TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
QB - Pat Smith
Smith is entering his third season with the Hawks.
In 2009, Smith played eight games for the Hawks due to an injury to then starting quarterback Andrew Krewatch. In his eight games Smith completed 66 of his 128 passes for 637 yards and four touchdowns, but did throw four interceptions.
Smith did show signs of good things to come. Going into 2010, Smith earned himself the starting role for the Hawks, but started only two games before suffering a season ending injury to his throwing hand during a 23-17 win against East Stroudsburg. His 2010 campaign ended with him completing 25 of 39 passes for 307 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
His best performance came against ESU, a game in which he finished 14 of 18 for 196 yards.
Going into 2011, Barring another injury, Smith could be able to put up solid if not great numbers in 2011 under the tutelage of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy.
RB - Harvie Tuck
Tuck will be back as the starting running back for the Crimson Hawks. He is coming off a year in which he ran for 1,163 yards and scored four touchdowns.
He will be sharing time with sophomores Teddy Blakeman and James Johnson and redshirt freshman Ben Sasu.
Tuck began his IUP career in a big way in 2009 as true freshman and rushed for 552 yards and five touchdowns in a part-time role. In his first career start he ran for an IUP freshman record 219 yards against Lock Haven.
His biggest game of 2010 also came against Lock Haven. In that game he ran for 191 yards on 29 attempts and one touchdown.
With a young team and a defense that is very thin in depth, IUP will need a lot of help from their running backs. Tuck has the ability to carry the load, but with the depth they have, he won't be asked to.
During the offseason Tuck slimmed down to make himself more elusive and quicker on his feet, something defenses across the PSAC do not want to see.
DL - Carl Thornton
In the 2009 season as a redshirt freshman, Thornton ranked fifth on the team with 44 tackles, including four for loss with 1.5 sacks. He also scored a touchdown on a five-yard fumble recovery against Kutztown. Thornton's success earned him the All PSAC-West second team honors.
He followed up his redshirt freshman season with an even more impressive sophomore season where he finished third on the team with 60 tackles.
The 235 pound defensive lineman also had 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and added a pass defense to his credit.
Thornton's best game in 2010 was during a 17-0 shutout win against Slippery Rock where he recorded eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Playing in an already thin defense it is important for Thornton to become a leader and a vital contributor to the Hawks this season.
DARK HORSES
WR - Roy-al Edwards
Edwards falls into the category of dark horse because his career so far has been rather uneventful. He came into the program in 2008 amid much fanfare and was expected to be a major weapon for the IUP offense, but a torn ACL halted any hope of that.
He returned in 2009, but with a big knee brace hindering his speed, Edwards was essentially a shell of his usual explosive self. He played in 10 of the 11 games, but caught only 20 balls for 219 yards and only one touchdown.
Edwards ran into some more injuries in 2010, playing in only eight games. His numbers wouldn't have been great regardless of the injuries, as IUP switched to a run-heavy offense after the injury to quarterback Pat Smith.
With Pat Smith back in the lineup, seemingly 100 percent healthy, new receivers coach and former Pitt Panther quarterback Ron Rutherford and IUP Head Coach Curt Cignetti's new up-tempo style of offense, the pieces may finally be in place for Edwards to have the standout kind of year he was originally brought to IUP to have.
RB - Teddy Blakeman
One of Tuck's many backfield mates, Blakeman, is another dark horse player to watch.
While Tuck was the leader in the backfield in 2010, Blakeman was the guy that came off the bench when Tuck needed a breather.
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