(Photo Credit: Matthew O’Haren/USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kyle Vantrease, RB Kevin Marks, WR Jovani Ruiz, OC Bence Polgar, OG Jack Klenk, OT Jake Fuzak, DE Max Michel, DE Eric Black, DT George Wolo, LB James Patterson, LB Tim Terry, CB Logic Hudgens, CB Isaiah King, SS Cory Gross, KR/PR Ron Cook, PK Alex McNulty, and PT Evan Finegan.
Key Players Departing:
RB Jaret Pattrerson, WR Antonio Nunn, WR Trevor Wilson, DE Malcolm Koonce, DT Eddie Wilson, LB Tyree Thompson, LB Tyrece Woods, CB Roy Baker, and CB Tyrone Hill.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: ATH Quillen Howze (Clinton Township, Michigan), WR Jamari Gassett (Tampa, Florida), DT Josh Rogers (Texas A&M transfer), DT Floyd Dozier (Palmetto, Florida), RB Aljay Henderson (Irvington, New Jersey), S Jibrahn Claude (Loganville, Georgia), DE Chris King (Middle Village, New York), CB Demarco Cuffey (Bradenton, Florida), WR Ali Fisher (Ann Arbor, Michigan), and TE Carson Williams (Marshalltown, Iowa).
2020 Results:
G01 at Northern Illinois W 49-30
G02 MIAMI, OH W 42-10
G03 at Bowling Green W 42-17
G04 KENT STATE W 70-41
G05 AKRON W 56-7
MAC vs. Ball State L 28-38
BOWL vs. Marshall W 17-10
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 6-1 (1st in MAC East)
Home: 3-0
Away: 2-0
Neutral: 1-1
MAC: 5-0
Non-MAC: 1-1
Head Coach: Maurice Linguist
Buffalo: 0-0
Career: 0-0
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kyle Vantrease (96-154, 1326 yards, 62.3%, 8.6 avg., 7 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Kevin Marks (112 car., 741 yards, 6.6 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Jovany Ruiz (20 rec., 192 yards, 9.6 avg., 1 TD)
Scored: Kevin Marks (7)
Sacks: Eric Black/George Wojo (3)
Tackles: James Patterson (63)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Kadofi Wright (7)
Tackles For Loss: Max Michel/George Wolo (4)
Forced Fumbles: Max Michel (2)
Kick Returns: Ron Cook (9 ret., 227 yards, 25.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Ron Cook (8 ret., 73 yards, 9.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Alex McNulty (1-4 fg/fga., 25%, 42-42 xp/xpa., 45 pts.)
Punting: Evan Finegan (18 punts, 699 yards, 38.8 avg., 5 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Kyle Vantrease (RS SR)
RB: 5 Kevin Marks (RS SR)
WR: 3 Quian Williams (GR/TR)
WR: 9 Dominic Johnson (RS SR)
WR: 87 Jovany Ruiz (RS SR)
TE: 44 Jake Molinich (RS SR)
LT: 77 Caelan Shepard (RS SO)
LG: 00 Jordan Johnson (GR/TR)
OC: 74 Bence Polgar (RS SO)
RG: 79 Jack Klenk (RS SR)
RT: 59 Jake Fuzak (RS SR)
KR: 2 Ron Cook (JR)
PK: 16 Alex McNulty (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 49 Taylor Riggins (RS SR/TR)
DT: 61 Dom Polizzi (RS SO)
DT: 90 George Wolo (SO)
DE: 94 Eric Black (RS SR)
LB: 5 Tim Terry (RS SR)
LB: 8 James Patterson (SR)
LB: 2 Kodofi Wright (RS SR)
CB: 3 Aapri Washington (RS SR)
CB: 4 Isaiah King (RS SR)
FS: 7 E.J. Brown (RS SR/TR)
SS: 1 Cory Gross (RS JR)
PR: 2 Ron Cook (JR)
PT: 40 Evan Finegan (RS SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 WAGNER SEAHAWKS | First meeting between schools.
09/11 at Nebraska Cornhuskers | First meeting between schools.
09/18 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS | First meeting between schools.
09/25 at Old Dominion Monarchs | First meeting between schools.
10/02 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Buffalo trails the series 2-7. The Bulls lost (68-71 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/09 at Kent State Golden Flashes | Buffalo leads the series 14-12. The Bulls are 5-3 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series loss (27-30) was in 2019.
10/16 OHIO BOBCATS | Buffalo trails the series 10-16. The Bulls are 4-5 since 2011, and they lost (20-21 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/23 at Akron Zips | Buffalo trails the series 9-11. The Bulls are 6-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (20-21) was in 2017.
10/30 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Buffalo trails the series 7-11. The Bulls are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (19-27) was in 2016.
11/09 at Miami (OH) RedHawks | Buffalo trails the series 8-15. The Bulls are 7-3 since 2011, and their lasts series loss (20-34) was in 2019.
11/17 NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES | Buffalo trails the series 2-12. The Bulls are 1-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (29-30) was in 2018.
11/23 at Ball State Cardinals | Buffalo trails the series 2-10. The Bulls are 1-3 since 2011, and their last series win (40-24) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 5-3
Non-MAC: 3-1
Overall: 8-4 (3rd in MAC East)
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