If the Bulls can get things squared away on the line and behind center thenthis years receivers are going to get a lot of work. Quinn's System, at Cincinnati, made common use of four and five wide receiver sets. Even with the impressive performance of guys like Rivers and Neutz (among others) the Bulls could easily run their wide-outs to exhaustion trying to keep up, Coach Duval's work not withstanding.

So far this year Jeff Quinn has pulled in two receivers. Ron Willoughby and Reggie McKnight. While there may be no huge need for a receiver this season having McKnight in the mix will be a welcome security blanket..

McKnight was the Spartans leading receiver, pulling in 31 receptions for 444 yards (14.1 yards per reception). Hollywood Hills was a run first team with 75% of their playes from scrimmage were runs but when they did pass it was usually to McKnight McKnight (47% team receptions).

A quality talent who runs well, catches the ball in traffic and has the ability to make plays for the Spartans. As a junior, he showcased his skills and has become an offensive leader as he heads into his senior season. -- Miami Herald

Even with the secondary nature of the passing game, and the football rich grounds of south Florida and McKnight Earned 2nd team all district and a starting spot on Mark Guandolo's Broward squad for the first ever Miami-Dade vs. Broward All-Star Football Game.

Right around the time the Sugar Bowl was wrapping up UB Jeff Quinn landed one of the better recruits in UB's modern era. Kendall Patterson was one of five, now four, defensive linemen in this class. He might be the punctuation mark on a year of recruiting aimed at beefing up the trenches.

"Coach Quinn is at my house right now (last night) and I just told him I'm coming to Buffalo. We had dinner and then we were watching the Sugar Bowl game, and at halftime I told him I was committing. He was so excited he didn't know what to say. He didn't expect that tonight. But it just felt right, and I can't wait to play."

Patterson is somewhere between the 50th and 80th rated defensive lineman in the nation, depending on who you talk to. He is physically a pretty big player at 6-2, 272 but scouts maintain that 'he plays bigger' than he actually is. Most who looked at him see a player which will have more of an immediate impact against the run than he will pressuring the QB.

The list of schools that not only showed interest, but threw down an offer for Patterson was impressive South Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan State, North Carolina Sate and Ohio (among others) all had their eye on the lineman from Dematha.

As a Sophomore Patterson racked up four sacks. He more than doubled that in his junior year gobbling up the QB nine times. This past season he helped lead Dematha to the WCAC Championship game. In Dematha's opener Patterson picked up a fumble which lead to their first conference points of the season. On the season Pattereson earned Honerable Mention for all WCAC.

With UB Losing Anel Monatez to graduation there is going to be competition on the interior of the line. Patterson, along with the other DL recruits should have a shot at real playing time.

Sophomore Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctlawlxmtoc

Junior Highlights:

Losing two kickers to graduation would have been a hard blow to absorb, losing two more to transfers left the Bull with no kicker on the roster. Jeff Quinn and company have remedied this with the verbal commitment of Patrick Clarke.

UB just received a verbal commitment from kicker Patrick Clarke from Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, a source told The Buffalo News. The 6-foot, 175-pound Clarke visited the campus this weekend and gave a verbal commitment to coach Jeff Quinn this afternoon the source said. -- Rodney McKissic, Buffalo News

Patrick was highly touted by Special Teams Solutions. Lee McDonald, a former kicker at Rutgers and director of STS called Clarke "One of the top Kicking Prospects in the North East".  Some of STS's past products include Casey Barth of North Carolina and Dan Hutchins of Pittsburgh for being named to the 2010 Lou Groza Award Watch List, given the the nation's top college kicker.

The Kicker has been playing for Hargrave Military Academy and During the National Camp Series Combine he went 10/10 on FG's from 35-52 yards.

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If you had to prototype the first player Jeff Quinn might go after for the class of 2011 you might pick a local offensive lineman who wrestles in the off season. Enter John Kling.

Kling was the first verbal of this class signing up before the spring game had even been played. Local talent like Kling usually falls through the cracks so its not too surprising that Kling was not on the radar of too many recruiting services. But  people who know western new york high school football were excited that the Depew lineman was going to be playing for the Bulls.

He transferred back to Depew after playing his junior year at St. Marys.

John was one of ours to begin with. He played modified ball for us in 7th and 8th grade. When he transferred here, he was coming home where he belonged.” -- Dan McGrath

The Buffalo news named him a first team offensive performer in 2009 and all indication were that he was going to be a force in 2010. But a week two injury against Burgard put his senior season on crutches (and in a boot). Kling broke his early in the game, playing another down afterwords.

Kling missed most of the season after that but he did heal up in time for wrestling season where he helped exact a little vengeance against Lackawana, the team that bounced Depew in football

"The Depew Wildcats recently defeated Lackawanna in a highly contested match by the score of 33-31. Ryan Baer, Jason Brossard, Pat Mahony, Matt Frankowski all won matches and Mike Kasprzak and Chris Brossard recieved forfeits. Other highlights this season include the Maryvale Invitational where Jason Brossard and Devin Kramer took 1st place. Mike Kasprzak took 3rd place and Ryan Baer and John Kling took 4th." -- okblitz

Kling still earned honorable mention from the Buffalo News as a football player. Video highlights (from his Junior Season) after the jump.

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Guy is the second Canadian Lineman to commit to UB this year, and the third during the past two seasons. While his home town is a mere 77 miles from UB's north campus the path he took to the NCAA was anything but direct.

Guy overcame academic struggles in high school to qualify as the 2009 All-Canadian Offensive Line award. His challenges in the classroom had more do to his priorities than his abilities. 

“I went through high school thinking that I was the best at football; it doesn’t matter what your marks are, you are going to go somewhere. I put in all this work to play, but I forgot to do the easiest thing,” - Dillon Guy

When his future in football was in jeopardy Guy re-focused on his academics. After getting his house in order he was picked to play on the Team World squad. During the prep for the game US versus the World game Guy was named a team captain.

After Graduating Guy  joined the Ottawa Sooners, a Canadian Junior Football team with a reputation for player development. Guy has tagged as a player to watch for future CFL drafts, even before he earned his NCAA ride.

He has moved from the Ontario high school ranks to Quebec's CEGEP league to the Ontario junior circuit, garnering a little more exposure to scouts at each step. -- Duane Forde

With the help of former teachers he hit the books while his coaches helped him prep for his move south. Ottawa Sooners coach Andy McEvoy was one of those who helped develop Guy.

"(Playing for the Sooners) I got great exposure to university scouts and had the great privilege of working under some great coaches (like McEvoy.)" -- Dillon Guy

While Guy worked on the filed Sooners recruiter Tristano Raponi met with football staffs at Buffalo and several other NCAA schools. These sessions garnered interest from UConn, Virgina, and Buffalo. Buffalo's offer was a dream come true for Guy who is intent on a career playing professional ball.

The work done by McEvoy, Campagna (Sooner OL Coach) and Raponi were one of the Reasons that Guy went with the Sooners.

"(Guy) signed on with us because he knows we can help a lot of kids get down to the NCAA," Tristan Raponi

Guy is aiming at a spot on Buffalo's interior offense line, maybe as a guard or center. Guy believes the staff at UB will help him make it to the next level. The Bulls offer a lot of opportunities on the line. An already thin unit which will be further decimated by graduation.

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Willoughby is an outstanding two sport Athlete from Avon Lake Ohio who was on the fence about weather to pursue football or basketball at the next level until he had a breakout junior year.

In the 2009 campaign Willoughby led the his team with 29 receptions for 723 yards (an astounding 24.9 yards per catch average). Over the course of the year he pulled in nine touchdowns. That season earned him All-Southwestern Conference, All-Lorain County and All-NEO district honors.

After the season he started hitting camps and was quickly offered by Coach Quinn after Buffalo's camp, he accepted the offer that day. This Season Willoughby caught 17 total touchdown passes and also handled punting duties. 

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While some of our MAC brethren are still getting ready for a bowl game Bull Run has entered Basketball and Hockey Season (Yes I will still be doing Hockey this year). But with no hockey for two weeks, two basketball writers to cover the courts, and signing day approaching I thought perhaps UB Nation might want to meet this years class.

Licata is maybe the best QB Prospect to come out of New York State this season. Playing for Williamsville South, which is all of six miles from the UB ticket office, put Licata on the radar of UB fans back in 2009.

Many were skeptical that the Bulls would be able to net all everything athlete. Licata was sporting offers from Syracuse and interest from NC State. Usually the mid majors lose those kind of recruiting match-ups.

When Licata did not immediately lap up the offer from the Syracuse the Orange decided not to wait and started pursuing other QB's. It was when Joe visited Jeff Quinn's first football camp that the news broke. He was quickly offered, and then accepted, a scholarship.

"It felt right, everything felt right. I liked the coaching staff, it’s a really good place. It was the best fit for, especially because I’ll be able to play in front of my family and friends.’’ -- Joe Licata to the Buffalo News

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