Over the years, I’ve been known to bust the chops of Carthage football coach Tim Rucks for the lack of a state and local presence on his roster.

I’ll have to tone down my antics this year because there is a noticeable change in the 2009 Red Men.

This year’s roster includes Bradford graduates Pete Djurickovic, Nick Dorau, Brandon Mecozzi and Mike Merucci, Tremper graduates Deion Scarbrough and Kyle Snell, Central graduates Bryant Sadlier and Trent Piwowarczyk, Shoreland Lutheran graduates Andy Ausloos and Jeff Tennyck and Wilmot graduates Andrew Vozel.

Ausloos, Djurickovic, Dorau, Mecozzi, Merucci, Scarbrough, Tennyck and Vozel are all freshmen.

“I’m really happy with the Bradford kids because we haven’t had great success recruiting locally,” Rucks said. “Those four kids from Bradford — they just want to go to Carthage. It wasn’t a hard sell. There was something about Carthage that they really liked from the start. They thought that it was a big deal to go to Carthage. That’s something that we haven’t had.”

A number of the Kenosha County products could get on the field this season.

Snell, a sophomore, returns at wide receiver after seeing playing time as a freshman for the pass-happy Red Men, whose spread offense uses four receivers with regularity.

Dorau, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound defensive lineman, “will play for us this year,” Rucks said.

Merucci, a linebacker, “is going to be a hell of a football player,” Rucks said. “I’d be surprised if he’s not on the field this year.”

Mecozzi, a defensive back, also impressed in training camp.

“I don’t know if there’s anyone that plays harder than that kid,” Rucks said.

Djurickovic is in a logjam at quarterback behind returning starter Evan Jones and Trevor Beazley.

“Of all the freshmen quarterbacks that we have, Pete has picked it up better than any of them,” Rucks said.

Scarbrough, a defensive back, should make the travel roster for the season opener 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Hope (Mich.).

“Deion’s doing well,” Rucks said. “He’s in the mix, running with the 1s and 2s in the defensive backfield. For a freshman that’s pretty good. He also has return possibilities. We considered him one of our top recruits and he hasn’t disappointed us.”

After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Vozel, a first-team All-County performer as a sophomore and junior, is shaking the rust off.

“He’s a guy that we wanted badly,” Rucks said about the linebacker. “I didn’t care that he didn’t play his senior year.”

Speaking of knee injuries, Tennyck’s first collegiate season came to a premature end when he was hurt during Carthage’s scrimmage vs. Concordia on Aug. 29.

Ausloos, a defensive back, made a good impression in his first training camp.

“There’s something about Andy Ausloos,” Rucks said. “He’s going to go through the freshman thing, but I see good leadership abilities and he’s going to play for us down the road. He has good athletic ability. If he sticks with it, he’ll play.”

The Carthage coaching staff has also added some local flavor.

Bradford graduate Shawn Feuker, who was a standout defensive linemen for the Red Men from 1988 to 1991, is in his first season as a part-time assistant coach.

Feuker, a personal trainer in Racine, was named the CCIW’s Don “Swede” Larson Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1991 and first-team All-CCIW in 1989, 1990 and 1991. He will be inducted into the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame in October.

With the departure of longtime defensive line coach Eric Corbett, that created an opportunity for Feuker.

“I’ve gotten to know Shawn a little bit over the years and always hoped that we could get him on the staff,” Rucks said. “That’s a good addition for us.”

Rucks, who is entering his 20th season as a head coach in the CCIW, got to see Feuker play when he coached at North Park.

“If I had to name the top five players that I’ve seen in the CCIW in those 20 years, Shawn Feuker would be in there,” Rucks said. “He was really, really good. He just couldn’t be blocked.

“He’s doing a good job. We’re excited to have him. He brings a lot of enthusiasm. He goes after it. He played that way and he coaches that way.”

St. Joseph graduate and former Carthage player Jason Atanasoff enters his fifth season coaching the outside linebackers.

Andrew Horschak is a sportswriter for the News. E-mail him at