WALTHAM, Mass. – Nearly 100 student-athletes reported when the Bentley University football team returned to campus Wednesday in preparation for the 2016 season which begins with the Falcons hosting West Chester University Sept. 3 on its newly-renovated field. The first practice of Bill Kavanaugh's third year at the helm is slated for Thursday afternoon.

Kavanaugh, who has seen his team post back-to-back 5-6 seasons, returns 63 players from last year's squad, many of whom have seen significant playing time during their careers. In addition, the roster has been bolstered by three Division I transfers and a promising group of freshmen.

Kavanaugh feels optimistic as he prepares for the new season. "Our effort and enthusiasm during spring camp was the best we've had since I've been here. They've taken it to a whole new level," said the former Falcon captain.

A high quality quarterback competition is expected during camp with transfer Mack Lowrie (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin School) and senior CJ Scarpa (Andover/Andover HS) in contention for the starting nod. The 6-foot-4 Lowrie began his career as a red-shirt at Boston College and started six games at Rhode Island in 2014. Scarpa started the final two games for the Falcons last year, completing 64 percent of his passes for 442 yards and four TDs in that role.

Fifth-year senior Matt Montalto (West Yarmouth/Dennis-Yarmouth HS), who started the first nine games at QB in 2015 before being injured, has shifted to running back. The Falcons are experienced in that area with Montalto and Davidson transfer Jeff Keil (Tampa, Fla./Wharton HS) joining seniors Martin Bannerman (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy) and George Craan (Hyde Park/Concord-Carlisle HS).

Bannerman was one of the top rushers in the Northeast-10 last year (721 yards) and has 1,332 yards in his career. Craan ran for 372 last season and Keil gained 1,028 in his two seasons at Davidson, including 725 as a freshman.

Bentley has nine receivers who can contribute, including graduate student Chris Calvanese (Norfolk/Xaverian Brothers HS) who'll begin the season 13 receptions shy of 100 career. Senior Sean Myers (Foxborough/Roxbury Latin School), who tailed off last fall after pulling in 35 balls in 2014, will be reunited with Lowrie, a former high school teammate.

The Falcons have a veteran offensive line (nine with collegiate game experience) with the returnees including fifth-year grad students Matt Biscardi (Holbrook, N.Y./St. Anthony's HS) and Ryan Anger (Worcester/St. John's HS), along with two-time second-team All-Northeast-10 tackle Eric Beckwith (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS).

Defensively, Bentley looks to be solid up the middle with senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable/Barnstable HS) and safeties Sam McDonald (Norfolk/King Philip Reg. HS), Junior Chery (Waltham/Waltham HS) and Nick Athy (Holliston/Holliston HS). Hardy has led the team in tackles each of the last two seasons (103 in 2014, 92 last year) and McDonald has a nose for the ball with his 14 career interceptions amongst the most of any returning Division II player nationally. Both were Academic All-NE-10 and second-team All-Conference selections a year ago.

Senior Tyler Ford (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan HS) is back after posting the best punting season in NE-10 history (43.0 average, which was fifth best in Division II), but Kavanaugh will have to decide on a placekicker during the course of the preseason.

After opening against a Golden Ram team that finished first in the Eastern Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference last fall, Bentley will launch its NE-10 schedule a week later at Saint Anselm College.