March 22, 2007
2007 Spring Football Prospectus in PDF Format
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EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette football program will open spring practice on Friday, March 23 at Fisher Stadium with the first of 15 sessions allowed by the NCAA.
The three-time defending Patriot League champions will get things underway quickly, practicing Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the FieldTurf at Fisher Stadium. The Leopards will hit the field every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday until the annual Maroon-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 21 at 11 a.m. The practice scheduled for Easter Saturday has been moved to Wednesday of that week.
2007 LAFAYETTE FOOTBALL SPRING STORYLINES
• Each of Lafayette's six Patriot League championship teams have featured a proven returning starter at either quarterback or tailback, but if the Leopards are to join Lehigh as the only school in league history to claim four straight league titles, they'll have to buck that trend. QB Brad Maurer and TB Jonathan Hurt helped Lafayette to PL championships and NCAA Playoff appearances in each of the last three years but will graduate in May, leaving both positions open for competition.
• Jr. TB Maurice White has the inside track on the starting job after averaging 6.3 yards per carry while backing up Hurt, the PL Offensive Player of the Year. Sr. Mike DiPaola, So. Rob Curley and So. Josh Jones are the only three quarterbacks in camp this spring and will have the opportunity to distance themselves in the race for the starting nod. Lafayette signed three quarterbacks in its class of 30 recruits that will join the team in August.
• The Leopards return three starters on the offensive line, including All-PL selections Greg Lippert (LG) and Jesse Padilla (RT). Jr. FB Joe Russo, Jr. WR Shaun Adair and Jr. TE Michael Conte are also back, while a host of upperclassmen will battle for the other wide receiver spot vacated by first team All-PL honoree Joe Ort.
• Lafayette also returns six starters on defense, led by an all-league choice at each level in Sr. DT Kyle Sprenkle, Jr. LB Andy Romans and Sr. CB Adrian Lawson. The return of Sr. DE Keith Bloom with a medical redshirt bolsters a unit that lost All-PL members Marvin Snipes (DE) and Dan Liseno (DT).
• Sr. LB Mark Plumby is a returning starter, and So. LB Mark Leggiero was the program's Rookie of the Year in 2006. The secondary is also well-stocked, as Jr. CB Marvin Clecidor and Sr. SS Marcel Quarterman were inserted as starters for the PL title run, and Jr. FS Nigel Bryant received valuable experience as the nickel back.
• For the first time since 2003 there will be an open competition for the kicking spot, as Rick Ziska graduates after finishing his career just outside the top 10 in PL history in points scored by a kicker. In the return game, Shaun Adair averaged 25.5 yards per kick return and 13.3 yards per punt return as a sophomore.
