ARCATA — Finishing its 15-practice spring session with flair, the Humboldt State football team will play a Green & Gold game Saturday in Redwood Bowl at noon. The event is open the public and admission is free.
What fans can expect to see, according to Humboldt State head coach Rob Smith, is a polished unit that closely resembles the team HSU will put on the field for the 2010 season, Smith’s third in charge of the program.
“(Spring ball) has gone smoothly,” Smith said. “The student-athletes prepared all winter for this. It’s been like an extension of the fall.”
With nine returning starters on offense and seven on defense, the learning curve has been less severe this spring. That’s allowed Smith and his coaching staff to refine their systems while also evaluating talent.
“It’s a night and day difference over what we’ve been able to accomplish the past two years,” Smith said. “The work ethic has been at a consistently high level and there’s been great competition at a number of positions. Starting positions will be won and lost this spring.”
Following is a look at the Jacks’ spring roster by position.
Offense
Offensive Line
An all-American candidate at center, first-team all Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection Taylor Boggs anchors an offensive line that returns all five starters from a year ago. The group includes guards Riordan Gomez (6-2, 322) and Daniel Rios (6-1, 292) and tackles Adam Cherrie (6-2, 275) and Brett Frydendahl (6-2, 270).
Also back are tackles Drew Shaw (6-3, 275) and Brandon Hribar (6-8, 292), both starters in 2009 who have been recovering from surgery. Redshirt freshmen Cody Tescher and David Kulp have gained experience this spring and give the Jacks much-needed depth along the line.
Tight End
First-team all-GNAC selection Matt Devlin is back for his senior season after an impressive 2009 campaign. The 6-2, 245-pound standout from Chugiak, Alaska, finished the fall with 40 catches for 576 yards, scoring six touchdowns.
Also returning is sophomore Alex Hiebert, who lines up at tight end or fullback in certain formations.
Running Back
Sophomore Daniel Wyatt has stepped into a more prominent role at running back, and his 143-yard rushing effort during one of the Jacks’ spring scrimmages demonstrated his intent to stay there. Playing behind seniors Bobby Thomas and Corey Stollmeyer last fall, Wyatt saw limited time, rushing for 146 net yards on 41 carries.
Also challenging for time at running back is sophomore Nick Ricciardulli, who showed great promise before his season ended due to injury after only five games last fall.
Sophomore Will Duka is the Jacks’ primary fullback when the offensive set calls for a two-back formation.
Wide Receiver
Junior Dirk Dallas gives the Jacks a sure-handed force at wide receiver, illustrated by his 33 catches for 453 yards in 2009. Also back is senior Edwin Henry, who made 14 catches after returning from knee surgery last fall.
The receiving corps will also see the return of junior Kevin Miles, the Jacks’ leading receiver in 2008 with 46 catches. Miles missed the 2009 season following surgery. Kevin Ramos, who reshirted last fall after transferring in from College of the Siskiyous, is another talented option.
Quarterback
Junior quarterbacks Mike Proulx and Chris Bolt both return to lead the Jacks offense, providing Humboldt State with experience and versatility at quarterback.
Proulx has seen the majority of snaps the past two seasons, earning all-GNAC second team honors last year after completing 147 of 248 attempts for 2,020 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Bolt, at 6-5, 235 pounds, completed 36 of 70 passes for 405 yards while also rushing 35 times for 141 yards, an average of 4.0 yards per carry.
Defense
Defensive Line
Defensive end Dawiet Haile was a key component of the Jacks’ defensive front last fall, totaling 48 tackles, including five for lost yardage and two quarterback sacks. At the other end is another senior, Jacob Taylor, who totaled 30 tackles in 2009, and sophomore Ora Lupear is back at nose tackle.
Another key player is defensive end Justin Hornsby, who was forced out of action last fall by an injury, but has received a medical waiver that will allow him back on the field in 2010. Hornsby had 26 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, in 2008.
Redshirt freshman Owen Krebs has been solid throughout the spring, according to Smith, and gives the Jacks another top player. Also contending for playing time will be Jonathon Wells and Andrew Iupati, two mid-year transfers.
Linebacker
Senior Mike Lynch and sophomore Chris Peterson head up a group of linebackers that should be a strong suit of the Jacks’ offense again in 2010 despite the graduation of all-GNAC first-team honoree Bubba Reynolds.
Lynch made 47 tackles to go along with his two interceptions and team-best seven past deflections in 2009. Peterson was the Jacks’ third-leading tackler with 52 total last fall, and has displayed even more improvement this spring, according to Smith.
During spring ball, redshirt freshman Joe Casey has emerged as one of the Jacks top players at linebacker. Also contending for a starting role will be mid-year transfer Michael Johnson, who comes to Humboldt State from San Diego Mesa JC.
Secondary
Two-time all-Super Region 4 honoree Guy Ricciardulli returns for his final year with HSU as the Jacks’ strong safety. Ricciardulli finished second on the team in tackling with 60 while also picking off three passes.
At the cornerback position, all-GNAC second team selection Elzie Gatson is back for his senior season after making 35 tackles and coming away with a team-best 5 interceptions in 2009.
Redshirt freshmen Kevin Cooper and Jeremiah Maluia are both challengers for playing time at cornerback. Mid-year transfer Will Taylor, out of the University of Oregon, and Tanner Webb, who arrives in the fall from Bakersfield CC, are other contenders in the defensive backfield.
Further shoring up the secondary are junior Corey Green and transfer Jordan McGowan, who will join the Jacks in August from Santa Rosa CC.