Football Week Two Review: A Look At The Offense
ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany football squad is now just 15 days away from its home-opener versus Holy Cross, and the coaching staff is pleased with the progress the team has made in the first two weeks of camp. In his first season at the helm, Head Coach Greg Gattuso leads the Great Danes into their second season in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), including a program-record seven home games in 2014.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Great Danes return a veteran regime, including first-team All-CAA running back Omar Osbourne. In 2013, Osbourne ranked third in the conference, totaling 1,206 rushing yards, good for fifth in UAlbany’s all-time single-season record book. Osbourne ranked fourth in the CAA with 12 rushing touchdowns, and totaled 1,369 all-purpose yards (114.1/game), which ranked seventh in the league. This summer, Osbourne was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards Running Back Award Watch List, as well as to the CAA Preseason Team.
Also returning at the running back position is sophomore Andre Martin and redshirt junior Presley Beauvais. Beauvais took 24 handoffs, totaling 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2013, while Martin also carried the ball 24 times for 63 yards in his rookie campaign.
Starting every game for the past two seasons, the Great Danes will have the leadership and veteran presence of redshirt senior quarterback Will Fiacchi in the pocket. Fiacchi enters the 2014 season ranked third all-time at UAlbany for career passing yard with 4,514 (395-686) and is the program’s third quarterback in school history to throw for over 4,000 yards in his tenure.
Expected top targets for Fiacchi include redshirt senior Cole King, who recorded 37 receptions and 436 receiving yards last season. Fellow redshirt senior Jake Meek is one of the Great Danes’ most versatile athletes, who has been put in position to receive, pass, and rush while on the gridiron. Meek ranked second on the team with 342 rushing yards on 56 carries, recorded three rushing touchdowns, and also totaled 95 receiving yards with eight catches last season.
With a pair of 6’4 options in tight end Brian Parker and fullback Nic Ketter, the Great Danes project to have a number of prevalent scoring threats and a well-rounded offense overall. Parker, a redshirt senior, logged 30 receptions for a total of 355 yards and two touchdowns, while Ketter, a redshirt sophomore, made seven receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown in 2013.
The Danes kick off the 2014 season at home versus Holy Cross on Aug. 30th. The game will air on ESPN3 at 6:00 p.m. Season and single game tickets are currently on sale. Click here to explore ticketing options.
