2012 Season Outlook

A two-year run of conference titles and berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament was snapped in 2011, and now the Tigers must replace six offensive starters, including two-time North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year Ben Zoeller and record-setting wide receiver Josh McKee. The lofty annual goals for the Tigers remain the same, however.

The defense returns almost intact, giving Head Coach Joe Fincham an excellent place to start construction of what he hopes will be his ninth NCAC Championship team in 2012. The Tigers welcome nine starters and a whopping 22 letterwinners back to the roster in 2012, led by a trio of All-NCAC selections in senior defensive end Jon Daniels and senior cornerback Jamaal Everett, both second-team choices in 2011, and junior safety Mark Swope, an honorable mention choice a year ago.

Daniels, who ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 70 and first in sacks with 6.5 a year ago, is one of four returning starters along the defensive front. He will be joined by senior Justin Bartlett, who had 6.5 tackles for loss in 2011, junior Josh Montgomery, who had 5.5 tackles for loss and two blocked kicks last season, and junior Cory Cosby, who made 36 tackles in his first year as a starter. There is plenty of depth in this area as well, led by juniors Max Dehnke, Wes Thompson and Tyler Visagie and sophomore Jeremy Krill.

At linebacker, the Tigers must replace three-time All-NCAC stalwart Zach Hurtt, but junior Spencer Leno is a good place to start after he stood third on the team with 74 tackles and led the squad with three interceptions in 2011. Juniors Kyle Sanning, Jake Kelly, Nick Gibson and Evan Killilea, who started five games before suffering an injury, all saw extensive action a year ago as well.

The Tigers figure to be strong in the defensive backfield as well. Everett is a two-year starter who showed great versatility in 2011 by moving from his cornerback position into a nickel spot that frequently pressured opposing quarterbacks midway through the season. He broke up a team-best 11 passes a year ago, while Swope finished second on the team in tackles and tackles for loss in his first season as a starter. Also returning is senior cornerback Karlos Marshall, who broke up 10 passes and made two interceptions in 2011, and junior safety Heath Eby, who started the last five games after Killilea's injury.

Turning to the offense, junior quarterback Reed Florence figures to be the key after appearing in nine games in 2011, finishing third on the team in rushing yards with 161 and also throwing for 141 yards. He ran for seven touchdowns and threw for another seven.

The team's top two receivers have graduated, but three receivers who caught at least 11 passes in 2011 return, starting with junior Brendon Cunningham, who hauled in five touchdown passes. Senior Garth Gilbert caught 15 passes and junior Jonathan Stoner added 11 receptions while playing in just four games due to injury, while junior Desi Kirkman was outstanding in the return game, ranking among the conference leaders in both punt and kickoff return yardage.

The running game figures to be the biggest question mark, with the loss of the tailback tandem of Corey Weber and Conner Warye, which combined for more than 2,200 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons. Junior JaVanh Sanders and sophomore Will Stocker are among a host of players who have a chance to earn playing time in the backfield in 2012.

Three starters return to the offensive line in the form of junior tackle Matt Widemon and junior guards Aaron Coeling and Adam Klever. Four other linemen who earned varsity letters and appeared in the two-deep throughout the season will compete for playing time, led by seniors AJ Owen and Ian McNeill, both of whom have started games during their collegiate careers.

The Tigers must find a new punter after Trey LaValley performed well in his lone season as a starter. Senior kicker Sean Williams, who has broken multiple records over the last two years and is on pace to put his name atop several career charts by the end of 2012, returns and is getting numerous preseason accolades.

Tiger Quick Facts

2011 Record 8-2
NCAC Record 5-1 (2nd)
Letterwinners Returning (44) Offensive: 22, Defensive: 21, Specialist: 1
Letterwinners Lost (20) Offensive: 11, Defensive: 7, Specialist: 2
Starters Returning (14) Offensive: 4, Defensive 9, Specialist: 1
Starters Lost (10) Offensive: 7, Defensive 2, Specialist: 1
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3

2012 At A Glance

Letterwinners Returning: 44
22 offense – JaVanh Sanders, Lamar Davenport, Ethan Sharpin, Reed Florence, Noah Johansen, Will Stocker, Onel LaBeach, Garth Gilbert, Andrew Stylski, Aaron Coeling, Ian McNeill, Matt Widemon, Jeremy Althouse, AJ Owen, Adam Klever, Brendon Cunningham, Jonathan Stoner, Desi Kirkman, Stephen Zumdick, Pat Barton, Tyson Agler, Tyler Compston

21 defense – Jamaal Everett, Ryan Smith, Dan Baker, Victor Banjo, Karlos Marshall, Chris Stone, Heath Eby, Jake Kelly, Mark Swope, Kyle Sanning, Spencer Leno, Nick Gibson, Evan Killilea, Jon Daniels, Wes Thompson, Cory Cosby, Tyler Visagie, Josh Montgomery, Justin Bartlett, Jeremy Krill, Max Dehnke
1 special teams – Sean Williams

Letterwinners Lost: 20
11 offense – Michael Cooper, Corey Weber, Ben Zoeller, Josh McKee, Conner Warye, Brian Alspaugh, Alan Trump, Drew Fisher, Logan White, Jake Conrad, Michael Shope
7 defense – Seth Parker, Zach Hurtt, Jimmy Neyhouse, Vinny Harshaw, Mike McKee, DeAngelo Fincher, Michael Hofer
2 special teams – Trey LaValley, Jeff Mengerink

Starters Returning: 14
4 offense – TE Stephen Zumdick, OL Aaron Coeling, OL Adam Klever, OL Matt Widemon
9 defense – DB Jamaal Everett, DB Karlos Marshall, LB Evan Killilea, DB Mark Swope, LB Spencer Leno, DL Cory Cosby, DL Josh Montgomery, DL Jon Daniels, DL Justin Bartlett
1 special teams – K Sean Williams

Starters Lost: 10
7 offense – WR Michael Cooper, WR Josh McKee, TB Corey Weber, QB Ben Zoeller, OL Brian Alspaugh, OL Alan Trump, FB Logan White
2 defense – DB Seth Parker, LB Zach Hurtt
1 special teams – P Trey LaValley