Buffalo lost its 2023 starters at QB, RB, and WR. Who are the new faces of the program at these positions?
The Buffalo Bulls are the lone MAC team debuting a new head coach next month when the 2024 college football season officially kicks off.
Buffalo was an unexpected victim of the Nick Saban retirement coaching carousel, as former head coach Maurice Linguist was hired by new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer as a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. That move ultimately ended up in the hiring of Pete Lembo, a former Ball State head coach and longtime special teams guru, as the man in charge of turning the Bulls around after a disappointing 2023 which resulted in a 3-9 record.
Offense was not particularly a strong suit for Buffalo last season. The Bulls finished 24th-lowest in the country in points per game at 20.9 and 19th-to-last in total offense at 319 yards per game. They stayed true to a balanced offense, but no rhythm was ever established in either the run game of air attack, and Buffalo finished below 90th in the FBS in both categories.
One of Lembo’s first orders of business involved hiring a new offensive coordinator. That’s where Dave Patenaude comes in, with a gamut of offensive coordinator experience ranging from Temple (2017-18) to Georgia Tech (2019-21) to Old Dominion (2022, but stepped away before the season began). He served the 2023 season as an offensive analyst at Virginia as his latest position before joining Lembo’s staff.
What cards is Patenaude working with in his first season as offensive coordinator? There’s not much experience around the room considering Buffalo lost its primary starters at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, either to graduation or the transfer portal. That makes for an interesting fall camp of position battles, as the team looks to establish a depth chart within the next month.
Quarterback
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The first matter of business when rebuilding this offense is quarterback. Buffalo operated two complete seasons under the direction of one signal caller in Cole Snyder, who started all 25 contests in 2022 and 2023. Snyder transferred to Eastern Michigan this offseason, so the only time the Bulls will see him this year occurs in a Nov. 20 matchup in Ypsilanti, MI.
Buffalo doesn’t have an established starter on the roster, but there are several candidates for the No. 1 spot that boast FBS experience. One is CJ Ogbonna, who made frequent appearances as QB No. 2 last season. Ogbonna threw 21 passes, completing eight for 87 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. But the main reason Maurice Linguist and the previous coaching staff rotated Ogbonna into games was his rushing ability. He thrived in the mobility department with 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 51 attempts, ranking second on the team in rushing touchdowns. Ogbonna was more utilized toward the end of the season than at the beginning, and he’s the only rostered quarterback to attempt a pass in a Buffalo uniform.
There is one quarterback with FBS starting experience on Buffalo’s roster. The Bulls brought in Jack Shields, who spent one offseason working with Patenaude at Old Dominion in 2022. Shields logged two starts with the Monarchs last fall, guiding them to a victory over Texas A&M-Commerce of the FCS and a loss to Sun Belt rival Marshall. In a small sample size of six games and two starts, Shields completed 25-of-47 attempts for 353 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. While Old Dominion didn’t call his number on designed runs frequently, Shields showed off his mobility with a 66-yard touchdown scamper less than one minute into that Marshall game.
The QB battle potentially presents a third candidate in Gunnar Gray. Gray was a member of the Bulls last season but did not record any action in his first season after transferring from San Diego Mesa College. The 6’4” quarterback was signed by the Bulls after starring at the community college level, racking up two all-conference selections on the West Coast.
Two redshirt freshmen — Mason Cumbie and Anthony Policare — round out the quarterback room in Buffalo.
Running back
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Buffalo spent the past few seasons toting a thunder and lightning duo in the backfield. Mike Washington was the power back worthy of the thunder designation, while three-time All-MAC kick returner Ron Cook Jr. served as the lightning option. Cook graduated after a five-year stint at Buffalo while Washington transferred to New Mexico State, opening room for the next batch of talent at the position.
The emerging face in the room is Jacqez Barksdale, who ranked third on the team in attempts (52) and rushing yards (248) in 2023. Barksdale was a former JUCO product who made his FBS debut last fall. He recorded one start and flourished in his only opportunity with double-digit carries, attaining 84 yards on 10 attempts in a win over Kent State. Barksdale was a steady contributor all year long though, fielding a carry in 10 of Buffalo’s 12 games. Now that production is expected to see a major uptick as he becomes a legitimate option for the lead back role.
Another option is Al-Jay Henderson, who totaled 301 rushing yards as the third fiddle to Washington and Cook in 2022. Henderson unexpectedly took a backseat on offense last year, only picking up five attempts despite no significant injury. He still made 10 in-game appearances but was primarily limited to special teams. After averaging 5.1 yards per carry in 2022, it’s clear the 6’0”, 210 pound back can be lethal, and there’s definitely enough handoffs to go around for him this year.
Lamar Sperling is an intriguing option for a breakout candidate out of the backfield. Sperling only took four carries while redshirting his true freshman campaign in 2023, and now with the redshirt out of the way, there’s no reason for hesitation when it comes to his usage. He was Ohio Mr. Football as a senior in high school in 2022, looking to replicate that impressive production on the collegiate stage.
The other running back on the roster with production in a Buffalo uniform is Mark-Anthony Scott Jr. Similar to Henderson, Scott was more prevalent on the field in 2022 than 2023, finishing the former season with seven attempts for 22 yards.
Three other backs that have yet to make their collegiate debuts fill out the room for the Bulls. Messiah Burch is a redshirt freshman who sat out last season, while Terrance Shelton Jr. and Gabe Goins are true freshmen, looking to rise up the depth chart during fall camp.
Wide receiver
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Buffalo had five players finish with 20+ receptions and 200+ receiving yards in 2023. Four of those were receivers, but more importantly, zero of those five return to the roster for 2024. Thus, finding new emerging talent at receiver is essential for Lembo and his staff.
The top returning receiver is Nik McMillan, who caught 13 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown last year. McMillan was most prominent in September a season ago, attaining career-highs in Week 3 vs. Liberty, but now he might rise to a fixture in the starting lineup on a weekly basis.
Only two other current wide receivers recorded a catch for Buffalo in 2023. One is Chance Morrow who logged four receptions for 70 yards in his first season after transferring from Louisville. Morrow didn’t play any games at Louisville, so last year was his official welcome to college football, and he’ll aim for increased playing time after gaining familiarity with the game last year. The other receiver is Victor Snow, who caught one pass but fielded five carries in 2023. Snow played significantly on special teams, and the former Nevada receiver also looks for an expanded role in the offense this season.
With a severe lack of returning experience at the receiver positions, Buffalo consulted the transfer portal. The Bulls have a share of success stories with transfer receivers in recent years, with 2021 and 2022 leading receivers Quian Williams and Justin Marshall hailing from the portal.
This year’s prime candidates to follow in those footsteps are Taji Johnson and JJ Jenkins. Johnson spent the past four years at Boston College, totaling 11 receptions for 119 yards with nearly all of that production transpiring in 2022. Given the lack of experience in the room, the fifth-year senior could slide into a starting role from day one. Jenkins is the more seasoned transfer when it comes to collegiate playing time, and he hails from Columbia at the FCS level. Jenkins tallied 434 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2022, before increasing his stats to 535 and four in 2023. This fall will mark the sixth-year senior’s first exposure to FBS play, but his past participation should play a large factor in his quest to garner a starting slot.
Other receivers to watch on the Buffalo roster include Javien Cuff, a staple of the roster since 2019 who last recorded a reception in 2021. Additionally, Tadd Barr could be an for increased role after serving the special teams well last season, notably passing for a 27-yard completion on a trick play in November.
The Bulls’ receiving corps also features returning faces Qua Sanders, Bodhi Ogg, Aidan Walline, and Jeremy Yancey. The true freshmen include Jeremiah Watkins, Bobby Mays, Patrick Clacks III, Shey Williams, Marcel Picard, Evan Dean, Terrell Richards, and Tyrell Simmons Jr.
Tight end
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Buffalo didn’t have the highest tight end utilization in the passing game last year, as its leading pass catcher at the position collected just eight receptions for 82 yards. Still, the Bulls use tight ends as blockers on the regular, and they boast substantial experience here.
Jake Orlando is suited to be the No. 1 option after starting the first four Buffalo games in 2023, before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. Orlando, in his second-year with the team after transferring from UMass, caught four passes in his limited action last year and is poised for his best year to date as a graduated fifth-year player.
Andrew Schnackenberg is the other tight end on the roster to corrall a pass last year, catching two passes for eight yards and a touchdown in a win over Kent State. He managed one start in eight appearances, and the former community college standout is capable of filling a No. 2 spot behind Orlando.
The Bulls also filled one roster spot at the position via the transfer portal, landing Evan King from Hampton of the FCS. King finished the 2023 campaign with nine receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns before completing his transfer this offseason.
Mitch Viviano is an incumbent roster member at the position, and he made three appearances last year despite recording no official statistics. Ryan Daly is another incumbent roster member, but he redshirted all of last season after arriving from the community college level. Also, former quarterback Mike DePillo, who stands at 6’6” and 245 pounds, made the transition to tight end this offseason where he’ll look to earn his first collegiate playing time.
Shamar Riser-Pressley, one of Buffalo’s more highly-touted recruits joins the room as a true freshman after earning first team all-state honors in Michigan. Nick Leonard is the only other true freshman tight end listed on the roster.
Offensive line
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Buffalo has one of the richest offensive line histories in the MAC. The Bulls were one of 11 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award recognizing the country’s best o-line in 2020, and no MAC school has attained such recognition since. Under now-fourth-year offensive line coach Matt Stansfield, Buffalo’s success in the trenches has sustained, tying for 27th in the FBS in 2023 for fewest sacks allowed per game at 1.33.
The offensive line remains star-powered, headlined by right guard Tyler Doty, who holds the title as Buffalo’s only returning All-MAC selection from 2023 after landing on the conference’s third team. Doty has two go-arounds with the program as a starter, collecting 22 starts over the last two years. The 2024 campaign marks the fifth season at Buffalo for the 6’5”, 330 pound linemen who is among the best interior forces in the MAC.
Trevor Brock is the likely starter on the opposite side of Doty, emerging as the top left guard at the end of the 2023 campaign. In his first season of FBS football after transferring from Iowa Western Community College, Brock earned starts in each of Buffalo’s final seven contests.
The other of the three 2023 primary starters from returning to the unit is right tackle Caelan Shepard. Shepard emerged into the main five last season, starting all 12 games as the anchor on the right side of the line. In an offensive line which boasts vast experience, the right tackle is the longest tenured of them all, entering his sixth season with the Bulls.
Dom Polizzi is another long-tenured Bull and could pave out his largest role yet in his fifth season on campus, under his third different head coach. Polizzi originated as a defensive tackle but moved to the offensive side two seasons ago. In 2022, he made one start at right guard, and in 2023, he made three starts at center, totaling 19 appearances on the offensive line across those seasons.
After the immediate success of a community college product in Brock, Buffalo looked to that level again for contributors on the line. The team landed Hutchinson Community College standout Matthew Glen and Coffeyville Community College product Chayce Chadwick, who both measure up at 6’5” and 310. Gabe Arena is another newcomer on the line for the Bulls, sitting out the entire 2023 season with a redshirt at Virginia Tech. The Bulls also added one intra-conference transfer on the o-line as Alex Heininger relocated from Central Michigan after working on the Chippewas’ scout team last fall.
Incumbent linemen who have yet been subjected to significant playing time in Buffalo include James Carrington III, Liam Hamilton, Matt Pajuste, and Henry Tabansi. Despite spending the entirety of 2023 on the sidelines, Pajuste and Tabansi are among the faces that could enter the rotation this year. Assuming Polizzi takes over at center and the other three returning starts remain in their respective roles, that opens one offensive tackle spot for either Pajuste, Tabansi, or one of the incoming transfers. It’s also possible the Bulls shift one of the guards to the outside and promote one of these reserves or transfers to a starting interior spot.
Finally, the true freshmen that make up the unit are Val Kondratenko and Tyrone Davis, in-state prospects hailing from Rochester and Syracuse, respectively, as well as midwest out-of-state natives Paul Clark and Ahmaan Thomas. Buffalo also scouted beyond US borders in the recruiting process, rounding out the roster with an Ontario, Canada freshman in Jackson Bellamy.