Drew Homyk

After a 6-4 season in 2008 which resulted in a tie for third place in the North Coast Athletic Conference, the Denison Big Red return 53 letterwinners and 12 starters as they look to continue their climb up the NCAC ladder.

Last year the Big Red closed out the season strong, winning five of their final six games, and they did it by controlling the clock with a potent rushing attack and by keeping their opposition contained via a stout rush defense.  

Denison led the NCAC in rushing in 2008 with 2,030 yards, marking the most rushing yards gained by a DU team since 1992 when the Big Red were still operating in the run-heavy single-wing offense under longtime head coach Keith Piper. Gone from that rushing attack due to graduation are first-team tailback Jon Berg and Academic All-America quarterback Michael Barnes.  Berg and Barnes accounted for nearly 1,400 yards on the ground in 2008.

Despite the key losses in the offensive backfield, 10th-year head coach Nick Fletcher will look to his running game to carry the load in 2009 and there appears to be a number of players who have the ability to cushion the loss of Berg and Barnes.

Defensively, the Big Red made tremendous strides in 2008 and they return six starters and have their entire defensive backfield intact.  Over the final six games of last season the defense held their opponents to just 12.8 points per game and overall, opponents averaged 333.0 yards per game which was the lowest average posted by a DU defense since 1995.  

Senior safeties Drew Homyk and Caleb McFerren will team with junior cornerbacks Tyler Lambert and Nick Weiss.  Last year Weiss and Homyk tied for second in the NCAC in interceptions with five and the foursome have combined for 22 interceptions over the past two seasons.

What follows is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2009 Denison football team:

Nick Krempasky

QUARTERBACK

The coaching staff will have the task of replacing dynamic two-year starter Michael Barnes in 2009.  Barnes, who was a threat with his arm and his legs, totaled 2,784 yards of total offense since 2007 and was one of the top big-play threats in the NCAC, posting eight carries for over 20 yards.  The loss of a player of Barnes’ caliber will be difficult to overcome but Fletcher is encouraged by the players returning to battle for the position in preseason camp.

“The biggest question we have to answer on offense is who is going to be our quarterback,” stated Fletcher.  “It is nice to have to guys who have been in the system rather than opening the year with unknowns.”

Those two returnees are junior Colin McKelvey and sophomore Braden Layer.  McKelvey has played in seven games since 2007 but has completed just two passes in five attempts.  Layer, two years removed from being the starting quarterback at nearby Upper Arlington High School, saw action in one game during his freshman campaign.

Also looking to make their mark when they arrive on campus are first-year’s Nick Stephens and Max Paulus.

RUNNING BACK

Over the last six seasons Denison’s offensive identity has evolved into running the ball effectively and controlling time of possession.  Last year a three-prong attack featuring Barnes, Berg and Nick Krempasky led the conference in rushing at 203.0 yards per game.  With Barnes and Berg gone, Krempasky enters this season as the team’s starting tailback and that is music to the ears of Fletcher.

“I can’t think of a back in the conference I would rather have than him heading into the year,” said Fletcher.

Krempasky led all running backs in the NCAC with 5.3 yards per carry a year ago.  He totaled 628 yards and reached the end zone three times.  Krempasky also turned plenty of heads with his big-play ability, breaking off four runs of 34-yards or more.

Also returning to share the load with Krempasky is junior Dan Crawford, who after a productive rookie campaign, battled injuries through most of last season.  Crawford totaled 551 yards and seven touchdowns in 2007 but managed just 20 carries in six games last year.  Back at full strength in 2009, Crawford will provide a good change of pace to Krempasky.

At fullback, senior Ryan Burandt is back after being voted as the team’s top blocker in 2008.  Junior Linc Johnsen and sophomore Lucas Meyer will also take turns opening holes for the Big Red offense.

WIDE RECEIVER

Following the loss of three senior starters Denison will be short on experience but not lacking in talent at the wide receiver position.  Senior Brandon Taylor is the top returner after finishing third on the team with 12 receptions for 111 yards and a team-best three touchdowns.  

Other returnees battling for time will be juniors James Hall and Jeff Cochran along with sophomores Lucas Graham, Andy Carpenter, and Greg Jones.

TIGHT END

In what always seems to be a position of depth for the Big Red, 2009 is no different.  Junior Shawn Eagle returns after starting eight games in 2008.  He caught five passes for 60 yards last year and Fletcher thinks he is ready to take the next step.

“Shawn is a big, physical blocker who is not afraid to go up and catch in a crowd.”

Carpenter, who will also see some time at wide receiver, could lineup at tight end.  They are also expecting big things from junior transfer and converted offensive lineman Jake Shafer and freshman Corey Daff.

Ed Hebb

OFFENSIVE LINE

Three of Denison’s four returning offensive starters are on the offense line and that should be good news for the Big Red’s new quarterback in 2009.  Senior Derek Ulsh is a back after staring all 10 games at guard as a junior.  That came on the heels of an injury plagued sophomore year he appears to have fully recovered from.  Another senior, guard Bobby Fresch is back for his third year in the starting lineup.  

Playing between the two seniors at center will be sophomore Ed Hebb who stepped into a starting job after an injury in last year’s preseason and went on to start all 10 games at center.  Fletcher’s eyes light up when he talks about his returning offensive line.

“We might not be as big as previous years but we are very athletic and strong.  Derek is one of the best pulling guards I have coached, Bobby is very strong and has plenty of experience and Ed is just an old-school tough football player.  It was nice to see him take full advantage of a situation to play last year.”

The Big Red will have to replace both tackle positions.  Looking to fill those roles and back-up roles at guard and center are sophomore Joe Romanowski, senior Chris Pappas, juniors Kevin Drake, Tony Capetillo and Seth Hodge along with sophomore Ismail Zafer.

DEFENSIVE LINE

This unit returns two starters in seniors Adam Lewis and Drew Hanna and will look to replace the pass-rushing capabilities of departed seniors Tim Dukovich and Josh Hamperian.  Lewis started all 10 games last year and notched 13 tackles with three of those tackles coming for a loss.  Hanna also started all 10 games and he finished the year with 33 tackles and two sacks.

“Along with the running back position I am most excited about this group in terms of their athletic ability,” noted Fletcher.  “Assistant coach Mark Watts has done an excellent job with this group and it’s become one of the strengths of our team.”

Joining Lewis and Hanna will be junior Doug DeVol, senior Mike Barnum and sophomores Jerome Ray and Anthony Zarate.

LINEBACKER

Some of the biggest question marks on the defense will have to be answered at linebacker thanks to some losses in graduation.  But rather than turning to relative unknowns Fletcher will be looking to a group of four seniors who have gained significant playing time over the last three seasons.  The group consisting of Bill Aukerman, Dan Risko, Taylor Dlouhy, and John Zanner, have played in 67 games over the course of their careers.

After battling injuries through his first two seasons, Aukerman played in nine games last year and posted 22 tackles.  Also expected to contribute is sophomore Adam Frudden.

Caleb McFerren

DEFENSIVE BACK

The defensive backfield is loaded with talent and experience and will be led by a group of senior safeties with plenty of big-play ability.  Drew Homyk and Caleb McFerren will return to their starting spots and will get help from classmates Andrew Boemi, Jamie Mackie and JD Pisula.  

“Safety is a position where we know we are as good as anyone out there,” said Fletcher. “Caleb and Drew are both very tough and intelligent players who are excellent tacklers.”

Homyk finished second on the team last year with 61 tackles and tied for the team lead with five interceptions.  The Big Red led the NCAC in turnover margin a year ago and the defense’s 24 takeaways played a major role.

At cornerback, juniors Tyler Lambert and Nick Weiss are returning starters.  Weiss also posted five interceptions in 2008 and Lambert led the conference with seven interceptions as a rookie in 2007 and has posted nine picks in his short career.  

Others planning on contributing at cornerback will be senior Will Doss and sophomore Pat Effinger.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Denison’s entire special teams core will return to the field in 2009 led by junior kicker Kevin Schneider and senior punter Caleb McFerren.  Schneider, who hit 71 percent of his field goals in 2007 including a career-long make from 47-yards against Earlham, was hampered by a hip injury and had just one attempt over 40 yards.  Now healthy, his range should improve and resemble that of his rookie season.  

Punting duties have been split between McFerren and sophomore Matt Ring.  Last year McFerren took a majority of the attempts and averaged 36.4 yards per punt.  When the ball was around midfield and the team needed to pin their opponent deep in their own territory they called on Ring who put the ball inside the opponents’ 20-yardline on 13 of his 17 punts last year.

In the return game, Weiss finished second in the NCAC in punt return average at 7.6 ypr.  He returned one punt, 77-yards for a touchdown against Chicago and has two punt return TD’s in his career.  Returning kicks will likely be Krempasky who finished fifth in the conference last season by averaging 22.6 yards per return.  He had a season-long return of 45 yards in the season finale victory over Earlham.

Night games at Deeds Field have been well attended since 2006.

THE SCHEDULE

Denison’s 2009 schedule is identical to the 2008 version other than flip between home and away contests.  They will open the season with Kalamazoo College of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association with a home game on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. before opening NCAC play against Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. on Sept. 12.

One thing that definitely stands out among this year’s schedule is the number of night games the Big Red will be involved in.  Four of the 10 games will be played under the lights with three of those games set to be played at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.  Since the 2006 renovation Denison has played just two night games and both have come in front of standing room only crowds.  Last year Denison and Wooster were locked in a heated contest that was decided down the stretch.  This year Wittenberg, Hiram and Case Western Reserve will all take on the Big Red at night.  It’s an experience that Fletcher recognizes can be unique at the Division III level.

“Our kids just love playing at night and last year’s game was such a great environment.  We are looking forward to seeing big crowds and lots of support this season.”

Denison’s season will conclude at home, on Nov. 14 against Earlham College.