Buffalo lost a big chunk of its star power this past season. Jeff Quinn won't call this a rebuilding year because he believes in the recruiting that he has been doing for the past four years. Instead he thinks that the players he has on the whole can quickly become effective enough to make Buffalo a contender for the East division and a potential Bowl team.
So lets not call this rebuilding, let's call this a redefining year. It's time to define the next set of players who's names will stick out for UB Football.
John did a great series on Bulls Making the leap.IN his articles he talks about accomplishments, potential, and obstacles. I really recommend them if your jonesing for a UB football fix, there are excerpts below.
Last season Taylor (5-10, 209) was finally able to take the field for the Bulls once again after missing the entire 2012 season due to injury. Taylor was the primary backup to Branden Oliver, and served as a spot starter when Oliver was injured; Taylor seized every opportunity when he was on the field racking up 399 yards rushing to go with 3 rushing touchdowns, he also pitched in 45 receiving yards on 7 receptions.
Football games are won and lost in the trenches; admittedly, the nose tackle position is not exactly the sexiest position on the gridiron, but it is one of the most physically demanding and important jobs on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive tackle Kristjan Sokoli really came into his own during his junior season, starting all 13 games while pitching in 29 tackles, 5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Boise Ross
Entering the 2013 season not much was expected out of Ross as a true freshman receiver on a roster with the likes of Alex Neutz and Fred Lee, but injuries happened and Ross got his opportunity to make an impact and looked very impressive. Ross played in 9 games, starting one, and has 13 receptions for 156 yards to his credit.
Brandon Crawford
For Crawford the 2013 season was more about getting as many reps in live game action as possible while soaking up as much knowledge and wisdom from Khalil Mack as possible. When he did get a chance to be on the field he showed flashes of brilliance, one of which was during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl when he strip sacked San Diego State quarterback Quinn Kaehler
Matt Weiser
Last season coming out of camp Matt Weiser earned the starting tight end job and never looked back. He played in and started all 13 games, and recorded 13 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown. His lone touchdown of the year was this beauty in the season opener against Ohio State
Jarrett Franklin
Being the backup to the best linebacker in the country, and one of the all-around best players in college football, for your first season means that you'll be relegated to a reserve role or a rotational role depending on the game situation. However, last year as a true freshman Jarrett Franklin saw a decent amount of game action in the Bulls' defense. In a rotational role playing in 10 games, Franklin amassed 21 tackles, 3.0 for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
With Football just a short span away who do you feel will make the biggest splash this season?