Quartet of runners vie for chance to continue backfield tradition

In recent history, Penn has thrived on handing the ball off to any number of bulldozers in the backfield.

Be it Kris Ryan, who graduated two years ago with a program record 3,181 career rushing yards.

Or Jim Finn, who set the Quakers' single season rushing record in his senior year of 1998.

Exactly 10 years ago, Terrance Stokes laced up his cleats and shredded through the Princeton defense for 272 yards in a contest, also a Penn record.

Led by now-graduated Stephen Faulk, last year's Quakers upheld the tradition of trusty tailbacks with a consistent 112.2 yards per game, almost 60 more than their opponents.

"I think anytime you lose a guy who was the predominant starter the year before there's going to be a bit of a battle," senior back Jake Perskie said. "As long as we get the job done, that's what's important."

Penn coach Al Bagnoli will have the option of using Perskie, junior Mike Recchiuti, sophomore Kyle Ambrogi and Navy-transfer Sam Matthews.

"It hasn't sorted itself out yet," Bagnoli said. "We're hoping that we'll get somebody to step up and provide a certain level of productivity that we're used to.... We've had some very good tailbacks. Hopefully one of them can develop into somebody like that."

Recchiuti returns after finishing second in team rushing last season, including racing for 56 yards on eight carries on a rain-drenched Villanova field.

The junior is currently recovering from an injured hamstring. He is continuing his physical therapy from the summer, which included trips to Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia.

Currently working with Penn's trainers doing different misdirection drills and other exercises to strengthen his lateral movement, Recchiuti feels confident that he will be able to contribute when the season opens Sept. 20 against Duquesne.

Perskie will join Recchiuti as the other veteran option for Bagnoli, as he looks to add to his 163-yard season last year. The Somers Point, N.J.-native is also coming off an injury, but feels that he is already back to 100-percent.

After spending the majority of his freshman season on the sideline, Ambrogi hopes to break into the running back rotation this year and prove why he was such a valued recruit out of Philadelphia's Saint Joseph's Prep. Ambrogi was named Philadelphia's High School Player of the Year as a senior in 2001.

After a year of adapting to collegiate football, Ambrogi has returned to Franklin Field a knowledgeable player, in sharp contrast to the wide-eyed freshman he was a year prior.

"Last year I was completely lost in meetings and I got real flustered and confused," Ambrogi said. "Right now you know you know your stuff and it gives you an overall picture of what's going on.

"It's a new environment...It can be intimidating or confusing, so you have to have confidence in your abilities."

Though not a newcomer to collegiate football, Matthews -- a sophomore -- enters the mix this year new to Penn, after rushing for 80 yards on 12 attempts last year for Navy.

Bagnoli has not made any decisions yet on who will get the bulk of the carries. After all, the athletes just arrived back to practice last week.

And while this year's batch of runners might not include a Finn or Ryan, the quartet has natural talent and the advantage of running behind five returning starters at offensive line.

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