Falcons Set To Begin Spring Practice

March 12, 2015 | Football

Bowling Green will take to the field on Tuesday, March 17

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

The Bowling Green State University football team begins preparations for the 2015 season when they open spring practice on Tuesday, March 17. Under second-year head coach Dino Babers, the Falcons will look to carry momentum from the 2014 season which saw them win the Mid-American Conference East Division and the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The Falcons will have 15 practice sessions throughout the spring, concluding with the spring game on Saturday, April 11.

Quarterbacks
Lettermen Returning: 2; Lettermen Lost: 0
Starters Returning: 1; Starters Lost: 0
Bowling Green will have a stiff competition at quarterback during the spring, as four quarterbacks will battle it out. Returning starter James Knapke is back after leading the Falcons to a MAC East Division title and Camellia Bowl championship. Knapke was named Most Valuable Player for the Camellia Bowl. 2013 starter and opening game starter in 2014 Matt Johnson is back after injuring his hip in the season opener at Western Kentucky. Cody Callaway and Clayton Nicholas—a transfer from Texas Tech who sat out the 2014 season—will also compete for the starting role in spring.

Running Backs
Lettermen Returning: 3; Lettermen Lost: 0
Starters Returning: 1; Starters Lost: 0
All three running backs who started at least one game during the 2014 season return in 2015. Two-year starter Travis Greene returns after rushing for 949 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago. Fred Coppet and Andre Givens also return. Each one of BGSU's running backs started at least one game in 2014 and had at least one 100-yard rushing game. Matt Domer, an early enrollee, will also compete at running back for the Falcons in the spring.

Wide Receivers
Lettermen Returning: 6; Lettermen Lost: 1
Starters Returning: 4; Starters Lost: 1
The Falcons return a plethora of talented receivers for the 2015 season, including first-team All-Mid-American Conference wideout Roger Lewis. Lewis is joined by redshirt junior Gehrig Dieter, junior Ronnie Moore, and redshirt senior Ryan Burbrink. Bowling Green will be looking for receivers to step up and replace departed senior Heath Jackson, who caught 34 passes in 2014. Herve Coby, Teo Redding, and Robbie Rhodes—a transfer from Baylor who sat out the 2014 season—will all be competing for spots during the spring.

Offensive Line
Lettermen Returning: 8; Lettermen Lost: 0
Starters Returning: 5; Starters Lost: 0
BGSU was one of just nine schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision to start the same five players on the offensive line in every game during the 2014 season. Second team All-MAC lineman Alex Huettel anchors the offensive line with 41 career starts. He is joined by Logan Dietz (28 career starts), Jacob Bennett (28 career starts), Tim McAuliffe (14 career starts), and Jacob Bennett (14 career starts).

Defensive Line
Lettermen Returning: 6; Lettermen Lost: 3
Starters Returning: 2; Starters Lost: 2
The Falcons suffered several losses at each defensive position, starting with the defensive line. Gone are defensive ends Bryan Thomas, Charlie Walker, and Kendall Montgomery, but returning are interior linemen Taylor Royster and Gus Schwieterman. Zach Colvin also returns from injury during the 2014 season, and defensive end Bryan Baird—who saw significant time at defensive end—will be expected to step up and replace the departed defensive linemen.

Linebackers
Lettermen Returning: 5; Lettermen Lost: 3
Starters Returning: 1; Starters Lost: 2
Bowling Green will be charged with replacing two multi-year starters at linebacker in All-MAC performer Gabe Martin and D.J. Lynch. The Falcons also lose Paul Senn, who started five games during the 2014 season and was a valuable member of Bowling Green's special teams unit. The Orange and Brown do have back James Sanford (9 starts), Nate Locke (4 starts), and Austin Valdez (1 start) from last year's team.

Defensive Backs
Lettermen Returning: 6; Lettermen Lost: 4
Starters Returning: 1; Starters Lost: 3
The Falcons, for the second consecutive season, lose three starters from the defensive backfield in 2015. Gone is three-year starting safety Ryland Ward and strong safety Brian Sutton. Also departed from the 2014 season is cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah, who started all 14 games a season ago. The Falcons do have talent returning, as a pair of true freshmen from a season ago—Nick Johnson and Clint Stephens—combined for nine interceptions during their inaugural campaign.

Specialists
Lettermen Returning: 3; Lettermen Lost: 0
Starters Returning: 3; Starters Lost: 0
BGSU's special teams unit should once again be a strong-suit in the 2015 season, as all three true specialist return from the 2014 season. Tyler Tate, the school's all-time leader for career field goals made, returns for his senior campaign. Joseph Davidson, who set the school record for punt attempts and yardage in 2014, also returns along with long snapper Greg Hohenstein.