8/9/2004
DEFENSE
Defensive Ends
One of the strong suits this season will be the defensive ends. All-League Michael Ononibaku returns along with standouts Jason Abrams and Alex Buzbee. The ends last season helped the Hoyas record 29 sacks and 77 tackles in the backfield.
Ononibaku was an All-Patriot League Second Team selection last season after his sophomore campaign. He started all 12 games and recorded 50 tackles, 14 tackles for losses and eight sacks. Ononibaku ranked third in the league for sacks per game and fourth in tackles for loss. He wreaks havoc in the opponent?s backfield and will once again step into the right end slot.
Abrams, a junior, and Buzbee, a sophomore, will each be seeing time at left defensive end. Abrams ranked 11th on the team in tackles last year with 31 and became a defensive stopper in just his sophomore season. He can get around the end and also take up blockers. Buzbee?s first season was a grand success as he earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors after the Towson game and closed the year with 28 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks. He is quick and agile and will consistently be disrupting the opposing offense in 2004.
Returning for year two at end will be Jerome Butcher-Green, Kris Cooper and Shaun Johnson. Butcher-Green saw time in two contests last year and could see more time this season. Cooper and Johnson both will provide depth on the line and freshman Nnamdi Obiako will also look to make an impact in 2004.
No. Name Year Ht. Wt.
51 Jason Abrams Jr. 6-2 235
89 Alex Buzbee So. 6-4 225
35 Michael Ononibaku Jr. 6-1 235
56 Jerome Butcher-Green So. 6-2 240
46 Kris Cooper So. 6-1 220
45 Shaun Johnson So. 6-2 235
91 Nnamdi Obiako Fr. 5-11 220
Defensive Tackles
The defensive tackle position is another slot where the Hoyas return a strong group of veterans. With size and quickness up front last season GU held the opponent to under 1,750 rushing yards and a 3.8 per rush average.
Team tri-captain and senior Brandon Small could see time at nose guard or could see time at defensive end. Small is a strong individual with a lot of game day experience. He played in all 12 games last season, the majority at end. On the year Small recorded 18 tackles and had three sacks.
Battling for the other tackle spot are sophomore Julius Griauzde and senior Jim Goranson. Griauzde was an impact player last year as a freshman, making 28 stops and playing in all 12 games. He is thick and strong and is one of GU?s top run stoppers. Goranson saw his first significant action as a Hoya last year after an injury plagued sophomore campaign. He recorded nine tackles and this season will be expected to pick that number up with his increased playing time.
Paul Rowsey and Steve Cummings return in 2004 as well. Rowsey joins the Hoyas for year number three and could see time at any of the four line spots. Cummings is a returning sophomore with good size and will add depth.
Joining the Hoya front line will be three newcomers: Dan Cordisco, Roosevelt Donat, Brad White and John Kaszuba. Cordisco transferred to GU after spending his first three seasons at St. Mary?s College in California. Donat is a sophomore while White and Kaszuba are both freshmen.
No. Name Year Ht. Wt.
59 Brandon Small Sr. 6-3 232
90 Julius Griauzde So. 6-4 275
99 Jim Goranson Sr. 6-4 240
48 Paul Rowsey Jr. 6-2 265
84 Steve Cummings So. 6-1 270
76 Dan Cordisco Jr. 6-2 275
98 Roosevelt Donat So. 5-9 255
96 Brad White Fr. 6-3 250
92 John Kaszuba Fr. 6-3 255
Linebackers
Talent and dedication have described the Hoya linebackers the past few seasons. Two starters have departed but the incoming crew brings speedy feet and a hard-hitting attitude.
Senior Jason Carter is one starter returning. He will continue in his ?rover? position after seeing action in all 12 games last year and registering 47 stops, which ranked seventh on the squad. Carter has all the characteristics of being a big playmaker, possessing strength, smarts and quicks.
Two upperclassmen and two sophomores will be vying for the other two starting linebacker slots. Senior Jackson Dismukes and junior Mehdi Hassan have been contributors the past two seasons but mainly on the special teams. Both maintain good balance and are sure-tacklers. Dismukes totaled five stops and an interception in 2003 while Hassan totaled 14 tackles and a sack. The sophomore duo of Christopher Paulus and Matt Cooper had a great spring and are ready to jump into the mix. Both were also significant members of last year?s special teams squads.
Greg Davis and Patrick Neuman, both sophomores, and Joe Kuhns, a junior, will contend for playing time. Davis is GU?s long snapper but has shown he can make plays at linebacker as well. Neuman moves to linebacker after suiting up as a defensive back. Kuhns started his career at defensive line and could see time this year.
Five freshmen will begin their Hoya careers at linebacker: Mike Greene, Chris Higgins, Michael Shotwell, Stephen Smith and Kyle Van Fleet. All five have good size and could be contributors this season.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
2 Jason Carter Sr. 5-11 215
55 Mehdi Hassan Jr. 6-1 215
43 Jackson Dismukes Sr. 6-1 220
53 Christopher Paulus So. 6-2 220
44 Matt Cooper So. 6-2 230
58 Greg Davis So. 6-2 225
41 Patrick Neuman So. 6-3 200
17 Joe Kuhns Jr. 6-1 220
42 Mike Greene Fr. 6-1 225
40 Chris Higgins Fr. 5-11 210
22 Michael Shotwell Fr. 6-0 210
52 Stephen Smith Fr. 6-1 190
57 Kyle Van Fleet Fr. 6-1 200
Cornerbacks
The starting cornerback tandem of last season will be replaced this year with youth and quickness. Only senior Adam Banks has more than one season of experience under his belt but this year?s sophomore class is prepared to rise to the occasion in 2004.
Banks has been a playmaker in his first three seasons, totaling four interceptions with two returned for scores. Last year his minutes were limited due to injuries but he still managed to suit up in nine games and record 24 tackles. He is deceptively quick and has a great break on the ball after it is released.
The sophomore class of Derrick Deese, Derek Franks and Brian Tandy will all see major minutes in the defensive backfield in 2004. All three were integral parts of the special teams last season. Deese has good cover skills and emerged from the group after spring ball. Franks is the biggest and possibly the fastest of the returning corners and did see action in GU?s nickel package. He recorded 18 tackles and had a fumble recovery. Tandy maintains good balance and is a very heady football player.
Brett Walter is a senior with a great work ethic and will be in a position to see time this year.
The five returnees will be joined by two incoming freshmen. Richard Blainefield and Kevin Cherepski will compete for playing time in 2004.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
36 Derrick Deese So. 5-9 175
19 Adam Banks Sr. 5-9 175
4 Derek Franks So. 5-11 190
33 Brian Tandy So. 5-9 170
31 Brett Walter Sr. 5-11 180
28 Richard Blainefield Fr. 5-9 185
29 Kevin Cherepski Fr. 5-11 180
Safeties
Some of Georgetown?s top athletes can be found at the safety position. Returning junior starter Maurice Banks is one of the Hoyas? most athletic players and will resume his starting spot at strong safety. Banks is a big hitting safety who can cover a lot of ground quickly. He closed last season fifth on the team in tackles with 48 and had one interception and four tackles in the backfield.
Joining Banks, as a starter in the defensive backfield could be fellow junior Sheldon Epps, sophomore Michael Hoy or junior transfer Jason Malone. Epps has seen significant action his first two seasons including 11 games last year. He is a powerful player and can be a force as both a cover safety and a run-stopper. Hoy played well in the spring and added bulk in the offseason. He will be counted to contribute. Malone meanwhile comes to Georgetown from the University of New Mexico where he saw limited time last season. He is a sure-tackler with strength and experience.
Matt Barbiasz, a freshman, will also see his first collegiate action at safety. Junior Brian Golper had back surgery and will miss this year after having a successful sophomore campaign.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
18 Maurice Banks Jr. 6-3 190
11 Sheldon Epps Jr. 6-0 193
47 Michael Hoy So. 6-2 195
98 Jason Malone Jr. 6-2 190
27 Matt Barbiasz Fr. 6-0 182
38 Brian Golper Jr. 5-10 180
SPECIAL TEAMS
Georgetown?s starting punter and kicker return from last year but the Hoyas will be searching for a new kick returner and punt returner in 2004.
Kickers
Two seasons as GU?s top place kicker should help junior Michael Gillman land the leading spot. Gillman was injured to begin 2003 but then came on to hit 24-of-29 PATs and connect on six field goals. He has a big leg and has confidence to hit pressure kicks. Joining the competition for kicker will be returning junior Rob Smith. Smith is also a punter and did start last season?s opener at kicker. Brad Scoffern, Eric Bjonerud and Christopher MacGriff both are newcomers to Harbin Field. Scoffern is a junior transfer from St. Mary?s College in California where he was the starting place kicker in 2003. Bjonerud is a freshman that will push for some kicks.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
83 Michael Gillman Jr. 6-0 195
32 Rob Smith Jr. 6-0 180
94 Brad Scoffern Jr. 6-1 175
95 Eric Bjonerud Fr. 6-0 185
97 Christopher MacGriff Fr. 5-11 184
Punters
Sophomore Keith Allan took over Hoya punting duties last year four games into the season. He is also a quarterback and presents a ?keep ?em honest? presence to the opponent?s punt defense. Allan averaged 34.2 yards per punt and placed 11 kicks inside the 20. Rob Smith began the 2003 as GU?s punter and recorded 20 punts and a 30.9 yard average. The two newcomer kickers, Brad Scoffern and Eric Bjonerud, also will be in mix for starting punter.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
5 Keith Allan So. 6-2 190
32 Rob Smith Jr. 6-0 180
94 Brad Scoffern Jr. 6-1 175
95 Eric Bjonerud Fr. 6-0 185
Return Specialists
Five players will be in a battle for both the top kickoff returner and punt returner. Junior Kim Sarin has the speed and battle toughness to land both roles. In 2003 Sarin handled four kickoffs after taking 29 as a freshman, he has a career 19.8 yard average. He also returned four punts last season and totaled 52 yards. Derek Franks and Jonathan Edwards both spent time handling kicks in the spring and will continue that in the fall. Franks is quick and can break tackles while Edwards brings flat out speed. Also in the mix will be Brian Tandy and Craig Agnello.
Senior running back John Sims will also see time on the kickoff return unit. Sims has seen limited time as a kick returner during his previous three seasons.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
20 Kim Sarin Jr. 5-7 155
4 Derek Franks So. 5-11 190
3 Jonathan Edwards So. 5-11 180
24 John Sims Sr. 5-9 185
33 Brian Tandy So. 5-9 170
9 Craig Agnello Sr. 6-0 190
