Aug. 26, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - While Stony Brook's 2008 football team may have a new quarterback at the helm this season, he will have plenty of experience in the backfield with him to turn to. The Seawolves' running attack has the potential to be one of the best in the Big South as it returns its top three backs from the 2007 squad.

Stony Brook typically goes with a one-back set and in that position the Seawolves return a pair of players who arguably form the best tandem of running backs in the Big South Conference. Just a junior, Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.) has led Stony Brook in rushing in each of his first two years and already has his name among the all-time rushing leaders in the record book. A proven and durable back, he has the ability to find the holes that the offensive line opens and exploit them, last season to the tune of 940 yards. Included in that total was a 204-yard game at Albany that was one of four 100-yard efforts during the season.

Senior Brandon Mason (Phillipsburg, N.J.) compliments Cuttino perfectly with his more physical style of running. In his first year with the Seawolves in 2007 he finished with 651 yards and led the team with seven rushing touchdowns, putting a pair of 100-yards games into the books.

Stony Brook also returns its No. 3 rusher from a year ago in sophomore Rock Contardi (Melbourne, Fla.). A converted safety, he had a solid season as a back-up, averaging 5.2 yards per carry out of the backfield. A standout local player who could see some action this season as a true freshman is Eddie Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.). The Suffolk County player of the year in 2006, he prepped at Bridgton Academy in Maine last season where he ran for 1,100 yards, giving him three straight 1,000-yard seasons coming into his first year at Stony Brook.

Talent at the position does not stop there. Stony Brook has three other backs on the team, all with experience with the SBU offense, that will make the position a deep one for the Seawolves. Junior Tarrant Anderson (Englewood, N.J.) and sophomores Aaron Hale (Plainfield, N.J.) and Brandon Trahan (Houston, Texas) all have game experience with Stony Brook that will be available to the squad in 2008.

"Running back should probably be the strongest position on our offense based on the talent we have in the program," observed Priore. "We bring back our two leading rushers in Conte Cuttino and Brandon Mason, who, unfortunately, were injured at various times during the year and we didn't really have them both at full speed at any time after the first game. This probably is our deepest position on offense and is likely the most talented when you talk about our ability to be successful."