2010 Butler Football
Quarterback Andrew Huck compiled the third-highest passing total in Butler history last seasaon.
There’s also depth in the offensive line, which features returning starters Gilmore, Staniewicz, Rob Hobson and Pete Mattingly. Gilmore has started 34 consecutive games, while Staniewicz has started 33 of the last 34. Senior Ryan Secrist, who was a starter two years ago before missing last season with injury, is back as are most of last season’s top reserves. Defense Butler’s opportunistic defense led the PFL in turnover margin (+7/0.58) last season, and the Bulldogs were the fourth-toughest team in the league to score against (19.1). Voris does have to replace two of his top four tacklers, but the bulk of the defensive unit returns. The Bulldogs’ defensive strength starts up front with a veteran defensive line led by Hunter. A second team Academic AllAmerican, Hunter finished second in the PFL and 11th in the NCAA Division I FCS in quarterback sacks, despite missing three games will illness, and he led the team in tackles for loss for the second straight year. The junior end will be joined by seven defensive linemen who each saw action in at least 10 games last season. Senior Rob Cosler, junior Jeff Poss and sophomore Jace Tennant each played in all 12 games last season at defensive end, while junior Ross Teare saw action at defensive tackle in all 12 contests. Senior Tyler Skaggs started seven of 10 games at defensive tackle, while junior Larry Thomas and sophomore Taylor
Clarkson each played in 11 games. Poss finished seventh on the team in tackles, while Hunter was eighth. “When you can line up a defensive line with guys who have played together, anchored by Grant Hunter, you’ve got a chance,” noted Voris. The Bulldogs are equally experienced at linebacker, despite losing second-leading tackler Derek Guggenberger, and in the secondary, despite the absence of thirdleading tackler Spencer Summerville. Caldicott, Butler’s leading tackler last season, anchors a linebacker corps that includes returning regular Andrew Cottrell and top 2009 reserves Jordan Ridley and William Lamar. Caldicott finished with 70 tackles last season, one more than Guggenberger and two more than Summerville. He also led the team with three forced fumbles and tied for second on the squad with three pass interceptions. Cottrell, playing his first season with the Bulldogs finished fifth on the team in tackles (43), while Ridley was tenth (36). Ridley and Lamar both saw action in all 12 Butler games last season. Additional help could come from seniors Bob Olszewski and junior Robert Koteff, both of whom saw regular action last season, and sophomore Artis Hailey, who’s switching from running back to linebacker. The defensive secondary is led by senior Tadd Dombart and junior Mark Giacomantonio. Dombart, a four-year regular, enters his final season with seven career pass interceptions and more than 100 career tackles. Giacomantonio, Butler’s
fourth-leading tackler last season, led the PFL in pass interceptions in 2009 with five in nine games. Junior Jack McKenna, named Butler’s Most Improved Defensive Player last season, returns at cornerback, where he started all 12 games in 2009 and tied Dombart with three pass thefts. He also finished sixth on the team in tackles. Sophomore Matt Foor and junior Logan Sullivan, both of whom saw extensive action last season, are the top candidates to replace Summerville at strong safety, while junior Andy Dauch adds experienced depth at free safety. Several newcomers could contribute at cornerback. “We have experienced guys returning at all positions (in the secondary), and we have some really good young depth,” stated Voris. “We enter the season feeling very good about our secondary.” Special Teams Unlike a year ago, the Bulldogs return all of their top special teams players. Sophomore Michael Wilson took over the team’s punting chores last season and wound up being named Butler’s Special Teams MVP. He led the PFL in number of punts inside the 20-yard line (29), helping the Bulldogs win the battle of field position. Junior David Lang took over as the team’s placekicker, and he finished as the Butler’s third-leading scorer with 54 points. He booted seven field goals, including a pair of game-winners, and wound up third in the PFL in kick scoring. Koopman returns as the squad’s top kick returner, averaging 22.7 yards per return last season, while Dombart led the Bulldogs in punt returns.
Tailback Scott Gray led the Bulldogs and ranked third in the PFL with a career-best 868 rushing yards in 2009.
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