Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Bucknell Football Position Preview: Tight End
8/9/2019 8:00:00 AM | Football
To say that Marcus Ademilola was disappointed to miss the 2018 Bucknell football campaign would be an understatement. But, after spending what should have been his senior year recovering from a knee injury, Ademilola is especially excited to be back on the field in 2019.
"It's a blessing to be back with my team," Ademilola said. "I feel like I let everyone down last year. When I was out, I reflected on my life and became a better man. Being out and having surgery really put things in perspective, and I'm just excited to be back."
As they do at running back, the Bison have three solid options at tight end. Ademilola is raring to go while junior Alex Twiford and sophomore Dylan DeMarco pushed each other to new heights during the spring.
Head coach Dave Cecchini is thrilled to have Ademilola, a physically imposing pro-style tight end, at his disposal. In 2017, Ademilola enjoyed a breakout junior year, leading the Bison in receptions (32) and finishing fourth in receiving yards (233). During Bucknell's final three games, he racked up 157 yards and hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass against Georgetown.
"Ademilola is excited to get going, and we're excited to see him," Cecchini said. "We know he's a very talented football player, and we're counting on him to be a big part of our offense. We're excited to see what he can do and how quickly he can pick up our offense."
"The rehab was good," Ademilola said. "Props to Ian [Wood] and Kaiti [Hager] and my doctors back at home. They never let me give up. I wouldn't be here without them, and I love them for that."
Twiford, who has 16 starts under his belt, will also see plenty of action. A solid blocker who can play attached, detached and in the backfield, he totaled 155 yards on 22 receptions over the past two seasons. DeMarco, a valuable special teams player who saw limited action as a blocking tight end a year ago, impressed Cecchini during the spring.
"Twiford and DeMarco had a back-and-forth battle throughout the spring," Cecchini said. "Twiford was a very consistent performer. He's a guy we feel we can count on. DeMarco has shown flashes of being a dangerous pass receiving threat and is developing into a solid blocker. We're happy with our tight ends."
Added Ademilola: "One through six can all play. You're not just going to hear my name this year. You're going to hear all the tight ends' names."
NOTES: The Bison have six tight ends on the roster: two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and one freshman ... The tight ends are coached by Matt Ford, a former standout offensive lineman at Lehigh ... Marcus Ademilola is one of six seniors who are three-time letterwinners ... Alex Twiford is one of 10 players who enter the season with at least 10 career starts; he started 16 games over the past two seasons, good for third among members of the junior class and fourth overall ... As they did in the spring, Twiford and Dylan DeMarco are pushing each other to step up their games ... Senior John Reedy, who has seen time as a blocking tight end and on special teams over the past three years, is looking to take on an expanded role ... Junior Simon Behr changed numbers ahead of the 2019 campaign, shifting to No. 81 from No. 94 ... Like Ademilola, Behr lost the 2018 campaign to injury; the former defensive end has looked strong in camp and will likely play a valuable role on special teams ... Ademilola and Behr worked out together over the summer, and Ademilola expects him to make an impact particularly as a blocking tight end ... Freshman Charlie Shadek is the lone Massachusetts native on the roster ... Shadek, who competed in football, diving, rowing and lacrosse at the Kent School, competed in England's Henley Royal Regatta, which is considered one of the most competitive regattas in the world ... Ademilola said that Shadek is working hard to learn the offense; he believes that the position group's lone newcomer will become a valuable flex tight end in the years to come.
"It's a blessing to be back with my team," Ademilola said. "I feel like I let everyone down last year. When I was out, I reflected on my life and became a better man. Being out and having surgery really put things in perspective, and I'm just excited to be back."
As they do at running back, the Bison have three solid options at tight end. Ademilola is raring to go while junior Alex Twiford and sophomore Dylan DeMarco pushed each other to new heights during the spring.
Head coach Dave Cecchini is thrilled to have Ademilola, a physically imposing pro-style tight end, at his disposal. In 2017, Ademilola enjoyed a breakout junior year, leading the Bison in receptions (32) and finishing fourth in receiving yards (233). During Bucknell's final three games, he racked up 157 yards and hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass against Georgetown.
"Ademilola is excited to get going, and we're excited to see him," Cecchini said. "We know he's a very talented football player, and we're counting on him to be a big part of our offense. We're excited to see what he can do and how quickly he can pick up our offense."
Ademilola said that he's ready to pick up the new offense because of the work he put in to get back to full strength. He was quick to credit his doctors back in New Jersey and his athletic trainers at Bucknell for helping him making a full recovery. Â"Everything happens for a reason."
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) August 9, 2019
Back from an injury that cost him the 2018 season, Marcus Ademilola is better than ever. #ACT | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/hbfLRxw9Jq
"The rehab was good," Ademilola said. "Props to Ian [Wood] and Kaiti [Hager] and my doctors back at home. They never let me give up. I wouldn't be here without them, and I love them for that."
Twiford, who has 16 starts under his belt, will also see plenty of action. A solid blocker who can play attached, detached and in the backfield, he totaled 155 yards on 22 receptions over the past two seasons. DeMarco, a valuable special teams player who saw limited action as a blocking tight end a year ago, impressed Cecchini during the spring.
"Twiford and DeMarco had a back-and-forth battle throughout the spring," Cecchini said. "Twiford was a very consistent performer. He's a guy we feel we can count on. DeMarco has shown flashes of being a dangerous pass receiving threat and is developing into a solid blocker. We're happy with our tight ends."
Added Ademilola: "One through six can all play. You're not just going to hear my name this year. You're going to hear all the tight ends' names."
NOTES: The Bison have six tight ends on the roster: two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and one freshman ... The tight ends are coached by Matt Ford, a former standout offensive lineman at Lehigh ... Marcus Ademilola is one of six seniors who are three-time letterwinners ... Alex Twiford is one of 10 players who enter the season with at least 10 career starts; he started 16 games over the past two seasons, good for third among members of the junior class and fourth overall ... As they did in the spring, Twiford and Dylan DeMarco are pushing each other to step up their games ... Senior John Reedy, who has seen time as a blocking tight end and on special teams over the past three years, is looking to take on an expanded role ... Junior Simon Behr changed numbers ahead of the 2019 campaign, shifting to No. 81 from No. 94 ... Like Ademilola, Behr lost the 2018 campaign to injury; the former defensive end has looked strong in camp and will likely play a valuable role on special teams ... Ademilola and Behr worked out together over the summer, and Ademilola expects him to make an impact particularly as a blocking tight end ... Freshman Charlie Shadek is the lone Massachusetts native on the roster ... Shadek, who competed in football, diving, rowing and lacrosse at the Kent School, competed in England's Henley Royal Regatta, which is considered one of the most competitive regattas in the world ... Ademilola said that Shadek is working hard to learn the offense; he believes that the position group's lone newcomer will become a valuable flex tight end in the years to come.
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