Monmouth University quarterback Greg DePugh goes through a passing drill at a recent practice in West Long Branch. The Hawks, who join the Big South Conference this year, will kick off their 2014 season at home on Aug. 30 against Delaware State University at 1 p.m. A nticipation for the start of the college football season always runs high this time of the summer.
At Monmouth University, there’s an extra buzz for the start of the season, because after a year of playing an independent schedule, the Hawks officially join the Big South Conference this fall.
“Being part of a conference is something exciting for our team,” said head coach Kevin Callahan, who is in his 22nd season at the helm of Monmouth’s program.
With the excitement of starting something new comes the challenge of joining an already existing conference.
“We’re playing catch-up,” Callahan said. “[The Big South is] a very talented conference.
“Teams are very athletic, their offenses are wide open, and their defensive fronts attack you. The Big South is a premier conference, one of the best in the country.”
Monmouth got a good look at the conference last fall when it played Liberty University, losing (45-15) early in a season that saw the Hawks go 6-6.
Callahan and the Hawks’ coaching staff have had their eyes on the Big South the last year. It has impacted the type of athlete they’re looking to recruit, and they’ve tweaked their offenses and defenses.
Offensively, the Hawks have the capability to hit the home run or grind it out on the ground.
A big plus is the return of quarterback Brandon Hill (Audubon). Last year, he was a transfer from the University of Massachusetts and new to the Hawks’ system.
“He’s been here a full year, and he’s more comfortable with the offense,” Callahan said.
He’s a classical drop-back quarterback. Last year, the senior passed for 2,356 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Making things easier for Hill is Monmouth’s receiving corps.
“I’m really happy with our depth at receiver,” Callahan said.
Heading the receivers is senior Neal Sterling (Manasquan). He was Hill’s favorite target with 57 catches for 647 yards and six touchdowns. Sterling set the school’ single-game reception’s record with 13 against Lehigh University.
Providing the balance to the offense is running back Kwabena Asante (Silver Spring, Md.), who transferred from West Virginia University following his freshman year. The senior ran for 1,080 yards last year and eight touchdowns. He averaged 6 yards per carry.
“All the pieces are there,” Callahan said. “We have firepower.”
Callahan’s biggest concern is up front on the offensive line, where the Hawks are breaking in three new starters. “[It’s] proving to be a challenge,” he said. On the other side of the ball, the line is the strength of the Hawks’ defense. It is talented, deep and filled with veterans, Callahan reported.
Pat O’Hara (Souderton, Pa.), Darnell Leslie (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Dimitrius Smith (Jackson Memorial) can all disrupt an offense with the push they get off the ball. Leslie and O’Hara, both seniors, spent a lot of time in opposing backfields, combining for 14.5 tackles for a loss. Smith, a junior, missed last year to an injury, and his return adds talent and depth to the unit.
Callahan said he’d like a little more experience at linebacker, but he has two solid returnees in outside backers Payton Minnich (Harrisburg, Pa.) and John
Sieczkowski (Manalapan). Sieczkowski, a junior, started all 12 games last year and had 46 tackles with 22 solos. Minnich, a sophomore, appeared in all 12 games and had 21 stops.
The Hawks’ secondary is led by Joe
Johnson (Manchester). The junior is coming off a “very good year,” according to
Callahan. The former Manchester Township High School standout had 49 total tackles in 2013, including 36 solos.
Callahan’s biggest concern for the defense is how it “matches up when [teams] spread us out.”
The Hawks kick off the season with backto back home games, first against Delaware
State University at 1 p.m. on Aug. 30 and against former Northeast Conference rival
Wagner College at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Monmouth will not make its Big South debut until Oct. 25 at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., at 1 p.m. The Hawks’ first
Big South home game is against
Charleston Southern University at 1 p.m.
Nov. 1. They end the season at home against Gardner-Webb University at noon on Nov. 22.
Monmouth plays the final five games of its 11-game schedule against Big South foes.
Callahan likes the way the schedule breaks out. It gives the team time to gel before starting conference play, and he likes keeping a “Northeast flavor to the schedule.”
“I’m very pleased [with the schedule],” he said.
In the Big South preseason poll, the
Hawks were picked to finish fifth. Coastal
Carolina University and Liberty, which shared the championship in 2013, were picked to go first and second, respectively.
Monmouth has three players who were put on the Preseason College Football
Awards Watch List — defensive end
O’Hara. running back Asante and wide receiver Sterling.
This year’s Hawks roster is lined with local talent, as Callahan has done a fine job keeping talent in the Jersey Shore.
Among those staying home along with
Sieczkowski and Smith are defensive back
Jahmer Bunch (Red Bank Regional), offensive lineman Peter Righi (Rumson-Fair
Haven), offensive lineman Russ Clayton
(Monroe Township), defensive lineman
Jack Eisenstadt (Rumson-Fair Haven), defensive lineman Manny Maragoto (Freehold
Township), offensive lineman Ryan Wetzel (Colts Neck), tight end Evan Ruane (Shore Regional), defensive lineman Daivone Thomas (Allentown) and defensive lineman Zak Irizarry (North Brunswick).