# 2009 Buffalo Bulls football team

The 2009 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season.

## Schedule

2009 got off to a bad start for the Bulls as star running back James Starks injured the labrum in his left shoulder in a pre-season scrimmage. It was determined that he would need surgery and miss the whole year. Because he was redshirted his first year at UB, he will not be able to play again for the Bulls.
Buffalo's offense struggled to overcome the loss of Starks and the up-and-down play of new starting quarterback Zach Maynard while the defense continued to have a hard time stopping opposing teams and could not generate as many turnovers as they did in 2008. Buffalo was out of MAC championship contention midway through the season, but did finish with two straight wins on the road. After the season was over, Turner Gill accepted an offer to coach Kansas. Gill was replaced by Jeff Quinn.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 9:00 pm | at UTEP* | Sun Bowl StadiumEl Paso, TX | CBS College Sports Network | W 23–17 | 35,213 |
| September 12 | 12:00 pm | Pittsburgh* | University at Buffalo StadiumAmherst, NY | ESPN Plus | L 27–54 | 21,870 |
| September 19 | 7:30 pm | at UCF* | Bright House Networks StadiumOrlando, FL | Bright House Sports Network | L 17–23 | 33,689 |
| September 26 | 12:00 pm | at Temple | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA | ESPN Plus | L 13–37 | 13,949 |
| October 3 | 3:30 pm | Central Michigan | University at Buffalo StadiumAmherst, NY | Time Warner Cable SportsNet | L 13–20 | 18,092 |
| October 10 | 3:30 pm | Gardner–Webb* | University at Buffalo StadiumAmherst, NY | Time Warner Cable SportsNet | W 40–3 | 15,812 |
| October 17 | 3:30 pm | Akron | University at Buffalo StadiumAmherst, NY | Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Fox Sports Ohio | W 21–17 | 13,750 |
| October 24 | 2:00 pm | at Western Michigan | Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI | | L 31–34 $^{OT}$ | 12,924 |
| November 3 | 7:00 pm | Bowling Green | University at Buffalo StadiumAmherst, NY | ESPN2 | L 29–30 | 13,202 |
| November 10 | 7:00 pm | Ohio | University at Buffalo StadiumAmherst, NY | ESPN2 | L 24–27 | 13,032 |
| November 18 | 6:00 pm | at Miami (OH) | Yager StadiumOxford, OH | ESPNU | W 42–17 | 7,983 |
| November 27 | 2:00 pm | at Kent State | Dix StadiumKent, OH | | W 9–6 | 15,131 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in EST time |||||||

## Notable players

* Naaman Roosevelt, wide receiver, 2008 First Team all-MAC.
* James Starks, running back, 2008 First Team all-MAC.
* Davonte Shannon, Strong Safety, 2008 First Team all-MAC.
* Mike Newton, Free Safety, 2008 Second Team all-MAC.
* Justin Winters, linebacker, 2008 Third Team all-MAC.

## Recruiting

| Name | Position | Height | Weight | Hometown |
| Jevin Colbert | Defensive back | 6'1" | 170 | Arlington, TX |
| Alex Dennison | Quarterback | 6'2" | 210 | Irwin, PA |
| Jibrille Fewell | Defensive tackle | 6'1" | 270 | Rock Hill, SC |
| Peter Gagliardi | Fullback | 6'3" | 235 | Miami, FL |
| Jeffvon Gill | Running back | 5'11" | 195 | Euclid, OH |
| Jimmy Gordon | Tight end | 6'4" | 250 | Patchogue, NY |
| Matt Hornbuckle | Defensive Line | 6'1" | 270 | Colleyville, TX |
| Jeremy Johnson | Offensive Line | 6'5" | 310 | Springfield, OH |
| Bunduka Kargbo | Safety | 6'1" | 205 | Albany, NY |
| Carlos Lammons | Cornerback | 5'9" | 185 | Pahokee, FL |
| Fred Lee | Wide Receiver | 6'1" | 200 | Chester, SC |
| Khalil Mack | Linebacker | 6'3" | 220 | Fort Pierce, FL |
| Alex Neutz | Wide Receiver | 6'3" | 190 | Grand Island, NY |
| Branden Oliver | Running back | 5'8" | 185 | Miami, FL |
| Rick Perez | Center | 6'2" | 275 | Miami, FL |
| Jake Reeder | Tight End | 6'4" | 250 | State College, PA |
| Kenny Scott | Defensive Line | 6'1" | 300 | Anderson, SC |
| Nick Sizemore | Fullback | 6'2" | 235 | Lititz, PA |
| Albert Sparks | Defensive Tackle | 6'3" | 310 | Irving, TX |
| Darius Willis | Linebacker | 6'3" | 240 | Houston, TX |
| Pat Wilson | Offensive Line | 6'5" | 270 | East Aurora, NY |

## After the season
### NFL Draft

The following Bull was selected in the 2010 NFL draft following the season.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
| 6 | 193 | James Starks | Running back | Green Bay Packers |