LORETTO, Pa. – With a veteran backfield threatening defenses, the Saint Francis receivers will look to make defenses pay if they give too much attention to the backfield. Leading the way in the receiving corps is versatile senior Anthony Abeid (Youngstown, Ohio/Youngstown Christian). 
 
With a second-year starting quarterback in Zack Drayer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey ) and multiple experienced receivers, the Red Flash look to have a more explosive passing attack in 2015.
 
The five-foot-eight, 175-pound Abeid plays a big role in the Red Flash offense, because he can move around to multiple positions.  He names Patriots receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman as players he tries to emulate.
 
The USA College Football Preseason All-American caught 28 passes for 497 yards last year.  Abeid averaged 17.8 yards per catch and scored seven touchdowns. 
 
The Youngstown native also had 21 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown.  Abeid even threw a 33-yard touchdown pass against Sacred Heart.  Abeid also serves as a kick and punt returner for the Red Flash.  He averaged almost 15 yards per kick return and 11.3 yards per punt return in 2014.
 
"It's hard for defenses to scout us," said Abeid. "I can be pretty much anywhere coach puts me and if he puts me in the right system, I'll be successful. With all of the weapons we have, it's really hard to scout."
 
Lining up at receiver next to Abeid is fellow senior Terell Smith (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland).  The six-foot, 194-pound Smith finished second on the team last year with 344 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 25 receptions.  Smith's biggest day came against No. 22 Sacred Heart, when he hauled in six receptions for 105 yards. 
 
Redshirt senior William Martin (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Twp. ) started all 11 games for Saint Francis last year.  He totaled 11 catches for 146 yards and a score.  One of the fastest guys on the team, Martin enters his final year in a Red Flash uniform with 39 career catches for 585 yards.
 
A boost to the receiving corps could come from Maryland transfer Daniel Adams (Washington, D.C./Northwestern).  The six-foot-three, 215-pound senior appeared in seven games for the Terrapins last year.  He caught two passes for 29 yards and a touchdown against Michigan State.
 
Sophomore Junior Ajayi (Delran, N.J./Holy Cross) and redshirt junior Myles Brooker (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown) are also breakout candidates moving into bigger roles in the offense.
 
Junior tight end Frank Failace (Wayne, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) appeared in 10 games last season, recording six catches for 51 yards.
 
Saint Francis begins the 2015 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Georgetown.  The game begins at Noon at DeGol Field.