Green Bay area well represented at FBS level
Photo courtesy of Scott Walstrom, NIU Photography
I thoroughly enjoy seeing the cornucopia of football on the TV guide during the first week of the college season.
This year it was hard not to notice how many games featured local talent.
There are 18 players from the Green Bay area on NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rosters, including seven who started for their respective teams last week.
It has been refreshing to see FBS coaches recruiting in our neck of the woods in recent years. I can recall prior to the 2014 season doing a story on Oconto native Ben Ruechel, who was the only Green Bay area player on the University of Wisconsin roster that year.
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The Badgers have eight local players from six different high schools on their roster this season, including four that saw playing time during the team’s 34-3 victory over Western Kentucky last Friday.
Wisconsin averaged 6.0 yards per carry in rushing for 234 yards. The Green Bay area played a large role in those totals.
Bay Port alum Alec Ingold cleared a path as the starter and fullback in addition to getting the chance to tote the rock for 16 yards on four carries.
Seymour alum Jon Dietzen started at left tackle and rotated with Bay Port alum Cole Van Lanen in the first half.
Dietzen, who was on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated last month, went through offseason surgery and was spelled by Van Lanen in the second half.
I’m sure the folks in Howard and Suamico enjoyed seeing two Pirates in Bucky’s huddles with Ingold and Van Lanen.
De Pere alum Aaron Vopal also recorded a tackle as the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder is working his way into the rotation as a redshirt freshman.
Meanwhile, Northern Illinois featured two Green Bay area players in its starting lineup during a season-opening loss at Iowa.
Green Bay Southwest alum Max Scharping made his 40th career start on the offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder is on the Outland Trophy watch list for his senior season.
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Bay Port alum Matt Lorbeck made his first career start for the Huskies at defensive end. The sophomore tallied two tackles, including two solo stops.
Ashwaubenon has three alums making an impact at the FBS level.
After transferring from Bowling Green, James Morgan started at quarterback for Florida International. Morgan completed 11 of 20 passes for 90 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Emmit Carpenter kicked off his senior season by making six extra points, two field goals and six touchbacks in Minnesota’s 48-10 victory over New Mexico last Thursday. Carpenter’s career mark of 80.9 percent on field goals is first in program history for the Golden Gophers.
Airon Servais is entering his second season as a starter at Syracuse. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder was at center for the Orange’s 55-42 victory over Western Michigan last Friday. On the opposite sideline for the Broncos was Ashwaubenon alum Jaret Curtis and Luxemburg-Casco alum Spencer Kanz.
Green Bay area players on NCAA Division I FBS rosters
Florida International
James Morgan, QB, RS junior, Ashwaubenon
Iowa
Hentry Geil, RB, freshman, Green Bay Preble
Jack Plumb, OL, freshman, Bay Port
Minnesota
Emmit Carpenter, K, RS senior, Ashwaubenon
Jon Santaga, QB, RS freshman, Green Bay Notre Dame
Northern Illinois
Matt Lorbeck, DE, sophomore, Bay Port
Max Scharping, OT, RS senior, Green Bay Southwest
Syracuse
Airon Servais, OL, RS sophomore, Ashwaubenon
Western Michigan
Jaret Curtis, WR, RS sophomore, Ashwaubenon
Spencer Kanz, OL, RS sophomore, Luxemburg-Casco
Wisconsin
Jon Dietzen, OL, RS junior, Seymour
Mike Gregoire, WR, freshman, Green Bay Notre Dame
Alec Ingold, FB, senior, Bay Port
Gabe Lloyd, TE, RS sophomore, N.E.W. Lutheran
Gunnar Roberge, DT, RS junior Seymour
Cole Van Lanen, OL, RS sophomore, Bay Port
Aaron Vopal, DE, RS freshman, De Pere
Coy Wanner, FB, RS freshman, Green Bay Preble