USD Football 2007

TOREROS SET TO DEFEND MID-MAJOR NATIONAL CROWN The 2007 USO football

want to build on the founda– tion set by Coach Harbaugh and raise the bar. I'll say this about these players. They are achievers and they have

the versatile back that rushed for 1,002 yards and 14 TDs. Additional help comes from seniorTEChris Ramsey,junior wideouts John Matthews &

CB Gabe Derricks, the 2006 PFL Freshman of the Year. Look for Ben Hannula and Taber LeMarr, both receivers last year, to make an impact in

team is under the direction of first year head coach Ron Caragher. Caragher, who became USD's 12 th head

the defensive secondary. Special teams play, under the guidance of coordinator Ed Lamb,will be in the capable hands of senior kicker Hutch Parker, sophomore punter John Mcsorley, sophomore kicker Ryan Jackson, and the inspired play of three-time USO Special Teams Player of the Year - Mark Cianciulli. Forthe first time in school history the Toreros will take on two Football Champion– ship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) scholarship teams in Northern Colorado and UC Davis. USO hits the road six times including back-to-back midwest trips to Butler and Valparaiso.

coach on January 9, 2007, replaces Stanford-bound Jim Harbaugh who in three quick years directed USO to back-to-back I-AA mid-major national titles, back-to-back PFL championships, and to a remarkable 22-2 mark the past two seasons. Caragher (CARE-ah-ger) comes to USO with an impressive coaching resume, including four years (2003-2006) at Kentucky un– der Rich Brooks,and a total of nine years with the UCLA Bru– ins (1994-2002) under Terry Donahue and Bob Toledo. The cupboard wasn't left bareasCaragherwill have the luxury of 14 starters and 46 lettermen back from last year's 11-1 squadthatranked20 th in the final I-AA Sports Network national poll. "I think our season began back in February when I first met the team," said Coach Caragher. "We talked about goals,we talked about visions, what the team wants. Then we strategized a game plan for what it takes to achieve those goals. Spring ball went very well and the team tran– sitioned to a new staff. We

very high expectations. They will not settle for anything less than achievement and attaining their goals. And we as coaches are on the same path. We won't let them settle for less." A former quarterback himself when he played at UCLA,Caragherdidn't have to look far for senior leadership. Running the offense will be senior QB Josh Johnson, last year's PFL Offensive Player of theYear who also finished 6th in the Payton Watch voting for the I-AA's top offensive player. As a two-year starter, Johnson owns a record of 22- 2 and during this time he has completed 68.2%ofhis passes (506-742) for 6,576 yards and 70 touchdowns. The athletic Johnson can also beat you with his legs as he totaled 720 yards and 11 TDs in 20C>6. The offense is bolstered by the return of senior center Jordan Paopao, a 2006 mid– major All-American; senior guard Gabe DeAnda, a 2006 mid-major AII-American;Wes Doyle, a senior wideout who caught 52 balls for 909 yards and 11 TDs; and JT Rogan,

Kenny Stivers, running back Brendan Feliczak, receivers Mitch Ryan and Zac May,and linemen Deene Kabiling and Jason McFarland. The Torero defense, under the guidance of Defensive Coordinator Dave Adolph, has played a huge role in the team's success in recent years. Last season's squad ranked in the top-25 in twelve statisti– cal areas including scoring defense (2nd, 12.9 ppg) and rushing defense (10th, 107.3 yards pg) . Adolph's defense will be spearheaded by senior All– America defensive end Eric Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari, the 2006 co-PFL Defender of the Year, is the team's top returning tackler (63) and sack man (8). Although he has to fill a few voids left by graduated seniors Kyson Hawkins, Josh Brisco and Chase McBride, Adolph will look to count on the play of the following returning starters: senior linebackers Ronnie Pentz and Tyler Evans,junior safety PatrickO'Neill,juniorlineman Chris Gianelli,sophomore DE Matt Shearer,and sophomore

2007 PFL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

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1. SAN DIEGO (5) ...........45 2. Drake (3) ...........................41 3. Davidson........................... 34 4. Dayton .............................. 31 5. Morehead State ............. 29 6. Jacksonville...................... 21 7. Butler ................................. 15 8. Valparaiso ............................8

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