Holy Cross Notebook: Crusaders will rely on new depth for 2026 season
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WORCESTER – Holy Cross football coach Dan Curran believes depth will be a strength of the 2026 Crusaders, with wide receiver, offensive line and defensive line among the positions HC has fortified.
“You can never have enough of it,” Curran said, “but depth is huge and creates competition on the team and elevates everyone in the program, and hopefully it will help us sustain a high level of play for what is going to be a competitive 12-game schedule.”
The Crusaders open Aug. 29 against defending Patriot League champion Lehigh at Fitton Field. Kickoff is at 3:30.
Shrewsbury’s Cooper Ackerman, who transferred to Holy Cross in January from the University of Connecticut, and Rushaune Vilane, a transfer from the University of Kentucky, are battling until the end for a starting defensive end position, but both are expected to get significant playing time this season and give the Crusaders a boost.
“Both will be instrumental to what we’re doing up front,” Curran said. Rushaune is physical and nasty and really good in the run game, and he continues to improve in the pass game. Cooper has an amazing motor, too, and he has really developed a lot since he got here. They will both be a big part of what we’re doing not only on first and second down, but on third down as well.”
Ackerman spent two seasons at UConn, where he had very limited reps.
Vilane, who was a high school teammate of transfer quarterback David Lynch (Pitt) at Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, R.I., was at Kentucky for two years and played in one game last season.
St. John's Burton moves up depth chart
Former St. John’s high star linebacker Ron Burton was one of Holy Cross’ best scout team players in 2024, his freshman season, and last year, Burton worked his way onto three special teams units, where he also made a mark.
By the end of this year’s spring practice, Curran and his staff felt confident Burton had grown enough to make a contribution on defense this fall.
Burton, a Hubbardston resident, begins the year second on the depth chart behind senior Adam Due.
“I do expect Ron to play both our SAM and WIL (linebacker positions),” Curran said. “He will also factor on third down in some of our sub packages. He’s a good blitzer. One thing Ron does well is he runs like a bat out of hell when he’s going after the football. He’s relentless.”
Burton, who was a T&G Super Team selection in football and track and field at St. John’s, is the grandson of Ron Burton Sr., the Boston Patriots’ first AFL draft choice in 1960 and the founder of the Ron Burton Training Village for underprivileged youth in Hubbardston.
As a senior at St. John’s, Burton collected 35 tackles, including 5½ for loss, 5 sacks and 5 passes defensed.
“Ron has done a great job,” Due said. “Watching him develop over the years has been really great. To see where the coaches have gotten him and his own development, it’s been really fun to watch.”
Battles remain for special teams
Junior Ethan Moss, HC’s primary punter, and sophomore Owen Saraceno, who handled kickoffs for the Crusaders last season, are vying for the role of placekicker.
The graduated Luis Palenzuela was 10-15 on field goals and 29-30 on PATs last year.
Saraceno, who missed his only field-goal attempt, from 37 yards, last season, has a longer leg, while Moss has more playing experience.
“They are both very capable,” Curran said.
In 2025, Moss averaged 38.1 yards on 64 punts. He placed 14 kicks inside the 20 and had 7 punts of 50 yards or longer.
Saraceno averaged 58.7 yards on kickoffs with seven touchbacks. He was 1-1 on PATs.
Last season, missed field goals hurt the Crusaders in their first three games, which they lost by a total of seven points.
“We want those two to push each other,” Curran said. “We could see both (doing the placekicking) depending on what type of kick we’re looking for.”
‒Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Holy Cross Notebook: Crusaders will rely on new depth for 2026 season