Returning Defensive Players
DE – Perhaps one of the Statesmen’s biggest concerns this fall is finding replacements for James Rayhill and Chris Luber. Potential starters at DE this season are likely to include SO Tim Murray and SR Kevin Ryan. Murray played in six games last season tallying 13 tackles, the majority of which came against Union (seven), and one sack (in the Rochester game) – Murray missed a few games due to injury to a knee that happened in the first game. Ryan only saw action in the Dickinson game, recording two tackles, so it’s possible he may remain a backup given Coach Yoder converted SO Juan Breton to DE. JR Kees Nordin and SO Chuck Seergy will also compete for time.
DT – The Statesmen return only five interior linemen, but four played significant roles for Hobart in 2010. The likely starters are SR Dan Wilcoxen and JR Nick Auriemma with JR Jordan Sisti and SR Gianni Contro either backing up or supplanting their teammates. SO Jacob Powell, while the youngest and least experienced of the group, should also see time given Coach Yoder and Muffley’s propensity to rotate in players regularly.
OLB/SS – While the graduation of Kyle O’Laughlin (and his LL fourth best 81 tackles) will be difficult to replace, one of the best players in the entire east region last year was SO Devin Worthington. Worthington earned D3football.com All-East first team, LL Rookie of the Year and LL first team defensive awards in 2010. He led the LL both tackles for a loss and sacks and was fifth and eighth, in the nation, respectively in the same categories. He blocked a FG against RPI and also scored his first TD on a fumble recovery against WPI. Worthington was named as a 2nd team preseason All-American by D3football.com as well. SOs Austin Demarco, Dan Sweeney Taylor Delperito and Steven Domoracki will compete for time at OLB/SS. My guess is Demarco begins the season at OLB, unless Hobart moves one of their ILBs outside (which is a likely scenario given the depth there) with Worthington the (obvious) starter at SS. The only upperclassman at this position is SR Gerard Tully, but he saw limited action in 2010, appearing in only the WPI game.
ILB – Hobart returns a very strong line-backing corps led by SR Reggie Robinson. Robinson led the Statesmen in tackles and finished third overall in the LL in the same category, for which earned him a nod as a first team All LL. JR Andrew Klindera, JR Nick Zapp and SR Bobby Marraffa will likely compete for the other starting LB position, but all should see significant playing time. SOs Sean Harrison and Thomas Elder will likely see time on the JV squad given the depth of this unit.
FS – SO Chad Dorrance is the likely starter having backed up John Kelliher for most of 2010. However, two other SOs Jolyon Davis and James Kierans will also compete for playing time.
CB – The Statesmen welcome back four year starter and SR Co-Captain Drake Woodard at the strong side cornerback position. Drake was a unanimous selection for the first team LL defensive team in 2010. The only knock against Drake is his interception totals, which numbered seven in his first season, have dropped precipitously since (only one interception in two years). That said this same drop could be attributed to teams avoiding his side of the field completely (e.g., Woodard was not in the top 10 passes defended category according to LL stats). Backing up Woodard last year was SO Kevin Hearon. SO Connor Garrett (a fellow Californian!) started at the boundary corner spot in a handful of games. He will be competing against classmate Spencer Dunn and potentially SR Jeff Hummel.
Returning Special Teams Players
K – SO Reyes Guevara seemed to wrest away the starting job from SR Conor Callahan late in 2010. Guevara nailed a 38 yard FG in the Rochester game and was perfect on PATs. Callahan has kicked for the Statesmen for three seasons, notching 16 FGs and 64 PATs over his career. Last season he led the LL in PAT percentage (100% going 31-31) and scoring by a kicker (5.4 PPG), but was only 50% (four for eight) in FG attempts. His range is limited (usually misses over 30-35+ yards), but his longest career FG was the infamous 37 yarder against RPI in 2008 which propelled Hobart to its last LL title and visit to the NCAA playoffs.
P – SO WR Yosh Karbowniczak also served as Hobart’s punter, doing a nice job and earning 2nd team All LL recognition for the same. He averaged 36.5 yards PP and was able to get at least one punt inside the 20 yard line in each game he played.
In all, it appears as tough Hobart has few, if any; glaring holes on their roster (perhaps save for DE). If this team comes together and avoids the pitfalls (i.e. turnovers and penalties) from last season, this could be a great year to be a Statesman!
This weekend we'll take a look at the 30-man FY class that just came up on the Statesmen's preseason roster.
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