2012 SEASON PREVIEW

With most of its starting offense returning, and the addition of several talented newcomers, the Central Washington University football team opens the 2012 season this Saturday (Sept. 1) when it visits Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK).

CWU will rely on a very experienced offensive group, specifically its offensive line, where all five starters return from last season, including junior right tackle Mike Nelson (Carnation/Mount Si HS), who earned second team pre-season All-American honors from Lindy's Sports College Football Preview. Senior center Joey Tivnan (Centralia) is a three-year starter, while fellow linemates Jon Murbach (LT, Sr., Kennewick/Kamiakin HS), Justin Eden (LG, Sr., Lacey/Timberline HS), and Neil Fuhrmann (RG, Jr., Sumner/Cascade Christian HS) are also back. A sixth offensive lineman, senior James Meeks (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd HS), was a starter at left tackle in 2009 but missed the last two seasons due to injury.

That group will be expected to provide effective pass protection for fourth-year starting quarterback Ryan Robertson (Sammamish/Eastlake HS), who returns at full strength after an injury-shortened 2011 season that saw him play in just six games. Robertson enters his final collegiate campaign needing just 107 passing yards to reach the 5,000-yard mark. His back-ups include junior college transfers Darius Banks (Inglewood, Calif./Culver City HS), from Fullerton College; Jeff Nelson (Eugene, Ore./Summit HS) from Sierra College; and redshirt freshman Colin Walsh (Troutdale, Ore./Reynolds HS).

In the backfield, two NCAA Division I transfers have joined the Wildcats for their final seasons to team with junior incumbent Ishmael Stinson (Tacoma/Charles Wright Academy) to give CWU added running back depth. They are University of Colorado transfer Demetrius Sumler (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS), who ranked second on the Buffaloes in rushing in 2009, and University of Washington transfer Johri Fogerson (Kent/O'Dea HS). True freshman Jordan Todd (Bellevue/Interlake HS), who starred at the Class 2A ranks while playing for Interlake High School, is also expected to handle some ball-carrying duties.

CWU must replace its top receiver from last season in JUSTIN HELWEGE. However, senior Anthony Spain (Grants Pass, Ore./North Valley HS), who had 40 catches a year ago for 521 yards including consecutive 100-yard receiving games, is back, as is fellow returning starter, sophomore Leon La Deaux (Port Orchard/South Kitsap HS), who finished third on the team in receptions (25) and receiving touchdowns (3). That duo is joined by sophomore Dalton Thomas (Tacoma/Auburn Riverside HS), who had an impressive spring after seeing time primarily on special teams a year ago. Transfer Tavoy Moore (Long Beach, Calif./Gahr HS) joins the Wildcats from Idaho State University, where he was a Division I-FCS All-American two seasons ago, to provide CWU with added speed and elusiveness as a receiver and kick return specialist. Seniors Robert Akeo-Orr (Spanaway/Bethel HS) and Brandon Dunlap (Stockton, Calif./Edison HS), and sophomore Greg Logan (Graham/Graham-Kapowsin HS) are other returning lettermen at the wide receiver position.

At tight end, two-year starter Griffin Squires (Chehalis/W.F. West HS) returns for his senior campaign. Joining Squires will be Matt Christiansen (Spokane/East Valley HS), a converted offensive lineman who redshirted last season, and Mike Fennerty (Olympia), who was at the University of Louisville before joining this Wildcats last spring.

On defense, just three Wildcat starters return from last season. New defensive coordinator Malik Roberson will have plenty of new faces up front as only junior Donnie Johnson (Olympia/Capital HS) returns as a starter. Sophomore Nick Rouser (Oak Harbor) and senior Terrance Joyner (Bronx, N.Y./Pine Bush HS) -- both of whom are converted offensive linemen -- are contending for the other starting defensive tackle position. Senior Jarrel Johnson (Bennettsville, S.C./Myrtle Beach HS) and junior newcomer Gabe Bruno (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep HS) are slated to start at the defensive end positions.

Linebacker is the most experienced area on defensive, with junior Stan Langlow (University Place/Curtis HS) patrolling the weak side for the second straight season. Sixth-year senior John Koopman (Enumclaw) is slated to start for the second straight year at middle linebacker, while junior Riley Wall (Olympia/Capital HS) will move into the starting strong side linebacker role after serving as a reserve each of the past two seasons. An additional returnee, senior Louie Bruketta (Ellensburg/Kittitas HS), adds linebacker depth.

In the Wildcats' secondary, senior cornerback Deshawn Gaisie (West Covina, Calif./Bishop Amat Memorial HS) is the most experienced of the returners, with four starts among his nine games last season. Gaisie is also tops among returning defensive backs in tackles, making 19 a year ago. Fellow senior, strong safety Kevin Puckett (Pomona, Calif./Garey HS) made two starts in eight games in 2011. Senior Cory Burk (Daphne, Ala./Bothell HS), who is in his third year with the Wildcats, also returns at the safety position. The remainder of the secondary is comprised of freshmen and junior college transfers. They include safeties Osayande Aikhionbare (Los Angeles, Calif./Ribet Academy), from Glendale College, and Adrian Gallegos (Bellflower, Calif./St. Paul HS), from Fullerton College. who will start at free safety. Three of the top four cornerbacks are freshmen in terms of eligibility. Redshirt freshman Cedrique Chaney (Kelso) will start opposite Gaisie, while fellow redshirt freshman DeAndre Baines (Tacoma/Mount Tahoma HS) and true freshman Isaiah Davis (Bremerton/South Kitsap HS), are expected to be the top reserves.

On special teams, kicker Sean Davis (Sr., Federal Way/Todd Beamer HS) returns, as does second-team all-GNAC punter Josef Kistler (Jr., Galloway, N.J./Absegami HS). However, the Wildcats added left-footer Matt Burke (Laguna Hills, Calif.) from Cabrillo College, who is expected to serve as both the punter and placekicker in the season opener. TAVOY MOORE, JOHRI FOGERSON, and ANTHONY SPAIN appear to be the most likely candidates to return kicks and punts.

The Wildcats' 2012 schedule features just one non-conference game -- the opener this weekend at TAMUK. With the addition of a sixth football-playing member to the GNAC, Azusa Pacific University (APU), there will be 10 conference games beginning this year, as the double round-robin schedule remains in place. CWU begins the season with three consecutive road games, at Kingsville, Simon Fraser University, and Western Oregon University. The home opener is Sept. 22 against APU. It will be the first of five home games this season.

CWU, which has won six of the previous nine GNAC championships, was picked to finish second this year in the GNAC pre-season poll.