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BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher was talking about his defensive line, but it might just as well have been his entire football program following spring drills.

"What I know is the amount of experience that we have is very positive, better than it's ever been," said Hofher. "We're better coming out of this spring than any other simply because of evolution. It's been the best (spring), because we have more knowledge on more guys than ever. More game knowledge, more practice knowledge...it's been an excellent spring practice period."

When Hofher and his coaches next see their squad in pads, it will be the most experienced team in recent history, although still not senior-laden. Buffalo will still only count 13 seniors on its fall roster.

"We come out of this spring much more advanced football-wise," Hofher noted. "It was the most efficient spring we've had with the least amount of experimentation."

Coming into spring camp this year, Hofher noted that he had 16 players who played significantly last year who had never taken a Division I snap. Now those 16 join a core of players who have played two or more seasons worth of football, giving the Bulls an experience level not seen since 2001, when the Bulls started nine seniors. The Bulls also should get back three previous starters this fall in

Anthony Andriano

defensive end Anthony Andriano (Howard Beach, NY/Christ the King), defensive tackle Bill Meholif (Parma, OH/St. Ignatius) - who both had injuries last year - and linebacker Ramon Guzman (Bronx, NY/DeWitt-Clinton), who concentrated on his academics.

When asked of any significant developments, Hofher noted that "the biggest question coming into spring was who would be our long snapper. That may sound odd, but we got an extended amount of work and I know we feel much better about our prospects going in (to fall drills). We've developed through an 'all-call' so to speak, some prospects as well as some future prospects."

That need was glaring after two-year longsnapper Adam Johnson signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. However, Andriano, senior tight end Brian Miller (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) and sophomore tight end Chad Upshaw (Southport, CT/St. Joseph's) all showed signs of being capable replacements.

Offensively, Buffalo returns nine of 11 starters, so consistency is the goal with an experienced cast returning. The Bulls' offensive line took good shape in the spring with senior

Terrance Miles

Terrance Miles (Buffalo, NY/McKinley) filling Jeff Mills' departed slot at right tackle, a "positive development," according to Hofher.

The Bulls have three players, center Eric Weber (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua), guard Erik Zeppuhar (Allison Park, PA/Shaler) and left tackle Zack Love (Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven), who have all started for two or more seasons.

Of course, as usual, most off-season talk has centered around the quarterback position. Hofher is pleased for the first time in his four years at Buffalo to have two candidates -senior Randall Secky (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) and junior P.J. Piskorik (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) - with substantial game experience. The battle for the starting job will pick up where it left off when fall camp opens.

"My expectation is that we will play two guys who have played in games extensively," Hofher said. "They have experience and different types of playmaking abilities between the two of them. They need to keep working on their own games to develop the best they can, and we're fortunate that we have experience with two guys. We will determine who's really practicing with the most efficiency and can give us the best opportunity to score."

Last year both players started six games, the first time since 1998 that more than one Bulls' quarterback got multiple starts. Whoever lines up behind center, they can be secure in the fact that Buffalo has one of the deepest and most talented backfields in the Mid-American Conference.

The Bulls will have several tailbacks who will play, including leading returning rusher Dave Dawson (Camp Hilll, PA/Bishop McDevitt) - who paced Buffalo with 678 yards in 2003. Dawson, Jared Patterson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere), Chris McDuffie (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) and Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) all had productive springs. All told, Buffalo returns 99.1% of its rushing yards from a year ago and Hofher expects all of them to see the ball again this fall.

"If we'll know what to do and block our assignments correctly we will be able to play with fresh legged running backs," said Hofher of his stable of backs.

Hofher also saw improved play from returning tight ends Miller and Upshaw and saw the improvement of several young wide receivers, who got extensive work this spring without veterans Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) and Derrick Dyer (Rochester, NY/Marshall), who were out with injuries.

Defensively, the Bulls return six starters and Hofher raved about the play of junior

Bryan Cummings

linebacker Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira), who he called "our most consistent player," on that side of the ball. Also catching Hofher's eye this spring was junior defensive tackle Kirk Berry (Norristown, PA/Norristown) and sophomore cornerback Brandon Smith (Miami, FL/Coral Reef).

"We really had excellent work," said Hofher. "It became really clear who the consistent players were and that's part of the value of spring practice. Find out who can play well and sustain their effort with great concentration, because football is not easy, it's hard."

After a solid spring season and with experience and talent beginning to develop, Hofher expects the Bulls to have success this fall.

BULL-etins: Unlike his first three seasons, Hofher has elected not to name permanent captains for the 2004 season after spring practices. Instead the Bulls will select game captains each week...Buffalo was without returning starters Erik Zeppuhar, Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester), Matt Knueven and Aaron Leeper (who started five games in '03) throughout spring drills as each was recovering from off-season surgeries. Also missing the entire camp were defensive tackles Bill Meholif - who missed the 2003 season with a knee injury - and Marck Abraham (Deerfield Beach, FL/Deerfield Beach). All are expected to be full strength when fall camp opens....the Bulls lost the services of two defensive backs following spring practices. Junior Kevin Concepcion (Rochester, NY/East) was given his dismissal due to violation of team policies, while sophomore Delando Bradford (Franklin, MI/Groves) has elected to transfer to Division II Saginaw Valley in his home state.