BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY 2024 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES
Date Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23
Opponent at Navy at VMI MERRIMACK MARIST at Lehigh* at Penn CORNELL (HC) at Georgetown* LAFAYETTE* FORDHAM* at Holy Cross* COLGATE*
Time/Result 49-21 L 35-28 W 31-21 L 34-18 W (2OT) 38-35 W 31-21 L 34-21 L 21-20 L 1 p.m. 1 p.m. Noon 1 p.m.
<<<< Game 9: Lafayette Leopards at Bucknell Bison >>>> Saturday, Nov. 2 >> 1 p.m. >> Lewisburg, Pa. >> Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium 3-5...................................................................... Overall...................................................................... 4-4 1-1 Patriot League...........................................Conference...........................................1-2 Patriot League 1-2....................................................................... Home....................................................................... 2-2 2-3........................................................................Away........................................................................ 2-2 L3........................................................................Streak........................................................................ L1 Dave Cecchini................................................Head Coach....................................................John Troxell 16-40 (6th season)..................................... Record at School.....................................17-14 (3rd season) 33-78 (11th season)...................................... Career Record................................... 109-81 (19th season) Ralph Rucker (1,506 yards)......................... Leading Passer........................ Dean Denoble (1,705 yards) Tariq Thomas (493 yards)............................ Leading Rusher.............................Jamar Curtis (726 yards) Eric Weatherly (456 yards).........................Leading Receiver....................... Carson Persing (282 yards) Gavin Willis (84 tackles).............................. Leading Tackler.....Preston Forney/Saiku White (49 tackles)
* Patriot League game; HC Homecoming Home games in CAPS and played at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium All times Eastern and subject to change
FOLLOW THE BISON Streaming.......................................................... ESPN+ Play-By-Play/Color......... Doug Birdsong/Charlie Fisher Internet Audio..................................BucknellBison.com Radio...........................................Bison Sports Network Flagship.............................................1070 AM (WKOK) Play-By-Play/Color.....................Joe Vasile/Luke Smith Twitter.................................................... @Bucknell_FB Instagram............................................... @Bucknell_FB Hashtag.........................................#ACT | #rayBucknell
MEDIA INFORMATION MID-WEEK INTERVIEWS: All interview requests for Cecchini and Bison players should be directed to Jon Terry at terry@bucknell.edu or 570-577-3121. POST-GAME INTERVIEWS: After the NCAAmandated 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 Jon Terry 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 singlegame credentials may be picked up in the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium press box on game day. Please contact Jon Terry to request a credential.
vs
LAFAYETTE
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
BUCKNELL
Media Contact: Jon Terry >> terry@bucknell.edu >> 570-850-9603 (C) >> 570-577-3121 (O)
PROJECTED BUCKNELL STARTERS Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. QB 10 Ralph Rucker IV Sr. 6-0 RB 7 Tariq Thomas Fr. 5-11 WR 17 Nate Anderson Jr. 6-0 WR 3 Josh Gary Jr. 5-11 WR 2 Eric Weatherly Jr. 5-8 LT 70 Xavier Allen So. 6-5 LG 74 Casey Stephenson 5th 6-2 C 78 John Ohnegian Jr. 6-2 RG 75 Jake Guy Sr. 6-2 RT 56 Mark Mulhern So. 6-6 TE 82 Charlie Kreinbucher Jr. 6-5
Wt. 210 185 185 210 180 315 300 304 314 331 260
Pos. DE N DE LB LB LB S S S CB CB
No. 52 15 90 33 13 23 45 20 6 5 16
Name Jack Barnes Cade Rooney Aneesh Vyas Brad Jamison Gavin Willis Nick Hoying John Schlendorf Mason Taylor Alex Smith Jr. Roman Pearson Aaron Davis
Cl. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr.
Ht. 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-2 5-11
Wt. 245 295 300 240 230 207 195 195 210 195 190
Pos. PK KO P PR
No. 62 96 62 80 2 80 3 61 91
Name Matt Schearer Juan Garanton Matt Schearer TJ Cadden Eric Weatherly TJ Cadden Josh Gary Ryan Jedlicka Matt Karic
Cl. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr.
Ht. 5-11 5-11 5-11 6-0 5-8 6-0 5-11 5-10 5-8
Wt. 187 170 187 195 180 195 210 230 170
KR LS H
OFFENSE
Fast Fact Completed 67.0% of passes with 11 TDs, 4 INT 3x PL Rookie of Week; Jerry Rice Award Watch List; 136 yds, 2 TD at Gtown 306 yards on 26 receptions this season; TDs at Navy & Penn Career-high 13 catches at Penn; 3 of 31 grabs in 2024 are for TDs 7 TDs in 2023 and 10 TDs in 19 games as a Bison Made 7 starts at left tackle as a freshman and started all 8 games this year 12th multi-year captain in team history, one of two 5th-yr. seniors, 27 starts Captain, 19 consecutive starts, team’s 2023 Most Outstanding Lineman Award 21 starts, missed 2023 with injury, start at VMI was 1st since Nov. 19, 2022 Made 1st career start at Penn 24 starts, 12 rec. for 95 yds and 3 TDs last season; receiving TD vs. Marist
DEFENSE
Fast Fact 7 career starts, 76 career tackles, 15 tackles and 2 TFL this season 16 career starts, 2 INTs last season, 17 tackles and 1.5 TFL this season 23 career starts, 2 passes batted down this season, 5 career blocked kicks Captain, 2nd Tm All-PL, 2023 team tackles leader, 39 tackles & 2 sacks this year 4th in FCS in tackles per game (10.5); career-high 19 tackles vs. Cornell Team’s No. 2 tackler this season with 60 (3 TFL); INT at Navy 30 consecutive starts (leads team), strip-sack at VMI, 56 tackles Missed 9 games with injury in 2023, 17 career starts, 20 tackles this year Captain, 22 starts, 5 career INTs, 32 tackles this year, pick-6 vs. Marist 15 starts, 26 tackles, 6 PBUs, 2 INT this season (both in last 2 weeks) Led all NCAA divisions with 21 PBUs at Wheeling in 2023; 3 INTs this season
SPECIAL TEAMS
Fast Fact 2x Preseason All-PL; career-long 50yd FG in 2022; 28-29 PAT, 3-10 FG in 2024 Averaging 56.3 yards on 29 KOs this season (2 TB) Averaging 42.4 per punt, No. 3 in PL 2 PR TDs this season, 14.0 average is No. 7 in FCS 2 punt returns of 21 and 23 yds in 2023, 3 returns this season 100yd KOR TD at Lehigh; 25.6 average ranks No. 16 in FCS 3 career kickoff returns, returned an 88-yd touchdown vs. Lehigh in 2023 In second season as Bucknell’s primary long snapper In first season as Bucknell’s primary holder
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THIS IS BUCKNELL FOOTBALL >>>> ATTITUDE >>>> CHARACTER >>>> TOUGHNESS >>>> 1