The Kent State depth chart at a glance

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Kent State depth chart of 2014

Kent State’s coaching staff has released the first official depth chart of 2014 as the Golden Flashes get ready to return to work in preparation for Saturday’s season opener with Ohio University.

While the Flashes continue to deal with the tragic death of center Jason Bitsko as a football family, there are also practical on-the-field issues that need to be dealt with before the the team is ready to take the field. In the next few days, the Flashes will try to prepare for some dramatic changes along the offensive line that were revealed in the new two-deep.

Sophomore Alex Nielsen will move from right guard back to center, which was his position during the spring. Wayne Scott will move from left guard to right guard, and junior Jim Katusha, who began his college career at Ohio University before transferring to Butte College, will make his Kent State debut against his former team as the starter at left guard.

Reno Reda remains in the left tackle spot while Terrell Johnson starts at right tackle. Johnson had split some time early in camp with Brock Macaulay at right tackle, but the redshirt freshman is now listed as a backup to Katusha at left guard. 

Tad France is listed No. 2 at center, Jake Witucky is the backup at left tackle, Nathan Puthoff is the backup at right guard and Stefano Millin is listed No. 2 at right tackle.

The two-deep also officially lists Anthony Meray as the starter at running back with Trayion Durham still battling back from injury. The backup at tailback is Nick Holley with true freshman Miles Hibbler listed No. 3 on the depth chart. 

Most of the rest of the depth chart is as expected with Chris Humphrey, James Brooks and Ernest Calhoun listed as the starting receivers, and Kris White, Josh Boyle and Charles Chandler as their primary backups. Promising freshman Eldin Anu, who was recruited as a cornerback, is also listed on the depth chart as a receiver, No. 3 at the X. The first time Anu flashed as a receiver was during the scrimmage two weeks ago when he made a difficult catch tiptoeing the right sideline.

Calhoun and Nick Holley are listed as the top two kick returners with Brooks No. 1 at punt return.

Anthony Melchiori also appears to be ready to handle both the placekicking and punting duties for a second consecutive season. 

There are also few surprises on the defense. It’s nice to see Richard Gray’s name listed at left end, as his size and athleticism can make him a difference maker the Flashes need as they try to replace Roosevelt Nix. Depth up front will do that with Jontey Byrd backing up promising freshman Jon Cunningham at the nose tackle. Byrd wowed early in camp, and Cunningham impressed throughout. 

There is lots of youth throughout. Two true freshmen and a redshirt freshman are listed among the five players on the two-deep at linebacker. A true freshman starts at nose tackle. True freshman are listed as backups at the star and cornerback spots with a redshirt freshman backing up Nate Holley at free safety.

The offensive two deep includes just four seniors, three juniors, 11 sophomores, and seven freshmen.

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