2016 Fast Facts
Widener Game Notes

GLASSBORO, NJ - The Rowan University football team enters the 2016 campaign as an underdog in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for the first time in many years. The Profs finished the 2015 season with a 6-4 overall record and they were 5-4 in the conference, finishing in a tie for fourth.
 
Rowan was picked to finish fourth in the NJAC behind Salisbury University, Wesley College and Frostburg State University. Head coach Jay Accorsi, heading into his 15^th season at the helm, knows the program has something to prove this season.
 
"We have a lot to prove, said Accorsi. "It has the players attention that we are not coming off a championship or a postseason appearance. We've been talking about it since the spring that we need to compete at a high level and that those new programs coming into the conference were going to be good and we need to elevate our game as best we can."
 
The NJAC will again be a grind, with Wesley and Salisbury ranked nationally in the preseason. "Our conference is really competitive," commented Accorsi. "As coaches we can do preseason picks, but each week you just never know. You have to be ready to play every week, unlike a lot of other conferences. I think that bodes well for whoever survives at the end and gets to play in the postseason as they will be battle tested because its one and done."
 
Dante Pinckney (jr. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) will be the starting quarterback once again. He assumed the role last season, starting all 10 games. Pinckney completed 101 passes in 176 attempts for 1,127 yards and six touchdowns. He had a completion percentage of 57.4 and a passing efficiency rating of 116.74. Pinckney also scored two TDs on the ground.
 
"We opened the quarterback spot in the spring and Dante competed really well," remarked Accorsi. "We are doing some different things schematically throwing the football and it's going to take some time. The coaches have added some timings routes and choice routes and a lot of on the fly decisions, which is different, than we have done in the past. The key is going to be consistent play from him and can he elevate his game to the next level. This year we have the depth to let him run the ball a little bit more. He's done a really good job and the competition behind him has been really good.
 
In the backfield, the Profs are replacing All-American Withler Marcelin. The duties will be filled by returning players Gawain Bragg (jr. Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) and Dante Tobler (sr. New Milford, NJ/New Milford), along with help from John Mannion (so. Caldwell, NJ/Caldwell) and a group of young players. Bragg had 23 carries for 78 yards and one score last season. Tobler touched the ball 34 times for 96 yards. Mannion had limited opportunities, but scored one TD on 11 carries and recorded 32 yards. Isaiah Gibson (fr. Mount Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) is a newcomer who was an All-Conference player in high school.
 
"Gawain Bragg has done a great job and has been good in camp, very physical," said Accorsi. "Dante Tobler is a senior who hasn't had a chance to play a lot and is doing some really good things. There is also a good crop of new players, like Isaiah Gibson who is a big physical back that is surprising us. He's done some things in camp that have separated himself. We also have some crafty guys that can catch the ball, like John Mannion. We are going to have to substitute and put the right guys in there at the right spot to be successful. You are never going to replace Wit (Withler Marcelin), you have to find enough players that help do all the things that he did."
 
The receivers have four returners and some first year players who will make an immediate impact. Zac Frantz (sr. Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown), Kevin Lenart (sr. Roosevelt, NJ/Hightstown) and Jamel Smith (jr. Wrightstown, NJ/New Egypt) will be the starting wideouts. Frantz played in eight contests and made eight catches for 72 yards and one score. Lenart saw time in nine games and caught three passes for 46 yards. Smith was a NJAC All-Conference second team selection. He accumulated 147 yards on 13 catches and scored one TD. Dashown Waller (jr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) will be an addition to the receiving core. He played at Delaware Valley University in 2012 and 2013, accumulating 13 catches for 102 yards. Frantz, Smith and Waller will also have return duties on special teams. Smith returned 10 kickoffs for 273 yards and one touchdown and received 11 punts for 64 yards.
 
"Between Kevin Lenart and Zac Frantz you have two seniors that have played quite a bit," commented Accorsi. "Jamel Smith worked the rust off from not playing football for a while last year and really came on, especially in the Wesley game. He's going to continue to get better and we have to make sure he touches the ball more. Dashon Waller was with us in the spring, he's very dynamic and very fast and reminds me of Russ Forchion. We have a good mix with some younger guys that may get a look."
 
Paul Rucci (sr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) will be the starting tight end and the team's long snapper. He played in nine games last season with one catch. Juan Ibarando (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) will move from fullback to tight end and give the position a different dimension. Anthony Spiezale (so. Barnegat, NJ/Southern Reg.) and Mika Graham (jr. Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) are added to the tight end mix, giving the coaching staff several options.
 
"Paul Rucci is back at tight end along with Anthony Spiezale who didn't play last year," said Accorsi. "He's big, almost like another offensive tackle. Mika Graham is a transfer who is really tall and gives us a different look. We will also mix some of our fullback guys from last year, like Juan Ibarando into that position as well. Again, we need the right players in at the right time. We have guys who can block and some guys who can stretch the field a little bit."
 
The offensive line will be a key to the success of the Profs with Darryl Guilford (jr. Atlantic City, NJ/Buena Reg.) and Sean Henigin (so. Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) returning at tackle and Paul Gawin (sr. Saddle Brook, NJ/Saddle Brook) back at the guard position. Henigin received All-Conference honorable mention. All three were a key to last year's offensive efficiency. The team was tied for fifth in the NJAC in sacks against (14), ranked sixth in rushing offense (151.2 ypg), seventh in scoring offense (22.1 ppg) and ninth in total offense (263.9 ypg). Vying for the starting center spot is Frank Cicalese (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.). He played in four games as a sophomore with one start. Transfer Eric Morrison (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) will look to fill the vacant guard position. He saw action in four games last season at West Chester University. Jake Zani (so. Middletown, NJ/Middletown N.) will move from tight end to the offensive line and is competing for playing time.
 
"Out of the five, we have three back with Guilford, Henigan and Gawin so it's the center spot and one of guards that we have to fill in," remarked Accorsi. "Frank Cicalese has done a nice job at center, but we have peppered some other guys in. Eric Morrison has done a good job at guard and Jake Zani who we used a little at tight end, is going to be used as a back-up tackle and a little at guard and center. We lost a little bit of experience in the interior but we gained some size. If we can grind the ball and run the ball and be efficient then that will help our running backs get their feet wet and at the same time advance our pass game."
 
The defensive side of the ball has a lot of returning players, but also suffered some key losses. The defensive line welcomes back Anthony Rizzolo (sr. Greenbrook, NJ/Watchung Hills) who missed the second part of last season with an injury. Veterans Will Flake (sr. Tabernacle, NJ/Seneca) and Chris Henchy (jr. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Absegami) join him on the front line. Henchy will permanently make the transition from linebacker to defensive end. Through the first half of the season, Rizzolo accumulated 30 total tackles, including four tackles for a loss (14 yards) and two sacks (9 yards). He also forced a fumble and blocked one kick. Flake played in seven games with 11 tackles, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Henchy saw action in 10 contests. He recorded 14 total tackles and two quarterback hurries.
 
"Anthony Rizzolo is coming back from an injury and just dominates when he's in there on the defensive line," said Accorsi. "Will Flake is another senior and a name that you haven't heard a lot of, we moved into the tackle spot. Chris Henchy will move from linebacker to defensive line so we are athletic there again, but just young. There are some young players that have played well during camp so there will be some new names that you see emerge throughout the season. We do feel comfortable where we are right now."
 
The linebacking core deals with the loss of All-American Darren Dungee, but has several players in the lineup that have had significant playing time. Ryan Brenner (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) will look to take over the middle linebacker duties, while John Barillo (sr. Ventnor, NJ/St. Augustine Prep), Jeff Rodriguez (sr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) and Christian Dawkins (jr. Ocean City, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) are back on the outside. Brenner played in 10 with 18 tackles, two tackles for a loss (8 yards) and one sack (6 yards). Barillo was an All-Conference honorable mention and tallied 48 tackles with three tackles for a loss (15 yards) and two sacks (14 yards). Rodriguez was second on the team with 68 tackles. He also had five tackles for a loss (9 yards), three interceptions, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. Dawkins saw action in five games with seven tackles. Godwin Asamoah (so. Edison, NJ/Edison) will also compete for playing time along with some other younger players.
"Ryan Brenner has played really well on the inside and John Barillo, a senior, will play on the outside," remarked Accorsi. "Christian Dawkins and Jeff Rodriguez both played last year and you also insert guys like Godwin Asamoah and some players from last year's class. We feel good at the spot, but we need to piece it together a little and play a lot of guys so we are fresh for the whole game."
 
The secondary is by far the strongest part of the team with three returning starters and other players that saw significant time last season. Jared Sanchez (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) is back at cornerback and will be joined by Kori Haggie (sr. Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech.) who saw playing time last season. Sanchez started 10 games and accumulated 33 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and forced one fumble. He was named to the NJAC All-Conference second team. Haggie played in 10 games as a backup and had 15 tackles, including one for a loss (2 yards). Bobby Barbieri (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) returns at free safety and Shaquille Lee (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) is the strong safety. Barbieri, an All-Conference first team selection, accumulated 55 tackles, 1.5 for a loss (3 yards), four interceptions, eight pass breakups and one forced fumble. Lee was an All-Conference second team honoree and had 47 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
 
"The strength of the team is the secondary," commented Accorsi. "With three out of four seniors and All-Conference players, you have four really high performance players in the secondary. Hopefully in the backend we can be a little bit more complicated to confuse quarterbacks and make them think a little bit longer so the guys up front can get to them. We also have some young players who will substitute in and give the older players a breather which will make us better later in the game."
 
Special teams is also returning all of its key plalyers for last season. Mark Diedrichsen (sr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) punted 66 times for 2,574 yards (39 yards per kick) and had six touchbacks. He earned All-Conference second team honors. His longest kick was 65 yards and he had four of 50 yards or more. Diedrichsen also placed 13 punts inside the 20 yard line. Tyler Knighton (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) is the kicker. He converted 23 out of 25 point after attempts and made seven field goals in 10 attempts. Frank Bobo (sr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) will handle the kickoffs once again. He kicked the ball 44 times for 2,477 yards (56.3 yards per kick) and had 12 touchbacks.
 
"Special teams is in a good position heading into the season," remarked Accorsi. "Mark Diedrichsen will handle punting. Tyler Knighton looks stronger and Frank Bobo will handle the kickoffs. We've also been spoiled with Rucci as a long snapper for the past three years. Smith and Frantz will return along with Waller. We are experienced in the special teams area and very fortunate."
 
The Profs start the season at Widener University on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. The home opener is a Friday night contest on September 16 at 7 p.m. against William Paterson University. Rowan also hosts Christopher Newport University for a Saturday night game at 6 p.m. on October 1. Homecoming is Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. versus Salisbury University.
 
"I think it's really great that we have a Friday night game and a Saturday night game," commented Accorsi. "The Saturday night game is going to be a huge crowd because a lot of high schools don't play on Saturday night. The schedule is a little bit easier this season because of travel. Our hope is also to continue to keep Widener as our non-conference game in the future because it's a close game and easy travel for both teams."
 
It's a different mindset on a lot of levels this season for the Profs and the coaching staff has put a lot of the onus on themselves to make it a successful campaign. "We have a lot of good players and we lost a lot of great players, but we have the talent to compete at a high level," said Accorsi. "We as a coaching staff have to put in the right players, in the right situation at the right time. We also need to play more players, which will make us fresher later in the season. We realized after last season on both sides of the ball that we relied on the same guys too much and they wore down as the season went along. That won't happen this year."