Article

On the Fast Track

The MSU football team has what every Division II program is looking for - speed.

by Dan Myers
September 08, 2005

Speed kills.

It's great to have a strong-armed, accurate quarterback that doesn't make mistakes. And a powerful offensive line? One that opens holes trucks can drive through and allows the signal-caller all day to throw? Not a bad thing.

But one thing all football coaches crave when recruiting players is a thoroughbred that can run up and down a football field.

Why?

Speed kills.

The 2005 edition of Minnesota State football has a veteran quarterback, an experienced defensive front and solid leadership on both offense and defense. But what Maverick players and coaches are raving about heading into the new season is their overall speed.

"With our speed, there is nothing we can't do," said senior defensive tackle Saloni Taumalolo. "We'll run down people, hit hard and give it to you every play."

The Mavericks' speed starts on offense with a group of talented players in the backfield. Quarterback Joshua Bryant, while not the starter, will see significant playing time in new offensive coordinator Garin Higgins' option-happy offense. Bryant's athleticism and quick feet are not found in many quarterbacks and MSU will use Bryant's legs almost as much as his right arm. Senior Jamie VanDenElzen reassumes the starter's role after spending two years as a back up. VanDenElzen hasn't started a game at quarterback since his sophomore season, but has been and continues to be the team's punter. VanDenElzen also possesses an athletic lower half, but has matured well in the passing game, allowing him to snag the starter's role.

"It's a senior's dream come true," VanDenElzen said. "I couldn't have had it any other way this year."

Also returning is perhaps the best duo of running backs in Division II, Sean Treasure and Cory Jones. Treasure, an All-American, rushed for 1,201 yards last season in his first year for the Mavericks, adding 13 scores. Jones added 523 yards of his own, complementing Treasure's lightning approach with his thunder.

"As an offensive staff, it makes our job easier," Higgins said. "It makes the jobs of our quarterbacks easier, also. It takes the pressure off of those guys because we don't have to ask those guys to do so much."

MSU possesses a solid combination of receivers as well. At 6-0, 170 lbs. is junior transfer Tyrell Smith, whose speed will help replace the graduated Michael Lawrence, a national champion sprinter. Two-year captain Kyle Krivoruchka also returns looking to make a mark of his own. The athletic Krivoruchka has evolved from a high school quarterback to a defensive back in his early days in Mankato, to one of the upper-tier wideouts in the North Central Conference. He led the Mavericks with 49 receptions in 2004 and four TDs.

Up front, MSU will look to replace All-American left tackle Christian Harmeyer. Senior Tim Riley, as well as juniors Adam Van Zeeland and Sarkis Badoyan will look to improve a line that allowed MSU to rush for nearly 2,000 yards in 2004. They also allowed 2004 starting quarterback Ben King enough time to complete 55 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns.

The defense will also feature some new looks with new coordinator Ken Gordon, the team's linebacker's coach in 2004, who believes that his unit's speed can make them great.

"You can adapt to anything, but it's hard to adapt to speed," Gordon said.

On the line, the Mavericks have fast, athletic ends in Darnell Flannigan, Jonathan Shaw and Telema Bobmanuel. All three can rush the passer, and all three can run. Inside at defensive tackle are Tuamalolo and sophomore Spencer Dickinson. Tuamalolo had five sacks last season, which led the team.

At linebacker, the team will be hard pressed to replace Adam Stroik, who was arguably the best defender in the NCC in 2004. He led the team with 144 tackles and was the outspoken leader of a much-improved defense.

Jimmie Gunn will assume the leadership role vacated by Stroik. The senior middle linebacker had 27 tackles and a sack in 2004.

"Jimmie Gunn is a quiet leader in that when he talks, everybody listens," Gordon said. "Stroik would speak out. Jimmie will speak out every once in a while, but he does a great job of leading by example."

Also returning in 2005 is Leonardo Enriquez. Enriquez had 40 tackles, one interception, and 1 1/2 sacks last season. Juniors Dan Ficcadenti and Tido Labossiere also possess speed, and Gordon hopes to use their speed to provide additional pass rush from the outsides.

The secondary also lost an All-American in Jordan Malone. Mankato-native Nick Wilson returns coming off a solid 45 tackle, one interception season. He takes over Malone's role as the top corner. Transfer Melvin Matlock will start opposite Wilson and is one of the fastest players on the roster. Last season at Mount San Antonio College, Matlock led the nation in kickoff return average, gaining 38 yards per return.

Strong safety Kevin Adams led all returning Mavericks in tackles in 2004, and was third on the team with 69. He also added a pair of interceptions - one of which sealed a late season upset victory over Nebraska-Omaha. Free safety Tony Wnek, a junior, also had an interception late in that game. He returns as well, looking to build on a solid 2004 campaign in which he tied for the team lead in picks with three. He also added 34 tackles.

"Speed kills, as we all know," Gordon said. "We are blessed to have that, because you don't get that all the time."