Can the NMH boys’ newcomer-heavy roster contend in 2026?

Northfield Mount Hermon players celebrate a goal. (Courtesy photo)

This is a transition year for Northfield Mount Hermon, but transition years at NMH aren’t like most transition years elsewhere.

Indeed, even ahead of the unavoidable gap year between the graduation of a significant senior class and the true arrival of the next young core of players, the Hoggers still look like contenders. Longtime coach Charlie Malcolm cast a wide net on the recruiting trail and came back with one of the biggest and most impressive group of newcomers in the NEPSAC, a crop intended to, in Malcolm’s words, bring a “one-year pop.”

How big that pop ends up being is the question.

That’s what we’re here to evaluate. This is the second edition of our 2026 Prep Preview series — which you can find here — in which we’re diving into the rosters and outlook of the NEPSAC’s top soccer programs. We went through Brooks on Wednesday, which looks poised to contend in the ISL and beyond.

Now, for NMH, which is nothing short of Class A royalty. Where should expectations be set for the Hoggers in 2026? What will make or break their season? Who are the players you need to know about?

And — perhaps extra crucially this year, with the introduction of the Open tournament — who are they playing?