Capital University was well represented on the 2009 OhioCollegeFootball.com Preseason All-Ohio Teams that were released Thursday. CU had seven players on the list led by All-Second Team Offensive picks
Kyle Koblinski and
Matt White. The duo is joined by Honorable Mention selections
Cory Dutcher,
Sam Jacobs,
Marty Assmann,
Evan Blake and
Brad Pickens.
CU had the second most selections of any school in the Ohio Athletic Conference behind defending NCAA Division III and OAC Champion Mount Union with 10. Overall, OAC schools accounted for 44 of the 84 picks at the NCAA Division III level.
Koblinski, a senior from Pickerington, Ohio, was part of a Crusader offensive line that produced the third best passing offense in the OAC at 226.9 yards per game in 2008. Capital averaged 24.0 points per game and scored on 84.8 percent of its opportunities in the red zone while surrendering the fourth fewest number of sacks in the OAC last season.
White, a junior from Mason, Ohio, is the top returning wide receiver for the Crusader offense this fall. The 2008 All-OAC Honorable Mention selection was second on the team last season with 564 yards receiving on 39 catches including two touchdowns. He posted 112 yards in a win over Wilmington and made multiple catches in every game during the 2008 campaign while also taking part in several return teams for the Crusader special teams.
Dutcher and Jacobs were also All-OAC picks for Capital last season. Dutcher was an All-OAC Second Team pick at offensive line while Jacobs was an All-OAC Honorable Mention selection at linebacker.
Dutcher, a senior from Orient, Ohio, is one of four returning starters on the offensive line for Capital. Overall, the Crusaders return 19 starters from last season including nine on offense, eight on defense and two more in special teams.
Jacobs, a junior from Columbus, Ohio, finished second on the Capital roster with 83 total tackles including 40 solo stops in 2008. He made six tackles for loss and two sacks for a loss of 12 yards. Jacobs also had one interception and one fumble recovery for the CU defense last season.
Assmann, a senior from Columbus, Ohio, was an OAC All-Academic Team pick in 2007 and 2008 after leading Capital in passing and total offense despite playing in just six games due to injury last season. The quarterback completed 89-of-158 passes for 1,332 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 94 yards and one touchdown of his own.
Blake, a senior from Circleville, Ohio, led all players in touchdowns last fall with eight at wide receiver. He was third in both catches (31) and receiving yards (436) while averaging 43.6 yards per game and 14.1 yards per catch.
Pickens, a senior from New London, Ohio, is the top returning tackler in the Crusader secondary from a season ago. He made 62 stops including 42 solo tackles and three for a loss. Pickens had two interceptions including one that he returned for a touchdown and broke up six other passes in 2008.
Capital finished with a 5-5 overall record in 2008 under the direction of first-year head coach Jim Bickel. The Crusaders placed fifth in an Ohio Athletic Conference that sent two teams to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. CU has produced eight straight non-losing seasons and a 62-25 (.713) overall record along with 22 All-America selections since 2001.
The Crusaders open the 2009 season on Sept. 5 when the travel to Adrian for a 6 p.m. non-conference game. Capital then returns home to open the OAC slate on Sept. 19 against Heidelberg at 1:30 p.m.