Hobart 2011 Preseason Preview - Pt II (Offense)

Returning Offensive Players:

QB – JR Nick Strang, the hero from last season’s 41-35 double overtime thriller against Union College, appears to the heir apparent given the departure of Vella. Strang accounted for six touchdowns (five passing and the game winner, one rushing) in his first start but was shelved for the remainder of 2010 due to mononucleosis. JR Kelly Olney backed up Vella after Strang was sidelined and looks to the back up this season as well.

RB - One of Hobart’s breakout players from 2010 was SO Steven Webb. The Dundee, NY native finished third in the LL in rushing yards and led the LL in scoring with 16 TDs. I personally enjoyed seeing Webb become the first Statesman to have 100 rushing and receiving yards in a single game at Homecoming against St. John Fisher (about the only good that came out of playing Fisher last season, but I digress). Backing up Webb is JR Bobby Dougherty who saw action in all nine games, gaining 119 yards and one TD. Dougherty also contributed to special teams, racking up 289 kick return yards.

FB – SO Juan O’Farrill looks to start given the graduation of Matt Howard. Last season the Palm Beach Lakes grad rushed for 124 yards and one TD, as well as five receptions out of the backfield. SO John Wolfsberg (#36!) will compete for time as well.

WR – Nick Strang’s job is made somewhat easier thanks to having both SR Co-Captain Garth Muratori and JR Junior Woodard back. Both Statesmen were ranked near the top of the LL in both receptions and yards per game. Muratori caught 36 balls for 569 yards and seven TDs (which led the LL). Woodard caught 41 passes for 570 yards and three TDs. Woodard also led the LL in punt return yardage and was named to the LL first team as a return specialist. Also expected to potentially see some passes this season include JR Jay Cronze (missed some of 2010 due to injury), as well as SO Yosh Karbowniczak. Other SO WR’s include Joey Adduci, Paul Brown and Chad Hecht.

TE – The Statesmen use their TE’s sparingly as receivers, but they return four upperclassmen at this position, including SR Co-Captain Greg Clifford. Clifford started eight games and tallied three catches, but two counted as TDs. Clifford previously played FB for the Statesmen. Other TE’s include SR Matt Marsh (one key catch in the Rochester game which he started), and JR’s Andrew Zdrojewski and Brent Matazinsky.

OL – The Statesmen return almost all of their starting offensive linemen this fall, including former Co-Captain and C Kelvin Cruz who playing as a fifth year SR (missed the 2008 season). Also rejoining Cruz in the trenches are SR RT Brendan Hatlee (first team All LL), SR RG Kyle Sandy and JR LG Art Garvey. SR Anthony Coletta is likely to assume the LT position vacated by Sean Kluber’s graduation, but several other OL players including SR Jarrid Blades, JR Tyler Garvey, SO Alex Bush and SO Max Janoff will likely see action as well.

All in all, the Hobart offense appears stacked heading into camp.  If this team can avoid the turnovers that the 2010 offense struggled with, this Statesmen unit should be tops in the league once again.

Up next is the defense.