13 Teams In 13 Days: Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo Bulls
2008 Schedule \ Roster 
2007 Record/Finish: 5-7 Overall/5-3 MAC (T-1st East)
Letterwinners Returing: 53 (30 off., 23 def., 0 special teams)
Letterwinners Lost: 16 (5 off., 11 def., 0 special teams)
Starters Returning: 18 (10 off., 8 def., 0 special teams)
Starters Lost: 4 (1 off., 3 def., 0 special teams)
2008 MAC Media Day Interviews
?Buffalo Head Coach Turner Gill
?Senior Quarterback Drew Willy
?Senior Defensive Lineman Ronald Hilaire
20 Questions With A Student Athlete Feature
?Senior QB Drew Willy
?Senior DL Ronald Hilaire
A Beat Writer's Take On The Bulls
"Buffalo has anticipated this season for over a decade. The university set its sights on Division I football in the early '90s. The football team found its way into the MAC in 1999. Seventeen wins and 86 (mostly blowout) losses later, the question, "Is this the year?" no longer triggers Seinfeld eye rolls. UB is a bonafide contender in the East division, with one of the conference's top quarterbacks, four-year starter Drew Willy, leading the way. Willy is among 10 returning starters on offense, but more importantly, the 2007 MAC coach of the year, Turner Gill, also came back, after being a finalist to revive the Nebraska program he starred for in the '80s. Gill transformed UB from a national joke into an exciting young squad in less than two years. Now the Bulls' eyes are on a bowl berth. But a defense full of questions could hold them back. Who's going to pressure the quarterback? Will three freshmen start at linebacker? Can Davonte Shannon build on his sensational debut? At least ? for the first time in 10 seasons ? Bulls fans don't think they already know what's coming."
Jonah Bronstein, Tonawanda News
Head Coach Turner Gill
(7-17, Third Season)
In just two seasons, head coach Turner Gill has lifted the Buffalo football program to historic heights and has gained national attention for the Bulls’ youthful program ? less than a decade into major college football.
During the 2007 season, Gill earned Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bulls to five wins - the most in its Division I-A history. The program had won 10 games in its first seven years in I-A, they won half of that total in ?07. UB finished with a 5-3 conference record, including a 4-2 mark in the MAC East Division to claim a share of the regular season title. Prior to the 2007 campaign, UB had won eight MAC games total in the previous eight years.
In addition, under Gill’s tutelage Buffalo had eight players selected to the All-MAC after having just seven in their first eight years of conference play. The Bulls had eight MAC Players of the Week had two players on national semifinal “watch lists” ? Ben Woods (Ray Guy Award ? top punter) and Trevor Scott (Ted Hendricks Award ? top defensive end), while senior center Jamey Richard was invited to play in the Hula Bowl and earned an invitation to the NFL Combine.
Three of UB’s eight All-MAC players came from Gill’s first two recruiting classes, including safety Davonte Shannon, a true freshman, who became UB’s first All-MAC first-team selection. Buffalo enjoyed its first winning record at home since moving up to Division I-A and its two MAC road wins was also its best effort since joining the conference.
For his many efforts in bringing national respect to the Bulls’ football program, Gill received a contract extension through 2012 in December of 2007.
Offense 
Buffalo will enter the fall with Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award candidate Drew Willy (pictured right) calling the signals for the offense. The senior completed his third and finest season as the Bulls’ starting quarterback in 2007. Willy set a new mark for completions in a season (258), had the highest pass efficiency rating in school history (135.7), the highest completion percentage (68.4%) in a single season and had 15 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Willy also set the school record for completions in a game (34) at Kent State while passing for a career-high 334 yards. He was twice named MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week, including after throwing for 330 yards at Penn State. Going into his senior season, Willy is already tied for the career mark in completions (545) and needs 2,035 yards to set the career passing mark next season. He will enter the 2008 season with a steak of 235 straight pass attempts without an interception. Redshirt freshman Ed Young enters camp as the backup. He redshirted last season and worked with the scout teams. A dual-threat quarterback in high school, Young threw for 1,547 yards and 18 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 1,130 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. Walk-on Cory Jorgensen will also get some reps at quarterback. He worked with the scout team last season. Incoming freshman Jerry Davis is a very athletic prospect who enters UB off a highly-successful high school career. He threw for 2,100 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior season.
James Starks had a breakout season in 2007 en route to earning All-MAC Second Team honors for the second straight season. Starks rushed for a career-best 1,103 yards to become the first UB running back in the Division I-A era to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He scored 12 touchdowns on the ground - the most in the D I-A era. Starks finished the season strong by averaging 129.4 yards rushing over the final seven games of the year, including a career-best 231-yard performance against Toledo. He also had 41 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns. A threat to go the distance every play, Starks had four touchdowns that covered 70 or more yards, including a 92-yard touchdown run at Miami. A different style runner, junior Mario Henry proved to be the thunder to Starks’ lightning in 2007. In his first season since being converted from a defensive back to running back, Henry rushed for 345 yards on 76 carries (4.5 per carry) and a touchdown. His best game of the season came at Temple where he ran for 125 yards on only 17 carries, including a 33-yard touchdown. He also hauled in 15 catches for 75 yards on the season. Brandon Thermilus is a versatile back who can play both the tailback and fullback positions. As a redshirt freshman, Thermilus appeared in all 12 games and ran for 85 yards and three touchdowns. He also had eight catches for 65 yards on the year. He proved to be an excellent short-yardage back with a powerful running style. He followed up a productive 2007 season with a solid spring season and should challenge for more playing time in 2008. Chris Scharon appeared in nine games and started four at fullback. He is an excellent blocker who had a career-high seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
The Bulls have a deep and talented pool of receivers entering spring practice, led by junior Naaman Roosevelt. A third-team All-MAC selection in 2007, Roosevelt led the Bulls with 63 catches for 766 yards and four touchdowns. His 63 catches was the fourth-highest single season total in school history. Ernest Jackson is coming off the most productive season of his career. The senior wideout started all 12 games and hauled in 53 catches for 645 yards and six touchdowns - all career highs. His six touchdown receptions led all wide receivers. Brett Hamlin fully recovered from a foot injury that sidelined him for most of the 2006 campaign to total 38 catches for 415 yards in 2007. The junior receiver caught his first career touchdown to force overtime in the Bulls’ win over Kent State. He had career highs of nine catches for 100 yards against Miami. Gary Rice is coming off his second season as a wide receiver after making the move from defensive back. The Bulls’ senior had 10 catches for 49 yards in 2007. He had a pair of four-reception games on the season. Speedy sophomore Terrell Jackson saw the majority of his action as a kick returner. He did have one catch on the season for five yards.
Marcus Rivers redshirted last season and is ready to contribute in 2008. The 6-4 Rivers is the Bulls’ tallest receiver. He averaged 14 yards per catch as a senior in high school and scored a pair of touchdowns.
The tight end position is another spot where the Bulls are very deep. Junior Jesse Rack led the Bulls with a 12.7 yards-per-catch average while making 15 catches for 191 yards in 2007. Four of his catches went for at least 15 yards and he scored one touchdown. Aaron Connacher appeared in 10 games as a true freshman in 2007. He had five catches for 28 yards. He had a season-high two receptions in his first career game at Rutgers. Sophomore Kyle Brey made the move from fullback to tight end in 2007 and made two receptions for six yards. He is also a rugged blocker. Also returning to the lineup is senior Robert Yealu who missed the 2007 campaign with a knee injury. In 2006, Yealu had six catches for 97 yards, including a career-best 23-yard reception at Auburn. Like Yealu, Bryan Kisabeth is another senior tight end hoping to revive an injury-riddled career. Kisabeth has missed the last three seasons with injuries. Michael Marr is a junior transfer from Erie Community College. Senior Matt Abdo will add depth at tight end.
The Bulls will benefit from having four of their five starters on the offensive line returning for the 2008 season. Although, the anchor of the line, center Jamey Richard, was lost to graduation and a draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts, the remaining four linemen started all 12 games last season with three of the linemen starting in 2006 as well. Jeff Niedermier, along with Richard, became the first UB offensive lineman to earn All-MAC honors - garnering third-team honors in 2007. He has started 30 straight games. Senior Ray Norell is a versatile lineman who has started 24 games at both the guard and tackle position over his career. Last season, he started 11 games at left tackle. Junior Jordan Jerrold has started 24 straight games at right tackle ? earning the starting nod during his true freshman season.
Local product Peter Bittner started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman last season. Senior Jon Geddes and sophomore Andrew West will also battle for a role in the starting lineup after continuing to develop. Each player has started at least one game in their career. Chris Lauzze, who spent last season as the Bulls’ long snapper, will battle for the starting center job vacated by Richard. Matt Bacoulis has seen action in six games in two seasons as a reserve for the Bulls and can play both guard and tackle.
Defense
The Bulls will return three of their four starters on the defensive line in 2008. Although the starter they lost was Trevor Scott, a sixth-round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders. The bulk of the Bulls’ experience will be at the defensive tackle position. Ronald Hilaire (pictured left) started 11 games in 2007 and 19 in his career. He is coming off the best season of his career as he totaled 45 tackles (20 solo), four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. Dane Robinson started 10 games at the defensive tackle spot. He finished the 2007 season with 18 tackles, including three for a loss, and a quarterback hurry. Also returning to the defensive line is Chris Callahan who started 10 games at defensive end last season. Seven of his 34 tackles on the season were for a loss, including 1.5 sacks. He added a quarterback hurry. Callahan finished the season at linebacker and has the ability to play either position. Mike Thompson played in eight games and started the last two of the season. He finished the season with 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception. A pair of Bulls will look to return to form after sitting out last season with injuries. Tom Drewes played in nine games as a freshman in 2006 and had 11 tackles, including one for a loss. Andrae Smith hasn’t played since 2005. But that season he had 13 tackles and two sacks in 11 games.
The linebacker position is one area in which the Bulls will have to reload after losing a pair of All-MAC players in Kareem Byrom and Larry Hutchinson. However, a number of young players were able to gain valuable experience last season and should be ready to contribute on a regular basis in 2008. David Hubbard and Adekunle Akingba are the lone seniors in the linebacking corps. Hubbard appeared in 10 games last season and finished with 23 tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Akingba started the season at safety before making the move to linebacker. He totaled 46 tackles and ranked second on the team with two forced fumbles. Josh Copeland was originally slotted to be a defensive back, but made the move to linebacker midway through the season. He had 33 tackles (21 solo), an interception and a pass breakup in 2007. Jamal Chisam is looking to rebound from a 2007 season lost to injury. He played in six games in 2006. Sophomore Jerry Housey fought injuries to appear in six games last season. He finished the year with seven tackles. Sophomore Justin Winters, redshirt-freshmen Raphael Akobundu and John Syty, will look to make an impact as well.
The Bulls will feature one of the most experienced defensive backfields in the Mid-American Conference in 2008. As a true freshman, safety Davonte Shannon became Buffalo’s first All-MAC First Team selection in 2007. Although, only entering the starting lineup in week four, Shannon finished the season with 123 tackles - the most by a UB player in its Division I-A era. He had more tackles than any freshman in the nation and his 73 solo stops were also the most in the D I-A era. He also led the Bulls in passes defended with eight and ranked second on the squad with three interceptions. Shannon was also named to the Scout.com Freshman All-America First Team and The Sporting News Freshman All-America Second Team. Mike Newton returns for his third season as a starting safety for the Bulls. Newton led the Bulls in interceptions for the second straight season with four in 2007. He also tied for third on the team in tackles with 86. He finished the year strong by averaging nine tackles over the last seven games of the season. Physical cornerback Kendric Hawkins battled injuries in 2007 and appeared in nine games. However, he still led the team with six pass breakups, to go along with 35 tackles, including four for a loss, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. As a true freshman Domonic Cook started the first nine games of the season at cornerback before missing the final three games with an injured hand. Before being slowed by the injury, Cook had been coming into his own as he had seven or more tackles in each of his last four games, including a season-best 11 tackles against Toledo. He finished the season with 58 tackles and three pass breakups. When Cook went down, Josh Thomas started the last three games and the secondary didn’t miss a beat. Thomas appeared in 11 games total on the season and had 45 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception. Junior Chris Storr had six tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in ’07 and adds quality depth. Sherrod Lott looks to return to the lineup after sitting out the 2007 season. He started six games as a true freshman in 2006.
Special Teams
Kicker A.J. Principe was a pleasant surprise for the Bulls last season. He walked on to the team in the summer and by the end of training camp had earned a scholarship. He also earned the starting kicker job and went on to have a fantastic season. Principe hit 15-of-20 field goals for the season, including nine straight at one point, and connected on 32-of-34 PATs in the finest freshman season by a kicker in UB’s history. He was named Sporting News Freshman All-America Honorable Mention. Buffalo has the benefit of a strong-legged kicker in Gerry McGroarty handling kickoff duties. Nine of his 57 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. Walk-on George Eldayrie will add depth at kicker. Australian native Peter Fardon is expected to handle punting duties after a solid spring. He has experience in Australian Rules Football.
