2007 SEASON OUTLOOK

University of St. Francis head football coach Mike Uremovich is happy to say that he has two things he didn’t have in his first two years at the helm of the Fighting Saints football program – depth and upperclassmen.

“We are starting year three as a staff and in year three certain things are expected,” said Uremovich, who has been associated with winning football programs ever since his days as a prep player on Coach Matt Senffner’s championship squads at Providence Catholic High School in the mid-1990’s. “We finally have a large group of upperclassmen that has been with the program since we started.  We now have depth at just about every position so we hope that the tough teams in our league won’t just wear us down as the season goes on.

“With upperclassmen comes a lot of leadership,” added Uremovich. 

Although there are a lot of veteran players, only two – defensive back Rashun Black and tight end Tony LoCoco -- are seniors. A total of 19 juniors that came in with Uremovich and his staff two seasons ago will join the two seniors to provide the bulk of the leadership.   

“We have probably close to a dozen juniors that, with the exception of missing games due to injury, have played just about every offensive or defensive snap since they came here as freshmen,” pointed out Uremovich.  “ They know the system. They know their opposition. They know how to play with one another and are a tight-knit group.

“With each year we are here, the number of excuses has to go down,” continued Uremovich.  “Yes, we have a tough schedule. Yes, we have just two seniors.  But we cannot and will not use those as excuses.  We expect to be a much better football team this year and we are shooting to get above the .500 mark and be much more competitive in our conference.”

The Offense

“We’re excited to have John Goolsby back again at quarterback,” stated Uremovich. “He transferred in last year about a week before our first game and got thrown into the mix in a hurry. Then he got hurt and missed the last half of the year. He had a great spring and we expect big things from him.”

Uremovich considers his three other quarterbacks as more than adequate backups to Goolsby. Two have started games and have significant experience – junior Brad Grzebielucha and sophomore Matt Ladd. The other, junior Derek Greenfield, has played significantly on special teams.

Uremovich has multiple choices at running back.

“It will definitely be ‘running back by committee.’ We have four guys and each one brings something a little different to the table. Javon Stewart is extremely quick and makes people miss. Jeremiah Jobe is a bigger back and more of a power runner. Donte Villery and Mike Anthony each played some as freshmen last year. I have great confidence in all four.”

Jason Fiske, USF’s starting quarterback two years ago as a freshman and for parts of last year following Goolsby’s injury, returns as the Saints’ top receiver.

“Jason started as a wideout last fall, moved back to quarterback and then returned to the receiver spot,” said Uremovich. “This year he can concentrate on just one position. We have to find a way to get him some touches because he is a big part of our offense.”

Sophomores Sean Hughes, James Gillespie, Markus Hood and Anthony Lopez all return from last year and are joined by sophomore transfer Ponce de Leon Palmer.  That foursome plus Fiske will give Goolsby plenty of targets this season. 

Other wide receivers in the mix include junior Michael Pfaff,  redshirt freshman Ben Elston and freshmen Jesse Daniels, Wes Addison, Broc Winn and Derrick Williams.

Sophomore Andy Zurales heads a talented group at tight end. LoCoco will also see significant playing time there, as well as at fullback.  The rest of the depth will come from juniors Rich Maggio, David Lang and Alex Pell, redshirt freshman Michael Benjamin and freshman Shay Sticka.

“The offensive line was the area that we needed to improve the most from last season,” noted Uremovich. “We’ve got three veterans in the middle and I am very pleased with the freshmen and transfers that we have brought in at the tackle slots.”

The three returning starters include juniors Danny Stelk and John O’Brien at the guard spots and sophomore Marc Novak at center. All three played virtually every offensive snap last season. Four newcomers are battling for the two tackle positions, including transfers Alex Lebron, Phil Babich and Adam Hansen and freshman Nick Reicher.

Others competing for playing time in the offensive line include sophomores Ian Armstrong and Troy Keltner, redshirt freshman Anthony Dore and freshmen Brandon Usher, J.C. Shoop and Tim Plett.

The Defense

“The defensive line was the second area that needed the most improvement from last year,” continued Uremovich. “We were handled up front on both sides of the ball as last season wore on. We have a number of guys – including returnees Jamaal Nu’tall and Dave Rose – battling for three spots.” 

The others include Zach Jones, a sophomore transfer from Ball State, and freshmen Ryan Ramos, Ed Gibson and Navi Uhatafe. Also battling for time will be junior Eric Forystek, sophomores Justin Harris and Frank Siwicki and freshmen James Bowman, Wade Bethel, Adam Lutvi, Mike Bedin and Justin Riverol.

“Without question, the strength of our team this year will be at the linebacker position,” said Uremovich. “We have at least eight players that I would be comfortable with using at any time.”

The group is led by junior Clayton Norberg, last year’s top tackler.

“We moved Clayton up to linebacker in the middle of last season (from the secondary) and he has really adapted well,” said Uremovich. “He is a legitimate first-team all-conference type player and should get some all-America mention.”

Juniors Kevin Sanders and Matt Mazurowski will likely be the other starters.  Other players who will contribute include Eric Dillon, Brandon Valentine, De’Andre Nunn and Chris Sizemore.  Freshmen Nick Dziuban and Wade Ferm have impressed in fall camp, but with the depth USF has at linebacker Uremovich hopes to be able to redshirt both of them. Other candidates for playing time at linebacker include junior transfer Bill Dragonetti and sophomores Joe Marciano and Dan Heimerdinger.

The secondary is also filled with players who have been regulars the past two years. Pat Lenahan, second on the team in tackles a year ago, will start at free safety. Junior Gannon Novak, who moved from the starting tailback slot to the secondary midway through last season, returns at strong safety and will be joined there by sophomore Mike Vazquez.  Black and Pat Flynn return at the two cornerback spots.

Among those providing depth in the secondary will be junior Gerald Richardson, sophomores Ryan Gunderson and Michael Woodward and freshmen Michael Barry, Brenton Valentine, Bobby Santana, Marko Coric, Wayne Johnson and Courtney Mitchell.

“The kicking game will also be a source of strength for us again this year,” said Uremovich. “Our special teams have been extremely strong, despite our record in our first two years.”

Junior Nick Heberer is the two-year returning placekicker. He has made 20-of-26 field goals in his two seasons and connected on his final seven attempts last season. Sophomore transfer Eric Edwards comes to USF from Western Illinois. He will likely relieve Heberer of the punting duties that he has also held the last two seasons.

The schedule again is more than challenging, with seven Mid-States Football Association Midwest League games,  crossover MSFA games with national semi-finalist Saint Xavier and Urbana (Ohio) and road games at I-AA Western Illinois and Valparaiso.

“Part of the reason why I like our league so much,” said Uremovich, “is that every week we seem to be playing a team with a number next to their name. Like No. 3. St. Ambrose, or No. 4 Saint Xavier or No. 9 McKendree. It makes our job that much tougher, but it is fun to play the best and there is no better NAIA conference in the country than the two leagues in the MSFA.”