BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY 2023 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES
Date Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18
Opponent at James Madison VMI PENN (HC) at Lafayette* HOLY CROSS* at Cornell LEHIGH* at Colgate* at Fordham* GEORGETOWN* at Marist
Time/Result 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. Noon
0-0...................................................................... Overall...................................................................... 0-0 0-0 PL..............................................................Conference...........................................................0-0 SBC 0-0....................................................................... Home....................................................................... 0-0 0-0........................................................................Away........................................................................ 0-0 Won 2 (dating back to 2022)...............................Streak............................... Won 3 (dating back to 2022) Dave Cecchini................................................Head Coach................................................... Curt Cignetti 9-28 (5th season)....................................... Record at School....................................... 41-8 (5th season) 26-66 (10th season)..................................... Career Record................................... 108-34 (13th season) Nick Semptimphelter (746 yards)........ Returning Leading Passer........................Billy Atkins (212 yards) Rushawn Baker (646 yards)................Returning Leading Rusher..................Latrele Palmer (398 yards) Damian Harris (357 yards).................Returning Leading Receiver..................Reggie Brown (401 yards) Blake Leake (83 tackles)..................... Returning Leading Tackler................................Taurus Jones (82)
FOLLOW THE BISON
MEDIA INFORMATION MID-WEEK INTERVIEWS: All interview requests for Cecchini and Bison players should be directed to Ben Blumenthal at beb019@bucknell.edu or 570-577-1835. POST-GAME INTERVIEWS: After the NCAA-mandated 10-minute “cooling off” period, Cecchini and Bison players will be available for interviews. Check with the host SID for interview location. Please submit player requests to Ben Blumenthal no later than five minutes before the end of regulation. CREDENTIAL REQUESTS: Requests for media credentials at Bucknell home games are required and are issued to working members of the press only. Season credentials will be granted to media members who cover Bucknell football on a regular basis. Requests for single-game credentials should arrive no later than three days prior to the game. All single-game credentials may be picked up in the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium press box on game day. Please contact Ben Blumenthal to request a credential.
AT
<<<< Game 1: Bucknell Bison vs. James Madison Dukes >>>> Saturday, Sept. 2 >> 6 p.m. >> Harrisonburg, Va. >> Bridgeforth Stadium
* Patriot League game; HC Homecoming Home games in CAPS and played at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium All times Eastern and subject to change
Internet Video.................................................... ESPN+ Play-By-Play (Color).....................Curt Dudley (Vad Lee) Internet Audio..................................BucknellBison.com Radio...........................................Bison Sports Network Flagship................................. 100.9 The Valley (WVLY) Play-By-Play (Color).............Doug Birdsong (Kevin Herr) Twitter.................................................... @Bucknell_FB Instagram............................................... @Bucknell_FB Hashtag.........................................#ACT | #rayBucknell
JAMES MADISON
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
BUCKNELL
Media Contact: Ben Blumenthal >> beb019@bucknell.edu >> 703-618-5139 (C) >> 570-577-1835 (O)
PROJECTED BUCKNELL STARTERS OFFENSE
Pos. No. Name Cl. QB 10 Ralph Rucker Jr. RB 23 Rushawn Baker Jr. WR 11 Damian Harris Sr. WR 1 Eric Weatherly So. WR 29 Okeyo Ayungo So. LT 77 Ethan Pitzel Sr. LG 74 Casey Stephenson Sr. C 78 John Ohnegian So. RG 75 Jake Guy Jr. RT 65 Zack Tarburton Sr. TE 82 Charlie Kreinbucher So.
Ht. 6-0 5-11 6-0 5-7 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-5
Wt. 207 225 185 171 185 275 290 285 285 275 230
Fast Fact Transfered to Bucknell from Oklahoma, appeared in 1 game for the Sooners Led team in rushing (646 yds) and TDs (9) in 2022, 9 career starts Led team in receiving (31 rec., 357 yds) in 2022, 21 career starts Transfered to Bucknell from Duke, appeared in 2 games at RB at Duke Played in 10 games and started 1 in 2022, 160 yds on 15 receptions Has made 23 career starts at left tackle, 2022 2nd Team All-League Team captain, 10 career starts on the offensive line Did not appear in 2022, Team’s 2022 Scout Team Player of the Year 15 career starts, primarily at center 16 career starts 5 career starts, led tight ends in receptions (9) and yds (138) in 2022
Pos. DE DT DT DE ILB ILB S S S CB CB
No. 2 0 90 44 34 33 45 20 6 14 9
Name Tyler Alston Connor Carretta Aneesh Vyas Mike Bright Jr. Blake Leake Brad Jamison John Schlendorf Mason Taylor Alex Smith Jr. Roman Pearson Ethan Robinson
Cl. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr.
Ht. 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-0
Wt. 230 280 265 225 215 220 180 185 185 180 175
Fast Fact Preseason All-League, led team in sacks (6) and DL in tackles (42) in 2022 20 career starts, 23 tackles and 3 QB hurries in 2022 15 career starts, started all 11 games last year, blocked 3 kicks in 2022 16 career starts, 29 tackles in 2022, led team in TFLs in 2021 Team captain, 20 career starts, 2nd on the team in tackles (83) in 2022 Making first start, 39 tackles over last 2 seasons Started all 11 games in 2022, 4th on the team in tackles (57) last season Started 6 games in 2021 with 3 pass breakups, 1 game played in 2022 22 career games played and 1 start, 3 INTs and 29 tackles in 2022 3 games played in 2022 17 career starts, 50 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 3 INTs in 2022
Pos. PK KO P PR
No. 62 62 98 9 1 3 1 93 98
Name Matt Schearer Matt Schearer Ruben Anderson Ethan Robinson Eric Weatherly Coleman Bennett Eric Weatherly Aidan Davenport Ruben Anderson
Cl. So. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr.
Ht. 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-0 5-7 5-11 5-7 6-3 6-2
Wt. 170 170 215 175 171 185 171 210 215
Fast Fact Preseason All-League, 3 FGs over 40 yds in 2022, including a long of 50 Averaged 43.3 yards on 10 kickoffs in 2022 4-year starter, 40.3 yds on 64 punts in 2022, 19 inside the 20 last year First season returning punts Transfered to Bucknell from Duke, appeared in 2 games at RB at Duke 2021 Preseason All-League return specialist, 19.8 avg., 93-yd TD return in 2022 Transfered to Bucknell from Duke, appeared in 2 games at RB at Duke In third season as Bucknell’s primary long snapper Punter assuming holding duties for the third time
KR LS H
DEFENSE
SPECIAL TEAMS
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THIS IS BUCKNELL FOOTBALL >>>> ATTITUDE >>>> CHARACTER >>>> TOUGHNESS >>>> 1