2008 CAA FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NORTHEASTERN HUSKIES
The Northeastern Huskies will look to build on the experiences they had last season and make a run at the CAA Football title in 2008. Fifth-year head coach Rocky Hager welcomes back 43 lettermen, including 15 starters, in his quest for the championship. Those lettermen will bring to the field a loaded memory of a 2007 season that had its ups and downs. The Huskies battled a Big Ten team and faced five CAA Football squads that eventually qualified for the NCAA Playoffs. Once again, the Huskies rose to the occasion, knocking off ranked opponents New Hampshire and Hofstra in back-to-back weeks. These experiences will help the Huskies prepare for yet another challenging schedule as they fight for a championship.
The offense will rest on the shoulders of senior quarterback Anthony Orio, who had a breakout 2007 season to the tune of 1,558 passing yards and eight touchdowns. He will have plenty of weapons to throw and hand off to, including All-Conference tight end Brian Mandeville, who also had a breakout season last year, catching five touchdown passes and gaining 411 receiving yards. Tony Lott and Chris Plum will be the main wide receivers. Lott is the deep threat while Plum is a consistent route runner. Alex Broomfield takes over for Maurice Murray, who leaves Northeastern as the school’s all-time leading rusher. Broomfield’s speed makes him a threat in both the rushing and passing game. He has racked up at least 600 all-purpose yards in all three of his seasons. The offensive line is the backbone of the offense, thanks in large part to All-Conference tackle Kevin Newhall. The line returns four of last season’s main five starters and will average 296 pounds.
The defense will once again be a 3-4, but is under new direction as co-defensive coordinators Wally Dembowski and Rapheal Dowdye take charge of the corps. The Huskies are also expected to show a new 3-3 stack formation. The strength of the defense lies on the line where seniors Wil Colon and Corey Thomas conduct their business. Colon led the Huskies in sacks last season with 5.5. Jason Vega, who had a big 2006 season for NU, returns from missing the 2007 season due to injury. The linebacking unit also has two returning starters, Craig Kenney and David Akinniyi. Both had strong seasons last year and are expected to wreak havoc on offenses once again. The secondary will be young, but is anchored by top cover man Cord Parks, who is in his senior season. He will also help out on kick returns. Nate Thellen became a starter in his rookie season and will be one of the stop safeties in the conference this season.
Mat Johnson and Ron Conway will be the top players on special teams. Johnson will be the place kicker while Conway will handle punting chores.
The Huskies will once again play a difficult schedule, as Hager continues to challenge his players with top competition. Northeastern takes on two FBS schools in Ball State and Syracuse and squeezes in a trip to five-time national champion Georgia Southern. The conference slate includes Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Villanova and Rhode Island at home and Towson, Maine, William & Mary and Hofstra on the road.
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