California’s offense features terrific trio
The California University of Pennsylvania football team enters the 2022 season with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s best passing trio.
The Vulcans’ offense, which averaged 306.6 yards passing per game last season, features the PSAC Western Division Player of the Year and two of the top returning receivers in the conference.
Quarterback Noah Mitchell, a three-year starter, was the Player of the Year. JaQuae Jackson and Cam Tarrant were two of his favorite targets last season.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-4, 225pound senior, completed 252 of 393 passes for 2,937 yards and 25 touchdowns. His career totals are 667 completions, 1,138 attempts, 8,160 yards, 69 touchdowns and 59% completion percentage.
“Having Noah back has made my life a lot easier,” California coach Gary Dunn said. “This is his fifth year with our program and fourth as a starter. He’s in my office more than some of my coaches. He’s a film junky who is very dedicated to improving our offense.”
Jackson (6-3, 175, Jr.), a Serra Catholic graduate, led the Vulcans with 58 receptions and 744 yards, and finished second on the team and seventh in the PSAC with eight receiving touchdowns. He also appeared in eight games during the 2019 season. His career totals are 71 receptions, 942 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“JaQuae is our No. 1 receiver,” Dunn said. “It seems like he’s been with our program forever. He came to us as a skinny speedster and has developed into a well-rounded dynamic receiver. He’s faster and bigger than when he got here.”
Tarrant (5-9, 135, Sr.), a Penn Hills graduate, ranked second on the team with 49 receptions, which translated into 413 yards and four touchdowns. He has made 17 starts over the past three seasons. His career totals are 82 receptions, 765 yards and 6 touchdowns.
“Cam is mister steady,” Dunn said. “He’s like a coach on the field. He knows how to beat coverages, runs precise routes, and is never out of position. He’s a coach’s dream.
“JaQuae and Cam complement each other very well. It’s great to have both returning.”
California and Slippery Rock tied for the PSAC West regular-season title last season, as both teams had only one loss, but The Rock qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament with its 38-26 win against the Vulcans in week 10.
Below is a breakdown of some of the top players at each position in the PSAC West, which opens its season Sept. 1.
Other top receivers
• IUP’s Duane Brown (6-0, 181, RS-Sr.) — The ApolloRidge graduate has been voted to the PSAC West first team twice at wide receiver. Last season, he caught 55 passes for 802 yards and 7 touchdowns. His career receiving totals are 102 receptions, 1739 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 2017, he saw action in 11 games as a backup running back and rushed for 500 yards and six touchdowns on 96 carries.
• Gannon’s Johnny Freeman (6-0, 208, RS-Jr.) — Led the Golden Knights with 32 receptions, 570 yards and 4 touchdowns. His career totals are 57 catches, 996 yards and 7 touchdowns.
• Slippery Rock’s Max Maciejewski (6-4, 235, RS-Jr.) — A tight end and Ringgold graduate who caught 28 passes for 413 yards and 4 touchdowns for The Rock last season.
Other quarterbacks
• IUP’s Mak Sexton (6-1, 209, RS-Jr.) — Sexton is a transfer from Pittsburg State (in Kansas) who threw for 4,811 yards and 37 touchdowns in 25 career starts.
Sexton is expected to step in as signal caller for the Crimson Hawks.
• Gannon’s Kory Curtis (64, 235, Jr.) — Completed 157 of 312 passes for 2,255 yards in his first year at Gannon. He threw 20 touchdown passes and was intercepted only seven times. Prior to his time at Gannon, Curtis threw for 1,853 yards and eight touchdowns while making 11 starts at Bryant University.
• Slippery Rock’s Noah Grover (6-1, 210, RS-Sr.) — Appeared in eight games and took over quarterback duties over the final month of the season. Completed 137 of 206 passes (66.5%) for 1,760 yards and 18 touchdowns.
• Edinboro’s Isaac Bernard (6-4, 210, Soph.) — Completed 91 of 144 passes for 882 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games for the Fighting Scots.
• Seton Hill’s Jake McCormick (6-6, 230, RS-Jr.) — Threw for 912 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games. Completed 72 of 157 passes.
Top running backs
• Gannon’s Melvin Blanks (6-0, 220, Jr.) — A North Hills graduate who was voted to the PSAC West first team after finishing second in the conference with 1,197 yards. Carried the ball 192 times and scored eight touchdowns. His career totals are 372 carries, 2,040 yards and 14 touchdowns.
• Slippery Rock’s Tim Smith (5-9, 194, Jr.) — A Penn Hills graduate who was voted to the PSAC West second team last year. Rushed for 672 yards and nine touchdowns on 146 carries. Also caught eight passes for 65 yards. Began his career at Fairmont State and rushed for 417 yards in two seasons.
• Clarion’s Khalil Owens (5-9, 190, Jr.) — Earned PSAC West second-team honors after rushing for 510 yards and two touchdowns on 149 carries. Also caught 14 passes for 51 yards and one touchdown.
• Mercyhurst’s David Alize (5-9, 175, Soph.) — Named to the PSAC West second team as a freshman. Rushed for 375 yards and three touchdowns on 92 attempts. Also recorded 122 yards on kickoff returns.
Top offensive linemen
• IUP has two linemen who were recognized on the PSAC West second team: John Robinson (6-2, 286, RSSr.) and Colin Pietropola (62, 278, Sr.). Robinson, a Woodland Hills graduate, has made 16 starts at left guard. Pietropola started all 10 games last season at center. The Crimson Hawks averaged 35.2 points per game and 371.2 total yards per game.
• Gannon’s Montana Nietert (6-4, 295, Jr.) — Became the first Gannon offensive lineman to receive PSAC West first-team honors since 2017. Anchored an offensive line that ranked third in the PSAC in fewest sacks per game. Has 19 career starts, including 11 last year at right guard.
• California’s Bryce Perkins ( 6- 3, 275, Sr.) — Earned PSAC first- team honors last year. Started all 10 games at center for an offense that averaged 33.7 points and 371.2 total yards per game.
• Slippery Rock’s Colton Rossi (6-2, 300, Jr.) — Made 10 starts at left guard in his first season as a starter. Named a team captain for the 2022 season.
Top defensive linemen
• IUP has a pair of defensive ends who were PSAC West honorees last year: Tyrone Fowler Jr. (6-3, 230, Soph.) and Vaughn Wallace (6-5, 250, RS-Sr.). Fowler, a first-team honoree, recorded 17 solo tackles, 12 assists, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Wallace, a second-team pick, had 9 solo tackles, 10 assists, 7 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks.
• Slippery Rock’s Jeff Marx (6-0, 285, RS-Sr.) — A two-time PSAC honoree, including a first-team selection in 2018. Made 34 consecutive starts prior to a seasonending injury that forced him to miss the last six games of the 2021 season. His career totals are 36 solo tackles, 70 assists, 16 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.
• Gannon’s Nick White (63, 265, Sr.) — A three-year starter who was voted to the PSAC West first team last year. Recorded 28 solo tackles, 32 assists, 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks. In 2019, he had 43 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks for the Golden Knights.
• California’s Derek Korboi (6-0, 280, Sr.) — Earned PSAC West first-team honors after recording 19 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, 6 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. Has made 19 starts in three seasons with the Vulcans.
• Mercyhurst’s Jehrod Gregory (6-2, 270, Grad.) — A PSAC West second- team honoree who recorded 14 solo tackles, 24 assists and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Gregory, a McKeesport graduate, has 83 total tackles since making his debut in 2017.
Top linebackers
• California has two linebackers who received PSAC West honors last year: Noah Dillow (6-1, 225, Jr.) and Matt Tobey (5-11, 225, Jr.). Dillow is a honoree who was voted to the first team last year. He recorded 76 tackles, including 36 solo stops, 10 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. Tobey was voted to the second team after posting 25 solo tackles, 42 assists and 5.5 tackles for a loss.
• Mercyhurst has two linebackers who earned PSAC West honors last year: Jacob Holl (6-1, 220, RS-Sr.) and Thomas Zacharyasz (5-11, 215, Sr.). Holl, a Seneca Valley graduate, was voted to the first team, while Zacharyasz was a second-team pick. Holl led the Lakers with 103 tackles, including 43 solo stops, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Zacharyasz had 27 solo tackles, 39 assists and 2 fumble recoveries.
• Clarion’s Kareem Hamdan (5-8, 190, Jr.) — Named to the PSAC West second team after leading the conference with 10.0 tackles per game. Recorded 64 solo tackles, 36 assists, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
• Seton Hill’s Jaylen McDuffie (6-2, 230, Sr.) — A three-year starter who was voted to the PSAC West first team last year. Led the conference with 105 total tackles, including 49 solo stops, 12.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. McDuffie has threeyear totals of 118 solo tackles, 127 assists, 34 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks.
Top defensive backs
• IUP has a pair of defensive backs who were PSAC West honorees last year: Darius Bruce ( 5- 11, 175, Soph.) and Jaheim Howard (5-10, 186, Soph.). Bruce, a Westinghouse graduate, recorded 48 tackles, including 30 solo stops, and broke up 7 passes. Howard had 19 solo tackles, 14 assists and 2 interceptions.
• Gannon’s Chris Farnsworth (5-11, 195, Jr.) — Was voted to the PSAC West second team after registering 74 tackles, including a teamhigh 53 solo stops, 2 interceptions and 6 pass break-ups. Had 11 solo tackles against Slippery Rock.
• California’s Dominic Solomon Jr. (6-1, 215, Soph.) — A Clairton graduate who earned PSAC West secondteam honors as a redshirt freshman. Recorded 29 tackles, including 18 solo, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 7 pass break-ups.
• Seton Hill’s Damonte Pratt (5-10, 190, Sr.) — Led the conference with seven interceptions. Also recorded 29 solo tackles, 9 assists and 7 pass break-ups.
• Slippery Rock’s Selvin Haynes (5-10, 175, Jr.) — Ranked first for The Rock defense with 40 solo tackles and second with 69 total tackles. Also had 7 pass break-ups, 9 pass defenses and 2 interceptions.