Buffalo 2012 Recruiting

Buffalo Bulls 2012 ... Head Coach: Jeff Quinn

Buffalo Bulls

2011 Record: 3-9

Sep. 3 at Pitt L 36-16
Sep. 10 Stony Brook W 35-7
Sep. 17 at Ball State L 28-25
Sep. 24 Connecticut L 17-3
Oct. 1 at Tennessee L 41-10
Oct. 8 Ohio W 38-37
Oct. 15 at Temple L 34-0
Oct. 22 Northern Illinois W 31-30
Oct. 29 at Miami Univ. L 41-13
Nov. 5 OPEN DATE
Nov. 12 at Eastern Mich L 30-17
Nov. 19 Akron W 51-10
Nov. 25 Bowling Green L 42-28

2010 CFN Prediction: 5-7
2010 Record: 2-10

Sept. 2 Rhode Island W 31-0
Sept. 11 at Baylor L 34-6
Sept. 18 UCF L 24-10
Sept. 25 at Connecticut L 45-21
Oct. 2 at Bowling Green W 28-26
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 at No. Illinois L 45-14
Oct. 23 Temple L 42-0
Oct. 30 Miami Univ. L 21-9
Nov. 4 at Ohio L 34-17
Nov. 12 Ball State L 20-3
Nov. 20 Eastern Mich L 21-17
Nov. 26 at Akron L 22-14
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The Entire 2012 Recruiting Class

Top 5 Buffalo Recruits To Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. QB Collin Michael
6-6, 235, Scout.com 41st ranked, three-star quarterback

2. DT Corey Madlock
6-4, 280, Scout.com 77th ranked, three-star defensive tackle

3. OT Robert Riche
6-6, 275, Scout.com 80th ranked, three-star offensive tackle

4. OT Jaden Cotton
6-5, 291, Scout.com 151st ranked offensive tackle

5. QB Mason Schreck
6-5, 215, Scout.com 104th ranked quarterback.

The 2012 Class Was Heavy On... The passing game is getting the attention with more options coming in to push for the job in the near future. There are some players already in place, including part-time starter Alex Zordich, but the Bulls need an upgrade. Turner Gill went after quarterbacks and receivers a few years ago, and Jeff Quinn is looking down the road when that class matures. Improving the secondary is also needed, and Quinn is bringing in enough to address the losses to come in 2014.

Team Concerns For 2012: The Bulls have to do more defensively on a consistent basis, and that should come with eight starters returning. However, free safety Josh Copeland was a key all-around run stopper, serving as an extra linebacker, and tackle Richie Smith was the team’s most experienced defender. QB Chazz Anderson didn’t set the world on fire, but he had a decent season.

Looking Ahead To The 2012 Season: The Bulls fell off the map defensively last year, but it should be a bit better with five starters back including great-looking pass rusher Khalil Mack and active end Colby Way. The offense needs more consistency and punch, and it’ll start with finding a new starting quarterback – likely Alex Zordich – to take over. RB Branden Oliver should have a huge year working behind a line that gets four starters back.

The 2011 Class Was Heavy On … Defensive linemen. After focusing more on trying to get the passing game going last year, and beefing up the offensive line, this year’s class is about trying to upgrade the defensive front. There’s nice bulk coming in with the 272-pound Kendall Patterson and the 285-pound Patrick Williams to clog things up, while Joe Feliecia and Brandon Tammaro are dangerous prospects for the outside. JUCO transfer Wyatt Cahill will play right away at one end.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 109. That Class Was Heavy On ... The passing game. Turner Gill had loaded up with so many big classes that the program didn't just go light last year, but it didn't need a whole bunch this year, either. New head coach Jeff Quinn was looking for guys he could develop, and Rudy Johnson might be the quarterback of the future if he doesn't move to another spot. RB James Potts might be an instant impact performer, while there are some nice receiver prospects to get excited about.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 115. That Class Was Heavy On ... Offensive line. The small class didn’t get much in the way of bulk talent, but a few decent offensive linemen, especially at guard, are coming in to build for the future. There aren’t a lot of holes to fill right away with depth already built in from the last two classes, and this class showed it.

Nov. 25 Bowling Green 42 … at Buffalo 28
(AP) AMHERST, N.Y. -- Matt Schilz threw for four touchdowns to help Bowling Green rally and beat Buffalo 42-28 Saturday in the season finale for both teams.

Schilz gave Bowling Green (5-7, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) a 21-20 lead on his 19-yard strike to Eugene Cooper with 23 seconds remaining in the first half. The Falcons then took a commanding 35-20 lead behind touchdown runs by John Pettigrew and Jamel Martin. Schilz capped off the scoring burst with a 64-yard bomb to Kamar Jorden to take a 42-20 lead with 45 seconds left to play in the third quarter.

Buffalo (3-9, 2-6) did not reach the end zone again until Chazz Anderson's 7-yard touchdown run with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter.

Schilz finished with 236 yards passing on 14-of-31 attempts. Cooper was his favorite receiver, grabbing six passes for 90 yards.

Branden Oliver led the way for Buffalo, tallying 127 yards on 34 carries.

Nov. 19 at Buffalo 51 … Akron 10

Nov. 12 at Eastern Michigan 30 … Buffalo 17

Oct. 29 at Miami Univ. 41 … Buffalo 13  

Oct. 22 Northern Illinois 31 … at Buffalo 30  

Oct. 15 at Temple 34 … Buffalo 0
CFN Analysis: Temple is playing at a whole other level. That’s a very, very good Buffalo defense that Temple ran for 400 yards on, with Bernard Pierce taking off for 152 yards and two scores and Matt Brown running for 120 yards and a score. Meanwhile, the defense came up with one of the best games of the season failing to allow much of anything. Buffalo wasn’t in the game from the start as the Temple O line took the life out of the defense with hard run after hard run, holding on to the ball for over 39 minutes. If the offense and defense weren’t playing well enough, the punting game was also terrific with Brandon McManus averaging over 59 yards per kick putting two inside the 20.  

Oct. 8 at Buffalo 38 … Ohio 37
CFN Analysis: This wasn’t just a nice win to stop the three-game losing streak; this was a good win over a solid Ohio team. Chazz Anderson was fantastic, throwing for 343 yards and two scores, and Branden Oliver ran wild for 179 yards and three scores on a normally stout Bobcat run defense. The UB defense came up with just enough nice plays late to force field goals instead of touchdowns, and the offense got the big plays needed highlighted by a 90-yard pass play to Ed Young. The team proved if could play a little big after two bad weeks against UConn and Tennessee, but now comes a trip to Temple. If UB can be competitive, consider it a step forward.  

Oct. 1 at Tennessee 41 … Buffalo 10
CFN Analysis: Going on long, sustained drives is going to be a problem for the Bulls, and there weren’t any long marches against Tennessee. The Bulls had the ball for fewer than 22 minutes with Chazz Anderson having a hard time moving the chains against a rested defense looking to come up with a good game. The UB QBs combined to complete 10-of-25 passes for 116 yards, and outside of a 68-yard touchdown dash from Anderson, there wasn’t anything coming from the ground game. With Ohio up next, the defensive front has to be tighter and Anderson has to connect on his third-down throws. 

Sept. 24 Connecticut 17 ... at Buffalo 3
CFN Analysis: The Bulls can’t come away empty from any promising trips; the offense just isn’t good enough. Chazz Anderson was able to move the offense with his legs as well as his arm, and there were three shots at points that came up empty, misfiring inside the red zone with a tough pick and a missed field goal as part of the problems. The defense has been solid and aggressive, and the offense is moving the ball. The points aren’t coming and there aren’t enough game-changing plays. If the secondary can stay strong against Tennessee, it won’t be an ugly blowout, but all focus has to be to figure out how to start converting drives into points before dealing with Ohio.

Sept. 17 at Ball State 28 ... Buffalo 25
CFN Analysis: Just when it seemed like Buffalo had a chance to finally turn around the Jeff Quinn era, it couldn’t come up with a defensive stop. The running game was fine with Branden Oliver running well, and Chazz Anderson had a nice all-around game, but the D missed on one last Ball State drive and now it’s a 1-2 start with UConn up next and Tennessee to follow. Khalil Mack made 11 tackles and two tackles for loss, and Jaleel Verser was excellent. Unless UB comes up with something special, it won’t have a chance to win another game until mid-November when it goes to Eastern Michigan. 

Sept. 10 at Buffalo 35 … Stony Brook 7  

Sept. 3 at Pitt 36 … Buffalo 16
CFN Analysis: Buffalo did almost everything right against the Panthers, but the offense forgot to score. Chazz Anderson threw it 49 times and Branden Oliver hammered out a tough 114 yards on 35 carries, but the points didn’t come despite long drive after long drive. Linebacker Khalil Mack had a terrific game with five tackles, a sack, a tackle for los, and a forced fumble, and the defense battled well, but it got shoved around way too easily and the Pitt ground game controlled the action – when it had the ball. The Bulls came up with a good effort, and it should be able to roll against Stony Brook next week, but after a disastrous offensive year, the offense has to find some way to get in the end zone to take advantage of every opportunity.