2008 Pace University Season Outlook

Information Provided By Pace University Sports Information


QUARTERBACK:
The Setters enter the preseason with veteran Ray Gregg returning after a solid spring. Coach Iezzi will look to Gregg as the top quarterback for the Setters as they transition to the West Coast offensive system in 2008. Last season, Gregg played in seven games, throwing for 439 yards on 48-for-100 passing. Red-shirt freshman Rodmann Crenshaw and junior Dean Trerotola will also be in the mix for playing time at quarterback this season. Newcomers Joe Romanick and Joshua Angell will add depth to the quarterback position.

HALFBACK:
The Setters have no clear cut starter at the half back position with the loss of three of their top-four rushers from last season. Veteran Nathaniel Ford returns to the Setters after seeing limited action last season. Coach Iezzi also added four new players to the backfield, who will compete for playing time this season. All-Section and Team MVP in high school Eshawn Armstrong and all-county selection Ronald Modik will both play a considerable role in the Setters rushing attack. Freshman Riedrick Alceus and Eric Santos will add depth to a talented backfield rotation.

FULLBACK:
Sophomore Jadiel Javier will switch to offense this season, moving from linebacker last season to full back in 2008. Joining Javier at fullback will be junior Alex Alston, who will also compete for playing time and should provide the Setters with a solid rushing attack between the tackles.

WIDE RECEIVER:
The Setters return a solid wide receiver corps despite the losses of its two top receivers from 2007 in Mat Cooney and Richard Pinck. Justin Polanis moves back to receiver after leading the Setters in rushing yards last season. Polanis finished with 166 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, while also catching four passes for 34 yards. Eric Ortega returns to the Setters lineup as the top returning receiver as he finished with 13 receptions for 108 yards in 2007. Also returning for the Setters is senior Rick Southard, who saw limited action last season, but is expected to contribute as a solid possession receiver. Dan Zaccaro is coming off a medical redshirt in 2007 and had a solid spring. The Setters added transfer Pat Olcholvy, who brings his Division I experience from the University of Hawaii to the receiving corps.

TIGHT END:
Andrew Kulak (Wolcott, Conn./Wolcott) returns for a second straight season as the Setters tight end after posting solid numbers in 2007. Last season, Kulak totaled 11 receptions for 140 yards, starting all 11 games. Kulak will be looked to provide leadership on offense and is one of the captains this season. Newcomers Robert Dombrowski and Jake Parrott will both see action this season, giving Coach Iezzi good talent at tight end. Dombrowski was an all-conference selection in high school and Parrott comes from a solid high school background.

OFFENSIVE LINE:
Coach Iezzi returns four of his five starting linemen from the 2007 season opener, making the position one of the strongest on the field for the Setters. Senior and team captain Stephen Matonti, along with juniors Ken Marcoux both return will plenty of experience and will be looked on to be the leaders at their position. Sophomore Colin Brady returns as a starter on the offensive line after starting all 11 games last season. Nick Smith comes off a medical redshirt season after being lost for the season in the opening game. Joining the quartet on the line is sophomore Shaine Artis, who played in six games last season. Sophomore Matt Arciero along with newcomers Jose Zelaya, William Woodard and Anthony Lunardelli will give the Setters strength at a key position.

DEFENSIVE LINE:
The Setters will have plenty of returning veterans on the D-Line this season as senior Lee Robinson returns after posting an outstanding season in 2007. The reigning Northeast-10 sack leader last year, he earned First Team All-Conference honors as well as being named First Team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Northeast Region. Robinson finished with nine sacks and also led the conference in tackles for loss with 18m while forcing three fumbles. Joining Robinson on the line are senior Matt West and sophomore Pat Finnegan. West played in seven games, recording three tackles, while Finnegan posted 17 tackles and a pair of sacks in 11 games last season. Senior Dan Robinson also returns to the Setters and will also play a major role on the defensive line after seeing action in nine games and posting 12 tackles. Newcomers Steve Lane and Shkelzen Gecaj will both compete for playing time and contribute on defense.

LINEBACKER:
Coach Iezzi returns a solid group of linebackers despite the losses of all-conference selections in Joe Streany and Ernst Turnier. The Setters return a pair of veterans at middle linebacker as senior captain Brian Schuster and junior Michael LaMonica will step into starting roles this season. Schuster was limited to five games due to injury but posted 35 tackles along with a pair of interceptions. LaMonica played in all 11 games, starting eight, finishing seventh on the team with 49 tackles. Sophomores Max Katzner and Jesus Cardona will see plenty of action after posting solid freshman campaigns. Katzner recorded 22 tackles and had a 51-yard interception return against Merrimack, while Cardona totaled seven tackles. At outside linebacker, Jonfrey Sanchez and Charles Bachelder will look to step into the rotation, while Justin Enos and Adam Vurchio will compete for playing time. Sanchez posted 15 tackles in six games last season.

DEFENSIVE BACK:
The Setters return a wealth of talent at safety as NE-10 All-Conference selection Jon Jones along with junior Greg Brain return as the starting safeties. Jones finished third on the team in tackles with 75 and have five interceptions, including a school record four in the season opener against Husson. Brain was second on the team in tackles with 97 and recorded three interceptions. At cornerback, senior Ruben Pagan moves to defense from running back, while senior returner John Induisi steps into a starting role. Induisi totaled 14 tackles and one interception in eight games last season. Transfer Eric Parker and sophomore Albert Walden will both play a major role in the secondary this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
With the loss of all-conference punter Matt Cooney to graduation, Coach Iezzi brought in freshman Al Mourtada to as the primary punter and place kicker in 2008. In the kick return game, Eric Ortega and Eric Santos will both see time as the kick returners for the Setters.