Sierra Highlights Seven Jackets on HCAC Watch List

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recently announced its 2012 preseason poll, with Defiance College being tabbed to finish fifth in the nine-team league. The Purple and Gold also placed seven student-athletes on the HCAC Preseason Watch List. [HCAC Release]

The 2012 campaign will be DC's first on the gridiron under head coach Brian Sheehan, as the new regime looks to make an immediate impression around the HCAC. The Jackets will lean heavily on a defensive unit that is poised to welcome back nine primary starters from the 2011 squad that posted a 4-4 mark in league play and a 4-6 overall record.

The lofty expectations for the Defiance defense were mirrored by the HCAC Watch List, with five of DC's seven representatives coming on that side of the ball. Seniors Tony Sierra, Gregg Pickett and Hunter Robertson will anchor the group and are joined by junior Andrew Leverenz and sophomore Josh Slayton as HCAC Players to Watch.

Sierra is entering his final collegiate campaign as a three-time First-Team All-HCAC defensive back. The strong safety set career-highs in 2011 with 52 tackles and ranked among the league's top-10 with eight passes defended. The Warren, Mich., native also topped all HCAC return men and ranked 18th among all NCAA Division III athletes with 13.46 yards per punt return.

Pickett joined Sierra as a First-Team All-HCAC performer during the 2011 campaign, after also logging 52 stops from his defensive tackle position. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native led the HCAC with 10.0 tackles for a loss and ranked fifth in the conference with 3.5 sacks during his breakout season.

Robertson is coming off back-to-back years as an All-HCAC selection and led the Yellow Jackets with 79 tackles from his middle linebacker position. The Howell, Mich., native picked up at least six stops in all but two contests in 2011 and recorded 10-or-more tackles in three contests.

Leverenz served as a key part in the Yellow Jackets' defensive and special teams units in 2011 and will be expected to expand those roles during his junior season. The Clinton, Mich., native saw action in all 10 games one year ago, posting 19 tackles and 3.5 stops for lost yardage.

Slayton made an immediate impact from his cornerback slot in 2011, earning Honorable Mention All-HCAC status during his first collegiate campaign. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native played in all 10 games, ended with 41 tackles and ranked third in the HCAC with 10 passes defended.

On the offensive side of the ball, Defiance will feature a much younger look, as senior Jon Carrabino and sophomore Tanner Engle were the lone two Yellow Jackets to be heralded as HCAC Players to Watch. Carrabino will be one of only three returning starters from one year ago.

Carrabino has played in 27 games during his three-year career with Defiance, while seeing action at wide receiver and as a return man on special teams. The Monroe, Mich., native has caught 56 passes during his career and will be expected to play an integral part in the offensive attack throughout the 2012 season.

Engle will serve as a key cog on the offensive line, after gaining valuable experience during his rookie campaign in 2011. The Harrod, Ohio, native cracked the starting lineup in each of DC's final two games, starting at right tackle against Manchester and Bluffton.

The Jackets are expected to return 31 lettermen from 2011, including four All-HCAC performers. The young DC squad netted 41 points in the 2012 HCAC Football Poll and was selected by the league head coaches to finish ahead of Rose-Hulman (38), Manchester (34), Anderson (21) and Earlham (15) and just back of Bluffton (48).

Franklin took seven of the nine first-place votes to end with 79 points as the preseason favorite to defend its HCAC Championship. The Grizzlies were followed by Mount St. Joseph (67) and Hanover (62) in the top three.

Defiance will open the 2012 season at Justin F. Coressel Stadium on Saturday, September 1, when it hosts Albion for a 1:30 pm start.