2016 Football Preview

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College football team begins a new era with a new head coach in Casey Goff.  Goff served as an assistant coach last season as the Defensive Coordinator and working with the safeties. 

Goff takes over a program that finished 2-8 overall in 2015 and 2-6 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish sixth in this season's HCAC Preseason Coaches Poll.  DC will bring in a host of new players that could battle for significant playing time in their first year with the program, but the Jackets will also bring back several experienced players, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

QUARTERBACKS

DC will return two players at the quarterback position that saw playing time last season with junior Logan Scott (Curtice/Genoa) listed at the top of the depth chart going into the preseason.  In 2015, Scott played in five games as the signal caller and ended the year with 48 completions in 131 attempts for a team-best 658 yards.  He also tossed a team-high four TD passes.  Joining Scott at the QB position will be fellow juniors John McKinney (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) and Morgan Dougherty (Cambridge/Buckeye Trail).

McKinney saw time in two games last season in a backup role and completed 11 passes for 75 yards.  Dougherty will move from his wide receiver position to quarterback this year to provide a third option at QB for the Jackets in 2016.              

RUNNING BACKS

Defiance rushed for 1,536 total yards in 2015 and averaged 153.6 yards per game on the ground.  This season, sophomores Corey Bennett (Tampa, Fla./Blake), Jeff Watson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and junior Tyler Gillig (Tiffin/Tiffin Columbian) will be the featured players at the position coming into the season.  Bennett did not play last season as a freshman, but could see significant time in the backfield this fall.  Watson has the most experience running the ball of the featured backs with 63 carries in 2015 for 139 yards (2.2 yards per carry.  He averaged 19.9 yards per game in seven games played.  Gillig could have a versatile role this season lining up both in the backfield as a fullback and as a tight end.  Last year, Gillig's only stats came on special teams with one kick return for two yards.  He also had one tackle. 

Also listed at the running back slot as returners who could provide depth this season include senior Andy Foore (Swanton) and sophomores Wyatt Cadmus (Britton, Mich./Tecumseh) and Tanner Hughes (Pierceton, Ind./Whitko).  Both Foore and Hughes recorded carries last fall with Foore ending the season with 52 yards in 12 attempts (4.3 yards per carry) and Hughes rushed for 177 yards on 51 rushes (3.5 yards per carry) to go along with one TD. 

TIGHT ENDS

The tight end position will be headlined by senior Tom Woehnker (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and Gillig.  Woehnker is the lone returner who recorded offensive statistics at the TE spot with four receptions for 115 yards and one score which came against Mount St. Joseph University in a two-reception, 41-yard effort. 

Joining Woehnker and Gillig at the position this season will be junior Chase McLendon (Imlay City, Mich./Imlay City).  McLendon moves from his wide receiver role a year ago and will provide depth at the position.

Used primarily as an extra blocker last season, the tight end role could increase in 2016 as another target for the DC quarterbacks to throw to. 

WIDE RECEIVERS

The DC receiving corps will have a lot of new faces for the QBs to throw to, but will also return a few experienced players led by senior Cody Wilson (McComb).  Last season, Wilson earned honorable mention All-HCAC honors for the second consecutive season.  He led the Jackets in several statistical categories as a junior including: rushing, receiving, all-purpose yards and was in the top-three in both scoring and total offense.  He ended the 2015 season with 369 yards on the ground (9.2 yards per carry) with three TD, caught a team-high 45 passes for 409 yards (9.1 yards per catch) and two scores and accumulated 889 all-purpose yards (369 rushing, 409 receiving, 46 yards on punt returns and 65 yards on kickoffs).  Wilson found the endzone a team-leading five times for 30 points to finish second on the team.

In addition to Wilson, look for sophomore Nate Roberts (St. Petersburg, Fla./Boca Ciega) to be a featured wideout in the passing attack.  In his first season with the program, Roberts had seven receptions for 70 yards (10.0 yards per catch) and one TD. 

Also returning for his second season will be  sophomore Joe Webb (West Alexandria/Twin Valley South).  Last season, Webb saw all of his playing time as a member of junior varsity team and will look to battle for playing time in his second season as a Yellow Jacket. 

OFFENSIVE LINE

DC's offensive line unit will be one of the most experienced on the team as seven players return who all saw significant playing, with multiple starts, in 2015.  The majority of the squad will also be made up of several upperclassmen led by seniors Clayton Fox (Berlin Heights/Edison), Joey Rebottaro (Tecumseh, Mich./Tecumseh) and Kenny Miller (Royal Oak, Mich./Shrine Catholic).  The trio started every game they played in 2015 and helped the Yellow Jackets record 2,533 yards of total offense (1,536 rushing and 997 passing). 

Complimenting the three seniors will be a strong group of juniors who could fight their way to the top of the depth chart in Reed Guerin (West Palm Beach, Fla./Park Vista), Lucas Singleton (Loveland, Colo./Loveland), Donte Owens (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) and Brian Jackson (Melbourne, Fla./Eau Gallie).  They all saw playing time in multiple games as sophomores and that experience gives the Jackets the luxury of a deep depth chart at several positions along the "O-line."

One player who made an impact for DC as a freshman last season was Casey Helton (Defiance/Tinora).  Helton played in six games as a newcomer, including making three starts.  He will again be a key member of the offensive line fraternity this season who could secure a starting spot on a regular basis.

Also making their return this fall is junior Paul Collins (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman) and sophomore Zach Morris (Defiance).  Both players were members of the JV squad as freshmen and will look for an increased role in 2016.  

DEFENSIVE LINE

As a unit, the DC defense was again one of the top defenses in the HCAC, ranking in the top-five in total defense.  The Jackets had one of the best rushing defenses in the league finishing third amongst HCAC schools allowing 135.8 yards per game.  The DC defense also scored its share of touchdowns last season, ending the season with a combined five scores with three interceptions for TD and two fumbles for TD to rank in a tie for third nationally. 

The defensive line will return two starters in Senior Matt DeVore (Van Buren) and junior Greg Ward, Jr. (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti).  DeVore played in all 10 games and was sixth on the team in tackles last season with 42 (17 solo and 25 assists).  He was also amongst the team leaders in tackles for loss with 7.5 for 17 yards.  In addition, he added one interception, which he returned for a TD, and a fumble recovery.  Following the season, he was tabbed as a second-team All-HCAC honoree.  Ward also played in all 10 games last fall and totaled 24 tackles (15 solo and nine assists) with five tackles for loss, including a pair of quarterback sacks.

Junior Dan Delorieux (Tampa, Fla./East Bay) joins DeVore and Ward as someone who saw significant playing time during the 2015 campaign.  Delorieux played in eight games as a sophomore and had 24 tackles (12 solo and 12 assists).  He added 6.5 tackles for loss, with 1.5 sacks, in addition to a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Another player to watch this season that could make an impact for the Jackets is junior Bryan Mestre (Hialeah, Fla./Mater Academy).  A year ago, Mestre played in four games coming off the bench  and made two tackles (two solo). 

Completing the list of returning players are sophomores Savontre Vaughn (Defiance), James Barankoski (Bloomingdale, Mich./Bloomingdale)  and Noah Beach (Lima/Ada).  Both Vaughn and Barankoski saw playing time as freshman with Vaughn playing in four games and making two tackles (one solo and one assist).  Barankoski played in one varsity game and Beach was a member of the JV team as a freshman. 

LINEBACKERS

Leading the linebacking corp this fall will be the duo of senior Keandre Gilmer (Toledo/Rogers) and sophomore Jalin Nealy (Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield).  Gilmer was a second-team All-HCAC selection in 2015 following a season that saw him make a team and career-high 77 tackles (48 solo and 29 assists).  Gilmer recorded four games of 10 or more tackles, including a career-best 13 stops against Mount St. Joseph University.  He also led the team in tackles for loss with 13, two of which were sacks.  He also accounted for two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.  Nealy garnered honorable mention All-Conference accolades as a freshman finishing just behind Gilmer in tackles with 63 (31 solo and 32 assists) and was also second in tackles for loss with 10.  He tied Gilmer in sacks (two) in addition to forcing one fumble.

In addition to Gilmer and Nealy, the Jackets returns junior Alex Frick (Kendallville, Ind./East Knoble) and sophomore Beau Massingill (Monroe, Mich./Monroe).  Frick saw action in eight games in 2015 and had a total of eight tackles (six solo and two assists) with a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and forced fumble.  Massingill saw limited time in a backup role a year ago and could battle for increased duties this season. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The Defiance secondary will return the most experienced players from last year with several talented players.  At the corner positions, look for the duo of senior Kenny Jones (Toledo/Bowsher) and junior Jerome Davis (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter) to be the leaders. 

Jones earned All-HCAC honors last season as a second-team pick after posting 39 total tackles (29 solo and 10 assists), including one tackle for loss.  He led the team with four interceptions, including returning one interception for TD.  He also recorded one fumble return for TD of 90 yards setting a school record for longest fumble return in a game.  In addition, Jones had two blocked kicks.  Davis played in all 10 games last fall and had 21 total tackles (12 solo and nine assists).  He tallied one tackle for loss to go along with one interception, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

At the safety position, look for the trio of juniors Markell Moncrief (Farmington Hills, Mich./Southfield Lathrup), Jacob Bickel (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) and sophomore Beau Barkley (Churubusco, Ind./Churubusco) to compete for the starting roles. 

Moncrief was fourth on the team in total tackles with 53 (36 solo and 17 assisted) during his sophomore campaign.  He had five tackles for a loss, including 1.5 sacks. Moncrief also recorded a fumble return finished tied for second on the team in pass breakups with five.  Bickel saw playing time in six games last year and totaled nine tackles (six solo and three assists) to go along with an interception.  Barkley made the most of his "rookie" season, playing in all 10 games and placed fifth on the team in tackles with 45 (29 solo and 16 assists).  He had three tackles for loss, including a half sack, with a fumble recovery, two pass breakups and also a blocked kick.

Other players to watch in the secondary this season are junior Kolton Davis (Toledo/Bowsher) and sophomore Cody Brown (Grass Lake, Mich./Grass Lake).  In addition, sophomore Brandon Knapp (Michigan Center, Mich./Michigan Center) will take on a new role as a member of the secondary after beginning his Yellow Jacket career as a wide receiver as a freshman.  All three players could compete for playing time this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The place kicking duties for DC this season will be held by senior Seth Bauer (Findlay/Arcadia).  It will be a new responsibility for Bauer after serving as the team's top punter last year.  The punting duties will now fall on freshman, Jared White (Lisbon/David Anderson).