Team USA Overview - Offense
At quarterback Team USA will feature TCU’s Jeff Ballard, Arizona’s Adam Austin and Capital’s Rocky Pentello.
Ballard was 19-2 as a starter in 2005 and 2006 at TCU. Austin was a part-time starter for the Wildcats during his career, leading the team to a victory over Stanford last season. Pentello ended his career as the 12th-leading passer in the history of Division III football.
At running back will be Fairmont State’s Wendell Johnson, Nebraska-Omaha’s Kyle Kasperbauer, Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Cody Childs and Hobart’s Doug Blakowski. Yale’s Taylor Craig will be the fullback.
Johnson rushed for more than 3,700 yards in his career at Fairmont State and was a three-time all-conference selection. Kasperbauer ran for more than 2,000 yards in his career and was a two-time All-North Central Conference pick. Childs was a member of the U.S. Division III national team that defeated Mexico, 28-7, at the 2006 Aztec Bowl. Blakowksi rushed for 2,600 yards and 32 touchdowns during his college career. An outstanding blocker, Craig was Yale’s offensive back of the year in 2006.
The U.S. receiving corps will include wideouts Greg Aker of Minnesota-Duluth, Saginaw Valley State’s Bobby Awrey, Williams’ Jon Drenckhahn, North Alabama’s Marcus Lewis and Toledo’s Steve Odom. Michigan’s Brian Thompson and California’s (Pa.) D’Monn Baker will be the tight ends.
Aker was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division II. Awrey is a versatile wide-out who could also see time at running back and defensive back during the tournament. Drenckhahn was an All-New England selection as a senior. Lewis ended his career ranked No. 1 in receptions and No. 2 in receiving yards in North Alabama history. Thompson could see action at both tight end and fullback and will be an important special teams contributor. The 6-5 Baker will give the U.S. quarterbacks a big safety-valve target at tight end.
Protecting the front line for Team USA will be centers Kris King of Gardner-Webb and Chris Lundin of Adams State; guards Marcel Burrough of San Jose State, David Livengood of Indiana (Pa.) and Alex Atkins of Tennessee-Martin and tackles Darrin Johnson of SMU, Rick Drushal of Wooster, Brad Poston of Coastal Carolina and Matt Padron of Texas State.
King was a four-year starter at Gardner-Webb. Lundin was a two-time all-conference selection at Adams State and did not miss a start in his final three years at the school. Burrough anchored an offensive line that helped San Jose State to a bowl appearance in 2006. Livengood will likely see time at both guard and tackle for Team USA. Atkins was an All-Ohio Valley Conference pick at Tennessee-Martin. Johnson was a two-year starter at SMU. Drushal was the top offensive lineman for the U.S. team at the 2006 Aztec Bowl. Poston did not miss a start in four years at Coastal Carolina, a string of 45 consecutive games. Padron was a key blocker for the top offense in the Southland Conference in 2006.