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2009 Miami RedHawks Preview

OFFENSE
The RedHawks return eight starters, including a third-year regular in senior quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh, who has averaged more than 200 yards in passing each of the last two seasons. He started the first six games and the last three games of the 2008 season, compiling 1,960 passing yards. His 4,681 career passing yards already rank fifth on Miami's all-time list. The RedHawks' three most-productive rushers also return in Thomas Merriweather, Andre Bratton and J.R. Taylor. Injuries took a toll on Merriweather's production as a sophomore, but he still netted a team-leading 547 rushing yards. Bratton bounced back from an injury the year before to gain 366 yards on 79 carries. He led all backfield receivers with 33 receptions for 246 yards, an average of 7.5 per catch. Taylor was the only true freshman to letter in 2008, netting 427 yards and averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He had back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances against Bowling Green and Kent State. The receiving corps returns its top five pass catchers from 2008, including four players-Dustin Woods, Chris Givens, Jamal Rogers and Eugene Harris--who grabbed at least 33 receptions. Woods, a senior wide out, has 100 career receptions and has averaged nearly 15 yards per grab. Rogers led all Miami receivers with 41 catches a year ago for 353 yards. Givens was Miami's top touchdown threat last season, grabbing seven TD passes. Harris, who has had 81 receptions over the past two seasons, also has TD potential. The team's top two tight ends-Jake O'Connell and Tom Crabtree-are now members of the Kansas City Chiefs, so the coaching staff will be injecting newcomers at that position. Miami will be without three/fifths of its starting front line, so there's some rebuilding to be done. The cupboard isn't entirely bare, however, as 12-game starter Brandon Brooks, eight-game starter Bob Gulley and four-game starter Nate Williams all return in 2009.

DEFENSE
Veteran coordinator Carl "Bull" Reese, one of the nation's most celebrated defensive geniuses, inherits 22 letter winners. All 11 starting jobs were open for competition last spring, and it resulted in a free-for-all. Last season's RedHawk defense was expected to be a team strength, but it yielded a MAC-worst 2,500 rushing yards to its 12 opponents. This year's squad will be significantly more aggressive and will count upon the play of the defensive linemen. Senior left tackle Martin Channels and junior right end Morris Council will be called upon to put more pressure on the quarterback. Seniors D.J. Svabik and Mark Paun, junior Jordan Stevens and sophomore Matt Kamowicz all got at least one start last year. At linebacker, 2007 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Clayton Mullins, perennial all-star Joey Hudson and the dependable Chris Shula have all graduated, so senior Caleb Bostic will be counted upon to be the man at linebacker. Juniors Ryan Kennedy, David Davis and DeAndre Gilmore plus sophomore Jerrell Wedge and redshirt freshman Luke Kelly are all listed in the two-deep lineup. A total of 15 letters have been won by the starters and back-ups among Miami's returning defensive backs. Veteran strong safety Robbie Wilson has graduated, but seven other letter winners return to the 2009 roster, led by senior cornerback Jeff Thompson, junior safety Jordan Gafford and junior cornerback Brandon Stephens. Other returning letter winners include Wendell Brunson, Peris Edwards, Anthony Kokal, Cornelius Ward and Jonathan Wells.

SPECIAL TEAMS
First-team All-MAC stars Jake Richardson at punter and Nathan Parseghian at placekicker have graduated, so walk-on senior punter Chris DiCesare and junior Trevor Cook at placekicker could take their places in the lineup. Junior long-snapper Mike Rummler returns to handle those duties. Junior Eugene Harris will again handle punt return duties and will be a deep man for kickoff returns with senior Dustin Woods. Junior Jamal Rogers could also find his way into the lineup as a returner.

Preview Courtesy of Miami Sports Information