UNHFOOTBALL-CAA-LEADING97STRAIGHTWEEKSRANKEDIN TOP25
2011 SEASON PREVIEW
forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Deservedly, Evans was feted with a laundry list of postseason accolades: College Sporting News Sweet-63 All-America; Walter Camp FCS All-America; The Sports Network/Fathead.com All-America Second Team and All-CAA Second Team. Buzbee (6-3, 226) had an outstanding season in his own right, ranking third on the team with 86 tackles, 42 solo efforts, with eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles after stepping into the starting lineup in week three for injured captain Devon Jackson. The Wildcats’ backup linebackers are seniors, with veteran special teams stalwarts John Duffey (6-2, 241) and Mark Petercuskie (5-11, 232) ready to step in when summoned.
SAFETIES: A unit that was deep on seniors a season ago will now rely on a collection of young players needing to fill the vacancies left by the graduations of Hugo Souza, Ryan McGuinness, John Greer and Mike Perkins. Senior Rod Walker (6-0, 202) is penciled in as the starting ‘whip’ safety coming off a junior campaign where he posted 17 tackles, including 11 solo stops, in mostly a special teams capacity. Sophomore Chris Beranger (5-11, 200) gets the first crack at free safety after amassing 20 tackles in 10 games during his redshirt freshman campaign, and sophomore Manny Asam (6-0, 185) made a successful conversion from wide receiver to strong safety in the spring, highlighted by his five tackles in the Blue-White Game. Expect to see strong candidacy from junior Tyler Sargent (5-10, 197), who made seven tackles in seven games last season before an injury ended his season early, and redshirt freshmen Chad Wilkes (6-0, 194) and Tre Williams (6-3, 190), who posted a game-high six tackles in the spring game.
Kyle Flemings
Rod Walker
CORNERBACKS: Senior Kyle Flemings (5-10, 176) will serve the leader of the secondary on the heels of a junior season that saw him tie for the team lead with eight pass breakups, nab four interceptions, force a fumble and recover two fumbles while starting every game. Senior Anthony Gorrell (5-10, 162) is primed to step into a starting role as the opposite corner, replacing four-year starter Dino Vasso. In 11 games last season, Gorrell registered seven tackles, one interception and one pass break-up. Sophomore Chris Houston (5-9, 172) and redshirt freshman Steven Thames (6-0, 176) will serve as backup corners. SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Mike MacArthur (5-10, 177) was the only true freshman to see playing time for UNH in 2010, and all he did with that responsibility was earn All-CAA Third Team honors by going 10-for-13 in field goal kicking and a perfect 24 of 24 in PATs. The North Hampton, N.H., native is back to handle place kicking and kickoff duties, and able junior A.J. DeLago (5-10, 204) returns in a backup role after booting four field goals in as many attempts last season. The Wildcats will have a new starting punter for the fourth straight season, with MacArthur and redshirt freshman Brad Prasky (5-11, 189) dueling for starting honors. Dontra Peters is back to return kickoffs after averaging 22.7 yards per return last season (seven returns-159 yards), and Tyler Sargent recorded a team-best 25.0 yards per kick return last year before an injury ended his season prematurely. Joey Orlando is expected to be the primary punt returner after returning three punts for 28 yards last season. Mickey Mangieri should also get the assignment of returning punts two seasons after returning three punts for 64 yards.
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2011 UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOTBALL 2009 New Hampshire Football 13 • 13 •