Tag it:

?

Quarterback Zach Maynard shuffled off to Cal after throwing for 2,694 yards and notching 18 TD throws in 2009. The Bulls also need to replace All-MAC receivers Naaman Roosevelt and Brett Hamlin, as well as tight end Jesse Rack.

Roosevelt had 70 catches for 954 yards (along with nine TDs) last year to move him into first place on the school’s career receptions list. Hamlin’s 64 catches and 898 yards moved him into third place on that same list. In total, nine starters are gone off an offense that finished third among MAC schools with an average of 405.4 yards per game.

Quinn nonetheless remains confident that his Bulls will be productive in a “multiple tempo” offense that “will force the defense to defend the width and the length of the field.”
Such an offense thrives with good quarterback play. Among the candidates to assume the QB role are sophomore Jerry Davis, redshirt freshman Alex Dennison, junior walk-on Cory Jorgenson and a trio of incoming freshman.
 Davis is the only one to see action for UB last year. He has a strong arm and throws a good deep ball (e.g. a 76-yard TD strike to Roosevelt versus Ohio last year).

“We demand a lot of our quarterbacks, but it’s an exciting position to play in our high-tempo offense,” Quinn said. “We have seen consistent progress at the quarterback position, and I expect our quarterbacks to get us in the right play, deliver the ball on time and complete the deep ball.”
Terrell Jackson, who pulled in 25 catches for 250 yards in 2009, is the most experienced returning receiver for the Bulls.
Meanwhile, at least three players could figure prominently in the battle for running back. Senior Brandon Thermilus (6-1, 218) started five games last season, accumulating 560 yards and scoring on four rushes.
Jefvon Gill, pressed into service as a freshman, rushed for 172 yards and a TD against Bowling Green in his first Bulls start. He had 252 yards on 40 carries overall for a team-best 6.3 ypc. average.

Ike Nduka’s 2009 campaign was hampered by an ankle injury, but the then-junior from White Plains, New York certainly demonstrated solid skills while on the field. After not having a carry in his career, he racked up 598 yards on 96 carries for a 6.2 ypc average. He also tallied six TDs during that time.
 
One of the more well-stocked areas is along the offensive line. Senior guard Peter Bittner was a Second Team All-MAC selection in 2009. Both starting tackles - junior Matt Ostrowski and senior Jordan Jerrold - are back, as well as Josh Violanti, who assumed center duties mid-year.
Long snapper Brian Kelly is a candidate for a guard spot after serving three seasons in a reserve role.
 
“I expect a very physical, tenacious brand of offensive line play,” Quinn said.
The defensive side of the ball provides more experience, especially in the secondary. Three-time First Team All-MAC safety Davonte Shannon leads the way. Already sixth on the school’s career tackles list. Shannon led the team with 97 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2009.
Shannon is flanked by senior corners Domonic Cook and Josh Thomas. Cook, who has 29 starts to his credit, led the Bulls in passes defended the past two years. Thomas has started 26 Bulls games. Each player could figure in All-MAC balloting.

Linebacker figured to be another strong position group for the Bulls, and it still may be. However, UB will miss the services of Scott Pettigrew (6-2, 214, Jr), who suffered a serious knee injury in the spring and should miss the 2010 season.

That leaves Justin Winters  (6-0, 225, Sr) as the key piece of what could be a very productive linebacking corps. Like Pettigrew, Winters has been a mainstay in the starting lineup for two seasons. He was third on the squad with 79 tackles last year, with 4.5 tfl, an interception, and a fumble recovery.

Classmate Raphael Akobundu has 15 starts on his resume, including the final two games of last season.

Among others who might see time at linebacker is Josh Copeland (6-2, 198, Jr). The former defensive back, who appeared in 12 games last year, made one start and recorded nine (two for loss) of his 24 tackles for the season against Ohio.

“We look for guys that will fly around with a relentless pursuit to the football, and this group displayed that ability to us during spring practice,” Quinn said.

There is experience in front of the linebackers, but the Bulls must replace two starters. Steady run-stuffing Alex Montanez and defensive end Steven Means return to lead the group. Montanez has started 26 straight games for UB.  Means, burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman with five sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss among his 25 stops.
Defensive end Gordon DuBois  appeared in all 12 Bulls games last season and recorded six tackles for loss among a total of 15 hits.

“Our defensive line will be the key to our success stopping the run and rushing the passer,” Quinn said. “We will count heavily on their mental and physical skills to dominate opponent offensive lines.”

Former walk-on A. J. Principe has provided Buffalo with a solid kicking game. He enters 2010 already holding a number of school records, including most field goals (37). Peter Fardon and John Rachuna figure in the punting picture. Fardon
handled the bulk of punts over the past two years and averaged 35.6 yards in 2010 with 12 punts downed inside the 20. (Rachuna handled kickoff duties last year, but boomed a 71-yarder for his first collegiate punt and averaged 43.7 yards on nine punts the rest of the way.

Among the “To Do” items for fall workouts is to find replacements for several veterans who had previously handled kick/punt return duties.

Buffalo hopes to get back on the winning side of the ledger this year after finishing 5-7 (3-5 MAC) in 2009. The Bulls open with Rhode Island at home Sept. 2 and then travel to Baylor. After a home date against Central Florida, UB hits the road for three straight weeks (Connecticut, Bowling Green and Northern Illinois) before returning home for a shot at preseason MAC favorite Temple Oct. 23.