DEFIANCE, Ohio - One word can be used to describe nearly everything about the Defiance College football program in 2012, and that word is new. The Purple and Gold will enter the campaign under new head coach Brian Sheehan and will showcase new schemes on both sides of the ball, along with a host of new faces that will be embracing new opportunities.
Sheehan and his staff brought in 59 freshmen and enter the season with a 110-man roster that features 30 returning lettermen and 12 returning starters from the 2011 team that went 4-4 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The even record marked the sixth time in the last seven seasons that DC has ended at .500 or better against conference foes.
Improving on that streak will hinge on Sheehan's ability to bring all of the new pieces together into one successful unit. That process was started immediately and has carried on throughout the spring season, through the summer and into preseason camp.
The hard work appears to be paying off, as a committed and enthused roster has emerged eager to tackle the challenges of reaching its full potential on and off the field in 2012.
QUARTERBACK
The first challenge will be under center, where juniors
Aaron Spence and Garrett Teague will battle for the starting role
at quarterback for Defiance. Spence and Teague have seen action at
quarterback for DC over the past two seasons as the backups for
All-HCAC perfomer and four-year starter, Rick Powell. Both should
be able to make a smooth transition into the offense, as their
speed and arm strength will translate well into DC's spread attack.
Spence played in five contests in 2011 and capitalized on his lone
start by completing 15 passes for 122 yards and rushing for a pair
of touchdowns and 107 yards at Franklin. Despite not seeing any
varsity action last season, Teague served as the primary backup in
2010 by taking snaps in eight games as a collegiate rookie.
RUNNING BACK
The Yellow Jackets will also feature a new look in the
backfield, with sophomores Eric Strickland, Denzel Moore and Trevon
Burrell all hoping to power the DC ground game in 2012. The young
trio will be asked to replace the production of All-HCAC rusher,
Drew Kuesel, who was the program's featured back over the majority
of the past four campaigns. Strickland will convert from the
linebacker slot as a freshman, where he played in nine varsity
contests. Strickland boasts the speed and toughness needed to excel
in a successful rushing attack and will have the opportunity to
grab the starting role in camp. Moore used a tremendous spring to
leap up the depth chart and will join Burrell in battling for
carries. A pair of promising rookies will also have an opportunity
to impact the rotation, as Aaron Smith and Shaq Monahan-Estes will
each get a long look during the preseason and figure to have an
impact before the end of the 2012 season.
SLOT BACK
Coach Sheehan's new-look offense will also utilize the
slot back position to complement the power and size of the running
backs mentioned previously. Joey Chester enters his third season
with the Jackets as the projected starter. Chester has played in 17
games already for DC and averaged 7.3 yards per touch one year ago.
Sophomore Todd Roberts played in all 10 outings as a member of the
special teams unit during his rookie collegiate season and will be
asked to bring his physical approach to the offensive side of the
ball in 2012. Newcomer and Defiance High standout, Nick Lopez, will
also see time in the backfield for the Yellow Jackets as another
piece of the exciting freshmen class for Coach Sheehan's staff.
TIGHT END
A young Defiance lineup will be the least experienced at
the tight end positions, where freshmen Sam Mason and Mitch Lhamon
will be asked to contribute immediately. Mason will bring
tremendous athleticism and hands to the position for DC, while
Lhamon excelled as a blocker during his prep career and will be a
valuable part of the running game for Defiance.
WIDE RECEIVER
In contrast to the youth at the tight end slots, the
Jackets will feature seniors Jon Carrabino and Aaron Choice, junior
Brian Mircovich and sophomore Bryan Weaver at the wide receiver
position. Carrabino and Mircovich have each proven to be impact
performers in the DC offense when healthy and could be primed for
big years in 2012. Carrabino has played in 27 games over the past
three seasons and can exploit opposing defenses with his speed and
versatility. Mircovich broke out with 18 catches for 188 yards over
his first four varsity showings in 2011 and provides Defiance with
a solid route runner on the edges.
OFFENSIVE LINE
In order for Defiance's offense to perform more
efficiently in 2012, it will need steady production from the
offensive line throughout the season. The Jackets will turn to
returners Chase Cohen, Tanner Engle, Mitch Smith, Seth Kimberlin
and Patrick Hartman to anchor the improved unit. That group will be
bolstered by a stout incoming crop of linemen, with Joe Niehaus,
Garrett Waiters and Lance Vetter leading the pack of freshmen
looking to earn time in the trenches.
DEFENSIVE LINE
While DC features many new faces on offense, the
defensive unit of the Purple and Gold is flush with experienced
returners. That is especially true on the front line, where seniors
Gregg Pickett and D.J. Brigham join juniors Seth Evans and Andrew
Leverenz. The physical group is anchored by All-HCAC tackle,
Pickett, who registered 52 tackles, 10.0 hits for lost yardage and
3.5 sacks during his breakout junior year. Brigham also excelled in
2012 with 32 hits and 2.5 sacks. Leverenz boasts the most strength
on the roster and used an outstanding camp to position himself for
a starting role on the edge, while Evans is also poised to see time
as a pass rusher. Juniors Jon Day and Ryne Rogers will join
sophomore Jack McIntee and promising freshman Rayon Calloway on the
depth chart.
LINEBACKER
Seniors Hunter Robertson and James Buari will be expected
to hold down the starting linebacker positions, with junior Blaine
McGowan and sophomore Calab Wagner also seeing significant time.
Robertson was tabbed as an All-HCAC standout after pacing the
Jackets with 79 tackles last season and has picked up 154 stops
over the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. Buari earned four starts and
played in all 10 games as a junior, and McGowan averaged 9.8 hits
over his final four contests and ended his breakout 2011 season
with 70 tackles and 5.5 hits for lost yardage.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Three-time First-Team All-HCAC selection, Tony Sierra,
will highlight an experienced secondary for Defiance in 2012.
Sierra ended with 52 tackles one year ago and has played in all 30
varsity contests during his outstanding career on the gridiron with
the Purple and Gold. Sierra will be joined by fellow seniors Matt
Forry, Brad Sealey, Mason Foulk and Jordan Taylor in DC's new
three-safety lineup, with sophomores Vinny Polverine and Torrence
Smith also expected to contribute after making significant
improvements during the offseason. Another key cog in the secondary
will be sophomore Josh Slayton, who earned All-HCAC honors as a
collegiate rookie, after finishing third in the HCAC with 10 passes
defended in 10 starts. Slayton also notched 27 solo hits among his
41 total tackles in 2011. Senior Kyle Keegan should hold down the
other cornerback position, after adding strength during the
offseason. Senior Terrence Plummer and junior Kaleb Rexrode could
also battle for time, along with an outstanding freshmen trio of
Jorry Matherson, Chris King and Leroy Cheatham. Matherson boasts
the best speed on the Yellow Jacket roster and could make an impact
on the DC return game as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
A pair of familiar names will anchor the kicking game,
with junior Aaron Spence handling the punting duties and sophomore
Spencer Saunders repeating his rookie season role by handling
kickoffs, point-after attempts and field goal tries. Saunders
connected on 19-of-22 point-after tries in 2011 and split the
uprights in three of his five field goal attempts. Spence averaged
32.6 yards per punt over 18 attempts and stuck a trio of punts
inside the 20-yard line. Spence and Saunders will also be asked to
showcase their athletic skill sets on fake plays, which should make
the Jackets a dangerous team to defend in fourth-down
situations.
The Jackets will open their 2012 campaign on Saturday, September 1
against Albion College in a non-conference tilt. The game is slated
to begin at 1:30 pm inside Justin F. Coressel Stadium and will be
webcast live at www.DefianceAthletics.com/video
courtesy of the Yellow Jacket Sports Network.