As head coach Jerry Flora prepares for his sixth season at the helm of the William Paterson football program, he has reason to be optimistic about his team's outlook for the 2013 season.

“I'm really encouraged by our upperclassmen,” he said. “Each year we have more and more, and that has led to improved leadership. They have come together with the newcomers as a team, and believe and trust in each other.”

OFFENSE
Five starters and 25 letterwinners return to anchor the Pioneer offensive unit.

Offensive Line
Three returning starters will help to give William Paterson stability on the offensive line this fall.

Fourth-year starter Dashawn Johnson (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) will make the adjustment from playing guard to serving as the left tackle as a senior, while classmate Derek Clay (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) has worked hard to make the move from the practice squad to the two-deep, and his improvement has resulted in his being penciled in as the starting left guard.

On the right side, junior Ryan Sibole (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.) is back at guard after starting in five of his six appearances a year ago. The starter in two of the last three games last fall, sophomore Jalen Haynes (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) is the anticipated starter at tackle.

The best competition on the line during preseason camp was at center, with senior Anthony Cimino (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport), junior Jake Stockton-Rossini (Ship Bottom, N.J./Southern Regional) and freshman Jeff Rodriguez (Union City, N.J./Union City) leading the charge. Junior Bryan Singleton (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) and sophomore Ryan Connolly (Boonton, N.J./Morris Catholic) will be in the mix for time up and down the entire offensive line.

Running Backs
With the top two rushers gone from last season, there will be opportunities for veterans and newcomers alike to impress the coaches and earn carries this fall.

Senior Chris Bachand (Newington, Conn./St. Paul Catholic) and sophomore Darius Kersey (Dover, N.J./Dover) are the leaders of a young, but talented, group in the backfield. Sophomore Dwaine Dabney (Summit, N.J./Summit) will be looking to regain a starting nod he lost to a season-ending injury a year ago, and sophomore Matt Deiana (Somers, N.Y./Somers) will look to make an impact after transferring from SUNY Cortland. Jason Montalvo (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) and Franklyn Ramirez (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) also are expected to compete for playing time as freshmen.

Wide Receivers
William Paterson has playmakers on both sides of the field capable of stretching the defense vertically.

Senior Mick Paye (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) was the Pioneers' leader in receptions (39) and yardage (553) last fall, finding the end zone four times. Now in his third season as a starter, Paye's improved skill set, combined with his athleticism, made for a strong showing during WP's preseason scrimmage.

Classmate Julian Frazier (Plainfield, N.J./North Plainfield) has shown marked improvement since hauling in 12 passes in 10 starts a year ago, while junior Mike Vannucci (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) has also developed into a solid target who should see more opportunities this season.

Sophomore Nickolas Burke (Maple Shade, N.J./Maple Shade) is expected to contend for playing time, as is freshman Jerome Alexander (Montclair, N.J./Glen Ridge), who Flora described as having tremendous potential.

Tight Ends
Due the graduation of all-conference performer and four-year starter Joseph Cordato, there will be plenty of snaps up for grabs for WP's tight ends.

Senior Brian Winfield (Newton, N.J./Newton) is the anticipated starter after seeing action during all 10 games of the 2012 campaign, catching 20 passes for 310 yards and a score.  Pushing him will be classmate Rich Vivian (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional), who is expected to see a lot of time this fall.

Sophomore Ian Leary (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) has improved by leaps and bounds during the last 12 months, and Flora believes that freshman Tyler Alvarez (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) has an opportunity to develop into a dominant player in the future.

Quarterbacks
Fifth-year senior Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) returns under center, a year removed from his best season statistically, going 178-for-295 for 2,097 yards and 13 touchdowns. The honorable-mention all-NJAC selection's value goes well beyond the box score, however, as his leadership and decision making will be critical to the Pioneers' success.

“Ryan is as good as any quarterback we have had during my 12 seasons at William Paterson,” said Flora.

Sophomore Jason Bohem (Stuartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) has emerged as the number-two quarterback, but classmate Mike Keller (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional) could press him thanks to the experience he gained as a freshman when he appeared in four contests. Junior Logan McGuigan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) will provide depth, and freshman Rashon Ison (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy), the most athletic of the group, will look to fine-tune his skills in an effort to gain playing time.

DEFENSE
Transitioning to a more traditional 3-4 formation, the Pioneer defense will see a lot of new faces on its two-deep this fall, as just four starters return.

Defensive Line
A position group that Flora cited as the weakest in 2012 may now be the strongest in 2013, led by senior nose guard Webb Geer (Sparta, N.J./Sparta). Beginning his third year as a starter, Geer led WP with 3.0 sacks, part of a 43-tackle effort that earned him 2012 honorable-mention all-conference laurels.

Junior Al Kamara (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.), who saw the field six times last season, and Quinton Witherspoon (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle), a junior transfer from Cortland who has shown great promise during preseason workouts, are expected to start on each end.

Juniors Trevor Sackawitch (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) and Pat Thomas (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) and sophomores John Fleming (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) and Anthony Ross (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro) will fight to break into the lineup.

Linebackers
Three solid veterans will anchor the linebacker corps this fall.

Senior David Zurla (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) notched 44 stops as a first-time starter in 2012. He will man one of the inside spots next to junior Robert Prince (Howell, N.J./Absegami), a transfer from West Virginia Wesleyan.

Backing up Zurla and Prince will be Matt Heyman (Sussex, N.J./High Point Regional), who missed last season due to an injury after starting three games as a sophomore, freshman Ronnie Doyle (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) and senior J.P. Etienne (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills).

On the outside, Ben Allen (Ventnor, N.J./Atlantic City) is coming off a 36-tackle performance as a sophomore newcomer last fall, while Jedd Blackowski (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) recovered from an injury to start in six of 10 appearances as a sophomore a year ago, leading the team with 5.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

Competing for playing time on the outside will be sophomores Jamar Bussey (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro) and Dennis Goodman (Somerset, N.J./Bishop Ahr), as well as Doyle.

Secondary
Fifth-year senior cornerback Andre Snead (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City), who has tallied 102 tackles and five interceptions in 31 career games, will be looked to for leadership in a young secondary.

Senior Stanley Howard (Somerset, N.J./Franklin), now in his second full season on the defensive side of the ball, is the anticipated starter at the other corner, but sophomore Brandon Holmes (Sicklerville, N.J./Paul VI) and freshman Kell'E Gallimore (Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield) are expected to see a significant amount of playing time. Freshman Zavonne Perkinson (Parlin, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) may see the field once he learns the once he learns the schemes as a late convert from the offensive side of the ball.

Senior Anthony Costantino (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) and junior Elijah DeGuzman (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) are the leading candidates to get the starting nods at the two safety positions, but freshman Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) is not far behind. Sophomores Lou Buscio (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) and Tyree Ellis (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro) will provide depth and competition.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls) has a school-record 48-yard field goal and an honorable-mention all-NJAC selection already under his belt as the Pioneers' projected placekicker. Freshman Wojtek Kulbabinski (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) has also shown good leg strength during preseason camp.

When an injury sidelined WP's punter during the second game of the 2012 schedule, Frazier filled in admirably, finishing fourth in the league with a 37.7 yards-per-punt average. Freshman Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) will serve as Frazier's backup.