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Leatherneck Football Opens Fall Camp Wednesday

Head coach Bob Nielson and Western starts practice on Wednesday

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois football opens its third fall camp under the direction of head coach Bob Nielson on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 5) at Hanson Field. The Fighting Leathernecks return several familiar names in preparation for the 2015 campaign.
 
A total of 39 letterwinners and 14 starters (7 offense/6 defense/1 special teams) comprise part of the 95-man roster, reporting on Tuesday. This year, the offense holds the edge on most experience returning.
 
Junior wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr., coming off a First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference year, received preseason All-America honors – the first Leatherneck on offense to earn such preseason accolades in five years. He was named preseason All-MVFC along with fellow junior Matt Zobrist (offensive line). Quarterback Trenton Norvell, another junior, earned a spot on the College Football Performance Awards Preseason Player of the Year watch list.
 
According to Nielson, a solid nucleus of players returning helped during the off-season workouts.
 
"Offensively it definitely helps when you have a two-year returning starter at quarterback. We feel like our depth at the QB position continues to improve," said Nielson. "In our offensive skill position, led by our receiver corps, they're a highly talented and very experienced group. We're excited to see that group continue to get better."
 
Fellow junior Joey Borsellino is the second-leading receiver returning along side Lenoir. Both of those two have played in every game the last two seasons. Six letterwinners return at wide receiver.
 
Even following the departure of all-conference running back J.C. Baker, Nielson thinks that group will be a strength on offense, led by Devon Moore. The junior tied for the team lead with five rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
 
"We feel good about the spring Devon Moore had. We have some other guys that are pushing him but that position group, even with the loss of J.C. Baker, will be a strong one for us."
 
Nielson noted the return of fifth-year senior Taylor Hill at tight end. Hill has played in 24 career games, even with missing most of the 2014 season with an injury. Fellow senior Larry Harris has missed only one game in his three-year career.
 
This off-season, the offensive line lost two would-be senior starters with the departure of Brandon De La Cruz and Sean Sullivan. Fifth-year senior Ryan Ricketts (guard) returns along with junior all-conference performer Matt Zobrist (tackle). Senior Tyler Bode and sophomore James Torgerson split time starting at the other tackle position. Andrew Nichols transferred from Kansas State during the summer and will challenge for playing time in the interior.
 
"The offensive line continues to develop. We got enough experience back in that group, but we have some young guys who have stepped up and we'll see some new faces playing. We have a tremendous amount of experience back with Matt Zobrist and Ryan Ricketts, who have started a lot of games for us. Last year two other guys played a lot of football, Tyler Bode and James Torgerson, and those guys are back," said Nielson. "Bode (who missed the final six games due to an injury), started the first six games for us last year and Torgerson we thought really came on at the end of the year. He might have been as consistent as any of our performers on the offensive line. Those four guys have significant starting experience.
 
"A couple of young guys had good springs. Thomas Kirsch has the size and tenacity that you're looking for in a Missouri Valley offensive lineman. Josh Baldus, Jacob Judd, and Nick Ziegenbein (redshirt) – guys who didn't play a lot last year – are guys we feel have a chance to be in our 2-deep. A couple of new guys and transfers we also feel good about - Nichols and Nathan Oquendo. We have a very competitive grouping in the offensive line where we've got 8-9 guys challenging for playing time," said Nielson.
 
Nielson and the Leathernecks spent the spring practice season making slight adjustments on defense, starting with the play-calling duties following the departure of Brian Ward. Atiba Bradley (linebackers) and Tyler Yelk (safeties) will serve as co-defensive coordinators, and defensive line coach Brian Mohnsen is the assistant head coach for defense.
 
"With our new staffing structure on defense with co-coordinators Tyler Yelk and Atiba Bradley, I really felt good about how they worked together throughout the course of the spring. We've got a very experienced defensive staff, three guys at one point in their careers have been defensive coordinators and made defensive calls. So the ability of those three guys to work together was a real plus for us in the spring," said Nielson. "We tweaked some things with our defensive scheme that will be beneficial. When you get three heads together it's better than one, and I think we showed that in the spring as far as our continued development."
 
Another change on defense was the move of Mark Watson from wide receiver to coach the cornerbacks.
 
"Adding Mark to that side of the coaching staff really helped us break down our defense even more with Mark working with the cornerbacks, Tyler with the safeties to go along with Atiba working with the linebackers and coach Moose working with the defensive line. That group has got to continue to improve as we go through the preseason. We've got to be ready to be tested against Eastern Illinois on September 3."
 
Western's defensive line by far returns the most playing experience, and Nielson will count on that group to help the younger players at linebackers and secondary develop.
 
"Defensively our experience is up front and that showed in the spring. Our front four has the potential to be very, very good and needs to be good to help protect what is going to be a younger group of linebackers. Even though our secondary is young, we have guys who started games back there. We expect to be one more year improved," said Nielson.
 
Three seniors line up across the front with defensive end Eddy Holtschlag and interior linemen Kris Harley (MVFC All-Newcomer team), Gavin Ricketts.

"All three of those guys have the potential to be an all-conference type performer," said Nielson. The third-year head coach also noted Jordan Veloz, Mick Nelson and Khalen Saunders as three guys who could see time at the inside lineman spots. John LaChapelle, Colin Olson, Pete Swenson and Cal Breedlove will all compete for playing time at defensive end.
 
Sophomore Brett Taylor is the lone linebacker with starting experience. He took over at middle linebacker following the career-ending injury to J.J. Raffelson. Nielson noted the solid spring season by three others, but admitted that is one area needing to get solidified leading into the season-opener.
 
"That's probably our biggest position group that has to be solidified through fall camp. Brett Taylor started the second half of the season for us after J.J.'s injury. He played at a high level and I think he can be as good as any linebacker in our league as he continues to develop. However, other than Brett there's not a lot of experience there," said Nielson. "Adam Brott had a good spring, we see him as a guy who can be another competitive starter at the position. Brad Blumenshine and Michael Bishoff also had good springs. We added one transfer, Justin Corbett will be in the mix from a playing time standpoint. Some other new guys we'll see how they fit in and hit the ground running. That position group will be young but I like the athletes we have."
 
Western should have another solid group with playing experience at safety. Senior Dallas Nichols returns following an injury redshirt year. He played in all 12 games in 2013. Sophomores Myles Spearman, Aaron Diggs and David Griffith all started games last year.

"At the corner we're not quite as experienced," said Nielson. "Luis Sharpe and Dwayne Phillips are seniors. They'll be pushed by Xavier Rowe and Timothy Smith, both of those redshirt-freshmen had outstanding spring seasons"
 
Last year Western finished with the fifth-toughest schedule in the country, facing eight nationally-ranked opponents. This year is shaping up to be more of the same as eight of the 10 FCS opponents are ranked in the preseason polls (six in MVFC play) and Illinois is coming off a postseason bowl game appearance.
 
"When you play a tough non-conference schedule it helps you get a gauge of where you're at and where you need to go. For our league, as demonstrated last year, you've got to play your best football every week. Having some difficult games in the non-conference schedule helps your team development. We have three tough non-conference games, two teams highly ranked in the preseason FCS and a very talented Illinois team that was in a bowl game last year," said Nielson. "We're playing as tough a schedule as anybody not just in our league but anybody in the country. Our guys understand the challenge and will be ready for it. What we hope it does is prepare them for the every week grind and battle that is the Missouri Valley Football Conference."
 
Western opens the 2015 campaign at home versus in-state rival Eastern Illinois on Thursday night, September 3. Kickoff at Hanson Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. For ticket information call the athletic department at (309) 298-1190 or purchase online at GoLeathernecks.com.
 
Notable Dates
August 5 – first day of practice
August 7 – Media Day
August 9 – first two-a-day practice
August 24 – start of classes
September 3 – season-opener versus Eastern Illinois, 6 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Brandon De La Cruz

#67 Brandon De La Cruz

OL
6' 3"
Junior
Palm Beach Central
J.J. Raffelson

#43 J.J. Raffelson

LB
6' 3"
Junior
Lake Zurich
Sean Sullivan

#68 Sean Sullivan

OL
6' 2"
Junior
Maine South
J.C. Baker

#2 J.C. Baker

RB
5' 8"
Senior
Yuma / Arizona Western CC
Josh Baldus

#55 Josh Baldus

OL
6' 5"
Sophomore
Palatine
Michael Bishoff

#47 Michael Bishoff

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Elk Grove
Brad Blumenshine

#27 Brad Blumenshine

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Normal
Joey Borsellino

#1 Joey Borsellino

WR
5' 11"
Junior
Montini Catholic
Adam Brott

#35 Adam Brott

LB
6' 2"
Sophomore
St. Clair
Jean-Marc Charles

#90 Jean-Marc Charles

DL
6' 4"
Junior
Hollywood Hills
Aaron Diggs

#5 Aaron Diggs

DB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Millennium
David Griffith

#38 David Griffith

DB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Avon

Players Mentioned

Brandon De La Cruz

#67 Brandon De La Cruz

6' 3"
Junior
Palm Beach Central
OL
J.J. Raffelson

#43 J.J. Raffelson

6' 3"
Junior
Lake Zurich
LB
Sean Sullivan

#68 Sean Sullivan

6' 2"
Junior
Maine South
OL
J.C. Baker

#2 J.C. Baker

5' 8"
Senior
Yuma / Arizona Western CC
RB
Josh Baldus

#55 Josh Baldus

6' 5"
Sophomore
Palatine
OL
Michael Bishoff

#47 Michael Bishoff

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Elk Grove
LB
Brad Blumenshine

#27 Brad Blumenshine

6' 2"
Senior
Normal
LB
Joey Borsellino

#1 Joey Borsellino

5' 11"
Junior
Montini Catholic
WR
Adam Brott

#35 Adam Brott

6' 2"
Sophomore
St. Clair
LB
Jean-Marc Charles

#90 Jean-Marc Charles

6' 4"
Junior
Hollywood Hills
DL
Aaron Diggs

#5 Aaron Diggs

6' 1"
Sophomore
Millennium
DB
David Griffith

#38 David Griffith

5' 11"
Sophomore
Avon
DB