Saint Anselm continues to change up its look, and in 2005 the Hawks will boast a new athletic logo and a new Interim Head Coach in Ken Knapczyk. Knapczyk, a former wide receiver for the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals, took over control of the program in July following the departure of Geoff Harlan who had resurrected the program from club status in 1998.

Knapczyk, who will enter his second season at the College as the program's offensive coordinator, is coming off the most successful recruiting year in program history and has hit the ground running. A mix of returning players and newcomers are expected to excite the Grappone Stadium faithful. Returning to action are 28 starters including 10 on defense while a staggering 48 newcomers will join the 100-member deep program. Among the newcomers are several high-impact transfers and freshmen expected to earn starting roles right away

The rest of the staff remains intact including another former NFL player David Rozumek who will take over as defensive coordinator. With the former Kansas City Chiefs' defensive captain calling the shots for a veteran-laden unit, the Hawks again expect to have one of the top defenses in the Northeast-10 Conference.

As offensive coordinator, Knapczyk is also hopeful that the second time around is the charm for his offense which started anew last year with a no huddle, spread look.

The team has named seniors Michael Bombardier, Kevin Lukas, and Brian Sundell as captains for the upcoming season.

QUARTERBACK
Senior quarterback Shane Dinagen will return as the team's signal caller for a third season and hopes to expand on a season in which he threw for 1,525 yards and six touchdowns. He had a big day at Bryant last October 16, as he set several school and Northeast-10 Conference records with 37 completions on 69 attempts for 321 yards and two touchdowns. With more weapons to work with and more comfort in the system this season, many are predicting a career year.   

Sophomore Nick Barese is slated to be the Hawks' backup and holder but is coming off a shoulder injury sustained while playing for the baseball team last spring and his status is not known. Junior transfer Nick Anzalone (Wagner) will compete with freshmen Geoff Stevens, Pete Cekutis, and Dan Cohen for playing time. 

RUNNING BACK    
Running back is the biggest question mark for the Hawks as they lost their top three runners off last year's team. The team does not return a single player with more than five carries from a year ago.

The early favorite to start in the backfield is senior Mike Donoghue who will switch back after being converted to wide receiver last season with limited success. Donoghue is one of the best athletes on the roster and has been a kick returner as well. Now with one more year in his career, he looks to produce the big season many thought him capable of when he came to the Hilltop.

At fullback, junior Jeff Peledge will compete with seniors Cortney Dunlop and Chris Barrett during preseason for playing time as the Hawks look to use more two-back sets than they did in 2004.  

WIDE RECEIVER
A bevy of talented wide receivers should provide plenty of excitement in the Hawks' pass-happy, no huddle attack. All-conference junior Michael Garcarz set school records for receptions (57), yards (693), yards per catch (12.2), and points (82) last year, adding to his list of records including an NE-10 top mark of 10 field goals made as a freshman in 2003 when he was named to the Freshmen All-America team by D2Football.com. Garcarz also set single game records with 16 receptions at Bryant and 158 receiving yards at Assumption last year. He also holds distinction as the only player in the modern era to record points by catching, running and throwing for a TD as well as recording a two-point conversion and kicking PATs and field goals in the same season.

Joining Garcarz at wideout will be Lukas who caught 27 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns last year along with Pat Turner who was limited to six games due to injury but still managed 15 catches for 160 yards.

Knapczyk is also excited at the prospect of impact transfers Cory Williams (UMass Dartmouth) and Charlie Johnston (Northern State) joining the receiving corps. Williams was named the NEFC Freshman Offensive Player of the Year after setting school records and leading the league with 57 catches and 1,036 yards. Johnston did not play last year after staring at NSU for two years in which he caught a total of 90 passes for 1,673 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The coaching staff is also excited about the future of Waterville, Maine native Brian Tormollan who has great size and can play either wide receiver or tight end.

TIGHT END
Adam Carvill returns from a year away due to a broken leg to lead the group of tight ends, which feature some versatile players in Craig Landri and newcomer Kyle Powers (Chicopee, Mass.).

OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line has also been hit hard by graduation but a solid recruiting year may pay immediate dividends with several freshmen earning playing time. Among the returning starters, senior tackle Ryan Santangelo is coming off an injury and is questionable for the beginning of the season. Fellow senior incumbent starter Jesse Freeburg will have his hands full to hold off one of many underclassmen vying for time.

Among a big group of prized newcomers are Dan White, a 300-pounder from Maynard, Mass.; Paul Vest from Alvin, Tex.; 300-pound Isreal Martinez from Sugarland, Tex.; Anthony Tomich, an all-state selection at center from Wilmington, Ill.; Doug Kellogg from Stamford, Conn.; and the Vahey twins, Matt and Mike who were both all-state selections at New Hampshire's Pinkerton Academy.   

DEFENSIVE LINE
The Hawks' will have to overcome the loss of graduated DE David Heiner who set 12 defensive records last year including sacks (15.0), and tackles for a loss (25.5), a category that led the country. It was far from a one-man show in the trenches however as Heiner received plenty of help from capable 2005 returnees.

Senior Josh Ahlquist will begin his third season as a starter at tackle. Ahlquist started 19 of the 20 games he has appeared in during his first two seasons but was forced out of last year's play due to an injured leg.

Senior Adam Charters was pressed into full time duty as a result of Ahlquist's injury and responded with 25 tackles, 5.5 for a loss and 3.0 sacks.

Joining Ahlquist and Charters on the line will be juniors Jason Landri and Casey Larson. Landri had a solid year in 2004 with 26 tackles, 7.0 TFL and 3.5 sacks. Larson meanwhile tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles to go with 36 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries.       
 
LINEBACKER
The Hawks are also deep at linebacker where Bombardier and Thomas Kelleher will anchor the unit along with fifth-year senior Anthony Barese.

Bombardier ranked among the NE-10 leaders last season with 7.5 sacks and 12 passes defended and finished with 67 tackles and 11.0 TFL.

Kelleher also jumped onto the scene and ranked among the league's best with 17.0 tackles for a loss in a season that saw him place second on the team in total tackles with 72. He also boasted 5.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Barease had 59 total tackles including 9.0 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions.

A number of players have a chance at earning playing time at the open position including freshman Bob Sirvid from Orland Park, Ill. Sophomore Nate Munzing might have the inside track to start the season after appearing in seven games and recording 11 tackles.  

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The defensive backfield will see the return of three starters from a year ago, led by all-conference senior safety Brian Sundell. Sundell set a single season record and led the NE-10 with 101 tackles while also tying for the team lead with three forced fumbles and recording 10 pass breakups.

Senior Joe Imparato and junior Mark Wysocki look to see the majority of playing time at cornerback. Imparato is one of the strongest players in the league. The former Massachusetts power lifting champion had 41 total tackles in just eight games with a pair of interceptions last year. Wysocki meanwhile finished among the league leaders with four interceptions on the strength of two in the season finale against AIC last year, tying a single game record for picks. 20 of his 39 tackles were solo efforts and he also had 12 passes defended to finish among the league leaders in that category as well.

Among the newcomers who can earn playing time is transfer Melvin Purdue (Plymouth State) and Sean Guinard from N. Conway, N.H.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Artie Kurshumi returns for his third year as the team's punter following a season in which he ranked fifth in the NE-10 in punting average at 36.6 with 11 downed inside the 20 yard line.

Garcarz already holds the NE-10 record for 10 field goals made during his freshman season in 2003. After kicking nine last year he enters the 2005 season tied for the all-time record with former all-conference star Erol Senel. Unquestionably one of the most talented kickers to come through the league in recent years, Garcarz saw his accuracy go down a little last year (9-for-18) but much of that is attributed to it being his first year as a kicker and wide receiver. With a year of two-way play under his belt, the coaching staff is excited to see the numbers he puts up this year.