Aug. 10, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - An experienced and deep linebacking corps is essential to the success of a football team, and Stony Brook certainly looks to have that in place for the 2008 season. The Seawolves return three starters and a total of nine players with game experience to the position for 2008.

Junior Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) has played in every game but one over his first two seasons and will lead the group from an inside slot. The leader among the linebackers in tackles for loss (5.5) last season, he plays with one of the highest intensity levels on the team and has already recorded over 100 career stops, totaling 56 in 2007. Senior Greg Weeks (Sarasota, Fla.) had a solid year after stepping in as a starter after transferring from Indiana and now has a year of experience with the SBU system.

A local product, sophomore Stephen Schwicke (East Patchogue, N.Y.) played in every game in his redshirt freshman season, making 53 stops. He continues to improve and had a standout spring with the Seawolves. Senior Paul Ferrari (Novato, Calif.) is another senior coming into his second year with Stony Brook after transferring into the program, bringing nine games worth of experience with him for 2008.

Captain of the special teams, senior Michael Meadows (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) made a pair of starts a year ago and should see a lot of playing time in 2008 after seeing action in every game a year ago. Freshmen Vincent Cortese (Stamford, Conn.), Philip Mayberry (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and John Zorbas (Woodside, N.Y.) will also battle for playing time in their first years on the team.

"At the inside linebacker position we bring back four kids that were on the field last year for us," said head coach Chuck Priore. "Our defense relies on your ability to play inside and outside as linebackers. As it sets up, it allows them to do multiple things in the blitz game and as run stoppers."

Among the outside linebackers, senior Andre Jean-Pierre (Irvington, N.J.) led all linebackers in tackles last season with a career-high 63 and has the most experience of the group. Sophomore Chevar Rankins (Middletown, Conn.), who missed most of last season due to injury, is expected to play a large role in 2008 for Stony Brook after starting every game as a freshman in 2006.

Junior Julian Glenn (Uniondale, N.Y.) played in every game last season after transferring in and, with a year of learning the SBU system, will add another experienced player to the mix. Another pair of players who are expected to play large roles is two that spent last season learning the defensive scheme and improving in the weight room. Junior Carl Teague (St. Petersburg, Fla.) sat out last season after transferring from UConn and will add his name to the mix in 2008, while sophomore Chris Fenlon (Bellerose, N.Y.) will also compete for playing time.

"With the outside linebackers we have a little bit more experience then our inside linebacker position," remarked Priore. "I think when you talk about this group of players; we're excited about the diversity that they add to us at that position. I think they can really rush the passer, I think they can hold up against the tight ends in the run game, and they're athletic enough to defend the pass in space, so I think that's a great group of people and will certainly allow us to do some different things schematically."

Seawoloves fans will have their first opportunity to hear from Coach Priore about the progress of the team in fall practice and his thoughts on the new season tonight when the first "Chuck Priore Report" airs on WUSB (90.1 FM). Now in its third year, the show will air at 10:15 p.m. on Sunday nights starting this evening until November 16. The show will be co-hosted by Jeff Bernstein along with other members of the WUSB sports staff.