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Football
Panther Football Team to Report Sunday; First Practice Slated for Monday
The University of Northern Iowa football team will report to camp on Sun., Aug. 3, and then begin practice on Mon., Aug. 4. The Panthers will be prepping for a season opener Aug. 30 at No. 17-ranked Brigham Young University.
UNI will look to take another step toward becoming the top program in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2008. UNI made major strides in 2007 with a perfect regular season, No. 1 national ranking, three home sellouts and head coach Mark Farley earned the Eddie Robinson Award. The Panthers return 40 letterwinners and 13 starters from last year’s squad which posted a 12-1 overall record.
In 2008, UNI will look to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 1995-1996 seasons. The 1996 squad capped a streak of seven straight conference titles and playoff appearances.
UNI has been picked to finish second in the 2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll behind league newcomer North Dakota State.
For the Panthers to reach the playoffs they will have to replace both the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Offensive and Defensive players of the year in quarterback Eric Sanders and linebacker Brannon Carter. UNI must also look to four new starters on the offensive line. UNI’s offensive line included a pair of NFL draft picks in Chad Rinehart (3rd round – Washington Redskins) and Brandon Keith (7th round – Arizona Cardinals) in 2007.
Despite the loss of key contributors, the Panthers return a strong nucleus on both sides of the ball.
Senior running back Corey Lewis needs 1,146 rushing yards to becoming the school’s all-time leader. Lewis already owns the Panthers’ single-season rushing record as he tallied 1,513 yards last season. Lewis has 15 100-plus rushing efforts on his resume heading into the 2008 campaign.
Senior wide receiver/returner Johnny Gray is one of the nation’s most electrifying players with the ball in his hands. Gray led the Valley last season in receptions (70), receiving yards per game (70.0) and punt return yards (16.9/return). Gray secured 1,452 all-purpose yards to rank second on the team.
Defensively, the Panthers will lean on senior middle linebacker De’Veon Harris and a quartet of defensive linemen. Harris, a member of the Valley’s all-newcomer team and a second-team all-Valley pick last year, finished second on the team with 87 total tackles.
Heading the defensive front is senior Mark Huygens and juniors James Ruffin, Chuck Kinney and Wes Lane. Ruffin earned first-team all-Valley honors last season, while Huygens was a second-team choice.
The Panthers also return placekicker Billy Hallgren, who was named to the Valley’s all-newcomer team after tying for the team lead with 96 points.
The Panthers first practice is schedule for Aug. 4 at 3:15. UNI’s annual media day is Aug. 6 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Panthers will also practice on media day at 3:15 p.m. All practices will take place on the outdoor practice fields (weather permitting) and are open to the public.
2008 UNI Preseason Football Practice Schedule
2008 UNI Football Season Preview
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Ruffin will start for the second straight season at one of the end slots. Ruffin’s eight tackles-for-loss ranked second on the squad last season.
Huygens, who will hold down one of the middle spots on the line, notched 34 tackles, including seven for losses and 4.5 quarterback sacks. Huygens enters the 2008 season as a preseason All-America choice.
“Mark really made himself into what he is today,” Farley said. “He’s gained the weight, gained the strength, all those things, so he could be a tackle or defensive end. And that is a great combination, because when he does pass-rush from the inside position, he’s really got the edge of the speed factor. He plays with a high motor, and he makes a lot of plays.”
Junior Chuck Kinney started at nose guard in 11 of 13 games last season and will look to do more of the same this season. Kinney registered a pair of sacks and 27 total tackles.
“Chuck’s just a hard-nosed football player who is not a real vocal person,” Farley said. “You notice him by how he plays, not because you hear him. You watch his intensity. That’s what you see more so than his personality after a play. He could play either end or tackle. He just really fits that tackle spot. I think that’s where he sees himself. He’s very comfortable in there.”
Senior Justin Kirk made the move from linebacker to defensive end in the spring and will battle with senior Jeremy Robertson for the other end spot left open after the graduation of honorable mention all-league pick Jordan Lacy.
“Justin didn’t get to play a whole lot last season for us, and we think he’s a very good football player and a great leader,” Farley said. “He’s a guy who loves to play. We’re just trying to find a way to use him in our defense because I think he brings the intangibles of attitude and personality to our defense.”
Senior Everette Pedescleaux and junior Wes Lane will also see extensive action on the interior defensive line after playing key roles last season. Redshirt freshman Ben Boothby, who missed spring drills with a broken wrist, will also be in the mix.
Junior college transfer Joe Cason could also work his way into action at defensive end.
Linebackers
“The first things you look for in a linebacker are the speed, instinctiveness and savvy – the things that are hard to coach,” Farley said. “De’Veon has all those things. He’s made a huge difference. He makes a difference in our coverage ability and what coverages we can play. It opens up a whole other avenue of things we can consider doing. He’s quiet, but he’s really intelligent. He’s football smart, and he does a good job in the classroom. We’re pretty lucky to have him here.”
Sophomore Jamar Thompson will look to move into a full-time starting role at outside linebacker. Thompson earned his first collegiate start of the season against Delaware in the FCS playoff quarterfinal matchup. Thompson ranked seventh on the squad with 43 tackles in 2007.
Junior Josh Mahoney is listed as the other starting outside linebacker heading into camp. Mahoney did a little bit of everything last season as he recorded 15 tackles, a tackle-for-loss, recovered a fumble and intercepted his first pass.
Redshirt freshman Jordan Smith will battle for playing time at outside linebacker. Smith was named the Panthers’ Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year while redshirting last season.
Redshirt freshman Shawn Gerard will backup Harris at middle linebacker, but look for him to contribute on special teams as well.
Defensive Backs
Lloyd, who started all 13 games at cornerback, tied for second on the squad with three interceptions in 2007.
Roberts began the season as a starter before a stress fracture in his leg forced him to miss four games. Roberts did return to the field and played in the final five games of the season, and he tied for second on the squad with three interceptions as well.
When Roberts missed his time with the leg injury, it opened up a starting spot for senior Terrell McMoore and he jumped at the opportunity. McMoore started the final nine games of the season, while notching 32 total tackles.
Terrell’s twin brother Sean McMoore gained his chance to shine this spring and built confidence for the fall.
“This spring it was good to have the two McMoore boys out there together,” Farley said. “They’ve stayed healthy, which has been fortunate for us. They’ve gotten a lot of reps and a lot of turns playing that corner position. I feel comfortable with those two.”
The two safety spots will be held down by seniors Nick Nelson and Curtis Meier. Meier joined the starting lineup against Missouri State and started the final five games of the season. Meier notched 22 total stops on the year.
Nelson, who began his Panther career as a quarterback, will put a wrap on his four-year career at safety this fall. Nelson has seen action in each game the past three seasons will battle fellow senior Ben Schmidt at safety.
Redshirt freshman Tre’Darrius Canady will also see action at safety.
OFFENSE
Offensive Line
The lone starter to return on the offensive line is senior Bob Swift. He started 11 games at left guard and a pair of games at left tackle while helping the Panthers to a perfect regular season mark and No. 1 national ranking. Swift will move to right tackle this fall.
Junior Austin Howard will move from starting tight end to the starting left tackle slot.
“(Howard) is great in pass protection,” Farley said. “I think it’s inevitable that if he plays at another level that’s what he’d play at (tackle). He gives us that dimension of size and his athleticism. If he’s good enough to be a starting tight end, he’s that much quicker and faster as a tackle. He’s always been a big man – since the day he walked in the door. But his growth as a player is what’s significant.”
Moving into the starting guard slots will be juniors Austin Steichen and Jason Fiacco. Steichen started two games last fall at left guard when Swift moved out to tackle. Fiacco has been a backup center and guard during his first two years with the Panthers.
Junior Jordan Limbaugh will take on the center responsibilities after backing up there a year ago.
“Jordan Limbaugh is a guy who has shown up and done a nice job,” Farley said. “I think he could be a tackle or center. We put him at center to find that last piece of the puzzle, to see if that’s the right combination.”
Those expected to see time as key components of special teams and reserve roles include redshirt freshman Mitch Houk at left tackle, sophomore Jake Gonnering at left guard, sophomore Austin Zlab at center, senior Brett Bergman at right guard and redshirt freshman Jay Teply at right tackle.
Quarterbacks
Grace has seen action in 10 games in his Panther career and has completed 7-of-8 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed for 90 yards and three touchdowns in limited action.
“I feel good at the quarterback position with Pat,” Farley said. “The future looks bright. He was an option quarterback in high school, and you can see that we can do some things with him running the football. He’s got a great arm, as well.”
Grace was held out of the spring game so the coaches could gain a greater knowledge of the backup slot and redshirt freshman Zach Davis asserted himself into that role. Davis went 12-for-21 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown in the spring game for the purple squad.
Running Backs
Lewis, a first-team all-conference pick last year, will make Grace’s job pretty easy when he hands the ball off to the Panthers’ senior running back – or for that matter when he dumps off passes to Lewis in the flat.
Lewis flashed his brilliance last season at South Dakota State when he became the first Panther running back to tally both 100-plus yards rushing and receiving. Lewis rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns while making 10 catches for 164 receiving yards for 289 all-purpose yards in a 31-17 win against the Jackrabbits.
“Here is a kid that came in from a small town in Nebraska and has fit in nicely as a UNI Panther,” Farley said. “He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school but we were able to get him to Cedar Falls and he’s been a great player for us.”
Junior Derrick Law and sophomore Taylor Brookins will see action when Lewis needs a breather this fall. Law was able to step in last season and provide a boost to the Panther running game with 371 yards and three touchdowns. Law tallied his first 100-plus rushing effort in a 68-14 win over Indiana State with 105 yards and a touchdown. Brookins toted the ball 47 times last season for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season.
Wide Receivers
“We've got a lot of versatility there,” Farley said. “From Johnny Gray to Victor Williams to Montari Leonard to Maurice Turner and even to some of the newcomers – it’s a really a lot of different guys who do their jobs well. It’s nice to have those options for Pat to have when he looks downfield.”
Senior Johnny Gray is one of the most explosive FCS players in the nation when he gets his hands on the ball. Gray, a first-team all-conference receiver and second-team all-league returner, will look to cap his Panther career with yet another standout season in 2008. Gray started 12 of 13 games last season and led the squad with 70 receptions.
One of the Panthers’ bigger pass-catching options is 6’4” senior Victor Williams. Williams started 12 of the 13 games last season and tied for the team lead with five touchdown receptions. Williams ranked third on the team with 40 receptions for 520 yards.
“Victor is deceivingly fast,” Farley said. “He’s got good quickness. He’ll make people miss. And he can adjust to a football. He’s got that great height, and he knows how to position himself and let the ball come in where he can catch it. He’s good for the team as a person as much as he is as a player. He’s got a great personality, and he’s low-key. He’s not one of those guys who's in there hollering. He fits the whole offensive group with his personality as much as his play. You can just see that he understands the offense. He knows where he’s supposed to line up and what he’s supposed to do.”
Sophomore Montari Leonard will look to build on his strong finish last season. Leonard tallied eight of his nine catches in the final four games of the season and led the team in yards per reception (19.6). Despite only nine total catches, he ranked third on the team with three touchdown receptions.
Leonard will always be remembered for his juggling game-winning 24-yard touchdown reception from Eric Sanders with only seven seconds left in a 38-35 win over New Hampshire in the playoffs.
“He struggled early in the season," Farley said. "It was a great deal for him to get his confidence up with the touchdown passes he caught late in the year. Especially the New Hampshire game – that will live a long time in the memories of many people that are around UNI football. Those types of things are important for us, and those things are going to make a difference for us this year and the upcoming years.”
Sophomore Maurice Turner will look to step up this season as well after seeing action in four games last season and latching on to two passes for 59 yards.
“Maurice understands where he belongs in the routes now, and he’s always had great hands,” Farley said. “He just needs to continue to build that confidence, and then the quarterbacks need to continue to build that confidence in him. That’s the kind of a partnership that’s growing between our quarterbacks and all our receivers.”
Redshirt freshman Josh Collins and sophomore Schuylar Oordt will battle for the third wide receiver spot. Oordt was a big-play tight end last season as six of his 12 catches went for at least 22 yards.
The Panthers added Notre Dame transfer D.J. Hord in the offseason. Hord, a 6’1” 197-pound wideout, played two seasons for the Fighting Irish and will have two years of eligibility remaining for UNI. Hord played in 12 games at Notre Dame and he returned seven kickoffs and caught two passes.
Tight Ends
“Ryan Mahaffey’s a great football player,” Farley said. “He’ll be a very good player for us.”
Junior Joel Gilson will serve as Mahaffey’s backup at tight end.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Hallgren was a perfect 45-of-45 on extra point attempts, and his 17 field goals tied for the sixth-most by a Panther kicker in a single-season.
Junior Brook Black will take on the punting duties after Matt Asman quit the team to focus on academics. Black punted one time in the fall for 40 yards in a 45-7 win at Drake.
The Panthers will look to Johnny Gray to spark the kick and punt return squads.
SCHEDULE
The Panthers will open the 2008 season in Provo, Utah, against the No. 17-ranked Brigham Young University Cougars on Aug. 30. BYU finished last season 11-2 and ranked No. 14 in the country after finishing the year with a 17-16 win over UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl. It will be the first meeting between UNI and BYU.
UNI will play its first home game of the season Sept. 6 against the University of South Dakota Coyotes. USD is transitioning from Division II to FCS. The Coyotes posted a mark of 6-5 in their final season of Division II football in 2007. UNI and USD last met in 1982 with the Panthers earning a 41-24 victory over the Coyotes.
After a bye week, the Panthers will begin Missouri Valley Football Conference play in the UNI-Dome Sept. 20 against the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits as a part of the Family Weekend festivities. UNI and SDSU have met the past two seasons with the Panthers scoring victories in Cedar Falls (27-17 in 2006) and in Brookings (31-17 in 2007). For the second consecutive season, SDSU ended the year ranked in the FCS polls. SDSU ended the 2007 season with a 7-4 record after winning seven of its last eight games, which included the Jackrabbits earning the Great West Football Conference championship.
UNI will then travel to Carbondale, Ill., Sept. 27 to take on the Southern Illinois University Salukis. The Panthers defeated the Salukis last season, 30-24, to win the Valley Football title. SIU finished the 2007 season with a 12-2 mark and lost to Delaware in the NCAA FCS semifinals, 20-17. SIU named Dale Lennon, formerly head coach at North Dakota, as its new head coach Dec. 28, 2007.
UNI will begin a stretch of three straight home games on Oct. 4 when the Panthers take on the Nicholls State University Colonels. Nicholls State, located in Thibodeaux, La., is a member of the Southland Conference. The Colonels posted a record of 6-5 last season. It will be the first meeting between UNI and Nicholls State on the gridiron.
Homecoming is set for Oct. 11 when UNI will play host to the Illinois State University Redbirds in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers have won 16 of their last 19 Homecoming contests, including the last three in a row. Illinois State is coming off a 4-7 season, which included a 23-13 loss to UNI.
The Panthers will welcome the North Dakota State University Bison to the UNI-Dome Oct. 18 as the two schools will meet for the first time since 1982. The 2008 season will mark the first year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the Bison. NDSU finished with a 10-1 record for the second straight season including a 3-1 ledger in the Great West Football Conference under the direction of head coach Craig Bohl.
UNI will then finish the season with road contests in four of its last five games. UNI will hit the road Oct. 25 to battle the Youngstown State University Penguins in Youngstown, Ohio. YSU went 7-4 last season, which included a 3-3 mark in Valley Football play. The Panthers have won seven straight games in the series with the Penguins, including a 14-13 win this past season.
The second part of the road trip features a matchup with the Western Illinois University Leathernecks on Nov. 1. It marks the second straight season UNI will travel to Macomb, Ill., to challenge WIU. UNI tallied a 42-3 win last season against the Leathernecks.
The Panthers final home game of the 2008 season will feature the Missouri State University Bears on Nov. 8 in the UNI-Dome. The Bears finished the 2007 season with a 6-5 record. UNI notched a 38-17 victory over Missouri State last season.
UNI will close out the conference portion of the schedule with a trip to Terre Haute, Ind., and a matchup with the Indiana State University Sycamores on Nov. 15. Indiana State will be under the direction of first-year head coach Trent Miles.
The Panthers' regular season finale will take them back to the state of Utah to play the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds in Cedar City on Nov. 22. SUU will also be under the direction of a first-year head coach – Ed Lamb. UNI and SUU have met three times with the Panthers scoring wins in all three matchups. |
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