Stonehill-Assumption Game Notes
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2007 roster.
Quarterbacks
No matter who wins the starting job, two proven players with extensive game experience will be under center when the season kicks off in early September.
Classmates Jon Kaloyanides (Cranston, R.I.) and Cruz Parsons (Signal Hill, Calif.) each have started games at the position and both have engineered victories for the team.
Parsons saw action in seven contests as a freshman in 2005, making three starts. He set a school-record tossing six touchdown passes in a single game, and finished the season with 13 scoring strikes. He entered 2006 as the starter before going down with a season-ending injury in the first game of the season. When healthy, Parsons provides a dual threat, having scrambled for 332 yards and a score during his freshman campaign.
Kaloyanides also saw action as a freshman in 2005 and then took over for an injured Parsons in the final nine games of 2006. During his sophomore season, he threw six touchdowns and accounted for 1,123 yards of total offense. Showing elusiveness, Kaloynides rushed for three scores, including two in a win over St. Anselm.
Waiting in the wings for time at signal caller are freshmen Kevin Brooks (Westwood, Mass.) and Jordan Fuller (Alden, N.Y.).
Running Backs
One place change has occurred is with the ball carriers. Senior Jabari Prince (Mendon, Mass.) has been converted from linebacker to running back and sits atop the depth chart at that position after an impressive preseason camp.
Of the 592 yards the Skyhawks rushed for in 2006, junior Jeffery Payne (West Haven, Conn.) had 58 of them and is the team's returning leader from a year ago. He will spell Prince, giving the Skyhawks a change of pace, while junior Matt Tarulli (Saddle Brook, N.J.), sophomore Joe Shea (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and freshman Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass.) will look to grab the remaining carries.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
After some maneuvering, a position that has the possibility of making an impact is wide receiver. Senior J.J. Niamkey (Quincy, Mass.), an explosive returnman and ball-hawking defensive back, will man one of the spots, while David Pringle (West Haven, Conn.) and Torrey Price (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) will fill the other two holes in the three receiver sets.
Pringle, who saw some early action in camp at quarterback, moves to wideout in part to take advantage of his frame (6-4, 190) and athleticism. Price, meanwhile, a member of the College's track and field team, is the team's leading returning receiver with ten receptions and possesses blazing speed in the open field.
Niamkey has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in his three seasons at Stonehill, and the opportunity to get the ball in his hands in different ways was a priority.
Sophomores Cory Wright (Manchester, N.H.) and Michael Pecca (Cohasset, Mass.) along with freshman Cullen Bonner (Bloomfield, Conn.) will vie for playing time on the outside as well.
Jeremy Roberts (Topsfield, Mass.) gives size at the H-Back spot at 6-3, 245, while junior Bob Holland (North Andover, Mass.) adds depth.
Offensive Line
The offensive line, which has a bevy of players with game experience, is anchored by senior center Alex Thompson (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Thompson has started 29 consecutive games since his freshman campaign. Sophomore Thomas Pfeifer (West Babylon, N.Y.) started five games last season on the left side and returns to that spot this year, while senior Andrew Warmington (Centerville, Mass.) has seen action in 18 contests, including eight starts at left guard.
Junior Mike Tatten (Savoy, Mass.) has veteran experience having made eight starts in his first two years. Sophomore Jay Norton (Beverly, Mass.) and senior Tom Bethoney (Hanover, Mass.) will battle for the final spot at right tackle.
Defensive Line
Junior Kevin Bonnett (Manchester, N.H.) and sophomore Andrew Lesko (Canton, Mass.) will man the end positions with help from senior Tony Camarota (Hudson, Mass.) and freshman Joe Forte (Everett, Mass.). Bonnett appeared in all 10 games last season, while Camarota played in nine.
Run-stuffers Jonathan Penning (Leominster, Mass.) and freshman Brendan Taylor (Stoughton, Mass.) are a combined 600 pounds, giving plenty of girth to the middle of the line and will share the nose tackle duties.
Linebackers
Senior co-captain Mike DeBye (Burlington, Mass.), the quarterback of the defense, mans one inside lineback spot, while junior Greg Sanzari (Centerport, Mass.) holds down the other spot. Senior Chris Regan (Hanson, Mass.) and freshman Shane O'Donnell (Dracut, Mass.) will look to add depth to the inside position.
Clark Leger (Waltham, Mass.), who saw action in eight contests as a freshman is joined by a host of others on the outside including junior Michael Greene (Plainview, N.Y.).
Secondary
Two new faces join the defensive backfield in an attempt to put more playmakers at crucial positions. Chris Palmer (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Jonathan Nunley-Kilborn (North Dartmouth, Mass.) both move from wide receiver to defensive back. Palmer, who had a breakout year at wideout in 2006, has experience in the secondary, having split time there during his freshman season. Nunley-Kilborn will use his size (6-1, 205) at the strong safety position. Sean Donahue (Plymouth, N.H.) who also handles all the kicking duties for the Skyhawks, and is the Skyhawks lone returning All-Conference honoree, will play opposite Nunley-Kilborn at the free safety spot. Never one to shy away from contact, Donahue made ten solo tackles a year ago from his kicker and punter spots. The Walpole tandem of Jeff Cuqua and Jared Zanello hold the rover and other corner spots with help from freshmen Steven Good (Marshfield, Mass.) and Anthony Tomasz (Hopkinton, Mass.).
Special Teams
With Donahue seeing more time in the defensive backfield, classmate Brett Perrone (Southington, Conn.) could be called upon at any moment. Niamkey and his big-play capabilities along with Payne will handle kick return duties, while the speedster Price will go back deep on punt returns.