The John Carroll University football team is looking to continue its success from last season under second year head coach Tom Arth. While the team lost many significant contributors, they return seven starters and 30 letterwinners on offense led by quarterback Mark Myers. The defense returns six starters and was ranked highly nationally last season, but lost some key players and will be led by new coordinator Chris Shula. Special teams are strong led by placekicker Kresimir Ivkovic and the team is ranked in the top 10 nationally entering the season.

1. Football Looking To Continue To Play "Our Way"
By Kevin Smith, Graduate Assistant
Football
Posted: 8/16/2014 10:00:00 AM
Resurgence, the theme of the 2013 season for the John Carroll University football program.
After an 11-year hiatus from the NCAA postseason first-year head coach Tom Arth hit the ground running instilling the old Jesuit ideal of 'nuestro modo' meaning 'our
way'.
The former All-American quarterback guided his alma mater back into the postseason for the first time since 2002. Now in his second year at the helm, Arth will be
tasked with maintaining JCU's spot amongst the nation's elite teams.
"We have a number of letterwinners back this year which is great," said Arth. "We have great leadership. We did lose quite a few really significant contributors off of
last year's team. They will be really difficult to replace and that's a big challenge for us going forward."
Offense
John Carroll returns seven starters and 30 letterwinners from a unit that ranked 14th in Division III in passing offense (312.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (41.9
points per game).
Leading the way will be stallworth Mark Myers, current All-America candidate who had a record-setting year in 2013.
Myers re-wrote the single-season passing record book completing 246-of-385 passes for 3,228 yards. The veteran signal caller connected on 28 touchdown throws.
With nearly every receiving weapon returning the passing attack could be one of the most-potent yet in program history. Big-play threats Aramis Greenwood (61
receptions, 959 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Marshall Howell (22 receptions, 428 yards, 3 touchdowns) coupled with the emerging Brian Kornowski (27 receptions, 457
yards, 2 touchdowns) and Zach Strippy (34 receptions, 399 yards, 4 touchdowns) have the offense primed.
Jodran D'Orazio will offer an additional targets for the JCU signal calling corps, which include veterans Wes Keller and Jake Schaefer.
John Carroll's backfield took a hit with the loss of the shifty DaQuan Grobsmith (664 yards, 11 touchdowns). However, Tommy Michals accepted the challenge to play
a larger role in the offense last year with 720 yards and eight scores. Michals will be counted on to be the feature back this season. The Blue and Gold will look to
Jonathan Brick and Josh Dasch to help out in the run game.
John Carroll's deep offensive line will once again look to survive a number of graduations. The Blue Streaks have only surrendered 14 sacks over the past two years and
will count on Jack Corrigan, Anthony Latina and Alex Manos to anchor the unit. Joe Connolly, Craig Kircher and Dante West will be amongst the group competing
for playing time.
DEFENSE
Six starters and 25 letterwinners are back in the fold for a John Carroll defense that ranked second nationally in total defense (229.1 yards allowed per game) and
scoring defense (9.1 points allowed per game).
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2. New defensive coordinator Chris Shula, grandson of Don Shula ('51), will look to keep the Blue Streak defense as one of the top units in the country.
JCU ranked 16th in run defense in 2013 only allowing 101.7 yards per game on the ground. The defensive line returns standouts David Porter and Frank Pines who
combined for 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks a year ago. Veterans Nick Lasko, Chris Rizzo and Mike Tozzi will help plug the holes on the run with rising sophomore
Justin Kravchuck expected to contribute more.
JCU's linebacker core took a hit with the graduation of decorated linebackers Matt Feeney and Mitch Krotz. However, John Carroll's linebacking unit is poised for a
breakout year in 2014. Kevin Cope, a 2012 all-region and all-conference honoree who missed last season with injury, will look to return to full strength. Rising senior
Jimmy King, JCU's second-leading tackler from last season will play a key role in the unit's success. Andy Bryan and Choe Samba figure to be in the mix for
increased roles.
The defensive backfield was hit the hardest with the graduations of D3football.com All-America honoree Randy Greenwood and Ryan Winchell. John Carroll ranked
fifth in passing defense in 2013 and record more interceptions (2) against Capital than the Crusaders had completions (1).
The good news is both safeties, Marty Gibbons and Brody Zangaro return for 2014. The duo combined for 97 tackles last season. Aaron Barna, Jovon Dawson, Jared
Donovan and Kevin Tyransky figure to battle for time at cornerback.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kresimir Ivkovic, a finalist for the prestigious Fred Mitchell Award will look to build upon a record-setting season handling the placekicking duties. Rising sophomore
Pat O'Hearne handled the punting duties efficiently as a freshman and will be counted on to do so again.
The return game will look to continue to thrive with Jordan D'Orazio's big-play abilities leading the way. John Carroll will continue to count on its pressure up front
which led to six blocked punts in 2013, a mark that ranked second nationally.
"THE BIG PICTURE"
With the expectations raised for the Blue Streaks, Arth hopes to continue to explosive offense and stifling defense John Carroll displayed in 2013.
"Playing our way is the most important thing," said Arth. "We have to put last season behind us and really focus on the present and continuing to improve and continue
to play. We have to be the best that we can be."
Following the opener against Saint Vincent at home on September 6, John Carroll opens the Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with back-to-back home contests
against Heidelberg and Baldwin Wallace. The game against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Sept. 27 marks the annual renewal of the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl.
John Carroll's first road contest comes at Ohio Northern on October 4.
The regular season ends with a road contest at Division III national runner-up Mount Union on November 15.
The Blue Streaks enter the season ranked 10th in the D3football.com Top 25. John Carroll was picked second at OAC Media Day by the media and the league's head
coaches.
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