The 2013 season is all about unfinished business for the Northern Arizona football team. Under the guidance of head coach Jerome Souers, Northern Arizona finished the 2012 season with an 8-3 overall record – the best finish by a Souers team in over a decade. The Lumberjacks finished with the school's highest final ranking (20th The Sports Network/20th FCS Coaches) since 2003. NAU lost their final two games of the season, and along with it a chance at the Big Sky regular season title and a bid to the playoffs. Despite an unfavorable end to last season, the Lumberjacks have a lot to look forward to in 2013, as they will return nine players on offense, and nine players on defense. NAU will have one of the most experienced teams in the Big Sky.
The Lumberjacks return 14 Big Sky All-Conference performers, and have signed 19 players in the offseason. The mix of returners and newcomers will provide for a very competitive season for Northern Arizona.
"We're excited that we have guys at every position that come back with experience, including the young guys that we project to be starters next year," said Souers. "We have a very balanced team."
The Offense
The Lumberjacks will look to find a new leader for their offense after the graduation of quarterback Cary Grossart. He finished his career with the second-best completion percentage by an NAU quarterback in school history, but Northern Arizona has a few options to replace Grossart.
"We believe that we have narrowed it down to two players for the quarterback spot," said Souers. "Due to Chase's (Cartwright) surgery he was unable to compete in scrimmages in the spring. We were however able to evaluate some younger guys and Kyren Poe stood out to us. He showed some tremendous poise in the pocket, and he got better with each practice. We will extend the competition to the end of the fall so that we have enough live competition to truly measure Chase against the progress that Kyren has made. We're excited that we have two guys that can play."
Running back Zach Bauman – a 2013 Walter Payton Award candidate– returns for his senior season. Bauman has rushed for 1,000-plus yards each of his previous three seasons and is only 119 yards shy of breaking the Lumberjack career rushing record. He should undoubtedly finish as one of the Top 10 rushers in Big Sky history.
"Zach is a fierce competitor and a tremendous leader by example," said Souers. "His tenacity as a ball carrier is evident every time he touches the ball."
A returner to watch out for at the running back position is Casey Jahn. He finished third on the team in rushing in 2012 with 306 yards in eight games.
An up-and-coming player that can provide more depth at the running back position is freshman Corbin Jountti. The Bakersfield, Calif. native was a 2013 U.S. Army Arena Bowl participant and a two-time first-team all-league choice.
"Corbin is very athletic and physical," said Souers. "I don't see the college game being as big a step for him as it is for some young men at that age."
The wide receivers will be led by seniors Dejzon Walker and Ify Umodu. Walker led the Lumberjacks with 505 yards on 36 catches, while Umodu had 35 catches for a total of 481 yards.
Tight ends R.J. Rickert and Drew Emanuel will be another asset to the throwing game. Rickert tallied 272 yards on 27 receptions, while Emanuel tallied 140 yards on eight catches.
"It's extremely important to have returners back at the receiving position," said Souers. "Not just because of their experience, but also cause of their depth."
Another solid spot for the Lumberjacks will be at the line. NAU has four starters from a year ago, Shane Moniz, Roy Garcia, Joe Gurski and Kyle Walker.
With a plethora of returners on offense, the Lumberjacks will have an outstanding run game, and a lot of quality offensive linemen. The Lumberjack backfield will be loaded, but it will also be essential for Northern Arizona to throw the ball, because defenses will play the Lumberjacks heavy against the run.
The Defense
Nine of the Lumberjacks' 14 all-conference selections come on the defensive side of the ball. The deep and experienced unit finished second in the Big Sky last season in total defense.
"We had a lot of young guys that had emerged throughout the years where their development and reputation in practice finally caught up to them," said Souers. "Now that all of those guys will be seniors in the fall, we will be loaded with veterans. I believe they will be the cornerstone for our football team."
Earning preseason recognition is Tim Wilkinson, an All-Big Sky second team honoree last season. He was second on the team in 2012 with 6.5 sacks. Wilkinson played in all but one game last year, but the senior from Las Vegas looks to lead a group of linemen that are known for their size and capabilities. Others to watch are Chima Ike, Steven Garcia and Marc Thompson.
Anders Battle, an all-conference first team honoree and 2013 preseason All-American pick, is set to return at the cornerback position for the Lumberjacks. Battle registered 64 tackles and was credited with six pass breakups last year. Another player who has stepped up at the field corner position is Marcus Alford. His speed will be a valuable asset to the defense which gives NAU added depth in all the right places.
Lucky Dozier is another bright spot for the NAU defense. A preseason All-American safety, Dozier recorded 57 tackles and a team-high four interceptions. Joining Dozier at the safety position will be Mike Dosen and Blair Wishom.
"Dozier, Dosen and Wishom are probably three of the best safeties I have ever coached," said Souers. "We've had some guys be very successful at those positions, and I believe our secondary is as talented as we've ever had."
Linebackers Austin Hasquet and Ryan Reardon are both returning starters who tallied 61 and 41 tackles, respectively.
The Special Teams
All-American Andy Wilder will kick off his senior year with a heap of awards under his belt. The Scottsdale native led the nation in punting with 46.3 yards per punt with 25 punts of 50 yards or more last season. He was connected on 10-of-14 field goal attempts. In 2013, Wilder will handle two of the three kicking duties – field goals and punts.
Austin Shanks was a valuable return specialist for NAU last season, as he was named the 2012 CFPA Punt Returner of the Year. Shanks completed his eligibility in 2012 leaving the Lumberjacks with a spot to fill. NAU has yet to assign a replacement for Shanks, as it will use all of preseason to determine who will get the role.
The Schedule
"It's a unique schedule. We come into camp, and within the first few weeks we have a game," said Souers. "The following week we have a bye, so we have to do a lot with our team to keep them competitive and sharp without wearing them down."
Northern Arizona will play a total of 11 games – five at home in the Walkup Skydome and six on the road. The Lumberjacks open the season at the University of Arizona on August 30. Other road games include, UC Davis (Sept. 14), Montana State (Oct. 5), Sacramento State (Oct. 12), Cal Poly (Oct. 26), and Southern Utah (Nov. 23). Northern Arizona will host South Dakota (Sept. 21), Montana (Sept. 28), Idaho State (Oct. 19), North Dakota (Nov. 2), and Northern Colorado (Nov. 16).
