WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University's defense is primed to be one of the Northeast Conference's elite units again in 2009, with the Hawks returning eight of 11 starters from last season.
“On the defensive side, we need to find replacements at corner, defensive tackle and determine who will make up our linebacking corps,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “I think there will be a lot of competition on the defensive line to find out who Kevin's (Reigning NEC Defense Player of the Year Kevin Walsh) replacement will be.”
The defense is a young unit overall, with seven of those eight returners have more than one season of eligibility left. Below is a position by position breakdown of the defense:
DEFENSIVE LINE
While an experienced crew returns to the Monmouth defensive line, the Hawks will have to replace the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year in Kevin Walsh, who graduates in May. Fifth-year seniors David Kennedy (Fort Lee, N.J./Patterson Catholic) and Troy Butler (Pennsauken, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) both return and could develop as a great pass rushing tandem. In 2007, Kennedy and Butler tied for the team lead in sacks. Kennedy tallied 24 tackles in '08, including 10 for a loss. He also was second on the team in sacks with 5.5 and blocked a kick as a redshirt senior. Butler returns for his final season after playing in 10 games last year.
The rest of the Hawk d-line is comprised of underclassmen, with Dave Ogden (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) impressing coaches with his play this spring. Ogden had three sacks last season and recovered a fumble. Sophomore Garrett Culloo (Ocean, N.J./Ocean) was second among defensive linemen with 30 tackles in '08, while blocking two kicks and breaking up a number of passes. The defensive tackle from Ocean, N.J. is the leading candidate to replace Walsh at the defensive tackle position.
Jeremy Baltimore (Orange, N.J./Orange) and Austin Kugler (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North), two rising freshmen, give Monmouth two young physical players who can play anywhere along the line. Baltimore, who played in eight games at the defensive end position a season ago, will have to build on that experience to vie for a starting spot in 2009. Kugler, who redshirted last season, has worked hard in the offseason and will compete to get on the two-deep this fall. James Reid (Salisbury, Md./Stephen Decatur) has seen significant time in the rotation this season, making the most of his spring opportunities.
Freshmen Josh Pack (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) and Mike Pranulis (Naugatuck, Conn./Trinity-Pawling) have missed most of spring practice with injuries but could add to the overall depth of the position come August.
LINEBACKERS
For the first time in three seasons, Monmouth's linebacking corps will be without starter T.J. Cerezo. Callahan's squad does return seven players who saw action in almost all of Monmouth's games a season ago. Rising junior Joe Cella (Jackson, N.J./Jackson) has two years of experience under his belt, finishing with 47 tackles for fourth place on the Hawks last season. Sophomore Chris Mastrangelo (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) was sixth on the team in tackles with 44 while registering three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Both Cella and Mastrangelo are physical players who will vie for the starting spots on the inside.
Starting opposite of Cerezo was true sophomore Joe Valenti (Bayonne, N.J./St. Peter's Prep), who tied with Mastrangelo for sixth with 44 tackles. Valenti registered five TFLs and had 1.5 sacks in his first year as a starter. Sophomore Brian Brikowski (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Twp./Akron) also returns after playing in 10 games as a reserve outside linebacker in 2008. Freshmen Nick Bonturi (Clarksburg, Md./Damascas/Air Force Prep) and Jonny Rogers return for their second seasons after getting game experience in their first seasons. Rogers will make a push for a spot at outside linebacker while Bonturi, who battled injuries last season, saw action in seven games and will challenge for a starting spot at inside linebacker.
The coaching staff will also have the return of junior Jeff Brady (East Aurora, N.Y./St. Francis) to look forward to in the summer. Brady, the team's second leading tackler in 2008, sat out of spring ball to recover from an injury. Monmouth has been without an all-conference selection at the position since the graduation of Mike Castellano after the 2006 campaign. T.J. Batton (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) will compete for a spot on the 2-deep at outside linebacker.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Perhaps the most versatile and deepest position on the Monmouth team is the defensive backfield. The Hawks return three of four starters, with safeties Jon Stolarz (Andover, N.J./Hopatcong) and Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) and corner Ken Amsel (Demarest, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) all returning. MU will have to replace two-time All-NEC selection Ayo Falae, the team's third leading tackler last season.
Amsel is a two-year returning starter at cornerback, leading the Hawks in interceptions a year ago with three. The Demarest native, who was also fifth on the team with 47 tackles, was asked to play some safety due to injuries. Rising sophomore Michal Avent (Upper Marlboro, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) could be a potential replacement for Falae's vacated position after putting together an impressive spring session. The athletic Avent returned kicks for Monmouth a year ago and was a reserve cornerback. Freshman Dorian Evans (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek), who was plagued by injuries in the fall, has remained healthy and has taken first team reps at cornerback during the spring.
Stolarz is also a two-year starter for the Hawks, bringing 19 games worth of experience to the backfield. Stolarz was enjoying a productive spring will miss out on the Blue/White game with an injury. Gumbs, a redshirt freshman, is fresh off of winning the 2008 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year award after leading MU in tackles with 60. The punishing safety is versatile enough to play corner for the Hawks, where he filled in a number of practices this spring. Junior Bobby Cole (Jackson, N.J./Jackson), sophomore Kendall Haley (Olney, Md./Good Counsel) and redshirt freshman Shaquan Virgil (Bordentown, N.J./Florence) round out the safeties. All three have game experience and will get on the field this season in some capacity.
Callahan's defensive backfield also features a number of freshmen who will get reps at the spring game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
By far the biggest hole to fill on special teams will be the graduation of fifth-year senior Fred Weingart. Weingart left West Long Branch as one of the most accurate kickers in history and fifth on the squad all-time in scoring. There was a lot of competition between sophomore Eric McCutcheon (Edison, N.J./JP Stevens) and freshman Jake DelVento (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) during spring ball and Weingart's replacement was one of a handful of positions that will still need to be hashed out come preseason camp. Both players regularly hit extra points and converted some long field goal attempts but consistency was an issue, and that will play a major role in next year's starting kicker.
The Hawks return punter Jack Daniels (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Don Bosco), who has handled the punting duties for the last two seasons. Daniels has improved the distance and hang time of his punts, however he continues to work on being more consistent. Ogden handled the long snapping duties last season and worked with the first team for the spring. Callahan and his coaches also worked out a number of different players to compete for the long snapping job in 2009.
The 15-day spring period concludes on Saturday, when the Hawks will compete in the 15th Annual Blue/White Spring Game.
