“Last spring with all the injuries we got used to it,” Mazza said. “But I never thought it would happen to me…But I think it gives a chance to a lot of the younger guys to get some reps.”

BRANCHING OUT

The only offensive skill position at which the Crimson currently professes a degree of certainty is tailback, where sophomore Clifton Dawson, who comfortably shattered a slew of Crimson rushing and scoring records a season ago, will return to threaten his own marks.

But Dawson’s reliability as a rusher hasn’t prevented Murphy from tinkering with other aspects of the running back’s overall game. A year ago, the focus was Dawson’s hands, which had limited his pass-catching ability as a freshman.

Statistically, the improvement between his rookie and sophomore campaigns was nearly negligible—Dawson managed only eight extra catches for 74 yards and one touchdown—but his boosted confidence and Harvard’s willingness to employ him as a receiver out of the backfield forced adjustments from its Ivy opponents.

Honing Dawson’s receiving skills will again be a priority this off-season, but more pressing is Murphy’s desire to integrate Dawson into the special teams unit, where he will likely fill the sizeable void left by departing wide receiver Brian Edwards. Edwards fielded 29 punts for 348 yards and three touchdowns in his final year and, as a mid-season addition to the kick-return unit, ran back 12 kickoffs for 321 yards and the corps’ lone score.

Trumping both concerns, however, is the most important of priorities—ensuring Dawson is ready to play come the opener against Holy Cross.

“His health is definitely the first [priority],” Murphy said. “No doubt about it.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.