Head Coach: Frank Haege (Wisconsin-Stout '92; 8th season, 26-44 overall)
2011: 6-4 overall, 4-4 MIAC (t5th/9)
Starters Returning/Lost: Offense 7/4, Defense 5/6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 46/28

2012 MIAC FOOTBALL PREVIEW
2012 AUGSBURG FOOTBALL GUIDE (PDF)

For the Augsburg College football team, the road to respectability has been a steady one. After hovering around the .500 mark for the previous four seasons, the Auggies finished 6-4 overall in 2011, the team's first above.-500 finish since a 6-4 mark in the 1999 season.

Now, the quest is to stay on the respectability road, and claim back-to-back above-.500 finishes for the first time since the 1998-99 seasons. Augsburg is also aiming for improvement in its standing in the always-competitive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, after finishing 4-4 in league play in 2011.

“We had a nice season last year, and we've had a nice progression over the last five years. Hopefully, we can keep that going,” said Frank Haege, entering his eighth season as Augsburg's head coach.

The Auggies will aim for continued improvement with one of its largest rosters in recent years. Ninety-eight players will begin the 2012 season with the Auggies, including 46 returning letterwinners and 12 returning starters.

“We've had continued improvement. We're climbing the ladder,” Haege said. “We won six games last year. Obviously, we'd like to win seven or more this year. We're just trying to get better and better and win more games.”

Offense: Search for new QB
The biggest question mark entering the 2012 campaign will be who will handle the signal-calling duties in Augsburg's offense.

Over the last six years, Augsburg benefitted from stability at the quarterback position, as the two top passers in school history were under center – Jordan Berg (2006-08) and Marcus Brumm (2009-11). The duo combined to throw for 15,751 yards and 118 touchdowns during the last six seasons.

Seven quarterbacks are in the hunt to be the next starter for the Auggies, including returners Tim Lund (SR, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS), Steve Harvey (JR, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) and Tyler Woodward (SO, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS).

Four newcomers enter the quarterback fray. Ayrton Scott (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest HS) was a two-time all-conference selection and both a Minnesota Mr. Football finalist and Vikings All-State selection in 2010. Nick Liebelt (FY, Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights, Minn.) was an all-conference selection in high school, while Cole Steagall (FY, Eau Claire, Wis./Regis HS) was an honorable-mention all-conference pick. Ali Kanan (FY, Osseo, Minn.), who played for former Auggie great Derrin Lamker at Osseo, is also in the quarterback race.

While there are question marks at the quarterback position, there is decent depth at the skill positions, which should give the new quarterbacks plenty of targets this season.

Perhaps the most depth on the team comes at a surprising position for a traditional “pass first” team -- running back. The Auggies gained 1,283 yards on the ground in 2011, the most team rushing yards for an Auggie squad since 2004.


Waylon Hartwick (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) has proved to be a dual threat, both as a rusher and receiver, and will bolster the rushing attack. Phil Putratz (JR, Mazeppa, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS) returns to the offensive side of the football after spending last year as a linebacker. He gained 524 yards on 120 carries as a running back in 2010. Alex Obanor (SO, Fischers, Ind./Marian Catholic (Ill.) HS) also returns as a running back.

Several newcomers will also figure into the running back mix. Erickson Saye (FY, Fridley, Minn.) earned North Suburban Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2009 and was a two-time all-conference honoree. Joshua Monson (FY, Grasston, Minn./Pine City HS) was an all-conference runner in high school. Michael Busch (FY, Eagan, Minn.) was an all-conference honorable-mention selection, as was Derek Ruff (FY, Shoreview, Minn./Totino-Grace HS).


Starting wide receivers Tyler Swanson (JR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) and Chris Osborn (SR, Eagan, Minn.) return, along with Wesley Waytashek (SR, Little Falls, Minn.) and Jordan Freeman (JR, Northfield, Minn.). Swanson caught 28 passes for 400 yards, while Waytashek had 12 receptions for 192 yards. Jerise Washington (SO, Roseville, Minn./Mounds View HS), who filled in at running back when Maxwell was sidelined with an injury last season, will move to wide receiver, and joins returners Cameron Krugerud (SR, Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) and Heath Anderson (SO, Clearwater, Fla.). Corey Blexrud (FY, Savage, Minn./Burnsville HS) is back after each missing last season due to injury.

A host of newcomers will compete for receiving time, including Marcus Buls (JR, Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus HS), who transfers from Iowa Central Community College; all-conference recipients Michael Kantor (FY, Columbia Heights, Minn.), Dillon Miller (FY, Buffalo, Minn.) and Gregory Mitchell (FY, Sheldon, Wis./Flambeau HS); and all-conference honorable-mention recipients Cyrus Elliott (FY, Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS) and Luke Erickson (FY, Chippewa Falls, Wis.). Newcomers Robert Harper (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights HS), Jesse Rennicke (FY, Comstock, Wis./Luck HS) and Zach Waala (FY, Pewaukee, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran HS) also join the receiving corps, along with tight ends Elliot Kleinman (SO, Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest HS), Bob Rose (FY, Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson HS) and Scott Bossard (FY, North Branch, Minn.) Kleinman and Rose were both all-conference high school selections. Bossard joins the Auggies after transferring from Division II Minnesota-Duluth. He earned all-conference honors twice in high school.

Three starters return to a veteran offensive line that surrendered just 14 sacks last season, the second-fewest in the MIAC in overall statistics.

All-MIAC second-team selection Chad Thompson (JR, Maple Grove, Minn.) and senior co-captains Brian Rud (SR, Lonsdale, Minn./Montgomery-Lonsdale HS) and Eric Dooley (SR, Eagan, Minn.) anchor the offensive line, along with key returners Jake Gagne (SR, Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS) and Matthew Anderson-Jones (SR, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation HS). Nick Crayne (SO, Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul HS), Brandon Johnson (JR, Hopkins, Minn./Roseville HS) and Cory Strasser (JR, Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park HS) return, along with Eric Alfuth (FY, North Prairie, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial HS) and Luke Gaudette (FY, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS).

Matt Green (FY, Victoria, Minn./Holy Family Catholic HS) transfers to the Auggies after competing in a season of track at Minnesota-Duluth. He was an all-conference honorable-mention selection in his high school days. Zach Swingen (FY, Cross Plains, Wis./Middleton HS) was also an honorable-mention all-conference pick, while Dan Beyel (FY, Richfield, Minn.), Mac Kittelson (FY, Monticello, Minn.) and Jack McLoone (FY, Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd HS) earned all-conference honors. Bryson Vasey (FY, Sebeka, Minn./United North Central HS) was a two-time all-conference pick. Tyler Crawford (FY, Owatonna, Minn.) and Theo Marcil (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry HS) will also compete for time on the offensive line.

Defense: Depth in secondary
The Auggie defense may be strongest in the secondary, where several key players return to the lineup.

Kaleb Williams (SR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) returns as a starting safety. Williams was a steady presence in the defensive backfield, recording 18 tackles (10 solo) and a fumble recovery.

Cornerbacks Avery Dorsett (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) and Paye Tengben (JR, Fridley, Minn.) also return, along with Shep Sonstegard (SR, Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman HS). Fabien Dubbe (SO, New Prague, Minn.) will shift to the defensive backfield after spending last year on the defensive line.

Hakeem Bourne-McFarlane (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS), who caught 44 passes for 643 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver last year, will now try to prevent pass receptions as a defensive back. He joins two transfers in the backfield -- Brandon Hunter (SO, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins HS) from Division II Concordia-St. Paul and Horace Terry (JR, Tavares, Fla.) from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Hunter was an all-conference selection in high school, while Terry was a Minnesota Community College All-Northern Division honorable-mention selection in 2010.

Newcomers Zach Erdman (FY, Elysian, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown HS) and Andy Haataja (FY, Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato HS) were all-conference high school selections. Denzel Anderson (FY, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) was an all-conference honorable-mention selection in high school, as was Luke Anderson (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy HS) and #R.J. Cervenka# (FY, Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice HS). Julean Gale (FY, Eagan, Minn.) also joins the Auggie defensive backfield.


Other returners in the linebacking corps include Enrico Barrozo (JR, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), Andrew Lund (JR, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS), Raesean Sneed (SO, Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern HS), Daric Thomas (SO, St. Paul, Minn./Como Park HS) and Marques Townsend (JR, Minneapolis, Minn/Southwest HS).

Felix Coleman (SO, Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson HS) shifts from his safety spot to linebacker this season. Coleman had a strong initial campaign with the Auggies, recording 63 tackles (34 solo) and a team-best five interceptions – second-most among MIAC players in overall statistics and the most for an Auggie in a single season since 2007.

Bryce Nelson (FY, New Brighton, Minn./St. Anthony Village HS), a 2011 all-conference selection and 2010 all-conference honorable-mention selection, is among the team's newcomers at linebacker. Scott Cooper (SO, St. Charles, Mich./Michigan Lutheran HS) transfers to the Auggies from Martin Luther College. Jean Dumas (FY, Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough HS) was a Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough County honorable-mention selection in 2011. Alan Medina-Gonzalez (FY, Woodbury, Minn./Tartan HS) earned all-conference honors in high school. Connor Schulz (FY, Lake City, Minn.) and Hector Camarena (FY, Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights HS) will also contend for time at linebacker.


Lincoln Buege (JR, Rochester, Minn./Century HS), Andrew Swanson (JR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS), Sean Crayne (SR, Trimont, Minn./Martin County West HS) and Chris McCollom (SR, Rochester, Minn./Century HS) will all be expected to contribute this season on the defensive line, along with fellow returners Dustin Buhr (SO, Byron, Minn.), Chris DeVet (SO, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS), Jake Corrigan (SR, Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) and Tanner Wiseman (SO, Lakeville, Minn./ Lakeville North HS). John Milam (JR, Sartell, Minn.) and Tyler Sis (SO, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo HS) will shift from linebacker to defensive line this season.

Spencer Corey (SO, Roberts, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS) transfers to Augsburg from Itasca Community College, where he earned All-MCCC second-team honors in 2011. Sean Adams (FY, Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS) was an all-conference selection in high school, and joins Joshua Orth (FY, Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) as newcomers on the defensive line. Offensive lineman Vasey will also see time on the defensive line this season.


Two newcomers could challenge for special teams duties -- Dillon Miller (FY, Buffalo, Minn.) and Quinn Tradup (SO, Plainview, Minn./Plainview-Elgin-Millville HS). Miller was a 2010 all-conference selection in high school.

Bourne-McFarlane and Putratz are expected to handle the bulk of return duties for the Auggies. Bourne-McFarlane averaged 18.1 yards per-kick return and 10.1 yards per-punt return last season.