2009 Pace University Season Outlook
Information Provided By Pace University Sports
Information
QUARTERBACK
Senior Ray Gregg returns for a second season as the Setters’
starting quarterback after an outstanding 2008 campaign. Gregg
tossed for 1,560 yards on 136-for-246 passing with 11 touchdowns.
He finished the season third in the Northeast-10 with 173 passing
yards per game. Dean Trerotola also returns as a second backup
quarterback after seeing action in four games last season.
Trerotola tossed for 203 yards on 23-for-48 passing with a pair of
touchdowns. Red-Shirt freshman Joe Romanick adds solid depth to the
position with his strong throwing arm, while newcomers Kevin
Smolensky and Brian Mizerek round out the signal callers for the
Setters.
RUNNING BACKS
The Setters return Nathaniel Ford as their starting running back
following his best season in a Setter uniform. Ford averaged 81
yards per game, finishing with 816 and ranking third in the
Northeast-10 Conference. Ford earned Second Team All-Conference
Honors with his best game coming in the season finale as he rushed
for 191 yards against Saint Anselm College. Ford is an excellent
fit for the Setters West Coast offense as he has the ability to
catch passes after totaling 17 receptions in 2008. Eshawn Armstrong
returns as a solid #2 tail back after seeing limited action,
rushing for 63 yards in three games last season. Armstrong will
look to push for playing time in 2009 giving the Setters a solid
rushing attack. Iona College transfers Desmond Hinds and Jason
Washington, along with red-shirt freshman Jurrell Hawkins and
newcomer Robert Eversleigh gives Coach Iezzi a talented backfield
that will vie for playing time this season.
WIDE RECEIVER
Coach Iezzi returns two of their three starters from a year ago as
leading receiver Eric Ortega and Justin Polanis remain the top two
targets for the Setters. Ortega led the Setters in 2008 with 33
receptions and 413 yards, while scoring five touchdowns. Polanis
posted 25 catches for 266 yards last season. Ray Carrasco,
Dominique West and Kyle Lotwich will push for playing time giving
the Setters solid depth in the receiving corps. Coach Iezzi also
added Iona College transfer Danroy Henry along with freshman
Patrick Lupfer and Henry Burgos to the receiving group in the off
season.
TIGHT END
Senior Tri-Captain Andrew Kulak returns for a third straight season
as the Setters starting tight end after posting solid numbers in
2008. Last season, Kulak totaled 26 receptions for 304 yards and
two touchdowns. Kulak was a 2008 Second Team All NE-10 selection as
well as a 2009 D2Football.com Preseason First Team NE-10 selection.
Kulak will be backed up by sophomore Jake Parrott as well as
newcomers Tom Moore, Cody Childs and Ryan Cuffe.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Coach Iezzi again returns the majority of starting linemen from the
2008 season, making the position one of the strongest on the field
for the Setters. Senior and tri-team captain Ken Marcoux returns
with a wealth of experience and will be looked on to be the leaders
at his position. Juniors Colin Brady, Shaine Artis and Matthew
Arciero return for their third season as the mainstays on the
offensive line, giving this unit significant experience at a key
position. Sophomore Lyndon Johnson along with red-shirt freshman
William Woodard will also push for playing time this season. Coach
Iezzi brought in a pair of top recruits for the future in Matthew
Strizek and Maquan Adams.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Setters rebuilt their defensive line in the off season
following the loss of First Team All-Conference player Lee Robinson
and three-year starter Matt West. Coach Iezzi brought in a veteran
pair of linemen in Division I transfers Dwyane Jones and Tyrell
Zimmerman. Jones comes to the Setters from Iona College, while
Zimmerman joins the Setters from Northwestern State. Red-shirt
freshman Shkelzen Gecaj will join Jones and Zimmerman on the
defensive line as the nose guard position. The Setters will have
plenty of depth on the D-Line as Patrick Finnegan returns after
recording 42 tackles, 10 for losses along with four sacks in 2008.
Juniors Max Katzner and Charles Bachelder will transition to the
line from linebacker this season. Last season, Katzner posted 13
tackles and one interception, while Bachelder totaled 20 tackles,
six for losses and three sacks. The Setters will also have Felix
Pagan along with Joe Graboff along with newcomers Drew Cashin and
Stephan Ahart that will compete for playing time this season.
LINEBACKER
Coach Iezzi returns a solid group of linebackers in senior
tri-captain Michael LaMonica along with junior Jonfrey Sanchez.
LaMonica was fifth on the team in tackles last season with 65,
while Sanchez posted 23 tackles. The Setters brought in Division I
Transfer Andrew Lipski from Iona College, who led the Gaels last
season with 127 tackles, 14 for losses along with a pair of
interceptions. Graduate Ricky McCollum, who missed the 2008 season
with a leg injury, will move to linebacker from the secondary this
season. Junior Jesus Cardona returns after missing part of last
season with an injury. Cardona recorded 17 tackles and one
interception in five games last season. Junior Rich Bonhomme also
returns for the Setters and will push the playing time this season
after posting 16 tackles in 2008. Newcomers Steve Alesi, Eliott
Johnson, Thaddeus Kowal and Yves Delpeche give the Setters plenty
of depth at the linebacker position.
DEFENSIVE BACK
NE-10 Second Team All-Conference and D2Football.com Preseason All
NE-10 selection Greg Brain returns to lead a talented group of
defensive backs. Last season, Brain led the team with 76 tackles
and three interceptions. He ranked tenth in the conference in
tackles and was tied for eighth in interceptions. The Setters
return John Induisi and Albert Walden from last season as both
players saw action in all ten games in 2008. Induisi recorded 26
tackles and one interception, while Walden posted 27 tackles. Coach
Iezzi brought in a pair of transfers from the University of
Connecticut in Marvin Taylor and Glen Mourning. Both players are
expected to see immediate playing time and contribute in the
secondary. Red-shirt freshman Ruben Austin-Schmidt along with Mike
Aydinian and Raphael Polonco will look to push the starters for
playing time this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Ali Mourtada returns as the primary punter and place
kicker in 2009. Last season Mourtada averaged 34.8 yards per punt,
while connecting on 6-of-11 field goals, good for a third place tie
in the NE-10. Mourtada was also 24-for-27 on extra point attempts.
The primary long snapper for the Setters will be Colin Brady. In
the kick return game, Eric Ortega and Justin Polanis return as the
primary kick returners for the Setters this season.
