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Pittsburg State Football
2007 Season Outlook

gorilla logoBy Dan Wilkes
PSU Sports Information Director
    The Pittsburg State University football team returns a veteran squad as the Gorillas embark upon their 100th intercollegiate season in 2007 in pursuit of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title and a return trip to the NCAA Division II national playoffs.
    Pitt State returns nine position starters on each side of the ball and 45 letterwinners from a squad which posted a 10-2 record and captured the Mineral Water Bowl crown in 2006.
    The Gorillas recorded double-digit victories for the 14th time in the last 21 seasons in 2006, and Pitt State has averaged 10.2 wins per season during head coach Chuck Broyles’ 17-year tenure (1990-2006).
    The Gorilla return a veteran offensive cast from a unit that led Division II in scoring and ranked No. 2 nationally in total offense, averaging 44.8 points and 454.8 total yards per game.
    Pitt State will be without the services of All-American tailback Germaine Race, who broke the NCAA’s all division scoring record (634 pts.) and the NCAA-II career rushing mark (6,985 yds.) during a decorated four-year career.
    The Gorillas return all five members of their starting offensive line group, including 2006 All-Americans Drew Brown and Zac Robinson. Junior quarterback Mark Smith also has made a successful returm from an arm injury which cut short his sophomore campaign on Oct. 7.
    Smith led the MIAA in passing efficiency (206.6 rating) and total offense (261.0 ypg) before suffering the season-ending injury. He ranked No. 2 nationally in pass efficiency and 13th nationally in total offense at the time.
    Defensively, Pitt State welcome’s back eight full-time starters and a ninth player – junior outside linebacker Brett Shamblin – who started 14 games for the Gorillas in 2005 before exercising a medical redshirt season last year.
    “There’s no question that our coaching staff and players are excited about the prospects for the 2007 season,” said Broyles, who has guided his alma mater to a 174-36-2 record (.825), nine MIAA titles, 14 NCAA-II playoff appearances and the 1991 NCAA-II National Championship during his storied 17-year tenure.
    “We have a great deal of experience back on both sides of the ball. Mark Smith had a great spring camp. He’s healthy and looked sharp directing our offense. Our offensive line has a chance to assert itself as one of our better units in recent history. We lost a great tailback in Germaine Race to the NFL, but Caleb Farabi and Cardell Clemons both are exciting players who will be impact performers. We also have a great deal of wide receivers and pass-catching tight ends who provide balance to our offensive attack.
    “Defensively, our back seven should be a big strength. We return all three starters in the secondary – Nick Dellasega at free safety and Bryan McMurtrey and Geoff Tisdale at the corners – and three starters at linebacking positions, including our top two tacklers from 2006 in Jason Northern and Rusty Morgan.
    “We also have a promising group on the defensive line. I expect we’ll put a hard-nosed, aggressive unit on the field.”

The Pitt State Offense
    Mark Smith (5-11, 183) returns for his second season directing the Gorillas’ high-octane offensive unit.
    The Pittsburg native completed 58 of 83 passes (.690) for 1,029 yards (171.5 ypg) and 10 TDs with just three INTs in a little more than five games of action in 2006. He also rushed 48 times for 291 yards (6.1 ypc, 48.5 ypg) and seven TDs.
    He ranked No. 2 nationally in passing effieciency (206.6 rating) and 13th in total offense (261.0 ypg) entering the Washburn game on Oct. 7, when he suffered an arm injury on PSU’s first offensive series against the Ichabods.
    “Mark is an extremely intelligent player,” Broyles said. “He puts our offense in good situations to be successful. He really was evolving into one of the better quarterbacks in the country when he went down last year. We’re excited to have him back and healthy.”
    A pair of sophomores – Geno Waters and Chadd Snyder – once again will back up Smith.
    Waters (5-11, 207) started PSU’s final six games as a redshirt freshman in 2006, posting a 5-1 record. The Olathe, Kan., native completed 86 of 129 passes for 1,379 yards and 14 TDs. He earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors in leading PSU to a 29-14 win against 19th-ranked Washburn after Smith left the game early in the first quarter.
    “Geno was battle-tested last year,” Broyles said. “He handled the challenge very admirably and helped keep our offense firing. We’re confident in his abilities to run our offense, too.”
    Snyder (6-1, 195) also saw limited action under center for the Gorillas. The Carl Junction, Mo., native rushed and passed for a score in 10 games action.
    In the backfield, junior Caleb Farabi and redshirt freshman Cardell Clemons figure to shoulder the load at tailback.
    Farabi (5-7, 178) rushed the ball 33 times for 239 yards (7.2 ypc) and three TDs and he caught 22 passes for 172 yards (7.8 ypc) and one score in 2006. The Pittsburg native has 90 career carries for 535 yards (5.9 ypc) and nine TDs.
    Clemons (5-10, 200) also figures to be an impact player for the Gorillas. The Tulsa, Okla., native rushed for 3,069 yards and 40 TDs as a senior at Glenpool High School in 2005. He suffered an ankle injury during spring drills, but figures to return in time for the 2006 season.
    Additionally, junior Trac Hendrix and redshirt freshman Tyler Riggs will add depth at the tailback position. Hendrix (5-10, 195) moved from outside linebacker to tailback during spring drills, while Riggs (5-10, 190) enjoyed a productive redshirt season.
    Junior transfer Brandon Clark also joins the Pitt State squad in August. Clark (5-10, 215), a native of Newberry, S.C., comes to PSU from De Anza (Calif.) College.
    “We feel very good about our tailback situation,” Broyles said. “I’m not sure we have one back who we’ll ask to carry the ball 25 times a game, but we have a group who will compliment one another very well.”
    Senior Tyler Collums (5-11, 196) figures to reclaim his starting role at fullback for the Gorillas. Sophomore Todd Hertzog (6-0, 231), a converted linebacker, and junior transfer Michael Schibi also will vie for playing time.
    Once again, the Gorillas welcome back a strong corps of players to its receiving positions.
    Senior Pierce Curran and junior Marques Nelson started four games apiece at wide receiver for the Gorillas in 2006. Curran (6-1, 191), an honorable mention All-MIAA performer in 2005, caught 20 passes for 262 yards (13.1 ypc) last year, while Nelson (6-3, 220) caught 11 passes for 246 yards (22.4 ypc) and five TDs.
    Junior Harrison Kush (5-10, 175) also caught six passes for 172 yards (28.7 ypc) and one score in 2006.
    Senior Jake Manning (5-11, 170), junior Nathan Thomas (5-10, 170) and sophomore transfer Kendall Fisher (6-4, 212) also figure to see significant action.
    At tight end, senior Brian Barta returns after a solid junior year. The LaCrosse, Kan., native caught nine passes for 113 yards (12.6 ypc) and four TDs.
Sophomores Martin Burke (6-5, 244), Ricky Ludeman (6-4, 232) and Brandon Smith (6-7, 265) also figure to see heavy action.
    Up front, the Gorillas return a veteran cast on their offensive line – led by All-American center Drew Brown and All-American tackle Zac Robinson.
    Brown (6-2, 310) earned second-team All-MIAA and honorable mention All-America honors, while Robinson (6-5, 290) garnered first-team All-MIAA and honorable mention All-America recognition.
    Juniors Shane McGinnis (6-6, 303), a guard, and Travis Greer (6-3, 314), a tackle, also earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2006. Junior Kendall Molz (6-4, 270), another guard, rounds out Pitt State’s starting unit.
    The quintet average 6-feet-4 and 297 pounds.
    Senior Ryan McInerney (5-11, 257) will back up Brown at center, while sophomores Jay Nuñez (6-1, 249) and Anthony Voegeli (6-3, 252) return as reserve guards. Junior Josh Paoni (6-4, 311) and sophomore Billy Cox (6-1, 305) will serve as backup tackles.
    “I fully expect our offensive line to be one of our strengths again this fall,” Broyles said. “This group will play a key role in our offensive success.
    “Overall, I think our offense has the capability to be very productive in points and total yards once again this fall.”

The Pitt State Defense
    The Gorillas return nine defensive starters, including six starters among its back seven positions.
    In the secondary, senior Nick Dellasega returns at free safety. Dellasega (6-2, 195) earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors despite missing three games due to injury. The Pittsburg native logged 57 tackles (27 solo), two interceptions and four pass breakups.
    “Nick is the quarterback of our defensive unit,” Broyles said. “We feel like he’s primed for a big senior season for us.”
    Senior Geoff Tisdale and junior Bryan McMurtrey return to their cornerback positions. Tisdale (6-1, 175) logged a team-leading three INTs and six pass breakups in 2006. McMurtrey (5-11, 186) registered one INT and six PBUs, earning honorable mention All-MIAA recognition.
    Senior Adam Contreras (6-0, 202) and sophomore Brennan Hurt (5-11, 200) also will see significant action at safety. while senior Justin Dore (5-11, 180) and redshirt freshman David Vaughn (5-10, 185) bolster PSU’s situation at corner.
    The Gorillas return their top two statistical tacklers from the 2006 season in inside linebackers Jason Northern and Rusty Morgan.
    Northern (6-0, 230), a senior from Broken Arrow, Okla., recorded a team-leading 108 stops (61 solo) with 1.5 QB sacks, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors.
    Morgan (6-0, 225), a junior from Cushing, Okla., logged 76 tackles (33 solo) with 1.5 QB sacks, five TFLs and four PBUs.
    Junior Brett Shamblin returns to his outside linebacker post after a one-year absence. Shamblin (5-10, 198), a Blue Springs, Mo., native, missed the 2006 season due to injury. He registered 62 tackles with 8.0 TFLs, three INTs and four forced fumbles as a sophomore in 2005.
    Sophomore Zack Langston (6-3, 203) also emerged from spring drills as a frontrunner for a starting outside linebacker spot. The Overland Park, Kan., native logged 34 tackles and 2.0 QB sacks as a true freshman in 2006.
    Junior transfer Jeremy Jackson (6-0, 210) also joined the Gorillas during spring drills from NJCAA champion Blinn College. The Burton, Texas, native figures to push for a starting role at outside linebacker, after leading Blinn in tackles a year ago.
    Junior Ryder Hill (6-0, 198) and junior transfer Miles Jennings (5-11, 207) also will contend for action at outside linebacker.
    Junior Austin Cartright (6-1, 207) and sophomore Antonio Graham (5-10, 207) will vie for playing time at inside linebacker, along with junior transfer Giorgio Majors (6-0, 210) who will join the squad in August from Kilgore College.
    The Gorillas also return three of four starters from their defensive line group from 2006. On the interior line, juniors Rashad Pittman and Reggie Young will look to reclaim their starting tackle posts.
    Pittman (6-2, 275), a Tulsa, Okla., native, recorded 39 tackles (six solo) with 2.5 QB sacks last year, while Young (5-11, 263), also from Tulsa, registered 31 stops (15 solo) and 1.5 QB sacks.
    Junior Evandall Williams (6-2, 273) will bid to become a two-year starter at defensive end for the Gorillas. Williams registered 29 tackles (nine solo) with 2.0 QB sacks and 4.5 TFLs last fall.
    Sophomore Jordan Karr (6-3, 260) exited spring drills as a leading candidate for a starting end role, while sophomore Brock Lohr (6-1, 222) and redshirt freshman Andrew Hedges (6-6, 233) also figure to see action.
    Sophomore Mike Roberts (6-0, 268) will push for a starting tackle spot, while junior J.C. Dawes (6-1, 270) and freshman transfer Joe Kennard (6-4, 272) also figure squarely in the mix.
    “Our defense has a great deal of promise,” Broyles said. “This is a veteran squad and one with a good deal of team speed. Hopefully they’ll be opportunistic – create turnovers – and be sounds in their technique to prevent surrendering explosive plays.”

Pitt State Special Teams
    Redshirt freshman Matt Liess (6-0, 182) made the most of his initial season in the Pitt State program. The Creve Couer, Mo., native will contend for both the placekicking and punting chores for PSU.
    Incoming freshman Jared Witter (6-3, 200) also will challenge for the placekicking duties after earning first-team Kansas Class 6A All-State honors at Shawnee Mission West High School in 2006.
    Senior Cody Hager (6-1, 240) figures to handle PSU’s long snapping chores for a second season.
    Kush garnered honorable mention All-America honors as a kick returner for the Gorillas in 2006. The Louisburg, Kan., native ranked fifth in Division II in punt returns (17.1 ypr) and averaged 19.7 yards on 13 kickoff returns as well.