2 0 0 9 s e a s o n o u tlook 5 senior captain Paul Rice (23-15-38) moves up from CB and could be a force in this area. Rice, who tied for the team lead in interceptions (4) last fall, moved around the secondary throughout the season and provides a physical presence. Senior LB Tim Handlon (10-7-17, INT, FR) saw increased action throughout last season and looks poised to take over leadership of the linebackers. Sophomore Jordan Haynes (2-0-2) was a regular special teams player last season and should compete for the other starting spot. Also in contention are juniors Andrew Pappas and Dan Walsh as well as sophomores Cliff Foreman, Wes Moyer and Nick Schneider, while Austin Pulsipher returns from a two-year Mormon Mission. Defensive Backs (2 starters back, 2 lost) The stalwart Bulldog secondary, posting consecutive seasons in the top-five nationally in pass efficiency defense, loses a pair of three-year starters in CB Casey Gerald and FS Steven Santoro, both 2008 All-Ivy picks. All-Ivy performer SS Larry Abare (45-28-73), who has an extra year after receiving a medical hardship waiver, plays a key role as the most experienced back. Abare, twin brother of former captain Bobby Abare, provides a hard hitting presence in the backfield. Junior cornerback Adam Money (26-4-30), who started a game in place of the injured Rice, had a pair of picks including a 60-yard touchdown in the season opener and looks to compete for the vacated cornerback spot. Also eyeing the spot is sophomore corner Drew Baldwin (2-1-3), who won the Charles Loftus Award as Yale’s most valuable freshman and finished the spring as a starter. The new staff will field a wide open race as juniors Chris Stanley and John Pagliaro and sophomore Geoff Dunham all saw varsity action in the defensive backfield last season, while classmate Jesse Reising (4-1-5) moves over from LB. Junior Marcus Wallace ended spring practice as a starter after playing JV in 2008. Sophomores Bedford Booth, Josh Grizzard, Dawson Halliday and Sudiptho Paul also return to provide depth in the secondary. bulldog special teams
Adam Money, CB
Place Kicker/Punter (1 starter back, 0 lost) Senior Tom Mante was very successful in his first season of handling both the punting and placekicking duties. He connected on eight of 12 field goals and 23 of 25 PATs in his first year of placekicking for Yale, but Mante’s best work came after the long snaps. His 41.0 average and 25 punts inside the 20-yard line helped the Blue win the field position battle. Junior Alex Barnes will compete for both jobs. QB Bryan Farris is also a capable punter and kickoff man. Senior long snapper DT Matt Kelleher and holder QB Rich Scudellari return as well. Kickoff/Punt Return (3 starters back, 1 lost) When he has his hands on the ball, junior Gio Christodoulou is one of the league’s most exciting players. He averaged 9.9 yards on 29 punt returns including a 71-yard score at Cornell. Christodoulou returned 13 kickoffs for a 20.7 average. CB Adam Money had a 20.8 mark on five kick returns.
Gio Christodoulou, KR/WR
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