Positions Defined for Orange Gridders
5/13/2010 6:00:00 AM | Football
2010 Post-Spring Depth Chart
With Spring semester final exams in the books, the Orange football squad is focused on strength and conditioning, summer jobs and academics. Head coach Doug Marrone just concluded three days of individual meetings with every student-athlete on the team during which he defined summer goals. The second-year head coach also revealed to each player where they stood on the post-Spring practice depth chart.
“I expect our players to know exactly where they stand within the program,” Marrone said. “They know exactly what they need to do to maintain a starting position or to become a starter. We are a much tougher team, physically and mentally. That was our objective going into Spring practice.”
The first unit on the post-Spring depth chart lists two returning starters on offense and nine on defense. Center Ryan Bartholomew, a 2009 All-BIG EAST Second Team performer, and guard Adam Rosner return to anchor the offensive line. Junior Ryan Nassib is the starter at quarterback with sophomore Charley Loeb on the second team.
“At every position we assess who is going to give us the best chance to win and that player will play,” Marrone said. “At quarterback Ryan will be number one going into camp. We have two players who we know can go into a game and play well enough to win. That is a good feeling. We want to be able to say that about every position.”
The rest of the first team on offense includes receivers Van Chew and Alex Lemon, tight end Nick Provo, running back Antwon Bailey, fullback Adam Harris, offensive tackles Justin Pugh and Michael Hay and guard Andrew Tiller.
The nine returning starters on defense who are listed with the first team include ends Mikhail Marinovich and Chandler Jones, tackle Andrew Lewis, linebackers Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue, cornerback Da'Mon Merkerson and free safety Mike Holmes. At strong safety Marrone has two returning starters who are battling for the top spot in 2010 in senior Max Suter, who missed the final four games last year due to injury, and sophomore Shamarko Thomas, who as a rookie started seven games at three positions, including safety, linebacker and cornerback.
The Orange also returns three specialists in punter Rob Long, a 2010 pre-season All-American and 2009 Ray Guy Award semifinalist, kicker Ryan Lichtenstein and long snapper Max Leo.
“Our program is rooted in structure, discipline and toughness,” Marrone said. “That is how we will play. That is who we are.”
