Sept. 2, 2009

Stony Brook, N.Y. - With fall football practice now in full swing for the Stony Brook University Seawolves, GoSeawolves.org will present a position by position look at the 2009 team during the course of fall camp. Today the Stony Brook offensive line will be featured.

A strength of the team a year ago, the Stony Brook offensive line should again be a solid unit for the Seawolves. The unit will have to replace the left guard and tackle positions where a pair of three-year starters graduated, but the remainder of the group returns for 2009 and will provide a strong base to build from. In 2008 the offensive front cleared the way for a ground game that ranked No. 9 in the nation while ranking among the top-40 in sacks allowed. With a blend of experience and talent the offensive front should be solid again in 2009.

The right side of the line will be the most experienced, with seniors Jeff Santos (Irvine, Calif.) and Chris Pugliese (Medford, N.Y.) returning after starting all of last season at tackle and guard respectively. Both have played extensively for the past two seasons, with the duo combining to start every game but one last season and seeing action in every game but two over the past two seasons.

Winning the starting job at center midway through his freshman season, Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.) returns to the position in 2009 as the most experienced lineman in terms of starts for Stony Brook. He has started 16 straight games for the Seawolves at center, the longest starting streak on offense for the squad.

A trio of players, senior Markell Watson (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior Emmett Phillips (West Hartford, Conn.) and sophomore Mario Dattilo (Centereach, N.Y.) have all been with the program for at least two years and will have their names in the mix for larger roles this season.

One spot to look to when searching for potential starters comes from a group of five players who come to Stony Brook with previous experience at other schools. Juniors Brian Crew (Galt, Calif.) and Phillip Vournazos (Buena Park, Calif.) come to the Seawolves from the California junior college ranks where both were all-conference selections and joined the team in January. Sophomore Joe Faiella (Freehold, N.J.) will also add his name to the mix after transferring in from Maryland.

"This is an area that is a concern for us after graduating two, three-year starters from the left side of the line," said head coach Chuck Priore. "We do have our starting center, Paul Fenaroli, coming back as well as our right guard, Chris Pugliese, and right tackle, Jeff Santos. Going through spring ball the left guard and tackle positions were up for grabs. Markell Watson and Emmett Phillips are competing for those positions along with some transfers and newcomers that we have in the program."