• Sat, 11/19 | Football vs. Central Connecticut L, 42-21 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 11/12 | Football vs. Saint Francis (PA) W, 45-34 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 11/05 | Football at Albany W, 31-17 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/22 | Football at Robert Morris W, 34-27 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/15 | Football vs. Monmouth L, 40-35 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 10/08 | Football vs. Stonehill W, 42-7 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Sat, 10/01 | Football at Duquesne L, 31-28 (Final) BX | BX | RC
  • Sat, 09/24 | Football vs. Wagner W, 30-28 (Final) BX | RC | PH
  • Fri, 09/16 | Football at Sacred Heart W, 26-6 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 09/10 | Football vs. American Int'l W, 27-16 (Final) BX | RC | PH
 

August 3, 2005

Bulldog Football Ready To Open Camp

Bulldogs Looking Ahead To 2005 Football Season

The Bryant University football team looks to continue its climb in the Northeast-10 Conference as the 2005 season approaches. The Bulldogs, under the direction of second year coach Marty Fine, return a total of 56 letterwinners that posted a 4-6 overall record and finished sixth in the final standings.  Among those returning for the Bulldogs are 18 starters including all 11 on offense. 

Despite the strong numbers returning, the Bulldogs are still young.  This year’s roster lists 14 seniors; however, a majority of those returning have significant game experience that will prove valuable as Bryant welcomes more than 40 newcomers to camp. Four Northeast-10 All-Conference selections round out the roster,giving the Bulldogs a renewed sense of optimism heading into the new season.   

Here’s a look at how the Bulldogs shape up for 2005:   

OFFENSE

Making good with a promise to give Bryant fans something to cheer about with a little excitement, Fine’s Bulldogs opened things up a bit with a new passing game while still maintaining a solid running game.  Working with a freshman quarterback and a youthful offense, the Bulldogs were able to make big strides offensively and started to gel as the season progressed under the new coaching staff. 

Now, with a starter back at each position, plus the addition of a talented transfer, the Bryant offense appears ready to put plenty of points on the board.  

QUARTERBACKS

In his first season at quarterback, freshman Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) passed for a school record 1,316 yards and 10 touchdowns.  It didn’t take long for Granatell to secure his starting role as the team’s new quarterback of the future.  Against American International in the season opener, Granatell threw for more than 200 yards.  In all, Granatell had at least one touchdown pass in all but three games including three against Stonehill.

Sophomore James Hickey (West Haverstraw, NY) gives the Bulldogs excellent depth at quarterback. Hickey gives the Bulldogs good size and arm strength in the pocket.

WIDE RECEIVER / TIGHT ENDS

Sixteen different players recorded at least one reception in 2004. Five netted more than 100 yards. Included is junior speedster Justin Kix (Shoreham, NY). Kix had 28 receptions for 388 yards in a breakout year, developing into one of the most reliable receivers on the team. Shane Cheltenham (Lynn, MA), is another excellent target for the Bulldog quarterbacks. 

With good size and excellent hands, Cheltenham saw many of his 16 receptions coming on short-yardage downs, making him a great target inside the redzone.  

Vincent Norris (Washington, D.C.), Sean Bergin (New Windsor, Conn.), Rico Mallozzi (Smithfield, RI), Joey Brito (Pawtucket, RI), and Jonathan Zenquis (Northbridge, Mass.) give the team excellent athleticism and will play key roles in the offensive game-plan.

The tightend position looks strong this season and should be a factor in the team’s offensive thank in part to the return of senior Alex Chaparro (North Bergen, N.J.).  Chaparro returns after catching five passes for 62 yards in 2004.

RUNNING BACK

While much of the talk so far has been on the passing offense, be careful not to look past the team’s ability to run the ball.  

Behind the hard running of sophomore Chris Peaks (Silver Spring, Md.), the Bulldogs averaged more than 35 running plays a game last season. A Northeast-10 Conference Second Team selection, Peaks led the Bulldogs with 633 yards and four touchdowns.  The sophomore averaged 19 rushing attempts a game and went over the 100-yard mark three times.  Backfield teammate J.P. Scott (Branford, Conn.) saw plenty of action as a blocking back and averaged 16 yards a game. 

The running game got a big boost over the winter with the addition of newcomer Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI). A former Rhode Island prep standout at La Salle Academy, Perry joins the Bulldogs after two years at UMass Amherst where he was a running back and kick returner for the Minutemen.  His speed out of the backfield will give Bryant a potent one-two punch with Peaks while he could be a dangerous threat on special teams.

Justin Williams (Hampton, NH), Bryan Wood (Westborough, Mass.), and Kevin Anderson (Plainville, CT) hope to give the Bulldogs more options out of the backfield.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Up front, the Bulldogs will be loaded with experience.  The offensive line will have three seniors all who were starters for the past two seasons.  David Soranno (Hackensack, NJ), Wesley Nottingham (Hackensack, NJ), and Mike Thompson (Oxford, CT) are talented and have the ability to open holes for the running game and protect in the pocket.   

Junior Jabbie (Silver Spring, Md.) and Saddi Williams (Washington, D.C.) anchor the tackle positions while Brandon Voss (Washington, D.C.) and Casey Factor (West Warwick, RI) should give the team excellent depth. 

Ralph Squitieri (Orangeburg, NJ) is back for his second season as a starter at guard.  Squitieri earned all-conference honorable mention honors as a freshman. 

DEFENSE

On the defensive side, Bryant must fill several vacancies left following the graduation of five starters – including four defensive backs.  Still, with a pair of all-conference selections and the team’s leading tackler returning, Bryant’s defense looks to be in good shape heading into the fall.    

LINEBACKERS

One of the team leaders this year will be senior Greg Daniel (Providence, RI) - pictured-.  A second team all-conference selection last year, Daniel was one of the top linebackers in the league with a team-best 56 tackles on the season.  His strength and speed makes Daniel tough to block as the La Salle graduate was second on the team with 10 tackles for a loss and second with six sacks. 

Teammate Andrew McLarty (College Park, Md.) wasn’t too far behind Daniel with 54 tackles. Bringing speed and toughness, McLarty is a key defensive leader whenever he sets foot on the field.

Daniel and McLarty will be joined by seniors David Boak (Oradell, NJ), who registered 43 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries, and Emanuel Holmes (Miami, FL), a hardnosed and quick outside linebacker.  Junior Andrew Howlett (Windsor, Conn.) and Justin Benevides (Portsmouth, R.I.) round out an experienced linebacking unit that will be tough to stop this season.  

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Bulldogs will need to fill a few holes left by a pair of senior starters, but the Bulldogs won’t have far to look for experience as the defensive line will welcome back juniors Joe Knight (Billerica, Mass.), Chris Reels (West Warwick, RI), and Damion Kindle (Warwick, RI).   

Both Knight and Kindle are returning starters.  Knight has great strength and quickness off the ball that should make him one of the team’s better pass rushers.  

Reels and Knight combined for 44 tackles last season while Kindle caused many headaches for opposing quarterbacks with four sacks.  Not to mention a pair of pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.  Todd Luebeck (Waldwick, NJ), Alessio Trabelsi (Clark, NJ), James Lewis (New Haven, CT), and Jay Stahl (Methuen, Mass.) are returning veterans with plenty of game experience.

David Clark (New Canaan, Conn.) and Mark Gunther (Clarksburg, N.J.) anchor the defensive end position this year.

SECONDARY

While the linebackers and defensive line looks solid, the one area that will be scrutinized is in the secondary. A year ago, the Bulldogs had the luxury of fielding experienced seniors at the corners and safety spots. While that type of depth isn’t present, the Bulldogs will not be without experience.

Brad Boyd (Milford, MA) is back for his senior season and is a defensive back who gained valuable experience as a backup and should challenge for a starting role. The same for veterans Dashon Lloyd (Willingboro, NJ), Daniel Willis (Aiken, SC) and Andrew Verdura (Haverhill, MA). 

Sophomore Chris Wohlheter (Newark, OH) is coming off a stellar season on special teams, and at the same time, managed to steal the spotlight at safety and should be a challenge to battle for a starting position.  Wohlheter led the team with eight pass deflections in his first year and finished with 29 tackles, three of which went for a loss. 

Sophomore Marcus Lindsey (Bridgeport, CT) looks to become a starter at the safety position while redshirt freshmen Monte Ferris (Fall River, MA), and Adam Ferraro (Cheshire, CT) round out the returners in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Though they’ll need to replace a first-team all-conference placekicker, the Bulldogs figure to be strong once again on special teams.  Punter Mike Lajterman (Ramsey, NJ) is a two-time all-conference selection, earning first team honors with a 38.6 punting average in 2004. In a game against Pace, Lajterman broke his own school record with a 71-yard punt and had two others over 60 yards. 

The opportunity for Lajterman to handle Bryant’s kicking duties remains open heading into camp.  Though as a freshman in 2003, Lajterman served as the team’s kicker and punter, earning second team all-conference honors.

The Bulldogs are glad to see Chris Wohlheter back returning kicks.  As a freshman, Wohlheter was fourth in the Northeast-10 in kickoff returns with 21.5 yards per return average and was fifth in the conference with a 10.6 punt return average. 

His all-around athletic ability helped set the table for the Bryant offense.  Expect to see speedster Lorenzo Perry joing Wohlheter on the returns after finding success in the role while at UMass.

 

View: Mobile | Desktop