Just last year, Slippery Rock used an offensive attack which was in the upper echelon of the Division II college football world. Now, with one of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks and his top two targets gone, new faces will need to step up for the Rock in 2014.
In 2013, Nigel Barksdale had the PSAC West on edge every week. A dual-threat, Barksdale led one of the nation’s best offenses with 3,736 yards passing and 30 touchdowns while adding 687 yards and five scores on the ground. In all, the Rock gained an unbelievable 536.5 yards per game. Barksdale has his pick of wide receivers, completing 137 of his 247 passes to John Schademan and Ken Amos for 2,311 yards and 20 touchdowns. Slippery Rock had a balanced rushing attack to make for an even keel offense, three rushers running for over five hundred yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, things could’ve been better. Slippery Rock allowed 359.2 yards per game to its opponents. But with such a potent offensive attack, it didn’t matter much until the team was held to just 210 yards and gave up 477 to Winston-Salem State in the D2 playoffs.
This year, the team may need to lean on the defense a little more with some of last year’s offensive threats gone.
Returning under center for the Rock will be redshirt sophomore Zack Newsock. Newsock completed 31-of-51 passes a year ago in mop up duty. He threw for 463 yards and four touchdowns. Not as mobile as Barksdale, Newsock never attempted a rush last season whereas Barksdale took off 157 times. With that simple fact, the offense will almost have to slow down just a bit with Newsock being a pocket passer.
Catching Newsock’s passes will be junior Jaimire Dutriuille and senior tight end Julian Harrell. The tandem finished third and fourth in receiving a year ago, Dutriuille catching 42 passes for 640 yards and five TDs while Harrell caught 18 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Getting the duties in the backfield will be returners Teddy Blakeman and Shamar Greene, who combined for 1,233 yards and 18 TDs a year ago. The two backs were both tabbed as preseason All-Americans. With those two in the backfield, some pressure will be taken off of Newsock and the passing game.
The offensive line will hinge on the performance of redshirt junior tackle Cory Tucker as the team returns all five starters from 2013.
Looking at the defense, the Rock returns its leading tackler in linebacker Austin Miele, who had 90 tackles (8.5 for loss) and an interception. The team will lose its top player in terms of picks as Anthony Saunders graduated but the Rock will have starter Devin Ghafoor back in the secondary.
On special teams, kicker Mike Wainauskis returns to lead the way.
The Rock opens their season Sept. 6 when they host Kutztown at 6 p.m.
Photo Credit: Slippery Rock
