SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team begins its 2014 season on Thursday, August 28 at Stony Brook. Over the next week, a breakdown of the Bulldogs' quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, linemen, linebackers, defensive backs and specialists will be unveiled.
Running Backs
Over the years Bryant has prided themselves on featuring one of the best running games in the conference. Last season, the Bulldogs' were hamstrung by a series of injuries to nearly their entire backfield. That disappointment, however, has sprung great hope as each running back that saw time last year is back in 2014 for the Black and Gold.
Leading the way will be the outstanding duo of Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.) and Paul Canevari (Warwick, N.Y.). The two lightning quick backs gave the Bulldogs one of the best 1-2 punches in the league but both were lost for the season by week five. McCray rushed for 377 yards and two touchdowns in four games and Canevari added 430 yards and six touchdowns in five games. Healthy, the duo will once again give Bryant a dynamic that not many teams in the league possess.
The Bulldogs will be more than a two-horse show, though, as they welcome back fifth-year senior Michael Perry (Dunmore, Pa.) and junior Ryan Black (Joppa, Md.). Perry and Black shared the bulk of the load once McCray and Canevari went on the shelf, and both thrived. Perry has been a jack-of-all trades in his four seasons in Smithfield, rushing for a team-best 599 yards and two scores last year. He averaged 50 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry on the year. Perry enters the season needing just 94 yards to become the ninth player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards. Black burst onto the scene last year in week six against Brown, rushing for 137 yards and a touchdown. He finished the year with 396 yards and five touchdowns on 102 carries.
Bryant also welcomes back two more experienced upperclassmen in senior Gore Simervil (Delray Beach, Fla.) and junior Danny Epstein (Weston, Fla.). Both saw time last year and will give the Bulldogs great depth in all facets of the offense.
Leading the way for them will be an experienced set of fullbacks led by senior Tyler McIntyre (Chico, Calif.) and junior Jordan Horne (Baltimore, Md.). McIntyre stepped right into a starting role last fall after transferring from Butte Community College and made an impact immediately. Outside of his blocking, McIntyre scored a pair of touchdowns, making six catches out of the backfield. Horne played in six games last year and should see extended time this fall in both pass blocking and out of the backfield.
The Bulldogs are also excited about sophomore Hunter Taute (Norfolk, Mass.). An injury sidelined him for his freshman season but he will get an opportunity to prove himself this fall. Also joining him will be a trio of freshmen; Kaelen Crowley (Hightstown, N.J.), Ephi Levy (Davie, Fla.) and Joe Fine (Cumberland, R.I.).
Last season the Bulldogs averaged 143.2 yards per game on the ground and 3.7 yards per carry. They rushed for 18 scores and fumbled the ball 17 times, losing seven of them.
