Without Macik, Rouse and Tonnelli, Penn will lool to a new cast of wideouts and tights ends "Of course, I would have liked to play a lot last year, but everyone has their role." This time the words belong to Erik Thompson, Penn's senior wide receiver, but in reality, this sentiment could have been expressed by any of the players expected to be on the end of quarterback Steve Teodecki's passes this season. On paper, the wide-outs and tight ends face a Herculean task -- fill the shoes of all-Ivy receiver Felix Rouse, all-Ivy tight end Matt Tonelli and, of course, All-American receiver Miles Macik. Among them, the three accounted for roughly 65 percent of Penn's passing offense last season. Despite this, the Quakers receivers deny that any undo pressure is on them in succeeding the graduates. "I don't think that it's a pressure thing," Penn senior wide receiver Mark Fabish said. "Actually, I'm anxious. I'm ready to accept more of a role as one of the go-to receivers." Fabish, the top returning wide-out with 18 catches last season, will be expected to do just that. The 5-foot-10, 166-pounder from North Jersey's Bergen Catholic High School brings a new element of speed, until now mostly seen in his punt and kick returning, to the receiving corps. "He's a guy we have to get the ball to," Quakers wide receivers coach Rick Ulrich said. "He's got speed well enough that we can get the ball downfield to him, [but] we'll also look to get the ball to him short because of his running ability." The other projected starter is Thompson, who caught just five passes last season. The coaches see the 6-foot senior from Garfield Heights, Ohio as a player in the Felix Rouse mold -- like Fabish -- capable of making big plays. This year is his chance to make an impact, after three years of waiting. "It was definitely tough, but I was never discouraged," Thompson said. "Not getting enough playing time made me work harder to get more playing time." In addition to the speedy starters, Penn will look to possession receiver John James. At 6-foot-1, 221 pounds, the junior from Rego Park, N.Y., will look to utilize his size against the small defensive backs of the Ivy League. "Being my size, I like to use my body more than other players," James said. "So I can go down 15 [yards], close a guy up and get a few more grudge yards rather than speed yards." Other returnees include senior U-back Greg Karcich and senior receiver Brian Bonanno. Bonanno averaged an amazing 43 yards per catch in 1995, although the feat loses some of its luster when you consider he only had one reception. Also expected to see time at wide-out is Aman Abye, one of Penn's two featured running backs. The coaching staff has no fixed plan regarding Abye's use as a receiver, preferring to let game situations dictate. Penn coach Al Bagnoli stresses the importance of using Abye "intelligently" in his dual role so as not to burn him out. The task of succeeding Tonelli at tight end will be up to Travis Arbogast. If anyone could get squeezed out of the offense this season it figures to be the tight ends, who will be competing with a strong ground game and the wide receivers for balls. "It's true that our run game is definitely strong, but at the same time, we've implemented a bootleg, which is driven to getting the tight end some balls," Arbogast said. Still, expect plenty of run blocking for Arbogast and position-mates Steve Gross and John Ricchio. The relative inexperience of the receivers, as well as the loss of quarterback Mark DeRosa to professional baseball, has fueled speculation that Penn will move to a ground-oriented attack in 1996. Not so, says Bagnoli. "We cannot be an effective offense unless we can throw the football," Bagnoli said. And catch it, too.
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