USD Football 2001

Season Outlook

2 TOREROS GEARING UP FOR SOLID 2001 CAMPAIGN Sixth year coach Kevin McGarry returns 67 players and 14 starters from last year's club that finished 4-6 overall and 1-3 in the Pioneer Football League. Experi– ence will be found on the defensive side of the ball, and with the special teams unit, but the Toreros will be overhauling its offense with seven starters gone. Spearheading the defense will be returning First Team All-PFL performers Brian Luman (5-11, 218, senior) and Bryan Baxter (5-11, 210, senior). Luman, who moved to safety after the loss of starter Kyle Slusser (broken leg), led the Toreros in tackles with 101 (57 unassisted). Selected the team's Defensive Player of the Year, he also chipped in with 5 interceptions (110 return yards) and 7 pass break-ups. A versatile athlete, he twice was voted the PFL Player of the Week for defense, and even earned one PFL Special Teams Player of the Week honor. He averaged 28.1 yards per kickoff return for the Toreros. Baxter earned First Team honors this past season after racking up 83 tackles and 3 quarterback sacks. A three-year starter, he was named to the PFL's Second Team in 1999 after he tallied 93 tackles.

Two players that will make an immedi<\te impact on the Torero defense include seniors Kyle Slusser (6-0, 190, safety) and Anthony Banovac (6-1, 260, tackl e). Both players were lost last season due to injury after earning Second Team All– PFL honors in 1999. Slusser should move back into the safety slot where he accounted for a team-best 97 tackles and 4 interceptions in I999. He is currently tied as the Torero career record holder for interceptions with 12. Banovac returns to the tackle position where he notched 34 tackles and had a team-best 7 sacks in 1999. Other starters back that make the Torero defense such a strong unit include junior defensive back Marvin Banks, Jr. (5 - 7, 156), senior DL Brandon Camacho (5-9, 231 ), senior defensive back Jason DeMello (5-8, 180), senior tackle Joseph Herrera (6-1, 255), and senior defensive back Wesley Morgan (5-10, 180). The special teams corp will be in good hands with the return of senior punter Dylan Mora (Honorable Mention All-PFL, 36.3 average), and kicker Brent Labarrere (6-1, 180). While Luman will be the main return man for kickoffs, Mora should handle punt returns again after averaging 11 . l yards per return in 2000 and earning the team's Special Team's Player of the Year award. Kyle Slusser, back from a leg injury, will also play a key role on both kickoff and punt returns for the Toreros. The Torero offensive unit was the hardest hit due to graduation, most notably running back Oscar Arzu (857 yards, 8 TDs) and quarterbacks Mike Stadler (1,520 yards; 11 TDs) and Tom Jackson (544 yards; 4 TDs). Also gone are wide receivers Mark Pappas (44 catches, 578 yards, 3 TDs) and Matt Hackett (41 receptions; 592 yards , 4 TDs), and lineman Christos Renner. The offensive cupboard wasn't left completely bare, however, with senior center Justin Dixon (6-3, 280), a First Team

All-PFL selection, back to anchor the offensive line. He will be joined on the line by returning starters Matt Collins (6-5 , 290, sophomore tackle) and Matt Guardia (6-2, 253, senior tight end). Guardia was named to the PFL's Second Team after hauling in 12 passes for 98 yards and I touchdown . Seniors Bob Ballard (6-2, 306), Seth Litchney (6-2, 280) and Ryan Zierolf (6-3, 275) will all be competing for playing time across the offensive line. Junior Kenny Villalobos ( 186 yards, I TD) returns at fullback, and is expected to be joined in the backfield by junior tailback Phillip Thrash (13 7 yards, 4 TDs). Senior Damien Minna (5-10, 210), who moves over from the linebacker position, joins sophomore Bryan Newbrough (6-1 , 205) and two-way performer Josh Calista (6-1 , 225) for players pushing for playing time in the backfield. All the other offensive spots are up for grabs heading into the 200 I campaign, including the quar– terback spot. Sophomore returners Ryan Lawrence (6-4, 220) and Eric Rasmussen (6-3 210), along with transfer Brian Kirkpatrick (6-3, 215), will all be battling for the starting quarterback slot. The Toreros will play seven of their ten games at their home field , Torero Stadium. The stadium received a facelift this past summer, receiving additional seating (6,000 total capacity), new turf, new lighting and sound system, and addi– tional press box space. Brown (Sept. 15th) and Georgetown (Nov. 3rd) will high– light USD's home nonconference schedule, with Drake (Sept. 29th) and Butler (Oct. 20th) its two PFL home opponents.

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