BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY 2023 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES
SCHEDULE/RESULTS Opponent at James Madison VMI PENN (HC) at Lafayette* HOLY CROSS* at Cornell LEHIGH* at Colgate* at Fordham* GEORGETOWN* at Marist
Time/Result L, 38-3 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
<<<< Game 2: Bucknell Bison vs. VMI Keydets >>>> Saturday, Sept. 9 >> 6 p.m. >> Lewisburg, Pa. >> Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium 0-1...................................................................... Overall...................................................................... 1-0 0-0 PL..............................................................Conference....................................................... 0-0 SoCon 0-0....................................................................... Home....................................................................... 1-0 0-1........................................................................Away........................................................................ 0-0 Lost 1...................................................................Streak..................................................................Won 1 Dave Cecchini................................................Head Coach..................................................Danny Rocco 9-29 (5th season)....................................... Record at School......................................... 1-0 (1st season) 26-67 (10th season)..................................... Career Record................................... 122-65 (17th season) Ralph Rucker (140 yards)............................ Leading Passer........................... Collin Ironside (239 yards) Rushawn Baker (43 yards).......................... Leading Rusher...................... Rashad Raymond (62 yards) Damian Harris (61 yards)...........................Leading Receiver..........................Aidan Twombly (83 yards) Blake Leake (9 tackles)............................... Leading Tackler............................................Eric Rankin (14)
* 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 Internet Video.................................................... ESPN+ Play-By-Play (Color).............Doug Birdsong (Kevin Herr) Internet Audio..................................BucknellBison.com Radio...........................................Bison Sports Network Flagship................................. 100.9 The Valley (WVLY) Play-By-Play...........................................Sam Kuperman 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 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.
VS
VMI
Date Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18
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 59 Sean Quarterman 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 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-5
Wt. 207 225 185 171 185 260 290 285 285 275 230
Fast Fact Went 13-for-19 for 140 yds in first game, transfer from Oklahoma Led team in rushing (646 yds) and TDs (9) in 2022, 43 yds in opener Career-high 61 receiving yards at JMU, including a 32-yd reception Transfered to Bucknell from Duke, 3 receptions in opener at JMU Played in 10 games and started 1 in 2022, started at JMU Has made six starts, including this year’s season opener Team captain, 10 career starts on the offensive line Made first career start at JMU, team’s 2022 Scout Team Player of the Year 15 career starts, primarily at center 17 career starts 6 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 21 starts, 23 tackles and 3 QB hurries in 2022, 2 tackles in opener 15 career starts, started all 11 games last year, blocked 3 kicks in 2022 17 career starts, 4 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks in opener at JMU Team captain, led the team with 9 tackles (1 TFL) in opener at JMU First-year starter, 6 tackles and 0.5 sacks in opener at JMU Started all 11 games in 2022, 6 tackles and 1 TFL in opener at JMU 8 career starts, 5 tackles in opener 23 career games played, 3 INTs in 2022, 4 tackles in opener at JMU Made first start at JMU, 4 tackles and 2 pass breakups in opener 18 career starts, 50 tackles, 1 INT and 2 pass breakups at JMU
Pos. PK KO P PR
No. 62 10 98 9 1 3 1 93 98
Name Matt Schearer Ryan Schatzel Ruben Anderson Ethan Robinson Eric Weatherly Coleman Bennett Eric Weatherly Aidan Davenport Ruben Anderson
Cl. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr.
Ht. 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-0 5-7 5-11 5-7 6-3 6-2
Wt. 170 160 215 175 171 185 171 210 215
Fast Fact Preseason All-League, 3 FGs over 40 yds in 2022, 49-yarder made at JMU Averaged 43.3 yards on 10 kickoffs in 2022 4-year starter, 40.3 yds on 64 punts in 2022, 3 punts over 50 yds at JMU First season returning punts, one 9-yd return at JMU 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