“Ben Zoeller’s starting to pull ahead of the guys,” Wittenberg coach Joe Fincham said Friday, Aug. 27. “He’s very accurate. I think he has a good grasp of our offense. As a first-year starter, he’s going to have a couple of bumps in the road. I’m sure he’s well aware of it. Hopefully, we’ll get over those bumps as quickly as we can.”
Other contributors: Andrew Durbin (Sr., Carmel, Ind.); Reed Florence (Fr., Southeastern).
Offensive line
Jon Ingerman (So., Northeastern) should prove to be an important addition on the line. After two seasons at Illinois State, the 6-foot-8, 305-pound Ingerman will start for the Tigers at tackle.
“Jon is a huge kid. He’s very athletic,” Fincham said. “We probably didn’t appreciate how good an athlete he is until he got here.”
There is depth and versatility across the line, though Fincham said injuries have hurt the group’s continuity.
Nick Hudepohl (Sr., Crescent Springs, Ky., Covington Catholic) is back after starting every game at guard last season. Jeremy Block (Sr., Pittsburgh, Upper St. Clair), who also started every game last year, can play guard and center. Alex Burwell (Sr., Sunbury Big Walnut) returns after missing the second half of the 2009 season with an injury. Tony Eich (Sr., Columbus West) can play every position on the line, Fincham said.
Other contributors: Brian Alspaugh (Sr., Greenfield, Ind., Scecina Memorial); Alan Trump (Jr., Plainfield, Ind.); A.J. Owen (So., Vandalia Butler); Tadgh Reidy (Fr., Louisville, Ky., Trinity); Andrew Klamar (Fr., Upper Arlington); Matt Widemon (Fr., Indianapolis Cathedral); Aaron Coeling (Fr., Centerville).
Running back
Corey Weber (Sr., Pataskala Watkins Memorial) and Conner Warye (Jr., Kings) proved to be quite a one-two punch down the stretch last season. Weber gained 1,181 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Wayre had 608 yards and four scores.
Other contributors: Josh Boggan (So., Cincinnati Wyoming); JaVanh Sanders (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.).
Fullback
Billy West (Sr., Loveland) has been competing for the job with Andrew Rosselot (Fr., Moeller) and Logan White (Fr., Graham).
Wide receiver
Josh McKee (Jr., Tecumseh) and Michael Cooper (Jr., South) give the Tigers one of the top receiving tandems in the conference.
Cooper, despite playing all of last season with a shoulder injury, had one of the best seasons in Wittenberg history with a school-record 60 receptions, 13 touchdowns and exactly 1,000 yards. McKee, a three-year starter, finished the season with 58 receptions, 865 yards and nine touchdowns.
Other contributors: Anthony Kralich (Sr., Kettering Alter); Bill French (Sr., Lexingon, Ky., Henry Clay); Garth Gilbert (So., Tecumseh); Ethan Sharpin (So., Kenton Ridge), who played quarterback last season; Brendon Cunningham (Fr., Kettering Fairmont); Desi Kirkman (Fr., Lima Central Catholic).
Tight end
Mat Guida (Sr., La Grange, Ky., Oldham County) has missed the last two seasons with injuries, and Logan Beam (Sr., Ansonia) missed last season with a back injury. If neither is healthy this year, another option is Jake Kerger (Sr., Louisville, Ky., St. Xavier), who can also play center.
Defensive line
The Tigers can boast of two preseason All-Americans here — end Eddie Vallery (Sr., Madison Plains) and tackle Adam Kattoua (Sr., Upper Arlington). Vallery had one of the best seasons in Wittenberg history last fall with 16½ sacks, the most in NCAA Division III. He was named D3Football.com’s Defensive Player of the Year. Kattoua had 49 tackles, seven for a loss, for a defensive unit that led the nation by allowing 8.8 points per game.
Vallery has missed a couple weeks with a knee injury, and his status for the season opener is uncertain. Kattoua has also missed time with a hamstring injury, but Fincham expects him to play Saturday.
Nic Wolfe (Sr., Kettering Fairmont) and Justin Bartlett (So., Washington, Pa., McGuffey) will also start, and Cory Cosby (So., Pickerington Central) will be in the mix.
An intriguing addition to the line is Jonathan Daniels, a 2004 South graduate who was on Wittenberg’s roster in 2004 before leaving school to go into the military. He will get playing time this year at end, as will another local graduate, Vinny Harshaw (Jr., Shawnee).
Other contributors: Josh Montgomery (Fr., Reynoldsburg); Zac Reuber (Fr., Graham); Michael Hofer (Fr., Granville).
Linebackers
A four-year starter, Brad McKinley (Sr., Hilliard Davidson), and a three-year starter, Zach Hurtt (Jr., Fort Thomas, Ky., Highlands) again make this position a strength. McKinley has 309 tackles in the last three seasons. Hurtt has 173 in his first two seasons.
Ben Maxwell (Sr., Kettering Alter) has extensive experience as a top backup the last two seasons.
Other contributors: Fields Davis (Sr., Ashland, Ky., Paul G. Blazer); Billy Alexander (Jr., Tecumseh); Josh Colbert (So., Urbana); Ben Merkert (Sr., Troy); Casey Crable (Fr., Graham); Spencer Leno (Fr., Massillon Washington); Evan Killilea (Fr., Columbus DeSales).
Secondary
Cornerback Keenan Freeman (Sr., Greenon) decided to return for his final year of eligibility. The other returning starter is safety Seth Parker (Jr., DeGraff Riverside), who was second on the team with four interceptions.
At the other safety, Ty Whittington (Sr., Sabina East Clinton) will start. Opposite Freeman, the other corner job could be shared by Jamaal Everett (So., Kettering Fairmont) or Karlos Marshall (So., Springfield), who played last season at Mercyhurst College.
Other contributors: Mark Swope (Fr., Fairborn); Raphael Allen (So., Yellow Springs).
Special teams
Senior Trevor Cochran ranked fourth in NCAC punting in 2009 (37.7 yards per punt), his second season as the starter. Terry Perkins (So., Piqua) has challenged Cochran for the job, and Fincham said both could see action.
Sean Williams (So., Plainfield, Ind.) likely will be the new placekicker, replacing the graduated Zack Harris, whose field goal in the final seconds beat Wabash last year. Corey Smith (Fr., Moeller) and David Rome (Sr., Shaker Heights Hawken) have also had good camps, Fincham said.
— Compiled by David Jablonski
About the Author