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 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. Noon 1 p.m.
<<<< Game 6: Bucknell Bison at Penn Quakers >>>> Saturday, Oct. 12 >> 1 p.m. >> Philadelphia, Pa. >> Franklin Field 3-2...................................................................... Overall...................................................................... 1-2 1-0 Patriot League...........................................Conference.................................................0-1 Ivy League 1-1....................................................................... Home....................................................................... 1-0 2-1........................................................................Away........................................................................ 0-2 W2.......................................................................Streak........................................................................ L1 Dave Cecchini................................................Head Coach...................................................... Ray Priore 16-37 (6th season)..................................... Record at School..................................... 49-34 (9th season) 33-75 (11th season)...................................... Career Record....................................... 49-34 (9th season) Ralph Rucker (1,025 yards)......................... Leading Passer...............................Aidan Sayin (671 yards) Tariq Thomas (206 yards)............................ Leading Rusher.........................Malachi Hosley (389 yards) Eric Weatherly (321 yards).........................Leading Receiver....................Jared Richardson (212 yards) Gavin Willis (47 tackles).............................. Leading Tackler..........................Kadari Machen (26 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.......................Joe Tordy/Joe Valerio Internet Audio..................................BucknellBison.com Radio...........................................Bison Sports Network Flagship.............................................1070 AM (WKOK) Play-By-Play/Color........ Doug Birdsong (Charlie Fisher) 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 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 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 single-game credentials may be picked up in the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium press box on game day. Please contact Jon Terry to request a credential.
AT
PENN
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 77 Nathan Natoli Jr. 6-6 TE 82 Charlie Kreinbucher Jr. 6-5
Wt. 210 185 185 210 180 315 300 304 314 295 260
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. Ht. Sr. 6-2 Sr. 6-3 Sr. 6-2 Sr. 6-2 So. 6-0 So. 6-0 Sr. 5-10 Sr. 6-2 Sr. 6-2 Jr. 6-2 Jr. 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. Ht. Jr. 5-11 Fr. 5-11 Jr. 5-11 So. 6-0 Jr. 5-8 So. 6-0 Jr. 5-11 Jr. 5-10 Jr. 5-8
Wt. 187 170 187 195 180 195 210 230 170
KR LS H
OFFENSE
Fast Fact Leads PL, 15th in FCS in TD passes (10); PL OPOTW (9/23) Career-high 77 rush yds at Lehigh led to PL ROW honor 47yd TD at Navy, 210 yards on 16 receptions this season 2 TDs on back-to-back drives at VMI, 3 of 11 catches are for TDs 7 TDs in 2023 and 10 TDs in 16 games as a Bison Made 7 starts at left tackle as a freshman and started all 5 games this year 12th multi-year captain in team history, one of two 5th-yr. seniors, 24 starts Captain, 16 consecutive starts, team’s 2023 Most Outstanding Lineman Award 19 starts, missed 2023 with injury, start at VMI was 1st since Nov. 19, 2022 8 career starts, including all 5 games this season 21 starts, 12 rec. for 95 yds and 3 TDs last season, receiving TD vs. Marist
DEFENSE
Fast Fact 5 career starts, 73 career tackles, 13 tackles and 2 TFL this season 13 career starts, 2 INTs last season, 12 tackles and 1 TFL this season 21 career starts, 2 passes batted down this season, 5 career blocked kicks Captain, 2nd Tm All-PL, 2023 team tackles leader, 21 tackles & 2 sacks this year Team-high 47 tackles; 9 tx/2 sacks/2 FR at Lehigh led to PL DPOW honor Team’s No. 2 tackler this season with 40 (3 TFL); INT at Navy 27 consecutive starts (leads team), 1 PBU and sack-fumble at VMI, 38 tackles Missed 9 games with injury in 2023, 14 career starts, 14 tackles this year Captain, 19 starts, 5 career INTs, 25 tackles this year, pick-6 vs. Marist 12 starts, 1 INT and 6 pass breakups in 2023, 16 tackles this season Led all NCAA divisions with 21 PBUs at Wheeling in 2023; pick-6 at Lehigh
SPECIAL TEAMS
Fast Fact 2x Preseason All-PL; career-long 50yd FG in 2022; 20-21 PAT, 1-4 FG in 2023 Averaging 59.2 yards on 16 KOs this season (1 TB) Averaging 44.1 per punt, ranks 16th in FCS in punting average 2 PR TDs this season, 17.6 average is No. 3 in FCS 2 punt returns of 21 and 23 yds in 2023, 3 returns this season 100yd KOR TD at Lehigh; 39.5 average ranks No. 1 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