BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY 2024 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES
SCHEDULE/RESULTS Opponent at Navy at VMI MERRIMACK MARIST at Lehigh* at Penn CORNELL (HC) at Georgetown* LAFAYETTE* FORDHAM* at Holy Cross* COLGATE*
Time/Result L, 49-21 1:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. Noon 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. Noon 1 p.m.
<<<< Game 2: Bucknell Bison at VMI Keydets >>>> Saturday, Sept. 7 >> 1:30 p.m. >> Lexington, Va. >> Foster Stadium 0-1...................................................................... Overall...................................................................... 0-1 0-0 Patriot League...........................................Conference....................................................... 0-0 SoCon 0-0....................................................................... Home....................................................................... 0-0 0-1........................................................................Away........................................................................ 0-1 Lost 1...................................................................Streak.................................................................. Lost 1 Dave Cecchini................................................Head Coach..................................................Danny Rocco 13-36 (6th season)..................................... Record at School........................................ 5-7 (2nd season) 30-74 (11th season)...................................... Career Record................................... 126-72 (18th season) Ralph Rucker (122 yards)............................ Leading Passer............................Collin Shannon (62 yards) Paul Neel (60 yards).................................... Leading Rusher................................ Hunter Rice (81 yards) TJ Cadden (97 yards).................................Leading Receiver............................... Hunter Rice (29 yards) Nick Hoying (11 tackles).............................. Leading Tackler..............................Tahj Summey (9 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).......... Wade Branner (Cal Murray) Internet Audio..................................BucknellBison.com Radio...........................................Bison Sports Network Flagship................................. 100.9 The Valley (WVLY) 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 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
VMI
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
BUCKNELL
Media Contact: Ben Blumenthal >> beb019@bucknell.edu >> 703-618-5139 (C) >> 570-577-1835 (O)
PROJECTED BUCKNELL STARTERS Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. QB 10 Ralph Rucker IV Sr. 6-0 RB 21 Paul Neel Sr. 5-10 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. 210 205 185 210 180 315 300 304 314 295 260
Pos. DE DT N DE MIKE WILL S S S CB CB
No. 52 90 15 99 33 13 45 20 6 5 16
Name Jack Barnes Aneesh Vyas Cade Rooney Justin Fisher Brad Jamison Gavin Willis John Schlendorf Mason Taylor Alex Smith Jr. Roman Pearson Aaron Davis
Cl. Ht. Sr. 6-2 Sr. 6-2 Sr. 6-3 Sr. 6-6 Sr. 6-2 So. 6-0 Sr. 5-10 Sr. 6-2 Sr. 6-2 Jr. 6-2 Jr. 5-11
Wt. 245 300 295 270 240 230 195 195 210 195 190
Pos. PK KO P PR
No. 62 91 62 2 80 3 2 61 91
Name Matt Schearer Matt Karic Matt Schearer Eric Weatherly TJ Cadden Josh Gary Eric Weatherly Ryan Jedlicka Matt Karic
Cl. Ht. Jr. 5-11 Jr. 5-8 Jr. 5-11 Jr. 5-8 So. 6-0 Jr. 5-11 Jr. 5-8 Jr. 5-10 Jr. 5-8
Wt. 187 170 187 180 195 210 180 230 170
KR LS H
OFFENSE
Fast Fact School records in pass yds, completions, and tied passing TDs record in 2023 60 rush yards and one rushing TD in first career start at Navy 61 yds, including 47-yd touchdown in first game at Bucknell last week 8 starts, 4th on roster in rec. yds in 2023, 2 receptions in last week’s opener 2nd on roster in receiving yds and 1st in TDs (7) in 2023 Made 7 starts at left tackle as a freshman and started last week’s opener 12th multi-year captain in team history, one of two 5th-yr. seniors, 20 starts Captain, 12 consecutive starts, team’s 2023 Most Outstanding Lineman Award 15 career starts at center, missed last season with injury, missed opener 4 career starts, including last week’s opener at Navy 17 career starts, 12 rec. for 95 yds and 3 TDs last season
DEFENSE
Fast Fact 3 career starts, 66 career tackles, 1 TFL last week at Navy 17 career starts, missed most of 2023 with injury, 5 career blocked kicks 9 career starts, 2 INTs last season, 4 tackles and 1 QB hurry at Navy Made first career start last week, 20 games played, 32 career tackles Captain, 2023 2nd Tm All-PL after leading team in tackles, 1 sack at Navy 7 starts, 2nd on roster with 69 tackles as a freshman, 10 tackles at Navy 23 consecutive starts, leads team in career starts, 3rd on roster in tackles in 2023 Expected starter last year but missed 9 games with injury, 8 career starts Captain, 15 starts, 4 career INTs including 3 in 2022, 105 career tackles 8 starts last season, 1 INT and 6 pass breakups in 2023 Transferred from Wheeling, led all NCAA divisions with 21 PBUs in 2023
SPECIAL TEAMS
Fast Fact 2-time Preseason All-League, career-long 50-yd FG in 2022, 49-yd FG in 2023 Averaged 56 yards on 3 kickoffs in first collegiate appearance last week Average 45.6 yards on 5 punts last week, game-long 63 yd punt at Navy 2 punt returns of 21 and 23 yds in 2023, 3 returns last week Returned 1 punt for 24 yards and 1 kickoff for 52 yards in opener at Navy 3 career kickoff returns, returned an 88-yd touchdown vs. Lehigh in 2023 Averaged 19.3 yds on 6 returns in 2023, long of 31 yds 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