2008 Simpson College Football Preview
The Simpson football team is schedule to report Thursday, Aug. 14 to begin preparations for the 2008 football season. Here is a look at Simpson by position:
QUARTERBACK: Senior Travis Dietz and junior Tyson Unkrich will battle it out for the starting job during training camp. Dietz, who transferred to Simpson from Division II Wayne State (Neb.), started five times in 10 varsity appearances. He was 88-for-166 for 1,116 yards and seven touchdown passes. Dietz also rushed 51 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
Unkrich started the other five varsity games while playing eight times. Unkrich was 84-for-170 for 742 yards and three touchdowns.
"I feel very good about our quarterback situation," said first year Simpson head coach Jim Glogowski. "Spring practice gave us a chance to evaluate both Travis and Tyson. I feel that it is a luxury to have two players returning with extensive game action. Our goal is to have a quarterback who will make solid decisions and be a leader of our offense. Both of these individuals are certainly capable of that. I am also very excited about the caliber of incoming recruits. The future of the position looks very bright."
RUNNING BACKS: Senior Adam Reutzel earned first team All-Conference honors a year ago after rushing for a team leading 946 yards and five touchdowns. Reutzel was second on the team in receiving as he made 31 catches for 344 yards with one touchdown.
Senior Aaron White joins Reutzel in the backfield at fullback for the third consecutive year. White was used primarily as a blocker but in short yardage situations, he rushed 22 times for 93 yards and one touchdown.
Seniors Sean Maudlin and JJ Wulfekuhle both saw time at both halfback and fullback last season. Maudlin charted 73 rushing yards in nine varsity appearances. Wulfekuhle ran 17 times for 44 yards and one touchdown. Junior Victor Carter, Jr. used the Spring sessions to his advantage and could challenge for a spot on the varsity.
"We are really fortunate to have senior leaders like Adam, Aaron, JJ and Sean," Glogowski said. "I expect those guys to be productive on the field and in the locker room. (Victor) Carter was a nice surprise in the spring and I look for him to make his mark as well. This is probably one of the deepest positions on the team and has the ability to really set the tone for our program."
WIDE RECEIVERS: Junior Brody Tubaugh is a returning starter at wide receiver. Tubaugh was third on the team in receiving as he made 30 catches for 191 yards with one touchdown. Senior Tad Stoner sat out last season due to a knee injury and received a medical redshirt. In 2006, Stoner was second on the team in receiving (238) and catches (22).
Senior Dillon McKelvey, junior Legrand Bien-Aime, and junior Joe Peterson are returning letterwinners. McKelvey caught 10 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown last season. Bien-Aime appeared in nine games, catching 10 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown. He led Simpson in kickoff returns with 19 and kickoff return yardage with 375. Peterson moved to receiver from defensive back late in the 2007 season.
"I am excited about the return of a veteran player like Tad Stoner," Glogowski said. Having Tad back in the mix is a big advantage for our younger players. Brody, Dillon, Legrand and Joe should give us a very solid group. We will need these guys to not only make catches downfield but also aggressively block the perimeter in order to establish our ground game."
TIGHT ENDS: Maudlin could move to tight end where he would join returning letterwinner Max Williams for playing time. Williams caught three passes last season for a total of 27 yards. Sophomore Jake Rissi impressed the staff during Spring practice.
"The tight end position will certainly be an emphasis for us," said Glogowski. "Max did some really good things in the spring as did Jake. These two players along with Sean should provide us with enough flexibility
OFFENSIVE LINE: The Storm return starters in junior left tackle Lee Coel, junior center Ryan Laffey, and junior right tackle Bill Carroll. The offensive line also features returning letterwinners Scott Danielson, Kendall Grieme, Jacob Hamilton, and John Wardenburg.
"This is one of our most experienced groups on the team," Glogowski said. "We have three returning starters along with several players with game experience. It is no secret that this team will go as far as the offensive line can take us. We want to be able to move the ball on the ground and it starts upfront."
DEFENSIVE LINE: Simpson returns three starters on the defensive line. Defensive tackle Luke Stover was named second team All-Conference. Stover finished third on the team in tackles with 91. He was second on the team in sacks with 3.5.
Nose guard Jason Courtney made 27 tackles a year ago as he posted 4.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Defensive end Ben Pruss joined the team late in training camp after transferring in from NCAA Division II South Dakota. Pruss made 38 tackles in 10 varsity starts. Pruss was fourth on the team in tackles for a loss with 5.5. He broke up four passes and made 2.5 sacks.
Returning letterwinners Ben Reutzel, and Tyler Schorg as well sophomore Vinni Smith should provide depth on the defensive line.
"I am really excited about the defensive front," Glogowski said. "I feel that we have the type of players that can be successful in this league. Luke is a returning all-conference player and we expect him to have another all-conference type of season. Ben and Jason were solid players last year and we look for them to really step up their play. We have several other players like Ben Reutzel, Tyler Schorg, and Vinni who should make a big impact."
LINEBACKERS: Senior Tim Stover was selected by the Consensus Draft Services as a 2008 second team preseason All-American. Stover was named second team All-Conference. He finished 20th in Division III in total tackles per game (12.3) after leading the Storm in tackles with 123. He tied for the team lead with his brother Luke in tackles for a loss (11). Tim Stover was third on the team in interceptions with three.
Kyle Disney moved from defensive back to linebacker during the Spring. Disney made 39 tackles and broke up four passes. Juniors Cody Jensen and Austyn Wolfe served as backups to departed starters Neil Bontrager and Blair Belland. Both will be looking to move into the starting lineup.
"I really look for Tim to be a leader for us this season," said Glogowski. "He certainly has the potential to impose his will on an opposing offense. He will be counted on to make his presence known. Cody Jensen, Austyn, and Kyle are all veteran players that should help to make this position very productive this season."
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Seniors Lucas Kramer and Antonio Neal are returning starters for the Storm. Kramer, a cornerback, led Simpson in interceptions with two. Neal, the free safety, was fourth on the team in tackles with 73. Disney, the strong safety, made 50 tackles (25 solo) and broke up four passes.
Junior Wardell Watkins backed up Drew Lipovac at cornerback last season. With Lipovac's graduation, Watkins should have first crack at the starting job.
"This is a group of players that has a ton of potential," Glogowski said. "Lucas and Antonio have extensive game action as we look for leadership out of them. I am also excited about the group as a whole. We have quite a few returning letter winners that I expect to see making their mark in the secondary as well as on special teams."
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Storm will have to replace Bill Nelson who served as both the kicker and punter over the past two years. Freshmen James Gale, Kyle McVay, Michael Smith should contend for the kicking position. Freshman Cameron Oviatt could punt for the Storm. Reutzel and Bien-Aime also have punting experience and could end up taking the varsity spot. Jensen and sophomore Zach Haworth should serve as the long snapper or the short snapper.
"This is an area that personifies our team," Glogowski said. "It is all about competition. The ones who compete the hardest will earn the opportunity. I feel that we have some young guys with the potential to get the job done. It is a matter of proving it over the course of fall camp."
Simpson begins the 2008 season Saturday, Sept. 6 when the Storm host Grand View College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.