2009 Bentley University Season Outlook

Information Provided by Bentley Sports Information


The 2009 season is the beginning of a new era in Bentley University football. After the completion of last season, head coach Peter Yetten hung up his whistle after a highly successful 30-year tenure that saw Bentley become one of the top Division II programs in the Northeast.

While some programs may go through a rebuilding phase after a long-tenured coach steps down, this should not be the case for Bentley. Stepping in for Yetten is Thom Boerman, who takes the reins in his 24th year at Bentley, the last 10 of which were spent as Director of Football Operations and as Defensive Coordinator last season. While Boerman will add his own philosophy to both sides of the ball, his familiarity with the program and the team’s personnel should mean the transition goes smoothly.

The fact that Bentley’s roster is stocked with talent should certainly help matters as well. While the offense has lost quarterback John White to graduation, along with his top receiver John Studley, there is still more than enough talent to go around.

Junior Bryant Johnson will take over for White after two years of learning and gaining valuable game experience last season in the form of eight games played, including one start. Having offensive coordinator Darin Colucci back in the fold for a second season, and his third season working with Johnson, can only mean good things for his move to starter.

Also back is last season’s leading rusher Luis Cotto, now a senior. Cotto can expect plenty of work as Boerman wants to be a more ball-control oriented team this season. With Cotto running behind an experienced offensive line, the Falcons will be in a good position to improve upon the conference’s eighth-ranked rushing attack, which gained just 56.8 yards per game in 2008.

On the defensive side of the ball, new coordinator Scott Boyle will have plenty of weapons at his disposal with six starters returning. Two starters on the defensive line return, including first team All-Conference choice Darryl Laforest. Second team All-Conference selections linebacker Michael Duffy and defensive back Chris Carroll also return.

Bentley kicks-off the season on August 29th at Ohio Dominican. They open at home one week later against Curry. The Falcons begin Northeast-10 play a week after that at home against Saint Anselm. Two of Bentley’s toughest games will be at home. Defending conference champion American International visits Waltham on September 25th, and Southern Connecticut, another 2008 NCAA playoff participant, visits on October 9th. The Falcons will host Assumption for Homecoming on October 24th, and will close out the season two weeks later at Stonehill.

Quarterbacks

Johnson has big shoes to fill as he prepares to step in for White, who started 32 of Bentley’s 42 games over the past four seasons and finished his career in the top-five in passing yards, touchdowns and completions in Bentley history. In eight games last season, Johnson completed 44 of 98 for 458 yards and three touchdown passes. In his only start of the season at Southern Connecticut, he finished 18-of-36 with 204 yards passing and two touchdown passes. The presumptive starter of the future since last season, Johnson is well prepared to assume control of the offense.

Among those competing for time behind Johnson will be junior Tim Moscato, a transfer from Florida Atlantic University who has excellent size at 6-4 and 225-pounds. Moscato did not appear in any games for the Owls, but the coaching staff is excited about his potential.

Two freshmen, Sean Cross and Bill Kiley will vie for playing time as well.

Running Backs

Cotto is expected to be the feature back again after leading the team in rushing last season with 389 yards on 121 carries. He also led the team in touchdowns with six. It was the second straight season the Waltham native has led the team in rushing after gaining 843 yards on 200 carries as a sophomore in 2007.

With Boermann’s vow to run the ball more this season, there will be plenty of carries to go around, with juniors Matt Shea and Eric DiPietrantonio expected to get most of the remaining touches.

Junior Bart Stires, who played fullback last season, will take on the role of H-Back this year after his performance in spring practices led to the development of the position in Bentley’s offense. Sophomore Steve Long may compete for the starting fullback job, which opened when Matt Welch moved to defensive end in the offseason.

Wide Receivers

A number of players will be counted on to make up for the loss of Studley’s production, whose 1,031 receiving yards last season is the fourth highest single-season total in the program’s history. Boerman will likely look first to graduate student Kelley Rowe, whose speed and quickness will help stretch the field. Rowe was Bentley’s second leading receiver last season with 37 catches for 462 yards.

A trio of juniors, Kyle Tuthill, John Malone and Wade Critides, should provide Johnson with plenty of targets to throw to. Tuthill emerged as a threat last season with 420 yards receiving and was second on the team in receiving touchdowns with three. Malone caught 22 passes for 299 yards and Critides pulled in a dozen for 138 yards. With all three players standing above six-feet tall, they should cause matchup problems for opposing secondaries.


Tight Ends

Arguably the thinnest unit on the team is the tight ends. Junior Mike Slattery, who possesses excellent size at 6-3, 240-pounds, is the only tight end on the roster that has significant playing time at the position. The coaching staff expects Slattery to be a major part of the passing game.

Converted wide receiver Jon Wilkie and freshman Doug Goodhile will compete for playing time as well behind Slattery.

Offensive Line

Bentley will have four starters back from last year’s unit, but with two players switching positions.

At left tackle is sophomore John Slein, who won the starting job in the spring. An opening was created for Slein because last year’s left tackle, junior Tim Smith, who has started 15 straight games dating back to his freshman season, was converted to right guard. Protecting Johnson’s blindside is veteran right tackle Kevin Kearns. The Bridgewater, Mass., native is the most experienced member of the offensive line, having started 29 of 30 games over the last three years.

Sophomore A.J. Riker made an immediate impact last year, starting all 11 games at right guard and was named NE-10 All-Rookie. Riker will move to the left side this season and should start, but will face competition in camp from senior Mike Fischer for the job.

In the middle of the line is expected to be junior Jared Kawadler, who started all 11 games last season in his first year as the starting center.

The unit will also have quality depth coming from seniors Dan Killay and Bryan Mroczka, who started four games at guard in 2008.

Defensive Line

Boerman returns his two defensive tackles, Laforest and Cetan Tyler, but will have to find replacements for ends McKenzie Mathews and Vaughn Cole. Laforest and Mathews were both first-team All-Conference selections in 2008.

Welch, who looked good in spring practice at his new position, and junior Sal Ruffino, who was a key part of the defensive line rotation last season, will compete for the starting spot vacated by Mathews and Cole.

Laforest and Tyler will man the inside at the defensive tackle positions and will be key to Bentley improving its run defense, which yielded 144.1 rushing yards per game last season. Laforest enjoyed a stellar junior season with 55 tackles, five for a loss, and was a first-team All-Conference selection. At 305-pounds, Laforest is a tough blocking assignment for any offensive linemen.

Tyler was also disruptive last season, making 50 tackles, 10.5 for a loss.

Linebackers

Bentley also has plenty of experience at linebacker. Matt Zahoruiko and Michael Duffy, both starters last year, are back for their final seasons after leading Bentley in tackles in 2008. Zahoruiko led the way with 107 tackles, most by a Falcon in eight years, and a team-high 42 solo tackles.

Duffy was a second-team All-Conference pick after recording 75 tackles and making four sacks. He also showed he can be valuable to Bentley’s pass defense with two interceptions.

Secondary

Carroll highlights Bentley’s secondary after a breakout season in 2008 with a team-high six interceptions, which was tied for the conference lead. Carroll will make the move to free safety after playing cornerback last season and will replace graduated Nate Burdick.

At the strong safety position, senior Eric Song and sophomore Steve Hopkins will battle for the starting nod.

Bentley will have two new cornerbacks this season, with the starters projected to be juniors Addison Davids and Justin Haines. Davids started six games last season at corner and Haines started eight at strong safety. Senior Jason Urdang will also be in the mix for playing time.

Special Teams

Bentley’s special teams will be in good shape with All-Conference kicker Tyler McNamara back for his senior season. McNamara is Bentley’s, and the Northeast-10’s, career leader in field goals made with 28. He was named second team All-Conference in 2008 after converting 8-13 on field goals and 22-23 on extra points. The punting duties will be handled by sophomore Mike Brownett, who’ll take over for White.

Boerman may use a committee approach for kickoff and punt return duties, with Rowe, Haines, Davids, and Brett Schuering the most likely candidates. Haines and Rowe were the primary kickoff return men last season, with Haines averaging 24.7 yards per return and Rowe averaging 23.2. Schuering was the main punt return man last season.