Aug. 20, 2008

For Johns Hopkins head coach Jim Margraff, the 2008 season may bring back memories of 2001. The Blue Jays of seven years ago entered the season as a bit of an afterthought in Centennial Conference title discussions. That was fine with the soft-spoken, reserved Margraff, who ranks third in league in history in victories. The 2001 team capped a 6-3 season with one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Centennial Conference (a 21-14 victory at then ninth-ranked Western Maryland that snapped the Green Terror's 33-game league winning streak) and jump-started a five-year run that ranks as the greatest in the history of the program.

Fast forward seven years and a young but dangerous Johns Hopkins squad may just have what it takes to spoil another team's dreams and work its way into the title-chase by season's end. A small senior class will lead the way, but the future is bright as better than 75 percent of the Blue Jays' starting lineup should be filled by players with at least two years of eligibility remaining. In fact, of the 15 returning starters (including specialists) only four are seniors and all four of JHU's returning All-Centennial performers are sophomores or juniors.

The Blue Jays were picked fourth in the 2008 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll of Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

Quarterback
Every pass that was thrown by Johns Hopkins last season was thrown by a player who returns in 2008. Junior Michael Murray and sophomore Max Islinger got the majority of the work under center a year ago, while strong-armed sophomore Dan Crowley and a couple of highly-touted freshman are also likely to battle for positioning on the depth chart.
Murray is the most experienced member of the returning quarterbacks as he started nine games a year ago. He completed nearly 57% of his attempts for 1,239 yards with 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. In just two seasons he already ranks 12th in career passing yards at Hopkins with nearly 2,000 to his credit. He was a member of the 2007 national champion Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team, but devoted the 2008 spring to football, which should pay dividends this fall.
Islinger established himself as a solid young quarterback last season as he appeared in all 10 games, including four at quarterback (he doubled as the team's punter). He threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns and demonstrated a solid understanding of the offense. His ability to make smart decisions and avoid mistakes could give him a leg up in the race for the starter's role.

Running Backs
With five starters returning on the offensive line and one of the top running backs in the nation returning, there's no secret where the strength of the Blue Jay offense lies. A powerful running game that takes the pressure off the quarterback will be the key to any success the Blue Jays enjoy this season. Hopkins has not averaged more yards per game on the ground than through the air since 2003, but that could change with the return of junior Andrew Kase.
Kase garnered Second Team All-Centennial honors a year ago after finishing third in the league in rushing yards (1,009) and rushing yards per game (112.1) and fourth in all-purpose yards per game (135.7). His 1,009 yards are the second-highest single-season total in school history and his 112.1 yards per game ranks fourth.
After totaling 70 yards in the first two games before missing the third with an injury, Kase broke out with a 163-yard effort against Moravian and followed that with a 140-yard showing against Muhlenberg's nationally-ranked defense. He went on to tie a 48-year old school record with six, 100-yard rushing performances and capped the season with a 227-yard masterpiece against McDaniel. He averaged 134.1 yards per game over the final seven games and added 23 receptions for 212 yards and four touchdowns on the year.
Senior Greg Chimera returns to hold down the starting fullback spot and has proven to be an efficient receiver out of the backfield in the red zone. In fact, four of his 12 receptions in the last two years have gone for touchdowns and he added a game-winning rushing touchdown in Hopkins' 17-16 victory at eventual ODAC Champion Hampden-Sydney in the season-opener last season.
Senior Chris Martino returns to backup Kase and could also find a role in the return game as well.

Tight End
A trio of young players will likely team to hold down the tight end spot with each bringing a different skill-set to the position.
Sophomore Brian Hopkins may emerge to be one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league as he played in all 10 games and turned three of his five receptions into touchdowns. While the Blue Jays have not often used the tight end in obvious passing situations, Hopkins' abilities may change that tendency.
Juniors Duke Hatter and Nick Pann will join Hopkins in the tight end rotation and both should have an impact. Hatter is making the move from defensive end and has the size (6-2 / 210) to develop into a solid blocker, while Pann's size (6-5 / 220) gives the Blue Jays a big target to utilize in certain situations.

Wide Receiver
The biggest loss the Blue Jays suffered on offense came at wide receiver as Corey Sattler took his 44 receptions for 611 yards with him when he graduated last spring. Despite missing the first two games, Sattler still had 17 more receptions than any other player on the team and the ability of several individuals to step up and fill his void will be a key to the Blue Jay offense this season.
The lead receiver for whoever starts at quarterback will be sophomore Tucker Michels, who enjoyed a solid freshman campaign. Michels had 27 receptions for 279 yards and three touchdowns and established himself as one of the top young receivers in the league as his 27 receptions were the second-most among all freshmen in the league last season. The sophomore year has proven to be a breakout year for several of Hopkins' all-time leading receivers (Tom Finegan, Sam Skinner, Zach Baylin, Brian Wolcott) and Michels has demonstrated the ability to follow in their footsteps. There is no shortage of capable receivers ready to take the spot opposite Michels and a steady rotation should be the norm as the Blue Jays take advantage of varied abilities in this group.
Senior Bryan Power has the size to play tight end and the athletic ability to play wide receiver. He had 12 receptions for 99 yards last season.
Among other returning players, juniors Sean Hennessey and David Rokeach and sophomore D.J. Hartigan also figure prominently into the plans for the passing game. Hennessey and Rokeach both saw action in a reserve role with Hennessey fueling a 20-17 win at Dickinson with a 41-yard touchdown reception. The pair combined for 10 receptions a year ago and should play more active roles this season.
Hartigan could be the wildcard in the passing game as he spent the 2007 season rehabilitating a high school injury before showing promise during passing drills in the spring. While he has not seen game action, he has spent one year in the system and could make an impact.

Offensive Line
Without question a team strength should be the offensive line as the players who combined to start every game here last season return. This should be a solid group for the next two years as five of the seven players likely to see the most action have at least two years remaining.
Senior Matt Hintz played tight end a year ago, but will make the move back inside this season. His versatility and experience could allow him to fill in at several spots and he should hold down a starting spot at guard or tackle.
Junior Michael Stoffel returns to anchor the unit from his left tackle spot as he started all 10 games there last season and carries a 14-game starting streak into the season. He garnered Second Team All-Centennial honors a year ago and was the only freshman or sophomore offensive lineman to earn all-league status.
Lining up opposite Stoffel at right tackle will be either junior Aaron Chance or classmate John Fox. Chance has started all 20 games in the last two years - the longest such streak by a returning offensive player.
Sophomore Eric Gormeley enters his second season as the starter at center after taking over in the second game of the season a year ago. Johns Hopkins has produced a first or second team All-Centennial selection at center seven times since 1998 and Gormeley may rank among the best the Blue Jays have produced at the position before it's all over.
Senior Scott Goldsmith and junior Tim Miller return at guard with Goldsmith on the left and Miller on the right. Goldsmith, who also sees time in goal-line situations on defense, is the biggest player on the line (6-3 / 310) and paved the way for many of Kase's inside power runs a year ago. Miller was enjoying a season worthy of all-star consideration when he went down with a season-ending injury in the seventh game last season. He is expected to be fully recovered by the start of the season and has the experience of 13 consecutive starts bridging the 2006 and 2007 seasons under his belt.

Defensive Line
Technically the Blue Jays return just one starter on the defensive line, although four players with starting experience are back.
Senior Tom O'Neill, who was enjoying the finest season of his career before going down with a season-ending injury at Muhlenberg last season, returns to anchor the line from his spot on the outside. He will start at either the defensive end or rover spot in the Blue Jays' 4-4 alignment and has the athletic ability to chase things down from the weak side. He totaled 32 tackles in five games before missing the final five games and a return to full strength will bolster what could be a solid unit.
Lining up at the defensive end or rover spot opposite O'Neill will likely be junior Ryan Rasner or sophomore Brian Pascal.
Rasner played in all 10 games on defense and special teams and totaled 18 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries. Pascal started the final five games of the season after O'Neill went down. He has good size and had 11 tackles a year ago.
While Margraff is excited about several of the young players he has on the inside, only two - junior Devin Collins and sophomore James Medaglio - have significant experience.
Medaglio is the front-runner to start at defensive tackle after playing in nine games with one start a year ago. He posted 17 tackles, including three for losses and one sack, while sharing duties there last season. His ability to stay healthy and become a force will be a key for the Blue Jays this season.
Collins saw increased playing time as the season unfolded a year ago and counted 20 tackles, including a sack, to his credit. He is penciled in as the starter at nose guard.

Linebackers
Without question the strength of the Blue Jay defense will be at linebacker, where talented "veterans" Colin Wixted and A.J. Albert return. The duo combined for over 130 tackles a year ago and the success of the unit is largely dependant on their ability to control the action.
Wixted, a junior, is one of the top returning linebackers in the league as he garnered Second Team All-Centennial honors a year ago (only freshman or sophomore LB to earn All-CC status in 2007). He paced the Blue Jays in tackles (81), tackles for losses (16.5) and sacks (5.5) and added four pass breakups as well. He is strong enough to play inside and athletic enough to chase down plays from behind. In fact, Margraff feels he'd likely be the team's top kickoff return specialist if utilized in that role.
Albert, the younger brother of former Blue Jay standout Mike Albert '98, made an immediate splash as a rookie last season as he played in all 10 games and earned six starts. He finished fifth on the team with 53 tackles (most among all freshmen in the Centennial Conference), including 3.0 for losses and 2.0 sacks. He spearheaded the 20-17 upset at Dickinson as he posted a career-high 11 tackles and added a pair of fumble recoveries in the victory. His forced fumble and recovery in the final minute led to a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Sophomore Josh Bonetto is the top reserve at linebacker and will see extended playing time after making solid contributions in a reserve role and on special teams a year ago.
The starting outside linebackers, or strong safeties as they are called in the Blue Jay scheme, should come from a group that is led by senior Austin Ehrhart and junior Kevin Reing.
Ehrhart grabbed three starts among his seven appearances a year ago and has played in 14 games over the last two years. He totaled five tackles and an interception a year ago.
If there is a player on defense with the ability to emerge as a dominant presence it is Reing, who has battled injuries throughout his career but has the physical tools to do what the Blue Jays need at strong safety. A strong, rangy player, Reing has the size to play the run and the athleticism to handle the passing game. His ability to stay healthy and play to his potential could make a solid defense spectacular.

Defensive Backs
Defensive coordinator Bob Chesney is faced with the prospect of replacing all three starters in the secondary, including starting cornerbacks Richard Hill and Dan Requena, who both earned All-Centennial honors a year ago.
A versatile group of five players should share time in the secondary with all five possibly seeing time at cornerback or safety.
Seniors Paul Fields and Chris Baldwin, junior Jon Salem and sophomores Mike Mahon and Mike Todisco are all experienced and should jell as the season unfolds.
Mahon and Todisco combined for 15 tackles as freshmen a year ago with Mahon returning an interception 33 yards against Ursinus. Despite being the youngest of the five players, Mahon and Todisco will be given every opportunity to earn starting roles. Salem transferred to Johns Hopkins from Bucknell prior to the 2007 season and saw action in eight games at safety. He posted seven tackles and has the size (6-2 / 190) to match up with some of the bigger receivers the Blue Jays will face this season.
Fields has seen steady playing time throughout his career, but was stuck behind Hill and Requena. He has the athleticism to handle one of the cornerback spots and is the most experienced returning player in the group with 18 games played in the last two years.
Baldwin could be the key to the way the entire secondary shakes out. Before moving to running back last season he played in seven games at safety in 2006 and posted 39 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception. His speed alone should land him a regular role and his ability to win one of the three starting spots would bolster the entire unit.

Special Teams
Entering the 2007 season, one of the biggest question marks facing the Blue Jays was how they would replace all-everything kicker Ben Scott, who handled both the punting and place-kicking chores from 2004 through 2006.
While Scott's accomplishments in the kicking game rank among the best in Division III history, the Blue Jays didn't fall off as badly as many expected as sophomore Alex Lachman took over the place-kicking chores and wasted no time establishing himself as one of the top young kickers in the nation.
Lachman hit 11-of-12 field goal attempts and all 23 of his extra points en route to earning First Team All-Centennial and Third Team d3football.com All-America honors. He helped beat Dickinson with a 40-yard field goal as time expired, didn't miss a kick inside 42 yards and tied for the national lead in field goal percentage (.917) among players with 10 or more attempts.
The punting chores fell to Islinger, who may not have been Scott-like, but dropped 14 of his 61 punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line and averaged 31.8 yards per punt. His 61 punts are the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Kickoff and punt return chores could be shared by several players, including a couple newcomers who bring impressive speed and credentials. Michels averaged 7.4 yards on 12 punt returns a year ago, although his increased role in the passing game may take him away from the return game.
Kickoff returns fell primarily in the hands of sophomore Todisco and Baldwin and junior Alex Quermorllue a year ago. Todisco averaged 19.0 yards on a team-high 12 returns, while Quermorllue had 11 returns for 195 yards (17.7). Baldwin led the team with a 21.7 yard average on seven returns.