2009 Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Guide

Oct. 31
Eastern Illinois*
1:00 p.m.
Eastern Illinois leads 13-11; Last Meeting: EIU won 34-6 (11/1/08)
Nov. 7
Austin Peay*
1:00 p.m.
Murray State leads 29-13; Last Meeting: MSU won 32-12 (10/4/08)
Nov. 14
at  Southeast  Missouri*
1:00 p.m.
Murray State leads 36-6-1; Last Meeting: MSU won 17-10 (11/8/08)
Nov. 21
at Tennessee Tech* (TV: WCTE)
1:30 p.m.
Tenn. Tech leads 40-33-1; Last Meeting: MSU won 51-21 (10/11/08)
* Denotes Ohio Valley Conference Matchup
Home Games in Bold             HC - Homecoming
All Times Central and Subject to Change

2009 Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Guide
42
OFFENSE
WR
 4
Derrick  Townsel
5-9
182
Sr.
 5
Patrick Robertson
6-2
198
So
OT
63
Chris Barry
6-5
295
Sr.
78
Stephen Huff
6-5
285
Sr.
OG
66
Eric Ornella
6-4
295
Sr.
71
Brock Rydecki
6-2
277
R-Fr.
C
70
Andy Mahoney
6-2
278
R-Fr.
75
Nathan Partain
6-3
316
Jr.
OG
79
Dylan Mundella
6-3
280
So.
73
Matt McWhorter
6-2
263
Jr.
OT
78
Stephen Huff
6-5
293
Sr.
62
Roderick Tomlin
6-5
286
R-Fr.
QB
18
Jeff Ehrhardt
6-4
220
Jr.
 6
Nico  Yantko
5-9
190
Sr.
RB
22
Charlie Jordan
5-8
190
Jr.
25
Prince Nwagbara
5-10
213
So.
TE
 8
DeAngelo Nelson
6-1
235
Sr.
93
Matt Johnson
6-5
232
So.
RB
43
Bryan Cardenas
5-8
225
Jr.
45
Tyler Brockman
6-1
246
Jr.
DEFENSE
DE
14
Jamal Crook
6-1
245
So.
85
Blake Booth
6-2
225
Sr.
DT
56
Tyler Sinclair
6-2
246
Sr.
92
Danny Blakemore
6-2
291
Sr.
DT
90
Tyler Evans
6-2
299
R-Fr.
98
Lamar Theus
6-2
300
So.
DE
97
Austen Lane
6-7
270
Sr.
53
Joe Gamsky
6-1
245
So.
LB
44
Tamar Butler
5-11
216
Sr.
40
Lamar Jones
5-10
217
Jr.
LB
37
Zach Kutch
6-0
229
Jr.
48
Josh McWherter
6-1
197
So.
CB
31
Darrell Davis
5-11
188
So.
 2
Dexter Durrante
5-11
187
So.
CB
 9
Lamar  Hall
5-9
197
So.
20
John Jean-Baptiste
5-10
160
Jr.
SS
16
Harry McCall
6-2
216
Jr.
15
Craig Durham
5-11
180
Jr.
WS
26
Taylor Lanigan
6-1
210
Sr.
21
Justin Clark
6-3
205
Jr.
FS
42
Josh Marshall
5-11
190
Sr.
35
Erik Fennell
6-0
182
So.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK
 3
Kienan  Cullen
6-3
224
So.
27
Jordan Gay
6-1
197
So.
P
 3
Kienan  Cullen
6-3
224
So.
27
Jordan Gay
6-1
197
So.
LS
75
Nathan Partain
6-3
316
Jr.
85
Blake Booth
6-2
225
Sr.
HO
18
Jeff Ehrhardt
6-4
220
Jr.
 6
Nico  Yantko
5-9
190
Sr.
KR
 4
Derrick Townsel
5-9
182
Sr.
17
Marcus Harris
6-1
185
Jr.
PR
 4
Derrick  Townsel
5-9
182
Sr.
17
Marcus Harris
6-1
185
Jr.
Returning Starters in Bold
Key Losses
LB
Nathan Williams
    All-American, 179 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 8.0 sacks
DB
Will Werner
    65 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3 INT’s, 5 PBU’s
RB
Paul McKinnis
    556 rushing yards, 6 TD’s
PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
AUSTEN LANE
Senior • Defensive End
6-7 • 270 • Iola, Wis.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TEAM NOTES
2009 OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the
Year...Preseason All-American by the Sports Network
and named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
(National Defensive Player of the Year)...Named the
Preseason FCS Player of the Year by Consensus
Draft Services...Garnered national attention in 2008
after setting school records for sacks (12.0) and
tackles-for-loss (22.0)...Ranked fourth nationally in
sacks per game (1.0) and tackles-for-loss per game
(1.83/game)...Also had 63 tackles, two pass break-
ups, five quarterback hurries, three fumble recover-
ies, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick on his
way to All-OVC first-team honors.
• 
Senior defensive end Austen Lane has garnered several preseason national hon-
ors after a breakout junior season in 2008. That includes being one of 20 players
named to the Sports Network’s Buck Buchanan Award Watch List (National De-
fensive Player of the Year). He is the second straight Murray State player named
to the list, as last season linebacker Nathan Williams finished fifth in the voting.
Williams, who signed a contract with the New York Franchise of the United Foot-
ball League (UFL), was a consensus All-American in 2008 after leading all of
college football with 179 tackles.
• 
Murray State head coach Matt Griffin has improved the Racer program in each of
his first three years with the team. After a 1-10 (0-8) record in 2006, MSU improved
to 2-9 (0-8) in 2007 and 5-7 (4-4) a year ago. At his last head coaching stint, Griffin
improved UT Martin in three straight seasons and the program then went on to win
a OVC Championship in the fourth season.
• 
Expectations are high for the Racers this season as six players were selected to
the All-OVC preseason team (the most among all OVC squads). MSU was picked
to finish fifth overall, including receiving one first-place vote.
• 
Head coach Matt Griffin is following in a long line of successful coaches who have
patrolled the sidelines at Roy Stewart Stadium. Among that include former Racers
head coaches Mike Gottfried (later head coach at Kansas and Pitt), Frank Beamer
(the current head coach at perennial power Virginia Tech) and Houston Nutt (now
head coach at Mississippi). Two other notable names - Ralph Friedgen (Maryland)
and Ron Zook (Illinois) were assistant coaches at Murray State at one point of their
careers.
DERRICK TOWNSEL
Senior • Wide Receiver
5-9 • 182 • Memphis, Tenn.
2009 Preseason All-OVC Team selection...Honorable
Mention Preseason All-American by Consensus Draft
Services...Was a second-team All-OVC selection in
2008 after catching 53 balls for 667 yards and three
touchdowns in only nine games (missed three games
with injury)...Had three-straight 100-yard receiving
games during the year...Had 11 catches totalling 199
yards in a victory over Tennessee Tech; that was the
fourth-highest single-game receiving total in Murray
State history...Returned a punt 64 yards for a
tochdown against Southeast Missouri in an effort
that earned him OVC Special Teams Player of the
Week.

2009 Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Guide
43
No. Name
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
Hometown (Last School)
 2
Dexter Durrante
CB
5-11
187
So.
Fort Campbell, Ky. (Fort Campbell)
 3
Kienan Cullen
K
6-3
224
So.
Louisville, Ky. (Butler)
 4
Derrick Townsel
WR
5-9
182
Sr.
Memphis, Tenn. (Overton)
 5
Patrick  Robertson
WR
6-2
198
So.
Carrollton, Texas (Hebron)
 6
Nico  Yantko
QB
5-9
190
Sr.
Fairborn, Ohio (South University)
 7
Ja-Vonta Trotter
WR
5-10
175
So.
St. Petersburg, Fla. (Boca Ciega)
  8
DeAngelo Nelson
TE
6-1
235
Sr.
Memphis, Tenn. (Melrose)
 9
Lamar Hall
CB
5-9
197
So.
St. Petersburg, Fla. (Gibbs)
12
Chris Franklin
QB
6-0
197
Jr.
Lexington, Ky. (Dunbar)
13
Tarvis Milam
QB
6-3
210
Fr.
Memphis, Tenn. (Frayser)
14
Jamal Crook
DE
6-1
245
So.
Tampa, Fla. (Alonso)
15
Craig Durham
SS
5-11
180
Jr.
Marietta, Ga. (Osborne)
16
Harry  McCall
SS
6-2
216
Jr.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Bethel)
17
Marcus Harris
WR
 6-1
185
Jr.
North St. Louis, Mo. (Kirkwood)
18
Jeff  Ehrhardt
QB
6-4
220
Jr.
St. Louis, Mo. (Westminster Christian)
19
Andrew Bolognese
QB
6-3
195
Fr.
Cocoa, Fla. (Space Coast)
20
John Jean-Baptiste
CB
5-10
160
Jr.
Tampa, Fla. (Gaither)
21
Justin  Clark
SS
6-3
205
Jr.
Charleston, Mo. (Charleston)
22
Charlie Jordan
RB
5-8
190
Sr.
Memphis, Tenn. (White Station)
23
Randell Bell
RB
5-11
215
Jr.
Union City, Ga. (Butler County CC)
24
Casey Brockman
QB
6-0
175
Fr.
Murray, Ky. (Calloway County)
25
Prince Nwagbara
RB
5-10
213
So.
Marietta, Ga. (McEachern)
26
Taylor Lanigan
FS
6-1
210
Sr.
Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier)
27
Jordan Gay
K
6-1
197
So.
Danville, Ky. (Danville)
28
Raquan Durrante
CB
6-1
185
Fr.
Fort Campbell, Ky. (Fort Campbell)
29
Iven Jessup
SS
5-10
172
Fr.
Madisonville, Ky. (Madisonville)
30
Ryan Robinson
FS
5-9
172
Fr.
Madisonville, Ky. (Madisonville)
31
Darrell Davis
CB
5-11
188
So.
St. Louis, Mo. (Soldan International)
32
Quadricous Sanford
CB
5-9
180
Fr.
St. Louis, Mo. (Roosevelt)
33
Nathan Brinkley
CB
5-10
175
So.
Clewiston, Fla. (Coffeyville CC)
34
Tabarus Mitchell
RB
5-11
170
Fr.
Bowling Green, Ky. (Warren Central)
35
Erik Fennell
FS
6-0
182
So.
Tampa, Fla. (Hillsborough)
36
James Adkins
K
6-3
165
Fr.
Hopkinsville, Ky. (Hopkinsville)
37
Zach Kutch
LB
6-0
229
Jr.
Cocoa, Fla. (Space Coast)
38
Nate Curry
CB
6-1
170
R-Fr.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Bardstown)
39
Blake Salter
LB
5-11
205
Fr.
Florence, Ala. (Florence)
40
Lamar Jones
LB
5-10
217
Jr.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Mt. Healthy)
41
Chris Dorman
FB
5-10
220
Fr.
Chester, Conn. (Williston Northhampton)
42
Josh Marshall
FS
5-11
190
Sr.
Charleston, Mo. (Charleston)
43
Bryan Cardenas
FB
5-8
225
Jr.
Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier)
44
Tamar Butler
LB
5-11
216
Sr.
Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Riverdale)
45
Tyler Brockman
FB
6-1
246
Jr.
Murray, Ky. (Calloway County)
46
Richard Biers
LB
5-11
215
Jr.
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Scottsdale CC)
47
Robert White
SS
5-8
180
Fr.
Hoover, Ala. (Hoover)
48
Josh McWherter
LB
6-1
197
So.
Fort Campbell, Ky. (Fort Cambell)
49
Brandon Kollenberg
RB
5-9
175
Fr.
Crestwood, Ky. (South Oldham)
50
Michael Ogbevoen
DE
6-1
210
R-Fr.
Humble, Texas (Nimitz)
51
Paul Dupee
LB
6-1
205
Fr.
Shreveport, La. (C.E. Byrd)
52
Mark Oliver
LB
6-1
240
So.
Whiting, Ind. (Wyoming)
53
Joe  Gamsky
DT
6-1
245
So.
Crestwood, Ky. (Morehead State)
54
Anthony Mitchell
LS
6-0
185
Fr.
Nancy, Ky. (Southwestern)
55
Peyton  Jenkins
OL
6-1
282
Fr.
Oak Hill, Ohio (Oak Hill)
56
Tyler  Sinclair
DE
6-2
246
Sr.
Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood)
57
Sterling  Henry
FS
6-1
190
Fr.
St. Louis, Mo. (Hazelwood West)
59
Will Roach
DT
6-3
268
Sr.
Marietta, Ga. (Roswell)
60
Spencer Gooch
LS
5-11
240
Fr.
Goshen, Ky. (North Oldham)
62
Roderick Tomlin
OL
6-5
286
R-Fr.
Jackson, Tenn. (Jackson North)
63
Chris Barry
OL
6-5
295
Sr.
Garden City, Kan. (Garden City CC)
65
Richard Nelson
OL
6-4
296
Sr.
Palm Beach, Fla. (Allan Hancock CC)
66
Eric Ornella
OL
6-4
295
Sr.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain)
68
Jacob Goodman
OL
6-6
300
Fr.
Hickman, Ky. (Fulton County)
69
Darren Baker
OL
6-4
285
Fr.
Tampa, Fla. (Hillsborough)
70
Andy Mahoney
OL
6-2
278
R-Fr.
Lexington, Ky. (Lexington Catholic)
71
Brock Rydecki
OL
6-2
277
R-Fr.
Ft. Myers, Fla. (Venice)
72
Casey  Duncan
OL
6-1
285
Fr.
Nolensville, Tenn. (Ravenwood)
73
Matt McWhorter
OL
6-2
263
Jr.
Ferguson, Ky. (Pulaski Southwestern)
74
Raymond  Hopson
OL
6-2
275
So.
Houston, Texas (L.V. Hightower)
75
Nathan Partain
OL
6-3
316
Jr.
Rossville, Ga. (Ft. Oglethorpe)
78
Stephen  Huff
OL
6-5
285
Sr.
West Chester, Ohio (Cincinnati)
79
Dylan Mundella
OL
6-3
280
So.
St. Petersburg, Fla. (Northeast)
80
Rashad Daniels
WR
6-1
180
R-Jr.
Kissimmee, Fla. (Osceola)
81
Arthur  Brackett
WR
6-0
180
Fr.
Madison, Ala. (Bob Jones)
82
Jay  Hagood
WR
6-2
190
Fr.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Cincinnati)
83
Kendall Williams
WR
6-0
190
Fr.
Mason, Tenn. (Fayette-Ware)
84
Josh Brown
WR
6-0
180
Fr.
St. Louis, Mo. (McCluer North)
85
Blake Booth
DE
6-2
225
Sr.
Lexington, Tenn. (Lexington)
86
Paul Lewis
DE
6-6
254
So.
St. Louis, Mo. (Westminster Christian)
87
Alex Estes
TE
6-5
260
Jr.
Atchison, Kan. (Butler County CC)
88
Hunter Carroll
WR
6-4
180
Fr.
Elkton, Ky. (Todd County Central)
89
Daniel Ard
WR
6-5
228
Jr.
Benton, Ky. (Marshall County)
90
Tyler Evans
DT
6-2
299
R-Fr.
Tampa, Fla. (H.B. Plant)
92
Danny Blakemore
DT
6-2
291
Sr.
Paris, Tenn. (Henry County)
93
Matt Johnson
TE
6-5
232
So.
Odessa, Fla. (Walter L. Sickles)
94
De’Quan Hawkins
DE
6-3
215
R-Fr.
Jackson, Tenn. (Jackson Central Merry)
95
Michael Sullivan
TE
6-2
225
Fr.
Villa Hills, Ky. (Holy Cross)
96
Jordan Maley
DE
6-2
240
R-So.
Columbus, Ind. (Columbus East)
97
Austen Lane
DE
6-7
270
Sr.
Iola, Wis. (Iola-Sandinavia)
98
Lamar Theus
DT
6-2
300
So.
Paris, Tenn. (Henry County)
99
Jason Koper
DT
6-3
258
R-So.
Marthasville, Mo. (Truman State)
No. Name
Pos.
Yr.
36
James Adkins
K
Fr.
89
Daniel Ard
WR
Jr.
69
Darren Baker
OL
Fr.
63
Chris Barry
OL
Sr.
23
Randell Bell
RB
Jr.
46
Richard Biers
LB
Jr.
92
Danny Blakemore
DT
Sr.
19
Andrew Bolognese
QB
Fr.
85
Blake Booth
DE
Sr.
81
Arthur Brackett
WR
Fr.
33
Nathan Brinkley
CB
So.
24
Casey Brockman
QB
Fr.
45
Tyler Brockman
FB
Jr.
84
Josh Brown
WR
Fr.
44
Tamar Butler
LB
Sr.
43
Bryan Cardenas
FB
Jr.
88
Hunter Carroll
WR
Fr.
21
Justin Clark
SS
Jr.
14
Jamal Crook
DE
So.
 3
Kienan Cullen
K
So.
38
Nate Curry
CB
R-Fr.
80
Rashad Daniels
WR
R-Jr.
31
Darrell Davis
CB
So.
41
Chris Dorman
FB
Fr.
72
Casey Duncan
Ol
Fr.
51
Paul Dupee
LB
Fr.
15
Craig Durham
SS
Jr.
 2
Dexter Durrante
CB
So.
28
Raquan Durrante
CB
Fr.
18
Jeff Ehrhardt
QB
Jr.
87
Alex Estes
TE
Jr.
90
Tyler Evans
DT
R-Fr.
35
Erik Fennell
FS
So.
12
Chris Franklin
QB
Jr.
53
Joe Gamsky
DT
So.
27
Jordan Gay
K
So.
60
Spencer Gooch
LS
Fr.
68
Jacob Goodman
OL
Fr.
82
Jay Hagood
WR
Fr.
 9
Lamar Hall
CB
So.
17
Marcus Harris
WR
Jr.
94
De’Quan Hawkins
DE
R-Fr.
57
Sterling Henry
FS
Fr.
74
Raymond Hopson
OL
So.
78
Stephen Huff
OL
Sr.
20
John Jean-Baptiste
CB
Jr.
55
Peyton Jenkins
OL
Fr.
29
Iven Jessup
SS
Fr.
93
Matt Johnson
TE
So.
40
Lamar Jones
LB
Jr.
22
Charlie Jordan
RB
Sr.
49
Brandon Kollenberg
RB
Fr.
99
Jason Koper
DT
R-So.
37
Zach Kutch
LB
Jr.
97
Austen Lane
DE
Sr.
26
Taylor Lanigan
FS
Sr.
86
Paul Lewis
DE
So.
70
Andy Mahoney
Ol
R-Fr.
96
Jordan Maley
DE
R-So.
42
Josh Marshall
FS
Sr.
16
Harry McCall
SS
Jr.
48
Josh McWherter
LB
So.
73
Matt McWhorter
OL
Jr.
13
Tarvis Milam
QB
Fr.
54
Anthony Mitchell
LS
Fr.
34
Tabarus Mitchell
RB
Fr.
79
Dylan Mundella
OL
So.
 8
DeAngelo Nelson
TE
Sr.
65
Richard Nelson
OL
Sr.
25
Prince Nwagbara
RB
So.
50
Michael Ogbevoen
DE
R-Fr.
52
Mark Oliver
LB
So.
66
Eric Ornella
OL
Sr.
75
Nathan Partain
OL
Jr.
 5
Patrick Robertson
WR
So.
59
Will Roach
DT
Sr.
30
Ryan Robinson
FS
Fr.
71
Brock Rydecki
OL
R-Fr.
39
Blake Salter
LB
Fr.
32
Quadricous Sanford
CB
Fr.
56
Tyler Sinclair
DE
Sr.
95
Michael Sullivan
TE
Fr.
98
Lamar Theus
DT
So.
62
Roderick Tomlin
OL
R-Fr.
 4
Derrick Townsel
WR
Sr.
 7
Ja-Vonta Trotter
WR
So.
47
Robert White
SS
Fr.
83
Kendall Williams
WR
Fr.
 6
Nico  Yantko
QB
Sr.
NUMERICAL ROSTER
ALPHABETICAL  ROSTER

2009 Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Guide
44
MATT GRIFFIN
HEAD COACH
4TH SEASON (7TH OVERALL)
13-43 CAREER RECORD
3-19 AT MURRAY STATE
Birthdate:
May 9, 1968
Hometown:
Turners Falls, Mass.
College:
New Hampshire, 1992 (Political Science)
Family:
Wife - Lisa
Children - Molly, Cullen, Garrett
Career Record
Year
School
Overall
Conf. (Finish)
2003
UT Martin
2-10
1-7 (8th-t)
2004
UT Martin
2-9
1-7 (9th)
2005
UT Martin
6-5
4-4 (4th-t)
2006
Murray State
1-10
0-8 (9th)
2007
Murray State
2-9
1-7 (10th)
2008
Murray State
5-7
4-4 (5th)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
ASSISTANT COACHES
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: ........................ Mark Lister
Alma Mater: ...................... Tarleton State, 1999 (1st season)
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line: ................ Dave Wheeler
Alma Mater: .. Northwest Missouri State, 1991 (2nd season)
Special Teams/Cornerbacks: ................................. Bryan Cross
Alma Mater: .................... Campbellsville, 1993 (1st season)
Running Backs: ..................................................... Wayne Dabbs
Alma Mater: ......... Univ. of Cumberlands, 2007 (1st season)