ALBANY STATE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Lineman Bunch returns for Rams

ALBANY — Danny Bunch joined the Albany State football team in 2011 as a transfer from Hinds (Miss.) Community College and immediately battled his way into a starting position on the offensive line.

The past two seasons, Bunch had to do his battling in the classroom.

The 6-foot-5, 380-pound lineman was academically ineligible in 2012 and 2013 but raised his grades and has rejoined the Rams. He is currently the frontrunner for the starting left tackle position and has been the biggest addition — literally — to the ASU football team.

“That was a big pickup for us, and he has been working hard,” ASU coach Mike White said after Wednesday’s final spring practice. “We had to get a fresh can of WD-40 out to get some of that rust off of him.”

Bunch will be a senior this fall, and the Vicksburg, Miss., native called his return to football “the best feeling in the world.”

“To have your dream taken away and then finally get it back is the best feeling,” he said. “You count every one of your practices. I am blessed to be here.”

Bunch said offensive coordinator Steve Smith, who recruited him four years ago, was instrumental in helping Bunch raise his grades.

“(Smith) came back, and he got me over the edge,” Bunch said. “I was supposed to play last year, but I missed it by a tenth of a grade point. I was motivated because it was either go home to Mississippi or get my grades back up and play my senior year.”

Bunch, who says he hopes to drop his weight to 350 by the start of the season, will be key to an offensive line that lost seniors Darvel Nelson and Hakeem Lassiter. In Thursday’s Blue and Gold spring game, Bunch started at left tackle, and Warner Robins native Gregory Farms started at right tackle. Victor Moli, who started at left guard last season, replaced Lassiter at center.

“I just want to be another plug to the chain,” Bunch said. “I just want to complete some of the spots that are missing on the offensive line. That’s all.”

OFFENSIVE EXPERIENCE: The Rams return nearly every offensive skill player, including quarterback Frank Rivers, a rising senior who was named the SIAC Newcomer of the Year last season after leading ASU to the conference championship.

Top running backs Adrian Alexander, Phillip Moore and Jarvis Small are back, as well as leading receivers Jessie Atkins, Jaquan Williams, Devonte Osborne and Tevin Isom.

“We have a lot of experienced receivers, and I am on the same page with my receivers a lot better than I was coming into the season last year,” said Rivers, who didn’t transfer to ASU from Grambling State last year until the summer. “I have been here with these guys and know how these guys work. I know what they can do and what they like to do. It’s helping me get them the ball in better situations to make plays for us.”

Rivers, who was 9-for-17 for 100 yards and one touchdown in Thursday’s spring game, shook off a rocky start to the 2013 season and finished the year with 19 TDs and 2,004 yards — numbers that could climb significantly higher this fall.

“We have been throwing the ball pretty good and have been looking pretty good as an offense the last two weeks,” Rivers said. “I am looking forward to going into the summer on a good note and to try to push into the fall so we can start our season off right.”

BUMPS AND BRUISES: Former Westover star and freshman running back Dalviness Greene and freshman defensive back Armageddon Draughn have been limited by injuries this spring. Greene injured his shoulder, while Draughn has a bruised bone.