by the Bucs in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 61st overall pick, the highest a Division III player has ever been selected. He’s been a fixture in the starting lineup from Day 1, starting all 56 games he’s played in the NFL, first at right guard, then center and, most recently, left guard.
During the summer of 2017, Marpet was nominated for and voted by his teammates to serve as Tampa Bay’s team representative to the NFL Players’ Association. At the NFLPA annual meeting, he became one of 11 players on the union's finance committee, a fitting role for Marpet, who studied economics at HWS.
Marpet's steady play and development in the NFL hasn't gone unnoticed. He started 13 games as a rookie in 2015, earning a spot on Mel Kiper's All-Rookie Team and the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In his second season in the league, Marpet was one of only two Buccaneer offensive linemen to play every offensive down. In addition to playing all 1,089 offensive snaps, he also played on the extra point and field goal units, adding 65 more plays.
In 2017, Marpet was recognized by NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison with a spot on his All-Under 25 Team.
At Hobart, Marpet was a three-year starter at left tackle. The three-time first team All-Liberty League selection served as a team captain as a junior and senior. Marpet was named a 2014 All-American by the AFCA, the Associated Press, and D3football.com. He was also the 2014 Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year, the first offensive lineman to ever win the award.
In his four seasons at Hobart, Marpet and his classmates posted a 41-5 record and captured four consecutive Liberty League Championships. The Statesmen also appeared in four consecutive NCAA Division III Football Championships, and reached the quarterfinal round in 2012 and 2014.
Nearly every NFL team sent a scout to visit Marpet during his senior season. His draft stock got a big boost from his performance during the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Sports Illustrated called him the “Biggest Riser” after he not only held his own, but outplayed other draft prospects from Power Five conferences.
Marpet’s Senior Bowl performance led to an invitation to the NFL Combine, where he again elevated his draft status by running the fastest 40 of any offensive lineman, while posting the second fastest times in the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle.
Marpet is without question one of the most dominant players in Hobart football history and arguably one of the best in Division III history.
25th Anniversary Spotlight Series:
10/24/2019 - 1999 St. Lawrence Men's Soccer
10/31/2019 - Sara Artus, Clarkson University Volleyball (2008-2011)