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Athlon Sports
Buffalo Football: 2024 Bulls Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
22 days ago
Buffalo has a lot of moving pieces for new head coach Pete Lembo, who had a five-year run in the MAC at Ball State and went 33-29. There will likely be some personnel movement in the summer as the Bulls have some inexperience, especially on offense. Bowl eligibility would be a significant accomplishment for Lembo in Year 1.
Buffalo will need to break in several new skill players behind a veteran offensive line. Quarterback CJ Ogbonna played in eight games as a reserve in 2023 and ran more than he threw. Ogbonna finished with 51 carries for 214 yards and three TDs, while he threw just 21 passes, completing eight for 87 yards and a touchdown. A pair of productive junior college transfers are also in the QB mix, with Gunnar Gray and Richie Watts putting up big numbers in previous stops.
At running back, Al-Jay Henderson is the likely starter and ran for 301 yards in 2022, but he fell off in 2023 and hopes to find his previous level. Jacqez Barksdale is the leading returning rusher with 248 yards and two touchdowns in his first season at Buffalo.
Buffalo lost its top five pass-catchers. Nik McMillan saw his season end after seven games, but he had 13 catches for 180 yards and is the team’s leading returning receiver. Tight end Jake Orlando also had his season ended early, but he started the first four games and should be the top tight end.
Tyler Doty, a third-team All-MAC selection, is one of three returning starters on the offensive line. This will be his third season starting. Tackle Isaiah Wright transferred to Maryland after spring practice and is a big loss for this group.
Defensive tackle George Wolo returns to anchor the defensive line and is an all-league candidate. Defensive end C.J. Bazile has 4.5 career sacks and started every game last season.
The linebacker unit received an unexpected boost after spring practice when Shaun Dolac opted to return after a spring at Utah State. He should be one of the MAC's top linebackers in '24. Red Murdock and Dion Crawford also have the position in good hands. Murdock won the starting job halfway through last season and finished third on the team in tackles with 60 and forced four fumbles. Crawford started twice as a true freshman last season.
Sixth-year senior safety Marcus Fuqua is back to lead the defensive backfield. He had seven interceptions in 2022 and has 33 career starts. Corner Jayden Oliver had a really good spring, and sophomore Charles McCartherens won the job as a true freshman and finished with nine starts and three interceptions at the other corner.
Punter Anthony Venneri averaged 43 yards as a freshman and 43.8 as a sophomore and was expected to be one of the MAC's top punter in '24. However, he transferred to Ohio State after spring practice. At kicker, UMass transfer Cameron Carson should take over. He was 32-for-49 on field goals in three years but 0-for-6 from beyond 50.
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