ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College football team enters the 2010 season looking to return to its winning ways after finishing the 2009 season with a 4-6 overall record.

After losing a major portion of its 2008 squad that posted a 7-3 overall record, the Bluejays struggled at times in 2009 while fielding a very young and inexperienced team. Elmhurst head coach Tim Lester believes that the Bluejays have learned from the 2009 season.

"We knew that we were going to take our lumps at times last season," said Lester. "Experience helps teams win the games that come down to the wire and we were lacking that experience last season. Athletically, we were able to compete with almost every team in our league last year, but we came up short in the closing minutes on more than one occasion. I'm excited for this season, because we have all that athleticism back and now our players have a better understanding of what it takes to win games in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)."

The Bluejays return seven starters on offense after averaging over 346 yards per game in 2009.

Sophomore quarterback Joe Furco (Wheaton/Wheaton Warrenville South) is expected to return to his starting role after starting the final six games of the 2009 campaign. Furco finished the season passing for 1,362 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"Joe really improved as last season progressed," said Lester. "I think it takes a quarterback about five or six games to really feel comfortable running the offense. Joe seemed to settle in during the final two games of the season and I think he has the ability to develop into a quality collegiate quarterback."

Lining up behind Furco in the backfield is sophomore running back Scottie

Williams (Woodridge/Downers Grove South). Williams earned second-team all-conference honors in 2009 after rushing for a team-leading 563 yards and four scores while splitting carries. Junior Griffin Gibson (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeview) is also expected to play a role in the backfield while four incoming freshmen could also push for time.

"Scottie is coming off a very impressive freshman season and we're hoping he can build on that success," said Lester. "Griffin has really worked hard in the offseason and is in the best shape of his career."

Lester is excited with the depth that the Bluejays possess at wide receiver. Sophomore Rodney Payton is expected to return to his starting role after catching 20 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns in 2009. Lester also believes junior Joe St. Peter (West Bend, Wis./Living Word Lutheran) and sophomore Bobby Vavlas (Tarpon Springs, Fla./H.S.) are poised to contribute to the Bluejays' receiving corps. Transfers Cory Thonn (Wheaton/Wheaton North) and Brian LeSeur (Barrington/H.S.) and a half-dozen freshmen recruits could also contribute in their first year with the program.

"We're going to have a lot of talented wide receivers on the field when we start camp," said Lester. "This is probably the most athletic receiving corps we've had in a long time."

At tight end, the Bluejays return sophomore Ryan Bock (St. Joseph, Mich./H.S.) who caught nine passes for 184 yards before being shelved with an injury. Senior Sean Seroka (Chicago/Brother Rice) along with junior Josh Schmidt (Woodstock/Harvard) and sophomore Drew Dumont (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) could also push for playing time. Sophomore transfer Nick Jones (Effingham/H.S.) may also play a role for the Bluejays in his first year with the team.

Despite seeing the Bluejays' rushing yardage per game increase by over 50 yards per game last season, Lester is still aiming to see an improvement in the Bluejays' offensive line.

"We've tweaked our offensive line a great deal," said Lester. "We've shuffled some positions around, and we feel that our offensive line could develop into one of the strengths of our team."

Elmhurst returns four starters on the offensive line from the 2009 season. Sophomore Charlie Homoky (Boca Raton, Fla./West Boca) is expected to shift from right tackle to left tackle while senior Eric Personius (Sycamore/H.S.) is penciled in to move from center to right tackle. Peter Stamos (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) returns to the starting line-up at right guard. Junior Chris Kool (Defiance, Mo./Lutheran) is a two-year starter but is recuperating from offseason surgery. Sophomore Chris Kirkpatrick (Elk Grove/H.S.) is the front-runner at center, while junior Brett Virgil (St. Joseph, Mich./H.S.) will compete for the left guard position. Transfers Chris Wild (Downers Grove/Downers Grove South) and Adam Smith (Plymouth, Mich./Calvary Christian – Fla.) are also expected to push for time on the offensive line.

"Counting the transfers along with our freshmen, this is the best crop of offensive line recruits we've had in some time," said Lester.

Defensively, the Bluejays return six starters from 2009 including four seniors.

"I have an expectation that we're going to become one of the top defenses in the CCIW," said defensive coordinator Joe Adam. "We're focusing hard this season on improving our tackling and creating more turnovers to give the ball back to our offense."

Seniors Randy Wright (Bellwood/Fenwick) and Brandon Jones (Bloomingdale/Glenbard East) return to anchor the Elmhurst linebackers. Wright, an all-American in 2008, was slowed by injuries last year and still led Elmhurst in total tackles (98) tackles for loss (14) and sacks (4.5) while earning first-team all-conference honors. Jones earned second-team all-conference accolades after totaling 68 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Sophomore Wayne Tuckson (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) is expected to fill the one opening at starting linebacker after totaling 25 tackles and two sacks in limited duty last season.

"I think our linebackers will be the leading force on our defense due to their experience and athleticism. They are very quick to the ball and are hard to defend."

Sophomore Ryan Maguire (Gurnee/Warren) could also see time at linebacker after switching from wide receiver in the offseason.

The Bluejays return all four starters in the secondary. Two-time all-conference pick

(Durand/H.S.) returns at free safety after recording 46 tackles and two interceptions last season. Senior Dane Paul (Tolono/Unity) and sophomore Jamall Lane (Miramar, Fla./Everglades) return to their starting roles at cornerback. Paul, a three-year starter, led the team in pass break-ups (10) last season while Lane totaled 39 tackles and a pair of picks.

"With all four starters returning from last season, we're expecting a lot out of our secondary," said Adam. "They communicate well and they all understand their responsibilities on the field."

Sophomores Shane Meyer (Orland Park/Sandburg) and Ryan Johnson (Orland Park/Sandburg) are also expected to contribute to the Bluejays' secondary.

Elmhurst's question on defense will come in the trenches as the Bluejays lost all four starters on the defense line. Adam expects the new faces up front to improve the Bluejays' d-line in 2010.

"The defensive line plays a huge role in what we do as a defensive unit," he said. "Every coach's dream is to have a four man pass rush that puts pressure on the quarterback. Our pass rush has been very inconsistent in the past and that's something I'm expecting to see an improvement on this season."

There will be plenty of competition for starting spots on both ends of the defensive line. Adam expects juniors Jerry Beach (Forsyth/Maroa-Forsyth) and Matt Streit (Harvard/H.S.) along with sophomores Mike Ranos (Chatham/Glenwood) and Uchenna Ebiringah (Frankfort/Lincoln-Way East) to battle for the starting spots. Freshman Dan Berzon (Stoneman Douglas) could also compete for time at defensive end.

Adam is encouraged by the play of junior nose tackle Pete Alfano (Orland Park/Sandburg) and sophomore defensive tackle Jim Cullen (Frankfort/Lincoln-Way East).

"We moved some guys around on our defensive line and I think our interior linemen are more athletic and stronger this season," said Adam.

Freshman Harewood Higgs (Nassau, Bahamas/American Heritage School of Boca/Delray – Fla.) could also push for playing time at defensive tackle.

On special teams, the Bluejays lost Tyler Lomnicki, the Bluejays' career leader in extra-points and field goals, to graduation. Lester will look to senior J.R. Dalicandro (Darien/Hinsdale South) to handle the kicking game for the Bluejays. Freshman Will Tomlinson (Champaign/Centennial) will push for time at punter while freshman Trevor Spaulding (San Antonio, Texas/James Madison) will challenge for the placekicker duties.

As a whole, Lester is excited for the road that awaits the Bluejays in 2010.

"I'm very excited about how far this team can go," said Lester. "The experience and athleticism of our defense is going to play a huge roll for us this season. If our defense can keep us in the game, it gives our younger offense some time to build momentum and generate some confidence. If we're able to make the big plays in tight games that we weren't able to execute last season, then the sky is the limit for this team."

Elmhurst opens the 2010 season by traveling to Loras College on Saturday, September 4.