(WR Nik McMillan – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
OG Tyler Doty, OG Trevor Brock, OT Caelan Shepard, DE CJ Bazile, DT George Wolo, LB Dion Crawford, LB Red Murdock, CB Clevester Hines III, CB Charles McCartherens, NB Solomon Brown, and FS Marcus Fuqua.
Key Players Departing:
QB Cole Snyder (Eastern Michigan transfer), RB/RS Ron Cook Jr., WR Boobie Curry, WR Darrell Harding Jr., WR Cole Harrity, WR Marlyn Johnson (FAU transfer), OC Isaiah Wright (Maryland transfer), OT Gabe Wallace, DE Max Michel, DE Jyaire Stevens, DT Daymond Williams, LB Joe Andreessen, LB Shaun Dolac (Utah State transfer), CB Caleb Offord, SS Devin Grant, PK Alex McNulty, and PT Anthony Venneri (Ohio State transfer).
(WR Patrick Clacks – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Patrick Clacks (Chicago, Illinois), EDGE Shamar Riser-Pressley (Clinton Township, Michigan), ATH Kobi Blackwell (Buford, Georgia), WR Tyrell Simmons (Rochester, New York), OL Gabriel Arena (Virginia Tech transfer), CB Eddie Pleasant III (Michigan State transfer), DS SaVeon Brown (Western Michigan transfer), LB Will Clark (Crown Point, Indiana), CB Oliver Bridges (Cincinnati transfer), and EDGE Kobe Stewart (Samford transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 @ #19 Wisconsin L 17-38
G02 FORDHAM L 37-40
G03 LIBERTY L 27-55
G04 @ Louisiana L 38-45
G05 @ Akron W (OT) 13-10
G06 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W 37-13
G07 BOWLING GREEN L 14-24
G08 @ Kent State W 24-6
G09 @ Toledo L 13-31
G10 OHIO L 10-20
G11 @ Miami (OH) L 10-23
G12 EASTERN MICHIGAN L 11-24
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 3-9 (4th in MAC East)
Home: 1-5
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 3-5
Non-MAC: 0-4
Head Coach: Pete Lembo
Buffalo: 0-0
Career: 112-65
Bowls: 0-0
(LB Red Murdock – UB Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: CJ Ogbonna (8-21, 87 yards, 38.1%, 4.1 avg., 1 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Jacqez Barksdale (52 car., 248 yards, 4.8 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Nik McMillan (13 rec., 180 yards, 13.8 avg., 1 TD)
Scored: CJ Ogbonna (3)
Sacks: George Wolo (3.5)
Tackles: Red Murdock (60)
Interceptions: Charles McCartherens (3)
Pass Deflections: Jayden Oliver (5)
Tackles For Loss: Red Murdock (9.5)
Forced Fumbles: Khalil Murdock (4)
Kick Returns: Nik McMillan (1 ret., 24 yards, 24.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 10 CJ Ogbonna (SR /TR)
RB: 20 Jacqez Barksdale (SR/TR)
WR: 11 Taji Johnson (GR/TR)
WR: 2 JJ Jenkins (GR/TR)
WR: 17 Nik McMillian (RS SO)
TE: 81 Jake Orlando (GR/TR)
LT: 73 Henry Tabansi (RS FR)
LG: 79 Trevor Brock (JR/TR)
OC: 66 Dom Polizzi (GR)
RG: 78 Tyler Doty (SR)
RT: 77 Caelan Shepard (RS SR)
KR: 17 Nik McMillan (RS SO)
PK: 17 Nick Reed (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 53 CJ Bazile (GR)
DT: 90 George Wolo (RS SR)
DT: 98 Daishon Folsom (GR/TR)
DE: 0 Kobe Stewart (RS JR/TR)
LB: 2 Red Murdock (RS SO)
LB: 0 Shaun Dolac (GR)
NB: 7 Solomon Brown (RS SR/TR)
CB: 1 Jayden Oliver (RS SR/TR)
CB: 43 Charles McCartherens (SO)
FS: 10 Marcus Fuqua (GR)
SS: 19 Jonathan Capo (JR)
PR: 17 Nik McMillan (RS SO)
PT: 0 Ethan Duane (JR/TR)
(OG Trevor Brock – UB Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/29 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 @ Missouri Tigers | Buffalo lost (21-42) the only prior meeting between schools in 2008.
09/14 UMASS MINUTEMEN | Buffalo leads the series 8-6. The Bulls won (34-7) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/21 @ Northern Illinois Huskies | Buffalo trails the series 2-13. The Bulls lost (27-33) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/28 @ UCONN Huskies | Buffalo trails the series 5-16. The Bulls won (41-12) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
10/12 TOLEDO ROCKETS | Buffalo trails the series 6-8. The Bulls lost (13-31) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (34-27) the prior meeting in 2022
10/19 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Buffalo trails the series 2-8. The Bulls lost (17-24) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/26 @ Ohio Bobcats | Buffalo trails the series 11-18. The Bulls are 3-6 since 2014, and their last series win (27-26) was in 2021.
11/02 @ Akron Zips | Buffalo leads the series 12-11. The Bulls are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (20-21) was in 2017.
11/12 BALL STATE CARDINALS | Buffalo trails the series 2-11. The Bulls lost (3-20) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/20 @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | Buffalo trails the series 4-7. The Bulls are 3-2 since 2014, and their last series win (50-31) was in 2022.
11/26 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | Buffalo leads the series 15-14. The Bulls are 5-4 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (27-30) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 3-5
Non-MAC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (7th in MAC)
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