Buffalo
Bulls

Buffalo Team Report

Updated: February 06, 2012 10:43 EST

Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn won't have to worry about finding positive examples for his 2012 recruiting class. With 17 starters returning next year, the Bulls have ample amount of experienced players to teach the recently signed 19-player class the collegiate ropes.

"You win two ways. You recruit good players and develop them when they get here," Quinn said. "I know, for a fact, we increased our athletic ability and our tenacity and our toughness, our mental toughness and the type of attitude and spirit we want around here with this class."

The Bulls, who finished 3-9 overall, 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference in 2011, have won just five games in Quinn's first two seasons. However, the 2012 recruiting class should help fill in the ranks along the depth charts, and some of the newcomers should expect some playing time next season. Under Quinn, six signees from each of the past two classes saw playing time in the past two seasons.

Buffalo's glut of returnees is a positive sign, but the Bulls must fill one of the most important positions, as fifth-year senior quarterback Chazz Anderson has exhausted his eligibility. The 19-player class features a nice balance, with nine on offense, nine on defense and a punter. Eighteen of the players are from the prep ranks, while defensive end Beau Bachtelle arrives from Modesto Junior College in California.

Quinn talked extensively about the addition of 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback Collin Michael. The Lexington (Ohio) High School product was rated as the fourth-best quarterback in the state by Scouting Ohio.

"He's a big, physical, strong competitor," Quinn said. "He's ranked as the 41st-best quarterback in the nation, and fourth-best quarterback in the state of Ohio. We've seen him play basketball. He moves up and down the court well. He's got a strong arm. He's very accurate, mobile and can throw on the run. I feel it's important we take a quarterback every single year. Collin really jumped out at us. We knew if we took a quarterback, he's the type of guy we wanted. He's 6-foot-5 and can move and roll out. You just don't pass up on those guys."

Quinn made a point of adding more defensive players, concentrating on two areas in particular by signing four defensive linemen and four defensive backs. Overall, Quinn was pleased with the quality of recruits signed.

"We've got the train on the tracks, it's going in the right direction," he said. "This group really adds to that."

The Bulls, though, have to shore up their offense in the upcoming season after finishing 97th in the country in scoring last year, averaging 22.2 points per game. The Bulls ranked 83rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 29.4 points per game. Defensive coordinator William Inge left the program in January to take a job with the Buffalo Bills, but Quinn found an experienced replacement, former Illinois head coach Lou Tepper.

"I could not be more excited to be able to add to our staff a football coach like Lou Tepper," Quinn said. "He brings with him tremendous experience and a genuine love of teaching and coaching the game of football to young men. His accomplishments speak for themselves. I look forward to seeing what our defensive staff will be able to accomplish with Lou on board and an exciting group of returning letterwinners next fall."

TOP OF THE CLASS

QB Collin Michael (Lexington High School, Lexington, Ohio) -- A strong, big quarterback with a lot of potential that the Buffalo coaching staff hopes can fill the void at the open quarterback spot. Rated as a three-star recruit by Scout.com.

DT Corey Madlock (Canisius High School, Buffalo) -- Local product who can help fill the middle of Buffalo's defensive line. Scout.com ranks Madlock as a three-star recruit. The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder already has college-aged size, but his conditioning must be improved.

OL Robert Riche (Plymouth High School, Canton, Mich.) -- At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, Riche may be one of the best offensive line recruits in Buffalo's history. Riche spurned several schools in favor of Buffalo.

S Brandon Berry (Cass Technical High School, Detroit) -- ESPN labels Berry as one of the top 50 recruits in Michigan. His ability to stop the run and penchant for the big play might lead to early playing time at Buffalo.

--Former Illinois head coach Lou Tepper was hired as the defensive coordinator, bringing a seasoned veteran to Buffalo's staff. Tepper, who boasts over 35 years of Division I coaching experience, has served as defensive coordinator at LSU, Illinois and Colorado. He tutored three Butkus Award winners: Colorado's Alfred Williams and Illinois' Dana Howard and Kevin Hardy. Tepper replaces William Inge, who accepted a position on the Buffalo Bills coaching staff in January.

--Alex Wood was named Buffalo's offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in the offseason. Wood's experience -- over 30 years in Division I and the NFL -- is helpful considering the Bulls have to replace their quarterback and two key wide receivers. Wood has coached in college at Kent State, Southern Illinois, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami (Fla.), Wake Forest, James Madison, Arkansas and Miami (Ohio). He also has coached in the NFL with Cincinnati, Minnesota and Arizona, serving as the Cardinals' offensive coordinator in 2004.

SPRING SNAPSHOT:

Practice priorities: The Bulls return 17 starters from last year's 3-9 team, but they lack a quarterback. Most of the spring practice session can help determine a starting quarterback, but the Bulls signed quality quarterbacks Jordan Johnson and Collin Michael in the 2012 recruiting class. Michael, in particular, is an intriguing prospect due to his size -- 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. But the Bulls have to diversify their offense, even with fifth-year senior quarterback Chazz Anderson not coming back. Finding ways to generate more offense behind an experienced line with four returning starters is important if the Bulls want to avoid another losing season. Getting the ball into running back Branden Oliver's hands more is something that could help.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I am extremely proud of the job that my coaching staff did to attract the caliber of student-athlete that is in this class to the University at Buffalo. We began the process with almost all of these players before their junior seasons and have gotten to know these young men and their families. They are not only outstanding football players but equally committed to the quality education they will receive here at UB. I am excited about these young men becoming Bulls and joining our returning players to compete for a championship in 2012." -- Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn, on his 19-player recruiting class.

KEY LOSSES: The Bulls lost 21 seniors from the 2011 team, with the most notable being fifth-year quarterback Chazz Anderson. The Bulls also lose wide receivers Marcus Rivers and Ed Young. There are plenty of holes on the defensive side, with the secondary the most glaring.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2012:

QB Branden Oliver -- As a sophomore, Oliver shined last year by leading the Bulls in rushing with 1,395 yards on 306 carries. Oliver averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored 13 rushing touchdowns. Another year of seasoning after should help the shifty tailback.

LB Khalil Mack -- He is coming off a stellar sophomore season in which he had 20.5 tackles for loss. Mack has had 34 tackles for loss in his first two seasons.

DE Steven Means -- He is expected to become a bigger part of Buffalo's defense next season. Means ranks 10th in school history with 12 career sacks, but he has to become a consistent performer for the Bulls.

LT Gabriel Barbe -- He finally gets a chance to win the starting left tackle spot following the departure of senior Matt Ostrowski.

PLAYER NOTES

--WR Alex Neutz, who suffered a fractured wrist in late October, is expected to be fully healed for the 2012 season. Neutz was recently named to the 2011 Academic All-MAC Team.

--DL Colby Way, a sophomore, was the second Bulls player to be named to the 2011 Academic All-MAC Team.