In collegiate sports, every year is a rebuilding year due to graduation. Don't, however, let the loss of multiple NESCAC All-Conference seniors fool you. Jumbo football still has a defense to be reckoned with.
While the losses of linemen Caleb Hudak and Matt Keller, linebacker Reid Palmer, and defensive back Mark Tilki - all 2004 graduates - certainly leave some holes to be filled, Tufts has plenty of fresh faces and returnees ready to keep the Jumbos among the strongest in the NESCAC.
Last season, Tufts was fourth in the conference allowing 13.5 points per game. The team's pass defense was especially impressive finishing first in the league in both total completions allowed, and yards per game surrendered, with 97 and 127.1, respectively.
Despite the loss of Tilki in the secondary, look for the Jumbos' back line to remain strong in 2004. At cornerback, the coaches expect Tilki-esque performances out of senior captain Donovan Brown who looks to follow Tilki and 2003 graduate Evan Zupancic, the team's all-time interception leader, in a rich tradition of Jumbo defensive backs. Brown understands the spot he is entering but also feels up to the challenge.
"The loss of Mark Tilki is big, but no single player is bigger than the team," he said. "The same question of [who would step up] was posed when Zupancic left, so I guess I have big shoes to fill."
Also poised for another big season is junior free safety Pat Magoon, who made 45 tackles in the secondary, along with two interceptions last year. Brown, whose three picks were second on the team behind Tilki's five, is aware of the talent that surrounds him in the secondary.
"Pat Magoon is the best safety in this league," Brown said. "And his knowledge of the game as well as his athletic ability will ensure that our defense is anchored with great leadership and experience."
There are equally large holes to fill up front on the defensive line after in the wake of Hudak and Keller's graduations. Leading the effort will be the line's only returning starter, Chris Lawrence, who had 35 tackles last fall and led the team with five sacks. Although he will probably be one of the few veterans up front, Lawrence knows that he has a solid supporting cast to fill the gaps.
"We have a lot of talented young players including Brian Schurko, Brandon Udelhofen, John Chappell, and Mark Macdonald who are enthusiastic and ready to meet the challenge," Lawrence said.
At linebacker, junior Zack Dumas will be looked to for leadership this coming season. Coming off an impressive sophomore campaign where he posted 63 tackles - tops on the team - along with a sack and an interception, Dumas returns to Medford as the cornerstone of the Jumbos' linebacker corps.
Surrounding Dumas at linebacker will likely be senior Michael Doan, junior Mike McCann, and sophomore Ryan Byrne.
With more inexperienced bodies than usual on defense, coordinator John Walsh and head coach Bill Samko face added responsibility to ready their troops to do battle in the NESCAC this fall. But both defensive captains echo one another's sentiments regarding the job their coaches have done putting together a defensive philosophy for the season.
"The coaches are doing a great job to make sure that we have the best schemes to win ball games this year," Lawrence said.
"The coaching staff has put in an incredible amount of time and effort," Brown added. "So expectations are high."
Brown and Lawrence both are also quick to acknowledge the squad's youth on defense, but are optimistic for strong performances out of all members of the defense, both young and old.
"It is true we are very young," Brown said. "But the guys have been working hard throughout the preseason, and after seeing a great deal of progress, I am very excited about the things we will be able to do on the field this year."
"We have high expectations and big shoes to fill from last year," Lawrence said. "But we're excited and ready for the challenge."
