Oberlin College Athletics

The Oberlin College football team has the pieces in place to move into the top tier of the North Coast Athletic Conference and hopes to avoid the rash of injuries that plagued their season a year ago.

However, it will not be easy as the Yeomen have to replace the likes of quarterback Greg Mangan and running back R.V. Carroll, who graduated as the school’s all-time leading passer and rusher, respectively.

Junior Joey Zebelian will inherit the starting quarterback job. Zebelian, who is a traditional pocket passer, saw time in four games last season, completing 2-of-6 attempts for 14 yards. However, as a freshman in 2007 he played in seven games, finishing 4-of-7 for 124 yards and two TDs.

From his fullback spot, senior co-captain Scott Kjellberg serves as the wrecking ball for sophomores Sean Curtis and Adam Lowther. Curtis, who was also used as a kick return specialist last season, made the most of his opportunities, leading all runners with 5.8 yards per carry. The Cooper City, Florida, native finished the year with 399 all-purpose yards (134 rushing, 127 receiving, 160 kick/punt returns). Like Curtis, Lowther was also used as a kick return specialist, averaging a team-high 19.1 yards per return while displaying the speed and agility to make him a threat in the backfield in 2009.

The Yeomen return junior Ryan Harvey and sophomore C.J. Holman at wide receiver. Harvey, who displays tremendous speed, is poised for a breakout season as he looks to build on his team-best 14.5 yards per catch. Holman came on strong towards the end of his rookie campaign, finishing with 191 yards on 15 catches to go along with one score. Second-year tight end Danny Enright is also expected to play a large role in the passing game as he looks to add to his two career touchdowns.

The glue to offense is up front in the form of fifth-year senior Max Roessler as he tries to battle back from injury and control the right guard position. Junior Chris Pottmeyer started all 10 games last year and will once again orchestrate Oberlin’s protection schemes from his center spot. Fellow junior Mike Law, who made all 10 starts a season ago, is responsible for protecting the quarterback’s blind side at left tackle.

Defensively, the Yeomen are led by co-captain and All-NCAC Honorable-Mention selection Adam Wigren. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native registered 28 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 for a loss. Fellow junior Cody Weiwandt is a force to reckon with up front, coming off a season with 26 tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomores Jake Hochendoner and Jake Panka control the outside of the line. The tandem combined for five tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery last season.

Oberlin’s line-backing corps is one of the most feared units in the NCAC. Junior Austin Richards was one of the elite defenders in the league last year until his season was ended prematurely due to injury. The Commerce Township, Michigan, native still finished fourth on the team with 55 tackles while adding a blocked kick and a 33-yard fumble recovery touchdown in just six games of action. Ron Rupard is another ball hawk, who made 61 stops last season, good for third on the team. Derrick Dennis is back from a leg injury that cost him the entire 2008 campaign. As a freshman he had 32 tackles and a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown in nine games of action.

The Yeomen welcome back a plethora of talent in the secondary, featuring Tyler Lewis and Drew Mixter as two of the premier safeties in the conference. The tandem started all 10 games last year and combined for 140 tackles. Solomon Turner and Shawn Chrapczynski each had an INT and combined for seven pass break-ups last season.

All-NCAC Second-Team honoree Zach Richard is back to control the kicking duties, while sophomore Cory Kidd will handle the punting after a sensational rookie season that saw him place eight balls inside the 20 and average 35.6 yards per punt.

The coaching staff also had a fine off-season, recruiting 21 newcomers to the team.

Oberlin opens the season with a pair of non-conference night games at Washington & Jefferson (September 5) and Case Western Reserve University (September 19). The Yeomen open NCAC play at home against Allegheny College on September 26.