Witt loses 2 planned starters

Safety Rodriguez wants to play closer to home; RB Luckenbill might give up football.

Wittenberg men's basketball:Tigers advance to Gettysburg finals
12:15 a.m.
Wittenberg football: Secret is good players
12:14 a.m.
Wittenberg kickoff tips
12:13 a.m.
Girls soccer: Ludwick’s Rams dominant
12:12 a.m.
Girls soccer player of the year: Nock’s hard work pays  big dividends
12:10 a.m.
> More sports headlines

By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 8:16 PM Tuesday, July 21, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — The Wittenberg University football program will enter the 2009 season without two starters it expected to return.

Safety Manny Rodriguez and running back Trevor Luckenbill have left the program, coach Joe Fincham said Tuesday, July 21.

Rodriguez, a first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference performer last season as a sophomore, is transferring to a school closer to his home in Lawrenceville, Ga. Fincham didn’t know for sure what school Rodriguez is heading to, but he cited financial reasons for why Rodriguez left Wittenberg.

Rodriguez started every game last season. He ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 65 and led the team in forced fumbles with four. He ranked third on the team in tackles as a freshman in 2007.

“The thing that’s hard is he’s started every game the last two years,” Fincham said. “In reality, your first two years, you’re trying to get through them, and we truly believed we were going to start reaping the rewards for having played him those two years.

Sophomore Ben Zoeller, who has moved from quarterback to the secondary, and junior Ty Whittington are two candidates to replace Rodriguez, Fincham said.

Luckenbill played in eight games as a freshman and led the team in rushing with 589 yards on 120 attempts (a 4.9 yards-per-game average). He scored four touchdowns.

Fincham said Luckenbill informed the coaches of his decision last week, saying his heart wasn’t into playing this year. Fincham has left the door open for Luckenbill to change his mind before the start of practice Aug. 13.

Luckenbill would have battled Corey Weber and Jeff Wilbur, and maybe incoming freshman Connor Warye, for a starting job this year.

“Any time you lose a guy, it’s disappointing,” Fincham said, “and it’s frustrating.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.

Share this article