2009 Season Outlook: Experienced, Talented Fighting Scots Have Sights Set on 2009 NCAC Championship
With nine returning starters on offense and another seven on defense, The College of Wooster appears to have as much talent in place entering a season since 2004 when the Fighting Scots last marched their way to the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the NCAA Div. III playoffs. Wooster's ability to reach those goals again depends on continued improvements by veteran players, contributions from other letterwinners and newcomers, and staying healthy, according to 10th-year head coach Mike Schmitz.
"There are a number of factors that ultimately determine the outcome of any season. We're certainly excited about the team we have coming back, no question about it. But there are opponents on our schedule who can say the same thing," remarked the reigning NCAC Coach of the Year who guided the Scots to an 8-2 record and second-place league finish last fall.
"We feel like we have talent and experience, but there are no guarantees," he continued. "We have to work to get better every single day. We have to realize that we achieve as our works deserve. We have to earn it."
Offensively, Wooster looks to carry over the momentum from the final five games of last season when it put up 30.2 points per week, a 12.0-point improvement over the first five (18.2). One of the keys to that second-half success was the continued development of quarterback Austin Holter. Now a senior, the dual-threat Holter averaged 368.7 yards of offense himself during one three-game stretch (78.3 rushing, 290.3 passing) and totaled an NCAC-leading and school-record 2,712 yards for the year. He was also part of 22 touchdowns (nine rushing, 13 passing) en route to second-team all-conference honors.
The Scots' most significant loss to graduation was running back Dustin Sheppard, a four-year starter who finished as the program's fifth all-time leading rusher with 3,250 career yards, however, there are three players with experience at the position, plus some others who will contend for carries.
When Holter elects to go to the air, he'll have a number of viable options, led by wide receivers Mike Francescangeli, Mike Redick, Robert Flagg, and Luke McCann. Francescangeli is coming off a breakout season, earning all-NCAC mention after catching 41 balls for 573 yards and five scores, while Redick started on the outside and tallied 25 receptions, 240 yards, and one touchdown. The speedy Flagg proved potent in the slot, getting 17 touches as both a receiver (197 yards, 2 TDs) and rusher (89 yards, 2 TDs). McCann missed all of last fall due to injury, but hopes to return to the form he showed in 2007, when he was on the receiving of 28 passes for 291 yards and a score as a starter.
The tight end position has traditionally been a significant part of Wooster's offense and that should be the case again with the return of Cameron Daniels and Jon Mathis, both of whom were top contributors a year ago.
The offensive line remains virtually intact from 2008, which has Schmitz and his staff very excited. Anchoring the left side will be guard Storm Tropea and tackle John Obery, who were first- and second-team all-NCAC award winners, respectively, last season. At center, Josh Clark also put together an all-league campaign, while Todd Spillman and Nate Laslow split time at right guard. This fall, Spillman will likely shift to right tackle.
While Holter and the offense continued their progression and played their best down the stretch, the Scots' defense was impressive throughout the season. Statistically, Wooster wound up ranked No. 18 in scoring defense (15.2 ppg) and No. 25 in total defense (270.4 ypg), and the entire linebacking corps and three-quarters of the secondary are back from that unit.
On paper, it would appear that the lone area of concern for the Scots would be defensive line, which only returns senior end Chris Wade as a starter. However, the coaching staff is confident that a combination of rising veterans and a high-quality recruiting class will make it a position of strength.
Matt DeGrand has anchored Wooster's linebackers from his outside position the past two seasons, highlighted by a conference-best 113 tackles last fall, which led to a spot on the All-NCAC First Team. Also earning that recognition was middle linebacker Steve Custenborder, who added 87 tackles, and Eric Keyes and Hector Clavijo shared time on the weak side.
The Scots set a school record last year with 20 interceptions, 15 of which were snared by members of the defensive backfield. Cornerback Bryan Albani had five as part of a first-team all-conference selection, while fellow returnees Jeremy Petit and Brian Swan return at strong safety and free safety, respectively.
Due to graduation, Wooster is forced to find new kicking specialists, including for Kevin Friedman, who set the NCAC record for career punting average (39.7 yards), but again, Schmitz feels confident about potential replacements.
What follows is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2009 Wooster football team:
Quarterbacks
Holter, who will be a third-year starter, has evolved into one of the conference's top signal callers. A headache for opposing defensive coordinators because of his elusive running ability and efficient passing, he had three of the top-10 marks for total offense in a single-game in school history last season while accumulating a team-high 755 rushing yards and 1,957 passing.
"It's always an advantage to have a veteran guy running the show," Schmitz commented. "Austin has proven himself to be an outstanding player and great competitor. He's a true dual threat and he has a complete understanding of the offense. With continued improvement, we feel he has the ability to be as good as there is around at his position."
Fellow senior Chad Parker will continue to complement Holter, with the former being more of a traditional pocket quarterback. Athletic sophomore T.J. Atkinson has demonstrated significant improvement, according to Schmitz, and freshman Zack Weidrick brings both intelligence and athleticism to the position.
Running Backs
Senior Orlando Jones and juniors Kyle Murdock and Andrew Ford are expected to contend for the starting position, vacated by Sheppard, a three-time member of the All-NCAC Team, including last year when he overcame injuries once again to net 565 yards and seven touchdowns over seven games.
"Shep's ability and production speaks for itself. But anyone who's familiar with the program knows that his toughness and leadership ability not only made him the type of player he was, but made us better as a team," said Schmitz. "We're looking for someone to step up, not only as a performer, but with the other dimensions as well. We feel that we have several outstanding players at the position."
Jones shared time with Sheppard in 2006 and 2007, totaling 662 yards (518 rushing, 144 receiving) and five touchdowns, but missed this past academic year due to personal reasons. Murdock began last season with five rushes and four receptions in the opener, only to suffer a season-ending injury. Ford has exhibited strong potential in limited action.
Other options include junior Ryan Klink and sophomore Joe Rodella, the latter of which missed last fall due to injury. Shawn Smith headlines a talented group of freshmen running backs and "could have a lot to say about who earns the starting role," Schmitz stated with obvious excitement.
Wide Receivers
One of the Scots' deepest positions appears to be wide receiver. After playing running back and linebacker previously, Francescangeli, a senior, settled in as the top target in the passing game a year ago. Three 100-yard receiving games helped him rank ninth in the league in both receptions (4.10 per game) and receiving yards (57.3 per game). Another inside receiver will be Flagg, who made an immediate impact as a freshman, using his explosive speed and strength to combine for 286 yards and four scores.
Redick and McCann highlight the veterans on the outside. Redick has been a solid player, tallying 32 catches, 321 yards, and two touchdowns over his first two years, while a healthy McCann will look to build on his career numbers of 45 receptions, 474 yards, and three scores during his senior season.
A number of others have the potential to see regular time at the receiver spots, including senior Will Hansen and sophomore Remington Jackson on the outside, as well as freshmen Brenden Rego and Matt Glynn, both of whom are "very talented" according to Schmitz. Sophomores Logan Dunn and Matt Schwenning are expected to support Francescangeli, while freshman Scott Simpson, who Schmitz describes as "talented, explosive, and multi-dimensional" will certainly compete for time at an inside receiver position and possibly at running back.
Tight Ends
Daniels, a sophomore, and Mathis, a senior, give Wooster flexibility, as they both possess the ability to align as true tight ends and the athleticism to play inside receiver. Daniels missed a couple of games due to injury, but still made an impact with 11 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie season, while Mathis produced a breakout year via a dozen receptions for 165 yards.
"CD and Jon are big athletes. Both have the size and strength to play with their hand down on the (line of scrimmage) and block for the run game, along with the ability to get downfield in the pass game," commented Schmitz.
Senior letterwinner Austin Drewyor also bring experience and will be utilized in special teams, while Tyler Sinclair and Stephen Perrott are promising first-years.
Offensive Linemen
Schmitz believes "a primary predictor of offensive success is the experience on (its) line," which bodes well for Wooster in 2009, as only the right tackle does not return from last season's group and four of the projected starters are seniors. Tropea, on track to be a three-year starter, was tabbed not only first-team all-NCAC, but second-team all-North Region after grading 77 percent for the season at left guard. Joining him on the left side after a breakout year in 2008 is fellow senior and all-NCAC performer Obery. The 6-8, 305-pound tackle utilized his size and athleticism for 70 knockdown blocks last fall.
In the middle, Clark, also a senior, recovered from a bout with a serious illness in 2007 to start all 10 games. For his efforts, which included a 75 percent grade, he was named an all-NCAC center (honorable mention), and he's labeled the "anchor of the o-line" by the coaching staff.
The fourth senior is Spillman, who started at right tackle as a sophomore and right guard as a junior. This year, he'll likely return to the right tackle position, while Laslow, a junior who has seen significant action throughout his career at center and right guard, is expected to compete for the starting nod at right guard.
"It's almost like having all five starters back," said Schmitz. "And, we're really excited about our depth."
Vying for time up front will be senior and two-year letterwinner Jesse Gaswint as well as sophomores Joe Collins and Travis Calkins. Junior Josh Kime, who earned a letter for his work on special teams, and sophomore Kevin Orris, who will "have something to say about who the fifth starter is," according to Schmitz, are competing for action at guard, while sophomore center Anthony Steratore will be in the mix, too.
A number of talented freshmen are part of the position group, including the likes of Wooster native Caleb Mast, Dexter Davis, and Brandon Fay.
Defensive Linemen
As the unit's lone returning starter, Wade will anchor the defensive line. He has been credited with 61 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks, over the past two seasons as the weak-side end.
While the Scots don't have any other starters coming back up front, the traditional rotation they employ means players like juniors Chris Aukerman and Kurt Brown and sophomore Chris Moore bring significant experience to the unit. Aukerman will likely continue to see time at one end, and Brown and Moore are both in contention for starting positions in the middle.
Another letterwinner, junior and converted linebacker Matt Carlson, will compete at defensive end. He has made a significant impact on kickoff and punt coverage units in the past and now will look to do the same on defense. Additional veterans who will compete for starting positions are sophomores David Smith and Dan Terhune.
Schmitz and the coaching staff are excited about this position group since "the quality and depth of the recruiting class is as impressive as any we have had in our time at Wooster." Both Miko Weir and Rob Holtz have the ability to challenge for immediate playing time on the outside, while Wooster native Nathan Miller is another strong end candidate. Mark McDonald, who Schmitz characterizes as a "tremendous athlete with great size and explosiveness," along with Dustin Hendricks and Shawn Chaffee are all potential impact defensive tackles.
Linebackers
DeGrand, who also was a top pitcher for Wooster's 2009 national runner-up baseball team, has quite simply been one of the top defensive players in the NCAC over the last two years, averaging 10.4 tackles a game (208 total) while picking up a number of weekly and postseason honors during that time. In addition to being first-team all-conference in 2008, he was under consideration for the NCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year award.
With DeGrand patrolling the outside, Custenborder developed into an equally impressive force in the heart of the defense last season. Now a junior, he looks to build on his first-team all-conference performance, which included 8.0 tackles for loss (2.5 sacks), two forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery, in addition to his 87 tackles.
Keyes, also hailing from the junior class, was the squad's third-leading tackler with 65 stops, including 3.5 sacks, in 2008. Also in contention for the starting role at weak-side linebacker is Clavijo, who excelled as a run defender and tallied 27 tackles as a rookie.
Sophomores Matt Breidigam and Kenny Lee are in the mix on the outside after earning varsity letters for their standout contributions on special teams. Classmate Bret Dixon continues to develop and provides the Scots depth in the middle, while talented first-years Josh Lewis and Paul Kessler are vying for time in their rookie seasons.
Defensive Backs
Wooster needs only to replace one starter from a secondary that accounted for 15 of the school-record 20 interceptions in 2008. Back to lead the way is Albani, as the senior and first-team all-NCAC corner hopes to add to his total of eight career interceptions, eight pass breakups, and 78 tackles.
Leading candidates to fill the corner opposite Albani include sophomore Taylor Trout, who burst onto the scene last fall as a standout punt returner, as well as classmate Anthony Jackson and junior Dennis Rodgers.
Petit, a junior, is looking to win the starting spot at strong safety after recording 25 tackles and an interception in 2008. He'll be undoubtedly pressed for that duty by sophomore Mitch Dawson, who was a top recruit a year ago but missed his first season due to injury. Junior Derek Calhoun, a letterwinner as part of special teams, and sophomore Kevin Lee will also compete for time.
Swan, a senior, missed three games last season to injury but still accumulated 24 tackles, four interceptions, and six pass breakups at free safety. Junior Derek Stein, who earned a letter as a back-up linebacker and special teams contributor, should also see action in the secondary in 2009.
Several freshmen could work their way into the lineup as well, highlighted by speedy Quinton Howard at free safety, along with corners Girard Ogletree and Ethan Deselem.
Special Teams
While the Scots have loads of experience among their regular position players, the same cannot be said when it comes to their kicking specialists. Replacing Friedman, who received some attention from pro scouts, will be a challenge, but freshman punter/wide receiver Dana Obery has a "very strong leg," according to Schmitz.
Four players are expected to be in competition for the all-important starting spot at placekicker. Junior Russ Palm, who served as a back-up to all-NCAC honoree Andy Milligan in 2007, has returned to the program after a season away and is labeled as "really talented" by Schmitz. Three freshmen – Ryan Miner, Andrew Sopher, and Mike Lloret – will challenge Palm.
Wooster does have its top returners back in Albani and Trout. As a kick returner, Albani has averaged 23.6 yards over 32 attempts in his career, while Flagg, Francescangeli, McCann, and several others will also challenge for time. Trout distinguished himself as a standout in the punt return game, steadily improving to a league-leading average of 10.8 yards on 30 attempts.
Schedule
The schedule for 2009 features the same opponents as in 2008, with a switch of home-field advantage. That means the Scots will open the campaign at home as well as debut their brand new Sprinturf field at John P. Papp Stadium against Waynesburg University, which Wooster beat 27-6 last year, on Sept. 5.
After an open week, the Scots jump into conference play with a trip to Ohio Wesleyan University. Wooster has won 10 of the last 13 against the Battling Bishops.
The Scots return home the next Saturday afternoon for a match-up with Denison University, as they'll look for their eighth victory in a row over the Big Red on Homecoming weekend, and then NCAC action continues at Earlham College during the beginning of October (Oct. 3). Wooster's winning streak over the Quakers stands at 10.
The next two weeks will feature the Scots' portion of the NCAC-University Athletic Association schedule. The two leagues are recognized nationwide for excellence in academics balanced with outstanding athletics, and 2009 is the second in a four-year agreement in which each NCAC school plays two members of the UAA in non-league games. For Wooster, that means the continuation of its Baird Brothers Trophy series with Case Western Reserve University. Five of the last seven times the two rivals have met (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008), both have entered the showdown undefeated, and the match-up this Oct. 10 will mark the first-ever night game at Papp Stadium as well as the inaugural Football Alumni Weekend, adding even more excitement and intrigue.
The Scots' other UAA foe will be Washington University-St. Louis. Last season's 38-13 Wooster win was the first-ever meeting between the two, and with it being an away game this fall, it will mark the Scots' longest road trip since going to Trinity (Texas) University in 1995.
On Oct. 24, defending NCAC champions Wabash College will visit Wooster for a key clash. The last team to win an outright NCAC crown other than Wabash was the Scots in 2004.
A game at Allegheny College looms on Halloween. Before last season's rather convincing 35-21 victory for Wooster, the outcome of the last three between the two was not determined until the final play.
The Scots' final regular season home game will see Oberlin College come to town Nov. 7, with Wooster aiming to extend its dominance in the series. The Scots have emerged victorious in 19 of the last 20 with the Yeomen.
The regular season finale will be none other than arch-rival Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Wooster controlled every facet of last year's game en route to a 27-6 win in the final game on grass at Papp Stadium, which will forever be remembered as the 'Mud Bowl' since a cold, steady rain changed the surface into a quagmire.