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Meet the Falcons
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Ryan Abbott Ryan Abbott played guard for the Falcons in 2003. He has gained valuable experience and will battle for a starting spot in 2004. He is a valuable and versatile player because he can compete at both guard and center. |
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Chris Ammann Chris Ammann can play both tackle and tight end. He started several games at tight end in 2003 and will start at either tight end or tackle in 2004. The Falcon coaching staff says they want to get the tight end more involved with the offense. Ammann has got the size, ability, strength and toughness to play the tight end spot. |
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Chris Anderson Chris Anderson was a starter at wide receiver in 2003. He had seven receptions for 61 yards and averaged 8.7 yards per catch. He caught one touchdown pass, covering 15 yards, against Whitewater. He is one of the quickest players on the team and he has great hands. He is a player that has to focus on fundamentals because of his lack of size. Anderson has worked hard in the off-season and will get a lot of playing time in 2004. He has eight career catches for 82 yards and two scores.
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Steve Arcand Steve Arcand plays the max linebacker position. He has battled many injuries throughout his years the Falcon. Arcand registered one solo tackle in 2003. If he can stay healthy he could battle for playing time in 2004.
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Nick Asmus Nick Asmus has been working hard this off-season in the weight room trying to increase his size. His work ethic is second to none. He is an intense, hard nosed player who enjoys the game. Last year he started to come along but then an injury slowed him. He will help the team by being a young leader. |
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Joshua Barney Over the past year Josh Barney has matured on the field and in the classroom. He continues to impress the coaching staff physically as well as mentally. In 2004 he will be battling for a starting spot and playing time at the whip linebacker position. |
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Dan Buker Dan Buker enters his third year with the Falcons. He red shirted in 2002 and by the end of 2003 started in a few games. Buker was named the team's Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2003. He returned an interception 58-yards for a touchdown in the team's 31-21 win at Oshkosh. He finished with 19 solo and 35 total tackles. He had four tackles for loss and one sack. He is a very intelligent player and has a lot of desire. There will be no concern about his ability to move from the max linebacker position to play the mike position in 2004. Buker is another one of those young athletes who continues to work hard and get bigger in the weight room.
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Chris Butterfield As the 2003 season progressed Chris Butterfield became more confident and comfortable at the corner position. He played behind two very good corners in Lewie Parish and Roman Johnson. His speed, quickness, and maturity will help him battle for playing time in 2004. |
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Jeff Cassellius Jeff Cassellius is slotted to start at defensive end in 2004. He has great speed for the position, which has helped him become a very good pass rusher. He played in 2003 despite fighting off numerous injuries. When he is in the game wild things are bound to happen. He seems to find himself in positions to cause and recover fumbles and make big plays. In his first collegiate game he forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown against Chadron. He had 12 total tackles in 2003 and six came behind the line of scrimmage. Three were sacks. He also defended one pass, had two quarterback hurries and blocked a kick. In two seasons he has 15 total tackles. Cassellius plays the game with great intensity.
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| Nate Cook Nate Cook was a starter at offensive guard for the Falcons in 2003. He can help the team because he can play both guard and tackle. He has worked during the off-season to get bigger and stronger. |
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| Matt Farmer Matt Farmer brings a wealth of experience to the field. He is recovering from an off-season hip injury. He will be the starting whip linebacker - a position he started at in 2003. He finished second in tackles with 35 solo and 57 total stops. He forced two fumbles, had four tackles for loss and one sack. Farmer is a very intense player who can make good things happen for the Falcons on the field. In 2002 he was named the team's Special Teams Player of the Week twice. In his career he has 90 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack.
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| Neal Folta Neal Folta is one of the most patient and hard working players the Falcon coaching staff has ever had on the field. He’s at practice and lifting despite a lack of playing time. He has worked hard once again during the off-season and with Owen Schmidt gone he’s one of two returning fullbacks. In his final year Folta will work hard to try to prove that he is the starter at fullback. |
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| Ben Gillett Ben Gillett will be the starting max linebacker in 2004. He started several games for the Falcons in 2003. He has worked hard in the weight room and in the classroom to insure his starting spot for 2004. In 2003 he recorded 15 solo and 32 total tackles. He had one tackle for loss. In two seasons he has 61 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
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| Josh Graham Josh Graham is a junior but is in his last year of playing. He played a bunch early in his career, but has since been sidelined with injuries. This year he could be a starter at one of the defensive end spots. He plays with great intensity. Graham is a solid run stopper. In 2003 he had nine total tackles and three came behind the line of scrimmage. He has had two quarterback sacks. He is one of those silent leaders who works hard to get the job done.
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| Nate Gray It is very uncommon for a transfer student to come in and acquire a leadership role, but Nate Gray accomplished that feat. The transfer from Michigan Tech is a natural leader who has an outstanding work ethic. He will give the Falcons a nice physical presence at a mike linebacker position. In 2003 he finished fourth on the team in tackles with 26 solo and 48 total stops. He had one tackle for loss and recovered one fumble. Gray is full of intensity, excitement and he loves the game. He has assumed leadership roles both on and off the field.
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| O'Neal Hampton III O'Neal Hampton has impressive athletic abilities and has also developed himself by his work in the weight room. In 2003 he got considerable playing time against Platteville as a nickel back. He ended the season with 16 solo and 30 total tackles. He intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards in the team's 44-21 win over Platteville. He forced one fumble. This year he tops the depth chart at the buck safety position. He is a quiet leader who plays an aggressive and physical game.
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| Brett Hanson Red shirted as a freshman during the 2002 season, Brett Hanson missed half of the 2003 season due to a knee injury. Although did not see very much playing time in 2003, he practiced consistently and has become more comfortable with at the defensive end position. He is a very good athlete who works hard in all phases of the game. |
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| Jon Haughian Jon Haughian is a mike linebacker who, although he hasn’t played much, has been an outstanding player when in the game. He is like a coach on the sidelines. The coaching staff knows that his time will come and he will make things happen on the field. Haughian is a fifth year senior and he’s in a position to get some playing time. He also does exceptional work in the classroom. He has nine career tackles including one tackle for loss.
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| Kyle Hoegh Kyle Heogh returns for the 2004 season as the team's starter at free safety. The free safety is like the quarterback on defense. He is a veteran in the defensive backfield. He is an intelligent player who plays the game aggressively. This past off-season Hoegh has worked hard to improve. Hoegh is another Falcon who gets the job done in the classroom as well as on the field. He led the Falcons in tackles in 2003 with 36 solo and 66 total stops. He had three tackles for loss, four pass break ups and two fumble recoveries. He returned one fumble 39 yards for a touchdown against Whitewater. In 2002 he was named the team's Defensive Player of the Week three times. Hoegh has 134 career tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one sack.
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| Jeremy Hotz Jeremy Hotz is entering his senior season as a Falcon. He red-shirted as a freshman, then took a medical red-shirt in his second year. He is the veteran in the offensive line. Look for Hotz to lead a relatively young offensive line in 2004. He has done the things that he needed to do this off-season to have a great 2004 campaign. |
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| Roman Johnson Roman Johnson is one of the team's standouts on defense. He has great speed and quickness at the corner position. He is a playmaker who has five career interceptions and eight career pass breakups. He makes great things happen when he is in the game. He has not only helped the team with his play on defense but has been a key return man on the Falcon special teams. Johnson has returned 35 career punts and averaged 6.8 a return. He has returned 34 kick offs and averages 18.7 a return. In 2003 he earned honorable mention to the All-WIAC team as a defensive back. He finished the 2003 season with 25 solo and 33 total tackles. He had one interception, in the team's 44-21 win over Platteville, and broke up four passes. In 2002 he earned honorable mention honors on the offensive side of the ball as an all-purpose back. Also in 2002 Johnson was named the team's special teams Player of the Week once. In 2002 he registered 42 tackles, had four interceptions, which led the team, and a fumble recovery that he returned 42 yards.
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| Matt Jordan Matt Jordan played as a true freshman in 2003. He is a very good, speedy athlete who is one of the top hitters on the team. He played strong safety in 2003 because of his physical play. He finished the season with 14 solo and 24 total tackles. He had two tackles for loss. In 2004 he will play corner and buck safety. He is an intelligent player who developed his speed by becoming a sprinter on the Falcon track team in 2003.
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| Dave Kapping Dave Kapping has a good chance to be starting at center in 2004. With Andy Kotelnicki and Greg Spahn now graduated, he has found himself at the top of the depth chart. He has worked hard in the off-season to become a better player. Kapping played defensive tackle prior to the move to center in 2003. Last year he played a little and played well when he was in the lineup. |
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| Jake Knapmiller Jake Knapmiller will battle for the starting tight end spot in 2004. He was plagued with injuries in 2003. He has done the things in the off-season to improve. Knapmiller is a good team leader. |
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| Andy Kolstad After starting some of the time, as a true freshman, in 2003, Kolstad will enter the season as the No. 1 quarterback. Kolstad is now bigger, stronger and faster for the 2004 season. In 2003 he carried the ball 62 times and rushed for 191 yards. He scored three touchdowns. He completed 11-16 passes with two interceptions. He passed for 182 yards and one touchdown. Kolstad is totally recouped from a late season injury. The coaching staff is very happy with what he has done in the off-season. He was the class valedictorian at East High School.
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| Jovin Kroll Jovin Kroll did some punting last year and will be the team's only returning player at the position. At this time he is set as the starter in 2004 but will have some competition from new players. In 2003 he punted 11 times and averaged 31.3 yards per kick. He had a long of 40 and had three punts downed inside the 20.
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| Justin Larson Justin Larson red shirted in 2002 and then played some in 2003. He will break out of scout team duties and work to earn some playing time in 2004. He enjoys the physical part of the game and isn’t afraid to put a hit on someone. Larson put on some weight this off-season and will play the max linebacker spot. He is the nephew of former Falcon Bruce Larson, who is the head football coach at Somerset High School. |
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| Mike Larson Mike Larson red shirted as a mike linebacker in 2002. In 2003 was his first year on the field during games. He's had some injuries and put on some weight so he has been moved to defensive tackle. Larson has put himself as the next in the lineup behind Josh Meyer and Aaron Retzlaff. He is an outstanding student and has made the Dean’s List in every semester he’s been at UWRF. He is a strong, aggressive player who gets the job done in the weight room as well as the classroom.
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| Brad Malpert Brad Malpert has done a great job throughout his career snapping for kickers and punters. The Falcons will have new kickers and punters this year but they will have confidence because of the consistency and experience that Malpert brings to the long snapping chores. The Falcon coaching staff thinks he is as good a long snapper as there is in the WIAC. In 2002 he was once named the team's Special Teams Player of the Week. |
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| Josh Meyer Josh Meyer has started for the past two years at defensive tackle. He is one of the quickest and strongest players on the team. He gives the Falcons a strong inside game and is a very good defensive tackle pass rusher. He is a very focused as to what he needs to do to help the team. Meyer is another one of those quiet players who leads by doing. In 2003 he had 13 solo and 18 total tackles. He recorded five tackles for loss, two sacks, a quarterback hurry and one blocked kick. In 2002 he was named the team's Defensive Player of the Week once. In his three-year career he has made 55 tackles, had 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
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| Josh Nelson Josh Nelson will use his speed and experience to battle for a travel spot this season as a wide receiver. One area that he will help the 2004 Falcons is with his play on special teams. |
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Robby Nesvig Robby Nesvig red shirted in 2002 and got his first taste of playing in 2003. He played strong safety in 2003 but has moved to buck position. He has taken on a leadership role that comes with playing that spot. Nesvig has matured a lot during the off–season. He is an aggressive, hard-hitting player. |
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| Alan Nutt Alan Nutt played a lot at offensive tackle in 2003. He’s got a year’s experience under his belt and could start at right or left tackle in 2004. He will be looked upon to be a returnee with experience in the Falcon offensive line. |
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| Lewis Parish Lewis Parish will be coming off a shoulder injury that he experienced in 2003. He is part of a pair of two great corners along with Roman Johnson. He brings a lot of experience to the field. He is a great player to have because he plays with excitement and joy. Parish is a playmaker who appreciates and respects the game. He earned All-WIAC honorable mention honors in 2003 as a defensive back. That year he was third on the team in total tackles with 50. He broke up three passes and intercepted a pass in the team's 31-21 win over Oshkosh. He returned seven punts and averaged 9.9 yards a return and 12 kick offs and averaged 17.9 yards a try. In 2002 he was named the WIAC defensive Player of the Week for his game against La Crosse last and was also named the team's special teams Player of the Week once. That season he had 45 tackles, two interceptions and he returned a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown against La Crosse. He led UWRF with three fumble recoveries. He has recorded 95 career tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
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| John Peterlik John Peterlik has been the team's Most Valuable Player in each of the past two years. He has the ability to do many things well. The Falcon coaching staff knows they have to get him the ball in as many ways as possible. He was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003 and was the team's Special Teams Most Valuable Player in 2003. In 2003 he was the WIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against Chadron and was the league's Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Platteville. He rushed for 984 yards in 2003 and scored 12 touchdowns. He finished second in scoring in the WIAC with 86 points and was fourth in rushing. Peterlik was named to the All-WIAC first offensive team in 2002 and to the first offensive team as an all-purpose back in 2003. He led the WIAC in all-purpose yards last year. He was named to the second All-Football Gazette second All-America team as an all-purpose back in 2003. In 2002 Peterlik led the WIAC in yards per carry, 5.9, rushing touchdowns, 11 and all-purpose yards, 1,454. He was named the team's offensive Player of the Week three times. Look for Peterlik to run the ball, return kickoffs and punts, throw the occasional halfback pass and catch the ball. He will have more of the workload with the departure of fullback Owen Schmidt. He has worked hard this off-season to improve.
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| Nathan Renk Nathan Renk had a back injury in 2002 that kept him from practicing during his red shirt year. But during that time he never missed a practice. He loves the game and being part of the team. Renk was able to practice in 2003 and has gotten bigger with his work in the weight room. |
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| Aaron Retzlaff Aaron Retzlaff is a junior but will be playing in his final season with the Falcons in 2004. He was one of the three defensive tackles who started and played regularly in 2003. He finished the year with seven solo and 17 total stops. He recorded five tackles for loss and one sack. He is a big, physical run stopper who gives the team a massive inside presence. Retzlaff uses his fierce competitiveness to fuel the intensity of the defense. He has also filled a role as a long snapper when called upon. In 2002 he was twice named the team's Special Teams Player of the Week for his long snapping abilities. He has 30 career tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
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| Matt Schreiner Matt Schreiner red shirted as a freshman in 2002 and then experienced some playing time in 2003. Schreiner and Mike Larson will be competing for the third defensive tackle position. He has worked hard in the weight room after the 2003 season and continues to improve. |
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| Zeke Secrist Zeke Secrist will battle to be among the team's top four or five halfbacks in 2004. In the off-season he has worked very hard to put himself in a position to earn some playing time. He carried the ball three times in 2003 and gained 11 yards.
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| Corey Strinmoen Corey Strinmoen has played a lot at wide receiver the past two seasons. He is another undersized player who has to focus on fundamentals. He runs good routes and catches the ball well. Both Strinmoen and Chris Anderson give the Falcons consistency at wide receiver. In 2003 Strinmoen caught four passes for 35 yards and averaged 8.8 yards per catch.
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| Jeremy Witt Jeremy Witt played the whip position in 2003 and will remain in that spot for the 2004 season. He will compete for a starting spot. He is part of a group that has worked hard together. This year he will get a chance to compete. With two years of experience he has picked up on the mental part of the game. |
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Jeremy Wolff Jeremy Wolff is a talented halfback who is one of the biggest players to compete at that position. He started last year as a red-shirt freshman and impressed everyone with his ability to block and catch. He has improved this off-season both in the weight room and in the classroom. He is a tough player who can run fast and catch the ball. In 2003 he carried the ball 39 times and gained 289 yards. He led UWRF with a 7.4 per carry average. He scored one TD and had a long run of 31 yards. He caught six passes for 108 yards and a long of 60-yards.
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