TOREROS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS The 2008 USD football team is under and sophomore end Julian Strickland. 2008 SAN DIEGO FOOTBALL THREE-TIME PFL CHAMPIONS the direction of second year head coach The depth of the defensive line unit Ron Caragher. In his rookie season Cara- will be bolstered by the return of se- gher stepped right in and guided the To- nior Vince Atofau, senior Josh Sutchar, rero football program to its third straight junior John G’Sell, sophomores Ben Pioneer Football League title (6-1 mark, Thorne and Paul Tremblay, and red- tie with Dayton), as well as an overall re- shirt freshman Michael Fetterman. Re- cord of 9-2. USD, which fi nished ranked turners competing for playing time at second in the fi nal Sports Network FCS linebacker will include senior Averill Mid-Major poll, ranked fi rst among all Sutchar, junior Hanner Hart, sopho- NCAA FCS teams in scoring (44.34 ppg) more Steve Roseman, and freshmen and third in total offense (483.1 yards per Loka Kanongataa, Joe Martin and Bran- game). don Moberg. The defensive secondary The 2008 team, which is the pre- will get help from senior safety Daniel season favorite in the PFL Coaches Poll, Cornsweet, senior rover Joe Staab, and will be without the services of some key a couple of players that have moved contributors, most notably Josh Johnson over from offense – former quarterback and Eric Bakhtiari. Johnson, a 5th round Kevin Dunn moves to safety and former draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Derron Juarez lines up at and Walter Payton Award fi nalist, com- JT ROGAN corner back. pleted his Torero career as the NCAA’s all- The special team’s unit will be solid time career leader in passing effi ciency The running attack will be led by again with the return of J.T. Rogan. Last (176.68). What Johnson meant to the To- the hard charging J.T. Rogan. A fi fth- season Rogan earned First Team All- rero offense, Bakhtiari was his equal on year senior, Rogan is coming off his sec- America honors as a return specialist. the defensive side of the ball. Bakhtiari, ond straight 1,000-plus rushing cam- He fi nished No. 1 in the nation among who is in the San Diego Chargers camp, paign. He heads into the 2008 season FCS players in kickoff returns with his last year led the nation in pass sacks (20). already owning USD career marks for 33.2 yard average. Junior John McSorley He was also a fi nalist for two prestigious touchdowns (46), rushing yards (2,967) is back as the team’s punter. Last year national honors – the Buck Buchanan and all-purpose yardage (5,233). Nick he earned Second Team All-PFL honors Award and the Ted Hendricks Award. Coppedge is projected to start at full- after averaging 35.9 yards on 24 punts. Although these are big shoes to fi ll, back, while Brett Marquis should see With Hutch Parker, the program’s all- Coach Caragher and his staff feel very some action behind Rogan. time scoring leader lost to graduation, strongly that this year’s squad will an- Although the sure-handed Wes McSorley is projected to compete for swer the challenge by collectively work- Doyle will be missed at wide receiver, kicking duties as well. Look for Conrad ing hard every day as a team to get bet- the always explosive John Matthews Smith to handle long snapper duties, ter. No matter whether it is the offense, will continue to be the team’s number while Sean Cullina will be the holder. defense or special team’s unit, football is one deep threat. Last season Matthews The Toreros play an eleven game a team game played by eleven competi- set a new Torero record with 16 touch- schedule with the luxury of seven home tors at a time, and USD has numerous down receptions, hauling in 47 balls contests at Torero Stadium. With their players ready to prove themselves on for 1,088 yards (23.1 yard per catch av- season opener on August 29th, USD will the fi eld of play. The Toreros return 14 erage). Godfrey Smith, last year’s Most be putting its 24-game home winning starters and 36 lettermen from last year’s Outstanding First Year Player, will line streak on the line. Additional noncon- 9-2 club. up at split end after catching 30 balls for ference home games include Azusa Leading the way will be a quartet of 347 yards and 4 TDs. The receiving corp Pacifi c (Sept. 6) and UC Davis (Nov. 22), seniors that have been picked by their will be bolstered by the return of Sean while PFL home dates are with Val- teammates as team captains. Offensive Cullina, and redshirt freshmen John paraiso (Oct. 4), Morehead State (Oct. captains will be running back J.T. Rogan McGough and Chad Rusinkovich. The 11), Dayton (Nov. 1) and Butler (Nov. and wide receiver John Matthews, while tight end position will be in good hands 15). The four road contests are all PFL the defensive captains are corner back with fi fth-year senior Mitch Ryan games and will be played at Campbell Patrick O’Neill and safety Ryan Echer. The offensive line unit will be an- (Sept. 20), Drake (Sept. 27), Jacksonville The offense, under the direction of chored by senior tackle Deene Kabil- (Oct. 25) and Davidson (Nov. 8). The coordinator Jimmie Dougherty, will con- ing, a 2007 The Sports Network Mid- Gridiron Classic, between the regular- tinue to use a balanced west coast attack. Major All-American. He will be joined season champions of both the PFL and Competing for the vacant quarterback by two-year starter Conrad Smith, with NEC, will be played on Dec. 6th at the spot will be fi fth-year senior Ben Han- the group also being bolstered by the site of the NEC champion. nula and junior Andrew Rolin. Hannula likes of junior guard Kyle Kofoed and JC saw most of the spring ball snaps as Ro- transfer Nick Kostielney. 2008 PFL PRESEASON lin sat out recovering from a lower back The defense, directed by fi rst year COACHES POLL injury. Hannula, an all-around athlete coordinator George Darlington, will that has earned All-PFL recognition at look to its six returning starters to lead 1. SAN DIEGO (2) .....................58 both wide receiver and defensive back, the defensive charge. Senior captain 2. Dayton (3) ..................................... 55 was an All-League quarterback during Patrick O’Neill, with nine interceptions 3. Davidson (3) ................................. 51 his prep days. Rolin has game experi- over the past two seasons, will move 4. Morehead State (1) .................... 48 ence as the signal caller having guided from safety to corner back. The other 5. Drake ...............................................36 the Toreros in last year’s season-open- corner back slot will be taken by ju- 6. Jacksonville ...................................29 ing 42-32 win at Azusa Pacifi c with four nior Gabriel Derricks, a 2007 First Team 7. Butler .............................................. 19 touchdown passes. Look for fi rst-year JC All-PFL honoree. Additional returners transfer Sebastian Trujillo to push both Valparaiso ......................................19 with starting experience include senior 9.Campbell ...........................................9 Torero returners for playing time as the tackle Chris Gianelli, senior linebacker Torero signal caller. Jordan Sinclair, junior tackle Alex Rice 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOOTBALL STAFF 619/260-4740 Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: ......................Ron Caragher (2nd year) 2008 Team Outlook: ...............................................................................1 Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers: .................Steve Mooshagian (2nd Year) USD Football - A Tradition of Excellence: ........................................3 Asst. Coach/Off. Coor/Quarterbacks: ...........Jimmie Dougherty (5th year) Head Coach Ron Caragher: ................................................................4-5 Asst. Coach/ Def. Coor .....................................George Darlington (1st year) USD Assistant Coaching Staff: ........................................................6-10 Asst. Coach/ RB’s/FB Ops: ................................Tanner Engstrand (4th year) USD Numerical Roster: .................................................................12-13 Asst. Coach/Line Backer’s ............................................Dale Lindsey (1st year) Meet The Toreros: ......................................................................... 14-26 Senior Offensive Asst.: ....................................................Mike Rish (25th year) FCS All-America Recognitions ...........................................................27 Asst. Coach/Defensive Back’s ...............................Brandon Shelby (1st year) Pioneer Football League: ............................................................... 28-29 Asst. Coach/Rec. Coor./DL .........................................Jon Sumrall (2nd year) Torero Opponents: ......................................................................... 30-33 Asst. Coach/Tight End’s: ..................................Lenny Vandermade (1st year) Final 2007 Statistics: ....................................................................... 34-35 Asst. Coach/Offensive Line: ..............................Todd Washington (2nd year) USD Athletic Hall of Fame ................................................................36 Offensive Administrative Assistant ..................Todd Rusinkovich (2nd Year) Team Awards ................................................................................... 37-38 Defensive Administrative Assistant...............................Ben Barton (1st Year) All-Time Records ...........................................................................