FROSTBURG, Md. - Head Coach Tom Rogish returns for his third season at the helm and has more to work with this year as 14 starters return to the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, the most he has had since he took over the program prior to the 2008 campaign. Last year’s offense and defense both struggled at times, but with seven starters returning on each side, key reserves filling in the gaps and with the return of some veteran leadership, coach Rogish and the 2010 Bobcats might just have what it takes to turn the corner and steer the program in the right direction.


Defense
A successful campaign must begin this season with the Bobcat defense and coach Rogish will be leaning on the shoulders of seven returning starters to step up and direct the unit. The Bobcats also welcome back nine of their top 11 tacklers and coupled with their second year under the direction of defensive coordinator Bill Minard and the FSU defense should prove to be one of the top units in the Atlantic Central Football Conference.

FSU returns all four starters in the secondary led by seniors Terryl Monroe (Temple Hill, Md./Dematha) and Ian Turner (Hanover, Md./Meade) and coach Rogish is counting on their speed and experience to make game changing plays this season. The defensive backfield combined for nine interceptions and 27 passes defended last fall and the four returning starters have made a total of 52 combined starts throughout their careers.

Monroe, a two-time All-ACFC selection, finished second in the league in tackles per game (7.7) and was third in total stops (77). Monroe intercepted three passes last year and led the league in forced fumbles (3). Monroe has started all 28 games during his FSU career and has a knack for getting his hands on the football as he has five career interceptions, 12 passes defended and three recovered fumbles.

Turner, a Second Team All-ACFC selection in 2009, had a breakout year last fall posting 26 tackles, including 21 solo stops and seven pass breakups. Turner started all 10 games at defensive back and should further improve on his numbers during his final season.

Junior Jim Lohr (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) also had a breakout season last fall starting all 10 games and garnering All-ACFC honorable mention honors. He finished third on the team and fourth in the league in tackles per game (7.0), was second on the team in solo stops (50) and was third on the roster in total tackles (70). He was fourth in the conference in interceptions (5) and was fifth in passes defended (8). Lohr has posted 101 tackles and seven interceptions over his first two years with FSU.

Junior Rashad James (Washington, D.C./Anacostia) made four starts and appeared in six games last fall despite battling an injury. He made 20 stops, broke up three passes and made a career-high 12 tackles against nationally ranked Wesley in early October.

Adding to the depth of the secondary will be junior Marcus Wilson (Woodstock, Md./Randallstown) and a handful of sophomores that include Brandon Blanchette (Westminster, Md./Francis Scott Key), Dominic Toquinto (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) and Cory Bishop (New Market, Md./Linganore).

The other area of the defense coach Rogish will be counting on for strength will be at linebacker. The Bobcats return arguably the deepest group in the ACFC, led by the toughness of juniors Travis Blair (Upper Marlboro, Md./Oxon Hill) and Gideon Obamwonyi (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson).

Blair led the ACFC and finished 39th in the country in tackles per contest (10.33) despite playing in just nine games. Blair reached double-digits in tackles in five games including a career-high 15 tackles against Salisbury in the Regents’ Cup. Blair added four tackles for loss, two forced and two recovered fumbles.

Obamwonyi was fifth on the team in tackles (54) and fourth in tackles for loss (5.5). He made eight stops, including two for loss against nationally ranked UNC Pembroke.

Junior Michael Ezeani (Glenn Dale, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) will make the move from the defensive line to linebacker this year. He transitioned well during spring practice and should be ready to go for the fall. Last year, he paced the Bobcats and finished seventh in the ACFC in tackles for loss (11). He totaled 42 stops and tossed in 2.5 sacks.

Sophomore Dwayne Washington (Germantown, Md./Northwest) will provide depth to the linebacker corps. After playing in five games and making seven tackles last season.

The major area of concern for the defense this season will be the young guys upfront on the line. Junior Ryan Simmons (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) and sophomore Patrick Black (Glenwood, Md./Glenelg) are the only returners on the line heading into the season. Simmons, a 2009 Second Team All-ACFC selection, made 14 stops and 4.5 for loss while Black made 15 total tackles and scooped up one fumble.

Offense
As tough as FSU’s defense is, the offense is a very intriguing aspect of the 2010 team with seven returning starters and a new offensive coordinator. Coach Gabe Luvara joined the FSU coaching staff last spring and has spent his time with Frostburg instilling his multiple I offense.

This year’s offensive squad features two of the best running backs in the ACFC in seniors Anthony King (Germantown, Md./Northwest) and Anton Wade (Baltimore, Md./Patterson). The duo provide a one-two punch seldom seen in college football and the pair compliment each other very well. Last season, they combined for 854 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. King and Wade also caught 23 passes for 214 yards.

Individually, King ran for a team-best 636 yards on 152 carries and three touchdowns and was awarded Second Team All-ACFC honors. He finished second in the league in yards per game (63.6), third in yards and fourth in carries. Last season, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier for his career with an 84-yard rushing effort against Salisbury in the Regents’ Cup game.

Wade finished 2009 with 247 yards on 91 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Like King, he also surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau for his carrier against Widener.

Junior Derek Sheely (Germantown, Md./Northwest) started all 10 games last season at fullback. Aside from his blocking duties, Sheely caught a touchdown pass against SUNY Brockport in week two. However, with the install of the multiple I and the need for several fullbacks, both juniors Brian Nance (Columbia, Md./Atholton) and Grant Wilson (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) should see plenty of time this season.

The offensive line returns a pair of starters from a year ago and significant reserves that should fill in nicely without skipping a beat.

Senior Patrick Fears (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll) emerged as one of the top offensive lineman in the ACFC and was awarded all-conference second team honors at the conclusion of the season. He started all 10 games and blocked for an offense that put over 2,800 yards in offense.

Junior Derek Baney (Milton, Pa./Milton) started eight of 10 games on the line last season and helped the line allow the second lowest number of sacks (28) in the ACFC. Both Fears and Baney will provide both leadership and guidance to the younger players battling for time.

The tight end position will see a rejuvenation of sorts in Coach Luvara’s multiple I offensive formation. The Bobcats return four players who will see time at tight end and also recruited four players who could potentially push for time later this season.

Sophomore Kevin Gordon (Columbia, Md./Atholton) returns to the roster after starting the final seven games of the 2009 campaign. He hauled in two passes for 28 yards and should see more opportunities to catch passes this season.

Senior Lyndon Harris (Forestville, Md./Largo) has made the switch from quarterback to tight end and should push Gordon for playing time. Harris attempted five passes last season and appeared in three games.

Sophomore Cory Shank (Funkstown, Md./South Hagerstown) provides a big target on the field at 6’4’’ and should compete for times as well.

The 2010 season marks the first time in three seasons that FSU won’t have to break in a new quarterback as junior Josh Volpe (Germantown, Md./Northwest) enters the season as the projected starter. He started the final seven games last season in replace of then injured starter Phoenix Butler-Poole. Volpe threw for 1,358 yards, eight touchdowns and set a school record with a 59.4 season completion percentage. He threw for over 200 yards in three games, including a season-high 288 yards and three touchdowns against nationally ranked Wesley. Volpe has done an excellent job of learning the new offense and should see increased numbers this season.

The big question on the offense this season is who will step up and fill the void at wide receiver. The Bobcats will need to replace their top four receivers from last year who totaled 126 receptions and 14 touchdowns.

Leading the way is sophomore Anthony Young (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern). Young has deceptive speed and looked the best out of the young corps of receivers during spring practice. Last year, Young caught five passes for 58 yards, 51 of those yards against Salisbury in the Regents’ Cup game.

The coaching staff is also expecting big things from junior Fred Ramsey (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) and sophomore AJ Jones (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown). The pair saw limited time last season but could work their way into a starting role during camp. Ramsey has snared two receptions in each of the last two seasons while Jones saw a majority of his time on the junior varsity team.

Sophomore Lucas Adolph (Bel Air, Md./Calvert Hall) and senior Greg Simmons (Capital Heights, Md./Central) will also battle for playing time at receiver this year.

Special Teams
The special teams are also a major area of concern for Coach Rogish and his staff as that unit is without a returning starter from a year ago. The unit will be filled initially with the best players from across the roster and will focus on fundamentals.

For the first time in five years, the Bobcats will look for a new punter as former All-Region punter Nick Payne graduated. Payne is the school’s all-time leader in punt yards (7,468) and consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best.

Last season’s kicker Zachary Beukers will also not be returning to the team after making the fifth most field goals (7) in a single-season in school hstory.

To complete the trifecta, Frostburg will look to fill the void at kick return left by 2009 ACFC Special Teams Player of the Year Avery Willie. Willie is also the school’s all-time leader in kick returns yards (1,363).

This season, the Bobcats will look to fill the kicker and punter spots with freshmen while a whole host of players will compete for kick and punt return, led by Terryll Monroe, Anthony Young and Fred Ramsey.

Schedule
This year’s slate is again a test for Frostburg State as it will face three NCAA Tournament and two ECAC Tournament participants. FSU hosts five games at Bobcat Stadium including a stretch of three-straight against Geneva (8-3), Wesley (13-1) and Christopher Newport (5-5) to open the season.

The Bobcats then hit a five-game road stretch with contests against Alfred (8-2) and St. John Fisher (7-3) of the Empire 8 and perennial power Washington & Jefferson (9-2).

FSU returns to the friendly confines of Bobcat Stadium for Apprentice (1-9) and Salisbury (5-6) in the 12th Annual Regents’ Cup.