Aug. 25, 2005
Planning to attend a Johns Hopkins football game during the 2005 season?Before finding your way to your seat you better stop off and pick up a game program. The Blue Jays will need to replace 10 starters from last season's team, including several who rank among the greatest players in school history.
Gone are Adam Cook, Brian Wolcott, Matt Campbell, Matt Weeks and Nate Readal, to name a few.Between them they combined to earn First Team All-Centennial honors seven times and Campbell and Weeks both garnered All-America honors during their careers. They also combined to start over 100 games in their careers.
Only at this point in the history of Hopkins football could the Blue Jays lose all of the above, and more, and still be the favorite to win the Centennial Conference Championship in the preseason poll of coaches and Sports Information Directors.With three straight Centennial Conference Co-Championships and a a trio of ECAC titles in the last three years, head coach Jim Margraff has built the program into one that reloads instead of rebuilds.
"The seniors on last year's team were integral to the success we enjoyed over the last three years," Margraff noted. "Despite the losses we feel good about what we have returning and are excited about the young players in our program who are anxious to take advantage of their opportunity to play."
For the 2005 Blue Jays to continue the recent run of success (JHU is 28-5 over the last three years) they will rely heavily on a defense that returns eight starters early in the season, while the parts are in place to be explosive offensively.Add in one of the top place-kickers in the country and the pieces to grab the program's first-ever outright Centennial Championship may just be in place.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2005 Blue Jays with key returning personnel included.
Linebackers
The obvious strength of the team will be its linebackers, where five players with extensive starting experience return. In JHU's 4-4-3 alignment the outside linebackers (referred to as strong safeties in the system) may be the top pair in the Centennial Conference.Second Team Centennial All-Stars Max Whitacre and Matt Hagel return to man the outside spots.
"We are fortunate to have one of the top returning linebacking units in the Centennial Conference," Margraff stated. "This is an experienced group with some great play-makers and we will look for them to lead our defense."
Hagel led the team in tackles (106) and added 16 tackles for losses and six pass breakups last season, while Whitacre finished third on the team in tackles (76) and added 10 tackles for losses. Both excel taking on plays right at them or pursuing from the backside and both are adept at dropping into coverage as well.
Sophomore Zach Rosswog and junior Ian Anderson are the top two reserves behind Whitacre and Hagel. Anderson has played in 19 games in the last two years, while Rosswog played in all 11 as a freshman last season.
The abundance of riches continues on the inside as seniors Adam Luke, Mike Barrasso and Mike Aynardi all return.Barrasso finished second on the team tackles last season (77) despite getting the starting nod just five times.He posted a career-high 12 tackles in the 12-9 win over McDaniel that clinched a share of the Centennial Championship.
Aynardi, a two-time District II Academic All-American, is technically the only returning inside linebacker who started more than half of the team's games last season. Aynardi has played in all 22 games the last two years and finished the 2004 season with 26 tackles, including five for losses and 1.5 sacks.
Luke, like Barrasso, doesn't even count as a returning starter since he missed four games and started just five times last season. Still, the Second Team All-Centennial pick in 2003 finished with 41 tackles, including eight for losses and 2.5 sacks last season.
Defensive Line
Another unit that could develop into a dominating group is the defensive line, where four returning players (all juniors) combined for over 40 tackles for losses and 17 sacks last season.
"The success of this unit has been keyed by our ability for us to rotate players in and keep them fresh while not sacrificing talent," noted Margraff. "The pressure this group puts on the opposition is vital to our overall success defensively."
Junior Brian Cook has developed into one of the most disruptive players in the Centennial Conference and earned Honorable Mention All-Centennial honors last season, when he registered 66 tackles and team-highs of 24 tackles for losses and 11.5 sacks. Cook's 11.5 sacks are a single-season school record.
Junior Brian Nickel is the leading candidate to hold down the defensive end spot opposite Cook as he was in on 33 tackles and finished third on the team with 4.5 sacks en route to earning Second Team District II Academic All-America honors.
On the interior junior Anthony Woodard will likely get the nod at nose guard, while classmate Chris Whitehorneshould start at tackle. Both played in all 11 games last season with Woodard counting six tackles for losses among his 29 stops on the year, while Whitehorne's 23 tackles included seven tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks.
Junior Kevin Smith and sophomore Chris DiForte are the top two reserves at defensive end, while sophomore Patrick Kay should team with Woodard and Whitehorne to form a solid three-man rotation on the interior.
Defensive Backs
Senior Adam Colicchio is the headliner in the secondary as he will start at cornerback after earning Second Team All-Centennial honors last season. Colicchio, who had never started a game before last season, led the team with five interceptions and 15 pass breakups in 2004 and tied for eighth on the team with 41 tackles.
A trio of players will fight for the starting spot opposite Colicchio and all three will play extensively regardless of who gets the nod to start.
Junior Chris Chauvin is the most experienced of the three in the battle for the starting spot as he played in all 11 games and had 28 tackles, six pass breakups and one interception a year ago.
Sophomores Dan Requena and Richard Hill will push Chauvin for the starting spot after excelling during spring workouts.
Senior Jim Sanders is the likely candidate to take over for Campbell at safety after serving as his understudy for the last three years.Sanders has played in all 33 games in his career and had 30 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions last season. Sanders is adept at getting the Blue Jay secondary into the correct coverage schemes and should make a smooth transition into the starting role.
Sophomore Adam Winter is the top returning backup at safety as he saw action in eight games -- mostly on special teams -- last season.
Quarterbacks
Seniors Zach DiIonno and Brian Schiller will fight for the starting spot at quarterback, although both are expected to see time. They bring a varied set of skills to the position and both have been in tight situations in the past.
"Zach and Brian both played well for us in crucial situations and allow us to utilize the entire playbook with the different strengths each brings to the table," Margraff stated of his seniors quarterbacks. "To have a pair of quarterbacks that we know can win games for us is something that has a very positive effect on the team."
DiIonno earned Second Team All-Centennial honors last season when he threw for 1,812 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the Centennial in passing yards per game, touchdown passes and total offense (184.8) and finished third in pass efficiency (113.03). He ranks among the top 10 in school history in every passing category and could move as high as the top four in each category before he's finished.
Schiller saw spot duty at quarterback last season, his first at Homewood, but flashed some of the athletic ability that makes him such a dual threat. On less than 24-hours notice he stepped in for an injured DiIonno and guided the Blue Jays to a 20-14 come-from-behind win at Ursinus and earned playing time in the secondary due to his natural football-playing ability.
Junior Shane Kibbe has a tremendous knowledge of the Blue Jay offense and provides a capable backup.
Running Backs
Senior T.J. Lyons is the second-leading returning rusher in the Centennial Conference and enters the season as the number one running back on the depth chart. After sharing the job with Cook, the all-time leading rusher in school history, the last three years, Lyons inherits the role as the leader.
Despite sharing the job with Cook last season Lyons rushed for a career-high 637 yards and five touchdowns and finished third on the team in receptions (15) and receiving yards (166). He enters his final season needing just 425 yards to become the sixth player in school history to top the 2,000 career rushing yards mark.
Junior Mark Nesbitt will be looking to make a full return from a season-ending injury that cost him all but the first game of the 2004 season.Nesbitt has averaged nearly seven yards per carry in his career and is a breakaway threat every time he touches the ball.
"It's never easy to replace a player like Adam Cook, who did so many things for us over the last four years," Margraff noted of the program's all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards. "However, when T.J. and Mark are healthy we feel like we have an explosive pair of experienced running backs who know what it takes to be successful."
Juniors Zach Rupert and Jon Bisaillon and sophomore Phil Roberts are the top returning players in the battle for time behind Lyons and Nesbitt at running back.
A staple of the Blue Jay offense in the last 10 years has been a powerful blocking fullback and a good one was lost when Readal picked up his diploma last spring.
A product of the team's success has been the ability to play a significant number of players and junior Jake Wittenberg is the heir apparent to Readal.Wittenberg has played in all 22 games in the last two years.
Sophomore Matt Beidlerplayed in all 11 games a year ago-mostly on special teams-and teams with Wittenberg to form a solid one-two punch at fullback.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Junior Anthony Triplin earned Second Team All-Centennial honors last season after leading the team and the league with 56 receptions for 682 yards and four touchdowns. His 13 receptions against Gettysburg last year rank as the second-highest single-game total in school history and he is easily one of the biggest threats in the Centennial Conference. With the loss of Wolcott he should become even more involved in the passing game this season.
Junior Evan Earnestinherits Wolcott's starting spot opposite Triplin and could be primed for a breakout season. An exceptional receiver with deceiving speed, he averaged 14.9 yards per catch last season and has tremendous hands.
Sophomore Corey Sattler saw action primarily on special teams a year ago, but managed three receptions for 50 yards in limited time on offense and should see his role expanded significantly this season.
Seniors Andy Albero and Steve Eno provide experienced depth and will be looking to make an impact in their final season.Albero has played extensively on special teams throughout his career, while Eno may have the best hands on the team, but has struggled to stay healthy.
"Our quarterbacks are excited about the the opportunities that will present themselves with this group of returning wide receivers," Margraff stated."Replacing Brian Wolcott is a priority, but this group is anxious to take on that challenge."
Senior Dan Szelingowski is the leading candidate to hold down the starting spot at tight end. He made the move from defensive line to tight end last season, but was injured in his first game there against Gettysburg.
Offensive Line
The Blue Jays fashion a pair of returning starters on the offensive line, which will be anchored for the third straight year by two-time Second Team All-Centennial selection Marc DeGennaro. DeGennaro has started every game at center in the last two years and is one of just three players to start at the position for Hopkins since 1997.With the loss of three starters on the line DeGennaro's return in the middle will be crucial to the success of the offense.
Junior Phil Dixon, senior John Bussanich and sophomore Louis Young are the top three tackles on the team entering the season. Dixon has quietly started 19 straight games after inheriting the role early in his freshman year. He is easily the most experienced of the three in the battle for playing time.
Bussanich and Young could team to give the Blue Jays their largest tackle tandem ever.Bussanich played in three games last season, while Young saw action in four games and actually started the regular-season finale against McDaniel at tight end as Margraff rolled out the power game.
Juniors Paul Markowski and John Hunter join seniors Chris Wright and Nick Black in the mix for playing time at guard. While none of the four has seen extensive playing time, they have worked behind what was a solid line the last several years and have earned the opportunity to fight for a starting spot.
"The overall performance of our offensive line will certainly be a key to our success this season," Margraff noted of the team's most inexperienced unit."We feel good about the players who will likely fill the vacant spots and this could be a group that surprises people."
Special Teams
Another strength for the Blue Jays will be special teams, where junior Ben Scott provides Hopkins with one of the top returning kickers in the nation.Last year, in his first season as the team's number one kicker, Scott drilled a school-record 14 field goals on 20 attempts and set another single-season record for a kicker with 71 points on the year. He hit two field goals in a game four times last season and had three field goals of 40 or more yards. Somehow he managed to only earn Second Team All-Centennial honors, a fact that should provide plenty of motivation this season.
Scott also proved to be a capable punter in 2004 as he averaged 34.6 yards on his 60 punts and dropped 11 of his punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line.
The return game is in the capable hands of Earnest, who finished second in the Centennial Conference in kickoff returns (24.4) and punt returns (11.1) last season to grab Honorable Mention All-Centennial honors. His 267 punt return yards last season are a school record.
"Coaches emphasize the importance of special teams and we are fortunate to have players who have excelled in this area returning this season," Margraff noted."There were probably at least two games last season that we won as a result of the play of our special teams."
Schedule/Analysis
A year ago the Blue Jays parlayed six regular-season home games and a home playoff game into a 9-2 record. This season they will need to deomonstrate the ability to win on the road as six of 10 regular-season games will be away from Homewood Field. Blue Jay fans can take comfort in the fact that Hopkins has won 10 of its last 11 away games. Still, road games at Dickinson, Muhlenberg and McDaniel, which all shared the Centennial title last season, and nationally-ranked Hampden-Sydney will provide quite a challenge.
If the Blue Jays can maintain their recent level of success on defense and if the skill-position players come up with the big plays they are capable of then an outright Centennial Conference title and a first-ever trip to the NCAA Playoffs may just be in the making.
