Bucknell University Athletics
2005 Bucknell Football Preseason Outlook
8/9/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 9, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The 2005 football season officially commenced at Bucknell on Tuesday with the team's first preseason workout. Third-year head coach Tim Landis put his 93-man squad through a fast-paced, hour-and-45-minute workout on a warm, humid day at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Fifteen seniors joined 19 juniors, 24 sophomores and 35 first-year players on a first day of preseason camp that left head coach Tim Landis impressed with the team's early spirit.
"We have a lot of work to get done over the next few weeks, and I was very pleased with the energy level I saw out here today," said Landis, whose team opens the 2005 season at home against Georgetown on Sept. 3. "It is important, especially early in camp, to develop some leadership from all levels of the team. We hope the 15 seniors will be at the forefront, but our program is set up so that leaders can come from everywhere on the team."
In addition to the host of new faces wearing blue and white practice jerseys, the Bison players are also spending time early in camp acclimating to several new faces on the coaching staff. Veteran Bison mentor Jared Backus has been promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005, while Jim Reid, a former head coach at Richmond and Massachusetts, has taken over as defensive line and special teams coach. Ryan Crawford (cornerbacks), Dick Cassels (tackles/tight ends), Travis Burkett (outside linebackers) and Steve Hayes (offensive assistant) are also new to the staff.
Single afternoon practices will continue through Saturday, with the first two-a-day session slated for Sunday, Aug. 14. The first intrasquad scrimmage of the preseason is on tap for Thursday, Aug. 18 at 3:15 p.m.
All Bucknell practices are open to the public. Practice times are subject to change due to weather or other factors.
Preseason Practice Schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 9 - 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 10 - 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 11 - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 12 - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 13 - 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 14 - 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15 - 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 16 - 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 17 - 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 18 - 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m. (scrimmage)
Friday, Aug. 19 - 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 20 - 6:15 a.m./3:45 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 21 - 3 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 22 - 6:15 a.m./4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 23 - 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 24 - Classes begin, regular practice schedule resumes
2005 Preseason Outlook
From two wins in 2002 to six in 2003 to seven in 2004, the Bucknell football program is, as a stock analyst might note, "trending in the right direction."
But, to borrow another term you might hear from a financial advisor, "past performance does not guarantee future profit."
So Bison head coach Tim Landis and his staff set out this offseason to begin working on a plan to keep the victory total moving upward in 2005. With six starters on each side of the ball lost to graduation, including First-Team All-Patriot League quarterback Daris Wilson, that is no easy task, particularly in a rapidly improving Patriot League landscape.
Still, Bucknell will return to the gridiron in the fall with no shortage of all-star talent and a young crop of Landis recruits ready to fill that significant graduation void.
"We have gotten much better in each of the last two years, and that is your main objective when building a program," said Landis. "You don't want to take any steps backward, and I feel that progress is also showing in our recruiting. Having said that, there are always going to be years of transition. You don't lose 24 seniors and not expect to play some younger guys."
A bright crop of 35 newcomers are set to join 58 upperclassmen this fall, with several interesting position battles shaping up.
While areas such as the offensive and defensive lines and fullback are loaded with experienced players, others, like quarterback and wide receiver, will feature new faces.
"Are there some unknowns? Absolutely," admitted Landis. "But at the same time our [roster] numbers are up, which is going to help us practice better. There is definitely more depth across the board than in the last two years. We've got the returning defensive and special teams players of the year in the Patriot League, which are two really good players to build around."
Those two reigning major award winners -- senior DL Sean Conover and senior CB Dante Ross -- will be the cornerstones of a defensive unit that will be led by new defensive coordinator Jared Backus. Tripp Merritt, who held that position for the last two seasons, accepted the head coaching position at Davidson during the offseason, and Backus expects the Bison's rapidly improving 4-4 defense to pick up where it left off last season. "Early in the season I think we are going to see the defense a bit ahead of the offense, just based on experience," predicted Landis. "I don't want to say we are relying on them to carry us, but I am very confident our defense can lead the way. It is a very cohesive group with some outstanding talent there."
With Ross, the league's most dangerous kickoff and punt returner, back for his senior season and two-year starter Ryan Korn back as well, Landis is also excited about his special teams corps.
"There is a lot of potential to put points on the board out of our special teams, both in the kicking and return areas," said Landis. "The increased depth is a major help. Last year we had to play a lot of starters on special teams, and that takes a lot out of you over the course of an 11-game season. Now, we have some other guys we can mix in." Offensively, all eyes will be focused on the quarterback position throughout preseason camp. Daris Wilson's 1,149 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns will be very difficult to replace, and many forget that his two top backups in John Henry Jackson and Cole Ciesnolevicz have also graduated.
Sophomores Terrance Wilson and Ryan Ahern lead a four-horse race to be the Bison's next conductor of the spread option offense.
The good news is that a veteran offensive line returns to protect the new signal caller, and there are plenty of options to call upon in the backfield. Notably, senior FB Blamah Sarnor, a former 900-yard rusher, returns in 2005 after a knee injury wrecked his 2004 season.
"I think some people may have forgotten about Blamah," said Landis. "He needs to come back and have a great year for us, and I am confident that he will. Kenny Davis and Peter Kaufman are both big-play guys at slotback, and Josh DeStefano looked good last year filling in for Blamah. We are going to rely on those guys, especially early in the season when we are straightening out the quarterback situation."
Here is a position-by-position outlook heading into preseason camp.
Offense
Quarterback
For obvious reasons, starting quarterback will be the highest profile position skirmish this preseason. In 2004 Daris Wilson became the first Bucknell quarterback in nine years to earn First Team All-Patriot League honors, but Wilson has graduated, taking 1,149 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns with him. Overshadowed by his elusive running was a dangerous throwing arm that hit for several big plays out of the team's complex spread option offense.
The nuances of the option can be difficult for a young quarterback, but that is where Landis and offensive coordinator Tim Camp will have to turn in 2005, with two sophomores and two freshmen competing for the opening-day assignment.
Based on the number of snaps taken in junior varsity play last season, sophomore Terrance Wilson (no relation to Daris) has to be considered the early favorite. Wilson worked extremely hard on his throwing mechanics this offseason and has the potential to be a dynamic two-way threat in the spread option offense. As the starting quarterback with the jayvees as a freshman, Wilson logged a team-high 335 rushing yards (7.3 avg.) and five touchtowns in three games, including 155 ground yards in a win over a very strong Lackawanna College team. Like his predecessor, Terrance Wilson is a blazing runner but also stands 6-1 and could be a more effective pocket passer than the 5-8 Daris Wilson, who did most of his damage on rollouts.
Likewise, sophomore Ryan Ahern has also made significant strides this spring, lending relief to a coaching staff that fretted after losing its top three quarterbacks on the depth chart to graduation following last season.
They will have to learn the system in a hurry, but Landis refuses to count out freshmen Ben Bouffard and Mahdi Woodard in the quarterback battle. Both are terrific athletes, and Bouffard directed an option offense in high school in Vermont.
"Both Terrance and Ryan made major strides in the spring," Landis noted, "but both still have a way to go. Preseason camp is going to be crucial, and we won't be afraid to throw the freshmen into the mix. The sophomores hold the edge, but they are going to be pushed, and we are going to play the best man for the job regardless of age. We are inexperienced now, but given time I feel we are going to be very deep at quarterback."
Running Backs
Along with the quarterback, the fullback is a critical element in the spread option system, and Bucknell is fortunate to have three outstanding fullbacks in the mix this fall, making it one of the team's strengths.
The key will be the healthy return of senior Blamah Sarnor, who nearly had a 1,000-yard season as a sophomore (928) and appeared headed for that milestone again last season before suffering a broken kneecap in the third game of the season, an injury that cost him the rest of the year. Sarnor was cleared to play in spring practice and should be back to 100 percent this fall.
Sophomore Josh DeStefano saw the bulk of the action at fullback this spring, with Sarnor coming off the knee injury in addition to nursing a slight hamstring pull.
DeStefano filled in wonderfully last year, in fact earning the team's rookie of the year award at year's end. He ran for 243 yards in six games, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also caught eight balls out of the backfield for 118 yards (14.8 yards per catch).
Another potential contributor at fullback is incoming freshman Chris Hayes, who Landis feels may not need long to push his way onto the field.
Rising juniors Kenny Davis and Peter Kaufman are the projected starters at the slotback positions, and both are game-tested. Kaufman started four games and appeared in 10 last season, when he was the team's third-leading rusher with 274 yards. He led the squad in yards per carry (9.1) and was second in rushing touchdowns (4), including an electrifying 61-yard scamper against eventual league champion Lafayette.
 Slot back Peter Kaufman  |
|
Davis was a welcome addition to the Bison backfield arsenal after transferring in from St. Mary's. He collected 190 ground yards and three TDs as a part-time starter.
Rising sophomores Greg Sutton and Corin Erby both remain key cogs in the team's future plans, although injuries have stunted both players' progression thus far.
Freshmen Kadero Watson, Harrison Baker and Taylor Ray, along with returning sophomore Cameron O'Reilly, are waiting in the wings. "[The graduated] Frank Lazio was our most consistent and productive slot last season, but Kenny Davis and Peter Kaufman both started games and played a considerable amount of football," said Landis. "There is some really good young talent behind those two. Question marks surround Greg Sutton and Corin Erby because of injuries but we still have high hopes for both of them. I am very excited about Kadero Watson and Harrison Baker, and I like our depth here with the two junior starters backed up by three sophomores and three freshmen."
Wide Receiver
At wide receiver, Landis feels that junior Richard Simpson was one of the most improved performers in all of spring camp and is ready to replace Nisan Trotter as the Bison's feature wideout.
Simpson won a starting job opposite Trotter coming out of preseason camp in 2004, but as it turned out he wasn't quite ready for the lead assignment. He played the season as a reserve and did not catch a varsity pass.
Sure-handed sophomore Andrew Guad-agno will also likely see action at the position, along with a quartet of highly regarded recruits that will replentish the position after the loss of all-stars Trotter, Albert Marquardt and Jim Horan over the last three seasons.
Zach Allen and Bill Massaro both bring terrific size at 6'3", while Alex Odenbach and Daniel Zvara are also quick, surehanded and excellent blockers on the corner. Zvara played in 16 games last fall as his high school team won the Florida state title, making him perhaps the most seasoned of the group.
"The wide receiver position is a lot like quarterback," said Landis. "There aren't many familiar faces there, but down the line it is going to turn into one of our deepest positions. I expect to see some freshman playing for us this season."
Offensive Line
With two returning starters injured this spring -- left guard Stefan Niemczyk and center Joel Hoffer -- Landis was very pleased to see some intense competition for spots on the depth chart along the offensive line. Most notable was the improvement of sophomore Greg Conti, who took most of the reps at center and significantly upgraded his status for the fall.
Also in spring ball a spirited battle was waged at left tackle between senior Craig Swanson and second-year man Chad Glasser. Glasser is listed No. 1 on the depth chart heading into the preseason, but expect that competition to continue right up until opening day. Converted defensive tackle Michael Anthony enjoyed a fine spring at right guard and is battling junior Michael Boccella for the starting spot.
Veteran Stephen Watts, a two-year starter, solidifies the right tackle spot, with fellow senior Eric Becker, himself a former starter, providing a capable backup.
Junior Nick DeFeo, another converted defensive lineman, will likely back up Niemczyk at left guard.
Headlining a promising rookie cast is big Chis Wancowicz, the younger brother of former Bison standout and All-Patriot League lineman Jason Wancowicz. Stephen Cooney and Corey Teitz also join the team in 2005. "Having two starters out with injuries this spring was certainly frustrating," admitted Landis, "but the positive is that we were able to throw some young guys into the fire. We hope that in the end we will be deeper and better for it. We need to have Joel Hoffer and Stefan Niemczyk back to their top form. Stephen Watts has been consistent his whole career, so that gives us a good three-man nucleus to build on. The development of Greg Conti at center has been impressive. He made as much progress as anyone this spring."
Tight End
The Bison will feature three young tight ends in 2005, as they look to replace the productive Ian Nutt. Sophomore Nick Mozal saw junior varsity action last season, while freshmen Ben Watts -- Stephen's younger brother --and Rich Weiland are both big and athletic newcomers.
"The tight end group is obviously untested," said Landis. "Nick Mozal has the luxury of playing in the system for an entire year. Rich Weiland has good size and Ben Watts might be the best blocker in the group. Last season with an experienced senior in Ian Nutt we were able to run about 20 to 25 plays per game with a tight end. The development of this young group will dictate how much we get to use it this year."
Defense
Defensive Line
Defensively, Bucknell appears strongest up front, at least heading into preseason camp. Reigning Second-Team All-American and Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Sean Conover will likely be a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award as Division I-AA's top defender.
Conover, who was a tight end as a freshman, has made himself into a legit prospect. He registered 10.5 sacks last season, the fourth-highest single-season total in Bucknell history. He had 18 tackles for loss in 2004, forced five fumbles and had back-to-back three-sack games against Lehigh and Holy Cross.
Classmates Andrew Decker, Brandon Bailey and Jacob Burney, along with junior Michael Hardman and much-improved sophomore Ryan Walsh make the defensive line the team's deepest position.
Decker was the everyday starter at defensive end opposite Conover last season and finished with 40 tackles, including six for loss. Bailey was primarily a third-down pass rush specialist -- he was second to Conover on the team with five sacks -- but he reported to spring camp in terrific shape and could take on an even bigger role in 2005.
Burney and Walsh are the projected starters at the two tackle spots, while rising senior Chris Praylo lends yet another veteran presence. Second-year players Jonathan Grainger and Brandon Friday have both shown promise as well. Throw into the mix freshmen Stephen Edwards and Shane Hankinson at 6'6" and 6'5", respectively, and the Bison have plenty of ammo up front.
"When I first got here the defensive line was untested after we had just graduated guys like Adam Lord and Gary Carruthers," recalled Landis. "Now two years later this is our most talented and experienced group. The combination of Sean Conover, Andrew Decker and Brandon Bailey is as good as any defensive end group in the Patriot League."
Linebacker
At inside linebacker, returning starter and leading returning tackler Dorian Petersen will be one of the anchors of the Bison defense.
Petersen last year ranked second on the team with 89 tackles and is a legit all-conference candidate in 2005.
Sophomore Ryan Slater, from nearby Southern Columbia High School, will likely start alongside Petersen at inside linebacker.
A mid-spring injury to Petersen opened the door for sophomore Peter Salvatore to step into a prominent role, and was one of the defense's most pleasant surprises in the spring, according to Landis. Salvatore was the leading tackler on the jayvee team last season with 34 (18 solo) in three games.
Craig Kostelic, is another up-and-coming sophomore who will certainly see plenty of field time this fall.
"Dorian Petersen is a two-year starter and an all-league caliber player," said Landis. "He has a great nose for the football and is simply a playmaker. Ryan Slater and Peter Salvatore both bring real strengths to the position. Slater has a slight edge coming in, but Salvatore along with Craig Kostelic will definitely play and contribute."
One of the team's biggest unknowns entering the 2005 campaign is at the "knocker," or outside linebacker, position. Rising senior James Lachman is battling junior Stephen Matzura at the "whip" position, while rapidly improving junior Matt Palermo is the preseason favorite at the "mike" position.
Defensive Back
One of Bucknell's most talented all-around players is senior Dante Ross, who will be an All-Patriot League candidate at cornerback this fall. Ross, who had three interceptions in last year's season-ending win at Duquesne and four total picks for the year, was also named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Year in 2004 for his game-breaking punt and kickoff return ability.
Junior David Frisbey is a likely starter at corner as well, although highly touted incoming freshman Nolan Applegate, Devon Lutz and Jay Harper will provide a challenge come preseason camp.
Frisbey's classmate, Luis Flores, is back from a knee injury, while sophomore Roosevelt Davis was moved to corner from slotback this spring. At free safety, sophomore-to-be Stephen Collage was a real standout this spring, while classmate John Thomson also figures to be a major contributor on both defense and special teams this season. Both players lettered as freshman, mainly as a reward for their outstanding special teams play.
"We graduated two first-team all-league defensive backs in Jerome Acy and Virgil Rush," noted Landis, "so there are obviously some concerns whether we can return to that level. The good news is that Dante Ross is a game-changing player and David Frisbey has continually improved. Stephen Collage at free safety is going to be a very good player, and he clearly came out of the spring as a starter."
Special Teams
Ryan Korn has been the starting placekicker in each of his two seasons at Bucknell and enters 2005 as the favorite again. Korn set a school record with 14 field goals as a freshman, but hit just 5 of 11 last season, with one of them a memorable 47-yarder in overtime against Penn.
Kickoff specialist Ryan Bower tore his ACL last season but should be ready for the fall. Freshmen Phil Azarik, Will Carney and Alex Odenbach will provide some heat in the kicking battle.
The punting job is wide open following the graduation of two-year starter Ryan Berry. Former walk-on Peter Cotter, now a junior, will be pushed by Korn and Odenbach, among others.
Dante Ross is the Patriot League's premier return man and earned the league's first-ever Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 2004. He averaged a league-high 29.1 yards per kickoff return last season and became the first player in school or league history to return two for TDs during a memorable performance at Georgetown that landed him national player of the week honors. Ross also averaged a league-high 9.5 yards per punt return, and he took a punt back for a score against Cornell in 2003. Senior Jeff Orazi returns for his third season as the team's primary long-snapper, while sophomore Chad Glasser is the short-snapper on field goals and PATs.
