INDIANA, Pa. - IUP will be looking for a rebound year in 2015 as the Crimson Hawks will hope to blend a ton of youth and some experience at key spots to make another run at the PSAC championship and NCAA playoff berth. 

An incredible 63 of the Crimson Hawks' 87 players entering the summer are either freshmen or sophomores as head coach Curt Cignetti has increased his recruiting numbers over the last two offseasons. A total of 11 true freshmen saw playing time last year with four of those being returning starters. 

The Crimson Hawks bring back 16 returning starters, including a pair of standout defensive players from 2013 who did not play a season ago. A successful season will hinge on the talent of the last two recruiting classes mixing with the experience of IUP's 24 upper classmen.

Quarterbacks
Cignetti will see four new faces join incumbent Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) behind center in 2015. Haslett – a graduate student – won the three-man quarterback competition in fall camp after transferring from Illinois last year, starting 10 games for the Crimson Hawks and throwing for 2,178 yards and 16 touchdowns. He threw for more than 350 yards in back-to-back games against California (Pa.) and Slippery Rock, and his 60.4 completion percentage tied for the fifth best in single season school history.

Adding a different element to the position is Temple transfer, Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox). A nearby Sto-Rox grad, Williams was a four-year starter in high school who finished his career as the WPIAL's all-time leading passer with 8,509 yards and 102 touchdowns. The redshirt freshman is also a threat to run, compiling nearly 3,000 rushing yards.

In addition, three true freshmen expect to see reps in fall camp, including Andre Dreuitt-Parks (Philadelphia, Pa./Imohtep Charter), Dan Fisher (Media, Pa./Penncrest), and Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro).

Running Backs
Cignetti will again count on the running backs to carry the load this year. Three of the top four rushers return, led by second team All-PSAC West honoree, Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic). One of the top freshman running backs in the nation last year, Lista-Brinza led the Crimson Hawks with 846 yards and 10 touchdowns, hitting the 100-yard mark on five occasions. 

Fellow sophomore Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) played in nine games last year as a backup and saw his workload increase as the season progressed, rushing for a combined 289 yards in the last three games. Junior Izzy Green (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) returns after an injury plagued 2014. Green had a good spring and Cignetti believes that his quickness in the hole and ability to make guys miss makes him a "wildcard" for the Crimson Hawks this year.

Transfer Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), a former four-star recruit and Virginia Tech commit, was slowed by injury in the spring but has ability and will look for carries this fall. Also competing for carries will be redshirt freshman Shannon Jackson (Fairview, Pa. /Fairview).

Tight Ends and Fullbacks
Rex Pearce (McKeesport, Pa. /Elizabeth Forward) expects to take over as the main fullback with last year's starter, Nick Dubowski (Erie, Pa. /Cathedral Prep), moving to defense. The redshirt sophomore appeared in eight games last year and improved with a good spring. 

Cignetti likes the experience returning at the tight end spot, with junior Kevin Edwards (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny) looking to jump into the starting lineup. Edwards has played in 20 career games and flashed some big play ability with two touchdowns against Gannon in 2013.

Redshirt sophomore C.J. Jackson (Gibsonia, Pa. /Pine-Richland) (6-5, 250) adds size and had a productive spring while redshirt freshman Noah Bertram (Allentown, Pa. /Emmaus) has shown good receiving ability. 

Receivers
Even though they are not deep with experience, Cignetti is impressed with the talent of this young receiving corps. Sophomore Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) is IUP's leading returning pass catcher, snagging 45 passes for 607 yards and four touchdowns last season. Known more for his game-breaking ability in the kick return game, Pegues will look to flash his speed and agility even more on offense in 2015. 

Sean McVay (Miami, Fla./Miramar) is the most experienced Crimson Hawks' wideout with 21 career games under his belt. Plagued by injuries during most of his time at IUP, the senior has 21 receptions for 227 yards and three touchdowns working mostly from the slot.

Redshirt freshmen Swahneek Brown (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) (6-3, 186) and Miles Williamson (Houston, Pa. /Chartiers-Houston) (6-4, 195) each add size to the receiving corps. Brown flashed good potential in the spring while Williamson will look to come back strong after sitting out all of last year with an injury. 

Jordan Brown (Chambersburg, Pa. /Chambersburg Area) shows good ability and will vie for time in the slot this year after seeing time on both offense and defense while redshirting last season. Gabe Yuille (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mount Carmel) joins the Crimson Hawks this year after playing the last two years at Valley Forge Military College. 

Offensive Line
Cignetti expects the offensive line to rebound and be better as a group this season. He stressed competition early on in fall camp as the coaching staff will look to identify the best five players among a group of 12 looking to earn a starting assignment.

Three starters return from last year, highlighted by junior Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East), an All-PSAC West selection as an 11-game starter at left guard last year. Cooper's versatility will help the Crimson Hawks, as he rotated between the guard and tackle positions this spring.

Senior Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) will return and is the most experienced player on the offensive line after starting the last 21 games at right tackle. Dan Charmo (Hamilton, Va./Loundon Valley) also comes back and will look to retain the right guard spot after starting the last nine games at that position as a freshman last season. 

Juniors Tony Morgante (Mountain Top, Pa. /Crestwood) and Ed Bier (Philadelphia, Pa. /Archbishop Ryan), along with redshirt freshman Jason Inks (Jefferson Hills, Pa. /Jefferson Hills), each had good showings in the spring and will compete for starting spots. Gabriel Diaz (Miami, Fla./Wiesbaden) is a third-year sophomore who improved in the offseason and will have a chance to compete at tackle. A trio of freshmen, including redshirt Kidus Woldeyes (Lorton, Va. /South Country), Mike Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) and Colin McAllister (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester), will battle this fall for the starting nod at center. 

Defensive Line
Once again, Cignetti is thrilled with the talent and depth he has on the defensive line and believes this group will be a disruptive force. 

The centerpiece of the unit is senior Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury), a preseason All-American who is entering his second year with the Crimson Hawks. Primarily a nose tackle, Gibson has the versatility and ability to play both inside and outside as he showed last year and during the spring. 

Lining up next to Gibson will be sophomore Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel), a talented prospect who figured into the rotation early on during his first year. Also looking to see time on the inside is experienced senior Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley), sophomore Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area), and true freshmen Colin Roach (Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook) and Dyllon Scott (Reading, Pa./Exeter Twp.).

Also returning to the lineup is rush end Matthew Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton), another preseason All-American. Cignetti likes the sophomore's motor and is impressed with how much he improved this spring.

Senior Jordan Batts (Homestead, Pa. /Jeannette) and junior Mason Tortorice (Elizabeth, Pa. /Elizabeth Forward) will look to compete at the other end spot, while sophomore transfer C.J. Odegbo and true freshmen Malik Allen (Dover, Pa./Dover) and Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) also look for playing time. 

Linebackers
The most experienced unit for the Crimson Hawks, the linebackers are led by All-American candidate Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) and former All-PSAC West pick Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills). 

Clarke, a junior, posted 117 total tackles last season and has 21 games and 12 career starts under his belt. He was the top defensive playmaker all season with five games of at least 10 tackles – including a season-high 21 against Slippery Rock – adding 10.5 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles. 

Lane is coming off of an injury plagued season but is back for his final year in the crimson and gray having starred for IUP in 2013. The senior has played in 28 games, including 10 starts two seasons ago. Adding depth is junior Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama), who has played in 20 games over the past two years. He stepped in and started five games a season ago, finishing the year with 48 total tackles. 

Junior Nick Dubowski (Erie, Pa. /Cathedral Prep) has moved over to defense after playing the last two seasons at fullback. He'll join sophomore Cameron Casciole and redshirt freshman Diamond Jones (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) as players looking to provide depth. 

Defensive Backs
The Crimson Hawks welcome the return of Eric Williams (Yardley/Pennsbury) to the defensive backfield, as Cignetti is excited to have the luxury of three starting safeties back for 2015. 
Williams was an all-region pick for the Crimson Hawks in 2013, picking off six passes and making 48 tackles from his strong safety spot. The former Pitt transfer was forced to sit out last year, but hopes to make a big impact on a young unit in his final season.

Joining Williams at safety will be junior Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) and sophomore Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.), who started 11 and 10 games, respectively, last season. The two combined for 95 tackles and broke up a total of 11 passes in their first season as starters. Adding depth to the two safety spots will be junior Andrew DeGol (Bellwood, Pa. /Bellwood-Antis) and sophomore Eric Doe (Darby, Pa. /Academy Prep). 

Junior Ackeno Robertson (Philadelphia, Pa. /Parkway Northwest) is back to play IUP's "Star" position in its 4-2-5 alignment after starting 11 games at that spot a season ago. 

Also returning to the lineup this year is sophomore Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area), who started eight games at cornerback last year, and Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School), who had five starts at corner as a true freshman in 2013. They'll be joined by sophomore Chris David (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills), who also has starting experience. 

Senior Brian Wahl-Schwartz (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley), sophomore Ronald Womack, Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa. /West Catholic), and true freshmen Mikale Makle (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglas) and Isaiah Stokes (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) could also see time in the defensive backfield.

Special Teams
The return game is highlighted by Pegues, an all-region selection as a freshman. One of the most dynamic playmakers in the conference, Pegues averaged 19.4 yards on punt returns, setting an IUP record with a 96-yard touchdown on Homecoming. He also averaged 24.6 yards on kickoffs and had five total returns of more than 30 yards.

Senior Matt Spegal (Bethel Park, Pa. /Bethel Park) returns for his third season as IUP's punter, and is fourth in program history with a 38.8 average on 97 career punts.

The Crimson Hawks will have an open competition to replace kicker Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall), with junior transfer Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and freshman Sean Bowling (Pylesville, Md./North Hartford) battling it out in the fall.

In intriguing addition in the offseason was Jordan Spangler (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort), a transfer from Mercyhurst. Spangler was a second team All-PSAC West pick last year and has some placekicking experience.