USD Football 1996

1996 USD Football Profile

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The University of San Diego football program heads into its fourth season at the NCAA Division I-AA level and as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). First year head coach Kevin McGarry will have forty-four players from last year's 5-5 club that finished a school-best third in the PFLat 3-2. The Toreros had a record 146 student-athletes tum out for first day of camp and will head into the 1996 season with 124 players. McGarry, who has been a USD assistant the past eighteen seasons, in– cluding the last fourteen as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, replaced Brian Fogarty who stepped down after 13 seasons to become USD's Associate Director ofAthletics for Development. The Toreros will return seven offensive starters, five defensive start– ers and First Team All-PFL punter Mike Buhler (39.3 yards per punt average). The offense, which will have a new look in 1996, will be di– rected by senior QB John Khamis (6-2, 205). Khamis split duties with James Beck in '95, getting the starting assignment the last three games. He totaled 801 yards passing and 6 touchdowns while completing 49-of- l 02. His three main targets this season should be junior wideout Brian Stevens ( 15 catches for 234 yards a year ago), junior TE Duncan Hardy ( 10 for

174 yards and 3 TDs), and senior tailback Evan Hlavacek (23 receptions for 377 yards and 4 receiving TDs). Hlavacek, a two-time First TeamAll-PFL performer who played more at the receiver slot in the old Wing-T offense, will see more time running the ball in '96 out of the tailback position. Last season he tallied a team-best 5 rushing scores, finishing with 161 yards rushing on 63 carries. Two other receivers expected to get their share of balls thrown their way include junior TE Frank Brown (6-3, 220) and junior TE/WR Chris Del Santo (6-3, 215). Junior fullback Jared Keo, the team' s top returning

rusher (601 yards), will see his role change to more of a blocker, however, he will still be counted on in key short yardage and goal-line situations. Anchoring the offensive line will be seniors Todd Plutchok (6-0, 275, RG) and Eric O'Connor (6-2, 275, LT) ; and a trio of juniors in Jason Way (6-1, 250, LG), Jorge Castaneda (6-0, 230, C) and 2nd TeamAll– PFL returner Jon Walker (6-1, 285, RT). The defense returns five starters and a solid group of performers that saw plenty of action in '95. USD will look to senior DB Jeb Dougherty (6-0, 185, 88 tackles), a two-time 2nd TeamAll-PFL selectee, to direct the de– fense. Other returning starters include DT Buddy Brown (5-10, 250, Jr.), DE Ryan

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Marcos (6-0, 255, Sr.), ILB Ryan Larson (6-0, 215, Sr.) and CB Kujanga Jackson (5-11 , 186, Jr.). Others expected to step up and play important roles include senior ILB Robert Magnuson (6-1, 211); junior Chris Oliver (6-2, 216, DE), and a group of sophomores -- Lukas Smart (6-1, 227, DE), Mike Hartshorne (6-1, 245, DT), Kerry Peoples (5-10, 195, DB) and Elton Perkins (5-7, 162, CB) .

Besides Buhler returning for special teams, Jeb Dougherty and Evan Hlavacek will see a lot of action as return specialists. Dougherty averaged 21 .5 yards on 17 kickoff returns and Hlavacek averaged 30.6 yards on 11 kickoff returns and 6.9 yards on 18 punt returns. Junior kicker Tim Roth is expected to step in for Matt Young, who graduated this past season. The Toreros open their 1996 schedule on Sept. 7th with a road con– test at Chico State. USD's home opener will be Sept. 14th against Califor– nia Lutheran, followed by their Pioneer Football League opener at Drake University on September 21st.