Today we will highlight the defensive side of the ball as we preview the 2005 Georgetown football season and countdown to the season opener at Bucknell on Saturday, September 3. Led by three 2004 All-Patriot League selections, preseason All-American lineman
Michael Ononibaku, lineman
Alex Buzbee and safety
Maurice Banks, the Hoya defense looks to improve on its efforts of last season where they finished third in the league and 25th in the nation in total defense.
Defensive Ends
Possibly the nation's top defensive end tandem plays at Georgetown. All-League players Michael Ononibaku and Alex Buzbee both rejoin the Hoyas after tying for the league lead in sacks with 10.5 each last season. The two wreak havoc in the opponent's backfield generating a combined 31 tackles for a loss last year and were the only two players on the same team in the top 10 nationally for sacks.
Ononibaku, Georgetown's two-time Eacobacci Memorial Jersey selection, is a contender for Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and is one of the nation's top defensive ends. He started all 11 games last season as a junior and finished the year as an All-Patriot League First Team member and on Don Hansen's Football Gazette's NCAA Division I-AA First Team Defense All-America team. Ononibaku takes over captain duties this year after ending last year first in the Patriot League in tackles for a loss with 1.68 per game and racked up a combined 64 stops, placing third on the Hoyas.
The other end, Buzbee, started every game last year and was rewarded with All-Patriot League Second Team honors. He tied with Ononibaku for the league lead in sacks and placed fourth in the conference with 12.5 tackles for a loss. Buzbee already ranks sixth on Georgetown's all-time sack list as just a junior and is 24th in the Patriot League rankings with 15.5 career sacks.
Stepping back into the end position for another year of action will be juniors Kris Cooper and Shaun Johnson along with sophomores Stephen Smith and Brad White. Also adding depth to the position will be sophomore Dennis Hannan and freshmen Anthony DiTomasso, Ataefiok Etukeren and Nicholas Umar.
No. Name Year Ht. Wt.
89 Alex Buzbee** Jr. 6-4 225
46 Kris Cooper** Jr. 6-1 220
57 Anthony DiTomasso Fr. 6-2 215
99 Ataefiok Etukeren Fr. 6-4 235
54 Dennis Hannan So. 6-1 205
90 Shaun Johnson** Jr. 6-2 235
35 Michael Ononibaku*** Sr. 6-1 235
52 Stephen Smith* So. 6-1 190
39 Nicholas Umar Fr. 6-2 215
96 Brad White* So. 6-3 250
Defensive Tackles
A corps group of returning veterans venture back to the middle of Georgetown's defensive line this season. Junior Julius Griauzde and sophomore Nnamdi Obiako along with seniors Dan Cordisco and Jason Abrams are the main stays and will all battle for playing time.
Griauzde is a two year starter at defensive tackle and has not missed a game in his two seasons. He is a work horse and excels at stopping the run. Griauzde finished last season with 35 tackles but his main task was taking out multiple opposing linemen and letting the linebackers clean up. Next to Griauzde is sophomore noseguard Obiako. Obiako played in nine games last season and totaled 12 stops. He needs to be a strong presence up front and should see major field time.
Seniors Cordisco and Abrams were both contributors last year. This will be Cordisco's second year on the team after transferring from St. Mary's (CA) last year. He is quick off the ball and made 13 tackles plus had a fumble return for a score against St. Francis in the season opener. Abrams meanwhile has been a two year provider of defensive stops from the noseguard slot. He has 37 tackles in his career and in 2004 he played in seven games. Roosevelt Donat is a junior with one year of experience and could see time at defensive tackle.
The newcomers to this lot are sophomore Dan Mita, who joined the team in the spring, and freshman Manny Navarro.
No. Name Year Ht. Wt.
51 Jason Abrams Sr. 6-2 235
76 Dan Cordisco* Sr. 6-2 275
98 Roosevelt Donat* Jr. 5-9 255
13 Julius Griauzde** Jr. 6-4 275
Dan Mita So. 5-11 202
91 Nnamdi Obiako* So. 5-11 220
59 Manny Navarro Fr. 6-0 250
Linebackers
The past Hoya linebacking corps has always dictated how the defense will fare. This year will be no different as five veteran backers rejoin the defense including last season's top talent: Jason Carter, Mehdi Hassan, Jackson Dismukes, Christopher Paulus and Rob Smith. All together those five bring back the same experience, toughness and attitude which have carried the Hoyas in past seasons.
The seniors Carter, Hassan, Dismukes and Smith are all veteran defenders who can play the pass and run equally well. Carter is a two year starter at the "rover" slot and has three years of significant experience. Last year he totaled 49 tackles in 11 games, ranking fifth on the Hoyas plus was 10th in the league for passes defended with eight. Hassan had a breakout junior year, leading the team in tackles with 102 which ranked fourth in the Patriot League, and starting all 11 games. He has good instincts and stays focused on the field. The third senior, Dismukes, earned the starting nod last season but had his season cut short after just four games, suffering a leg injury. He had 15 stops on the season and can disrupt the opponent's offensive strategy with his intelligent play. Smith is a two-sport athlete at Georgetown, also suiting up for the nationally ranked lacrosse team. He saw time in all 11 games last year and can play either the "rover" slot or inside linebacker.
Paulus emerged last year as a sophomore and ranked second on the team in tackles with 77. He ranked 12th in the conference for tackles per game with seven a contest and recovered a team high three fumbles. Paulus is sure tackler and is one of the bigger Hoya linebackers.
Joe Kuhns suits up for his final year on the Hilltop. He played in eight games last year and could see more time this season. Two sophomores, Mike Greene and Chris Higgins, return as linebackers as well. Greene saw some action last season while Higgins had a good spring and should contribute.
Four freshmen bring strong high school accolades to the linebacker position as Dean Duchak, Robert Helt, Justin Young and Travis Zorrilla all look to become contributors to the defense.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
2 Jason Carter *** Sr. 5-11 215
Dean Duchak Fr. 5-11 205
42 Mike Greene* So. 6-1 225
55 Mehdi Hassan*** Sr. 6-1 215
56 Robert Helt Fr. 6-1 227
40 Chris Higgins* So. 5-11 210
17 Joe Kuhns*** Sr. 6-1 220
53 Christopher Paulus** Jr. 6-2 220
32 Rob Smith** Sr. 6-0 180
43 Justin Young Fr. 6-0 210
47 Travis Zorrilla Fr. 6-0 205
Cornerbacks
Three players with significant experience will be counted on to shut down the passing game this season. Brian Tandy, Derek Franks and Mikey Blainefield all found themselves as starters last season and were an integral part of Georgetown's ability to stay aggressive on defense. All three can cover one-on-one and are sure tacklers.
The junior duo of Tandy and Franks shined last season as sophomores. Tandy played in nine games and totaled 18 tackles along with two pass breakups. He is a good cover corner and has superb athleticism. Franks saw time in every game and finished the year ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 43 plus had four tackles in the backfield, two sacks and five pass breakups. He is a fierce player who also excels on special teams. Second year man Blainefield had a number of starts in his first season and played in all 11 contests. He totaled 15 stops and intercepted two passes.
Two sophomores looking to see some time are Kevin Cherepski and Darren Craft. Cherepski saw five games of action as a freshman mainly on special teams. Craft's moments were limited in 2004 but he could see time in year number two.
Torre Soderlund and Michael Venditti will suit up in the Blue and Gray for the first time and will try to have an immediate impact.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
28 Mikey Blainefield* So. 5-9 185
29 Kevin Cherepski* So. 5-11 180
84 Darren Craft So. 5-11 170
4 Derek Franks** Jr. 5-11 190
36 Torre Soderlund Fr. 6-1 185
21 Brian Tandy** Jr. 5-9 170
48 Michael Venditti Fr. 5-9 185
Safeties
Both starting safeties from last season will step back into their roles this season as seniors Maurice Banks and Sheldon Epps will play their final year on the Hilltop. Banks and Epps controlled the Hoya secondary last season and helped account for the defense recording 17 interceptions and breaking up 35 passes.
Banks takes over free safety duties for the third straight year. He is one of Georgetown's most aggressive players and earned All-League Honors last season after recording a team high four interceptions and finishing fourth on the squad in tackles with 53. Banks is a team captain this year and has started the last 23 games in the Hoyas' defensive backfield.
Epps will retake his safety spot next to Banks for the second consecutive year. He is one the team's most consistent performers and totaled 41 stops as a junior along with an interception and one sack. Epps is quick and has all-league potential.
Two sophomores back up the starting senior tandem as Matt Barbiasz and John Lancaster step into significant roles this year. Barbiasz played in eight contests in 2004 and his career game came against Bucknell when he returned an interception 99 yards for a score and registered six tackles plus recovered a fumble. Lancaster was a wide out last year and saw most of his time on special teams, playing in 10 affairs. Both Barbiasz and Lancaster posses good speed and have a full year of experience now to rely upon.
Also returning is junior Patrick Neuman who played in two contests last year and Andrew Hartigan who switched over from quarterback. Joining the secondary for year number one is freshman Chris Parker.
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
18 Maurice Banks *** Sr. 6-3 190
27 Matt Barbiasz* So. 6-0 182
11 Sheldon Epps *** Sr. 6-0 193
16 Andrew Hartigan* So. 5-10 175
30 John Lancaster* So. 6-0 185
41 Patrick Neuman** Jr. 6-3 200
25 Chris Parker Fr. 5-11 190
