GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College football team returns 18 total starters and numerous other key contributors to an experienced nucleus as the Wolverines look to repeat as Presidents' Athletic Conference champions in 2024. Head coach Andrew DiDonato welcomes back 44 lettermen from last year's 11-1 campaign that concluded in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
  Ten starters return to a veteran offensive unit that averaged 33.3 points per game in 2023. Of those 10 men, nine are fourth-year or fifth-player players in the Grove City program.

Four starters return from an offensive line that allowed only four sacks in 12 games last season. Senior All-Region performer Brady Brungard (New Middletown, Ohio/Springfield Local) returns for his fourth season as the Wolverines' starting center. A First Team All-PAC selection in 2023 and 2024 team co-captain, Brungard will anchor the veteran quintet.

Fifth-year senior guard Nathan Brady (Birdsboro, Pa./Exeter Township) returns for his fourth fall season after capturing All-PAC Honorable Mention in 2023. Brady has been a stalwart at left guard since the spring 2021 season and will again be a key part of the line's interior.

Grove City returns its starting tackles in senior Dalton Foore (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) and senior Dylan Lane (Pendergrass, Ga./Mill Creek). Both men have earned All-Conference recognition during their respective careers. The Wolverines also welcome back junior tackle Luke Jollie (Jeannette, Pa./Penn Trafford), who started the final four games of 2023 after an injury to Lane.

Senior center/guard Brock Carroll (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) has played extensively on the interior of the line and will push for a starting spot. Senior guard Mason Moorhead (Eugene, Ore./Marist) will also compete for a spot in the front five after lettering in each of the last two seasons.

Junior tackle Nathan Trainer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton La Salle) and sophomore guard Bobby Benton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) are also back in the offensive line mix. Both men have starting experience at Grove City.

The offensive line will look to again provide running lanes for senior running back Nico Flati (Aliquippa, Pa./West Allegheny), who led the conference with 1,234 yards last year. An All-Region honoree, Flati enters his fourth season as a starter in the backfield. He ranks third all-time at Grove City with 2,756 yards. 

Junior Ian Demeri (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Trafford) ran for 226 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman in 2022. He is expected to hold an expanded role in the ground attack this fall. 

Fifth-year senior Robert Tamburrino (Rock Creek, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) returns for his final season at fullback. An All-PAC performer, Tamburrino has excelled as a lead blocker in the running game as well as in pass protection.

Junior Anthony Brunette (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) also saw extensive action at fullback in 2023 as an integral part of the "heavy" package. He is a two-year letterman. Meanwhile, senior Evan Wright (West Alexander, Pa./McGuffey) will also compete for time at fullback this year after seeing some duty in his first three seasons.

Senior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) returns for his third year as the pilot of Grove City's balanced offensive attack. A 2024 team tri-captain, Pfeuffer has thrown for 4,302 yards and 39 touchdowns in his career while twice earning All-PAC recognition. Pfeuffer engineered game-winning drives last year in wins at Case Western Reserve and at Susquehanna. He led the conference in passing in 2022.

Strong-armed junior Ethan Wiley (Mercer, Pa./Mercer) will compete with several sophomores and newcomers for the backup post.

Grove City's top four receiving targets also return for 2024. Fifth-year senior Scott Fraser (Butler, Pa./Knoch) caught 74 passes for 1,038 yards and 10 scores in 2023. An All-PAC and All-Region honoree during his career, Fraser ranks second all-time at the College with 206 receptions and 2,996 receiving yards. He has also earned preseason All-America distinction prior to the 2024 season.

Six-foot-three senior Ryan Heckathorn (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) returns for his final season after catching 30 balls for 492 yards and five scores in 2023. The fifth-year performer will likely again see time both at outside receiver and in the slot.

Senior Ryan Lenhart (New Castle, Pa./Shenango), a 6-4, 250-pounder, also returns at receiver after taking on an increased role in 2023. He caught touchdown passes in each of Grove City's playoff games and also provides a physical presence in the running game.

Sophomore Daniel Sullivan (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) emerged as one of the conference's top newcomers in 2023, as he averaged 23.9 yards per reception. He ranked third on the team with 15 catches and 358 receiving yards.

Seniors Cole Beck (Rochester, Pa./Freedom), Dalton Bish (Fairmount City, Pa./Redbank Valley) and Andrew Coffee (Salem, Ohio/West Branch) are among the candidates battling for time at wide receiver.
The 2023 Wolverines led the Presidents' Athletic Conference with 36 quarterback sacks while also ranking second in the league in allowing only 2.6 yards per carry and 76.6 rushing yards per game. Six starters return in Grove City's front seven, including all three starters on the defensive line.

Senior All-Region honoree Bryce Spolnik (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and junior Jordan Karczewski (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) return at the end spots while senior Kobe Bonanno (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley) returns at nose tackle.

A three-year starter up front, Spolnik racked up five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2023. On the other side, Karczewski had 34 total stops and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2023, his first year as a starter. Bonanno moved into the starting lineup last year after seeing ample action as a reserve in his first two seasons. The 285-pounder earned All-PAC Honorable Mention after tallying 38 tackles in 2023.

Junior Joseph Semelka (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) inherited Bonanno's role as the fourth lineman in 2023 and returns for his second season on the defensive line. He played in all 12 games last year and will compete for a greater role this autumn.

Sophomore David Cowher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) and junior Jason Domenick (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) are also expected to contend for time in the front three.

Juniors Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) and Jack Jollie (Jeannette, Pa./Penn Trafford) both return as starting linebackers after superlative sophomore seasons. Bladel earned All-America, All-Region and PAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 after recording a program-record 17 quarterback sacks.

Bladel also forced four fumbles, blocked two kicks, recorded 24.5 tackles for loss and broke up seven passes last season. The 2022 conference Newcomer of the Year, Bladel ranks second in program history with 23.5 career sacks.

Jollie took over as Grove City's starting middle linebacker in 2023 and finished as the team's leading tackler with 91 stops. He added three sacks and an interception during his first year as a starter.

At outside linebacker, versatile senior Jason Muench (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) moved into the starting lineup early in the season and finished with 54 tackles. An All-PAC lacrosse player, Muench also had six pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 2023. Muench could also start in the secondary. He made one start at free safety and one start at cornerback in 2023. Muench is a three-year letterman.

Senior Seth Rosenberry (Elliottsburg, Pa./West Perry) and junior Micah Walizer (Loganton, Pa./Central Mountain) are among the leading contenders for the other starting linebacker spot. Senior Jarrell Simpkins (Halethorpe, Md./Landsdowne) also aims to break into the lineup in 2024.

Junior newcomer Caleb Brubaker (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) is expected to challenge for a starting spot at linebacker in 2024.

Junior cornerback Boden Davidson (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian) is Grove City's lone returning starter from 2023 in the secondary. Davidson, a Grove City lacrosse standout, shared the team lead with three interceptions last season. However, the Wolverines return two men who started in the defensive backfield two years ago: senior Jack Steinmetz (Philadelphia, Pa./Malvern Prep) and junior Ryan Montgomery (Harrisville, Pa./Slippery Rock).

Steinmetz started all 11 games at cornerback in 2022 and aims to reclaim a starting spot this year. He had two interceptions and five pass breakups as a sophomore. Montgomery started nine games as a freshman in 2022, then started the 2023 season opener before being sidelined by injury. Like Muench, Montgomery could start at either safety position or outside linebacker.

Senior Shay Aitken (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) made one start in 2023 and is expected to have an even greater role in the defensive backfield this fall. Senior special teams ace Trenten Rupp (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley) and junior Nick Heltzel (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) are also in the mix at cornerback.

Junior Keagan Fraser (Butler, Pa./Knoch), sophomore Jase Herrick (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) and sophomore Hayden McCreadie (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) are all returning lettermen at safety.
Grove City returns senior punter Dan Berube (Chesapeake, Va./Greenbrier Christian) to help lead the special teams. Berube forced 16 fair catches and did not have a touchback in his 32 punts last season. 

Berube will also hold for Sullivan, who will take over as placekicker in 2024. Sophomore Devon Thomas (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) will push Sullivan. 

Aitken and Davidson have both returned kicks during their respective Grove City careers. Junior wide receiver Derrick Lambert (Denver, Pa./Garden Spot) has the inside track to snap.
 
Grove City opens its 10-game schedule Saturday, September 7 by hosting Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Geneva at 1 p.m.