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After back-to-back runs to the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Wittenberg Tigers must replace seven starters on each side of the ball in 2011. The expectations remain high, however, for a team riding a 20-game regular season win streak as 34 letterwinners return in search of a third straight North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship.
Among those returning letterwinners are a host of record-breaking offensive skill positions players, led by senior quarterback Ben Zoeller (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). He will be trying to top a 2010 season in which he broke numerous school records while throwing for nearly 3,000 yards in his first year as a starter. He was rewarded after the season with NCAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Three of Zoeller's top four receiving targets are back as well, led by senior wide receiver Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), who broke more than a half-dozen Wittenberg and NCAC records in 2010 while leading the nation in receiving yards per game during the regular season. On the other side of the field, senior wideout Michael Cooper (Springfield, Ohio/South) hopes to return to his 2009 form, when he broke the school record for receptions in a season with 60 (McKee broke it in 2010 with 67).
McKee starts the season ranked second in program history with 172 career receptions, while Cooper stands seventh with 115. McKee holds the record for career receiving yards with 2,945, while Cooper is seventh in this category as well at 1,740.
When he isn't flinging the ball around the field, Zoeller will be handing the ball off to the senior tailback tandem of Corey Weber (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and Conner Warye (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) for a third straight year. The pair has combined to accumulate more than 3,500 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns (rushing and receiving) over the last two seasons.
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For the Tigers' offense to reach the same heights as the last two years, however, an offensive line rebuild must prove successful. There is a great deal of talent and experience in the new unit, however, starting with fifth-year senior tackle Brian Alspaugh (Greenfield, Ind./Scecina Memorial). Six letterwinners are among a host of players competing for starting positions on the line in 2011.
While the offense has been stellar in recent years, the Tiger defense has been just as dominant. A significant rebuilding project is in order along the defensive line and linebacking units in 2011, after graduation losses that include defensive end Eddie Vallery, the 2009 National Defensive Player of the Year, and linebacker Brad McKinley, a four-time first-team All-NCAC selection. Just two starters return to the front seven, starting with senior Zach Hurtt (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands), a three-year starting linebacker who earned first-team all-conference honoree each of the last two years and enters 2011 with more than 200 career tackles. Also back is junior defensive tackle Justin Bartlett (Washington, Pa./McGuffey), who contributed two sacks in 2011, his second year as a starter.
The strength of the defense coming into the season appears to be a veteran backfield, starting with senior safety Seth Parker (DeGraff, Ohio/Riverside), a first-team All-NCAC selection in 2010. He will provide support in coverage to the junior cornerback tandem of Jamaal Everett (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) and Karlos Marshall (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield), who combined for four interceptions and 16 passes defensed a year ago.
Finally, the coaching staff must find a new punter, but the kicking situation appears to be in good hands with the return of junior Sean Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield). He tied a school record with 12 field goals in 2010, and he added 43-of-44 extra points to finish with 79 total points, second-most on the team.
2010 Record 10-1
NCAC Record 7-0 (1st)
Letterwinners Returning (34) Offensive: 18, Defensive: 14, Specialist: 2
Letterwinners Lost (30) Offensive: 14, Defensive: 13, Specialist: 3
Starters Returning (9) Offensive: 4, Defensive 4, Specialist: 1
Starters Lost (15) Offensive: 7, Defensive 7, Specialist: 1
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3
Letterwinners Returning (34):
Offense (18) - Michael Cooper, Josh Boggan, Corey Weber, Ben Zoeller, Reed Florence, Josh McKee, Garth Gilbert, Conner Warye, Ian McNeill, Matt Widemon, A.J. Owen, Adam Klever, Alan Trump, Brendon Cunningham, Jonathan Stoner, Desi Kirkman, Ethan Sharpin, Dane Boggs
Defense (14) - Ryan Smith, Karlos Marshall, Seth Parker, Chris Stone, Jamaal Everett, Zach Hurtt, Mark Swope, Spencer Leno, Jonathan Daniels, Cory Cosby, Josh Montgomery, Jimmy Neyhouse, Justin Bartlett, Vinny Harshaw
Specialists (2) - Sean Williams, Corey Smith
Letterwinners Lost (30):
Offense (14) - Bill French, Andrew Durbin, Billy West, Mike Montgomery, Jeremy Block, Tony Eich, Brian Alspaugh, Jake Kerger, Alex Burwell, Nick Hudepohl, Anthony Kralich, Mat Guida, Logan Beam, Jon Ingerman
Defense (13) - Ben Maxwell, Ty Whittington, Brad McKinley, Keenan Freeman, Ben Merkert, Field Davis, Eddie Vallery, Adam Kattoua, Nic Wolfe, Josh Colbert, Dustin Holmes, Casey Crable, Raphael Allen
Specialists (3) - Trevor Cochran, David Rome, Terry Perkins
Starters Returning (9):
Offense (4) - WR Michael Cooper, WR Josh McKee, TB Corey Weber, QB Ben Zoeller
Defense (4) - LB Zach Hurtt, S Seth Parker, CB Jamaal Everett, DT Justin Bartlett
Specialists (1) - K Sean Williams
Starters Lost (15):
Offense (7) - OT Alex Burwell, OG Tony Eich, C Jeremy Block, OG Nick Hudepohl, TE Mat Guida, FB Mike Montgomery, OT Jon Ingerman
Defense (7) - DE Eddie Vallery, DE Nic Wolfe, DT Adam Kattoua, LB Brad McKinley, LB Ben Maxwell, CB Keenan Freeman, S Ty Whittington
Specialists (1) - P Trevor Cochran
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence