Matt Schilz is getting ready for his third season as Bowling Green’s starting
quarterback.
And while the Falcons’ offense showed improvement last season, Schilz will be working
with basically a new set of wide receivers and he’ll be behind a revamped
offensive line.
Last season, Schilz was 245-of-412 for 3,024 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13
interceptions, starting all 12 games. His numbers improved greatly from 2010
when in 10 games he threw for 2,223 yards with eight touchdowns.
Matt Johnson was redshirted last season and will get time with the No. 1 offense this
spring as BG head coach Dave Clawson wants to have two quarterbacks ready.
Walk-on Malik Stokes returns and 2012 James Knapke will be here in the fall.
Trent Hurley, who spent two years with the Falcons, transferred to the
University of Delaware.
Schilz will be looking for new targets as receivers who combined for 176 receptions
for 2,518 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2011 have completed their eligibility.
Included in that group are first-team all-conference pick Kamar Jorden, 78
receptions for 1,089 yards and 12 scores, and Eugene Cooper, 67 catches for 808
yards and nine touchdowns.
"That’s the one position you lose a lot of reps (repetitions), but Shaun Joplin
started to come into his own last year," Clawson said. "We’re hoping
he can take that ‘X’ position that Freddie (Barnes) and Kamar played the last
two years."
Joplin had 21 receptions for 292 yards and a touchdown last fall.
"I’m just looking forward to being one of the leaders of the receivers, having a
great season and being one of the top receivers in the conference," said
Joplin, who will be a redshirt junior in 2012. "I’m looking forward to
having fun and having a great season."
Also in the mix at wide receiver are Je’Ron Stokes, a transfer who played two years
at Michigan; Herve Coby and Chris Gallon, who both redshirted in 2011; Heath
Jackson, who Clawson hopes is ready to make his presence felt in his third-year
in the program; Michael Allen, a junior college player who enrolled at BG in
January; Travis Green, who was redshirted in 2011; and Jared Cohen, a late
signee from Golden West College in California. Jermal Hosley, who signed a
national letter of intent for 2011, but did not enroll until later because of a
knee injury, could also be a factor at wide receiver.
On the line, Chip Robinson, Kyle Bryant, Jordon Roussos, Dominic Flewellyn, and
Dominique Wharton, all return with starting experience.
However, Clawson is making some changes.
Bryant will go from left tackle to right tackle and Roussos will move from right
tackle to right guard. Alex Huettel, a redshirt last season, is working at right
guard. Clawson said Huettel was a standout on the scout team and had a good
off-season.
"Dominic Flewellyn, who was probably our most consistent lineman last year with
the exception of Ben Bojicic, is moving to left guard," Clawson said.
Fahn Cooper and Darion Delaney are competing at left tackle.
"We were extremely high on Darion last year before he hurt his knee. Fahn Cooper
is a very talented young man, who has a chance to be a big-time player in our
league," Clawson said.
Wharton is back at guard and Isaiah Byler could also be a factor on the line.
Robinson will be the center. Junior college transfer (David) Kelii Kekuewa, who
started classes in January, is pushing Robinson.
"I haven’t been able to talk about this many offensive linemen since I’ve been
here. That’s a position that takes a long time to rebuild," Clawson said.
"I finally feel like we’ve got good players and we’re going to go 8, 9,
hopefully 10 deep."
Another position with depth is tailback.
"We have the opportunity to have internal competition and keep guys fresh and
hopefully play a lot of guys," Clawson said about the tailback situation.

Anthon Samuel returns after leading the team in rushing and earning Mid-American
Conference freshman of the year honors last season. Although he played in only
nine games because of injuries, Samuel rushed for 844 yards and five touchdowns
on 144 carries. He also had 15 receptions.
Jordan Hopgood, who was BG’s short yardage back, won’t practice this spring as he is
"banged up," Clawson said.
Jamel Martin and John Pettigrew also return.
The unknown factor at tailback is Andre Givens. Givens originally signed a letter of
intent with Pittsburgh. Instead of going to Pitt, Givens enrolled at Milford
Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. where he saw limited playing time.
He is now enrolled at Bowling Green, but is not yet on the team, as he attempts to
gain his eligibility.
"Hopefully, Andre Givens will get himself eligible," Clawson said.
"He’s in school taking classes. He has to pass so many credits with a
certain GPA (grade-point average). If he does that he will become eligible in
the fall and practice with us in fall camp."
Tight end is another position with depth. The tight ends are also used as H-backs in
the backfield in place of a fullback.
Alex Bayer and Tyler Beck are the top returnees in the group – Bayer at tight end and
Beck as the starting H-back. Bayer was fourth on the team last season with 20
receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns..
Also back are Kendall Montgomery, Clay Rolf from Eastwood High School, and Zach
Steinmetz, who was redshirted last year. Chris Pohlman, a walk-on, is back at
H-back. Scott Davis, a 2012 recruit from Fort Union Military Academy, enrolled
in January and is a factor, Clawson said.
"All those guys have a chance to be good players," Clawson said.
(Tuesday: A look at the defense.)