ALBION — The playing surface inside Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium is getting an artificial turf. There are pre-season All-Americans on the roster and a national ranking in Division III according to one publication. The countdown to Albion College’s 2011 season — which kicks off at Butler University Sept. 3 — has not generated this kind of excitement in several years.

While defensive back Chris Greenwood (Detroit/Martin Luther King), left tackle Shane Jesiel (Sterling Heights/Henry Ford), and running back Clinton Orr (Buchanan/Buchanan) are deserving of the recognition as pre-season All-Americans, Albion begins the season with 10 offensive and seven defensive players who have experience as starters.

“This is most excitement we’ve had in terms of our expectations,” Craig Rundle, ’74, who will be in his 15th season as head coach of his alma mater, said. “People recognize that we have a good group of young men coming back and our kids are excited about playing on the turf which is going to be a great upgrade for the college as a whole.

“They got to play for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship on the last week last season,” Rundle added. “They know what it takes to be in the mix so the focus now turns to improving in all areas to close the deal.”

Albion averaged 24.5 points per game last season, and there’s no reason to the production will decrease with a veteran offensive until and speedy skill players that returned two kickoffs and an interception for touchdowns.

Orr, a two-time all-MIAA selection, became the first back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in league games in a season when he rolled up 1,030 in the six contests in 2010. He amassed 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns for all 10 games last season, bringing his two-year career total to 2,163 yards (924 shy of Jeff Robinson’s all-time school mark).

Jesiel and right tackle Josh Phillips (Commerce Township/Walled Lake Northern) received the bulk of the credit for Orr’s record-breaking season as both linemen gained all-MIAA awards. Jesiel, a first team pick, was included on the pre-season All-America team released by Consensus Draft Services. Brice Johnson (Troy/Troy) and Justin Jevicks (Hastings/Hastings) also started games on the line last season.

Left guard and tight end are the only positions not filled by a 2010 starter. Rundle said the plan at the start of the season is to place Eric Alamat (Brighton/Detroit Catholic Central) at left guard while Matt Gunsorek (Farmington/Farmington), who caught 10 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown during the 2009 season, and Mike Schepper (Bay City/Bay City Central), a converted quarterback, split time at tight end.

While Orr doesn’t need much of a crease at the line of scrimmage to break into the open field, the offense is looking to quarterback Spencer Krauss (Tipton/Clinton) and receivers Zach Brewer (Adrian/Madison), J.C. Cruse (Detroit/Grosse Pointe South), and Brian Spencer (East Lansing/East Lansing) to produce just enough to convert a higher percentage on third down and to keep the opposing defense from loading up to stop the run. Krauss completed 54 percent of his passes and threw for 12 touchdowns last season. Cruse, an all-MIAA second team pick in 2010, hauled in 38 passes for 605 yards and five scores, and Spencer was the possession receiver with 40 catches for 506 yards and two TDs.

“The passing statistics get attributed to the quarterback, but we have to be better across the board,” Rundle said. “The receivers need to run precise routes and catch the ball. The linemen have to make sure the quarterback has a clear vision and to create a clean pocket.”

The first item on the agenda for Albion’s defense is to fill the holes left by the graduation losses of Neil Copeland, Jeremy Green, and Austin Rodgers, all of whom were all-MIAA performers in 2010. Julian Paksi (St. Johns/St. Johns), who gained MIAA Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week recognition for his performance in the Britons’ victory over Olivet College, is the lone returning starter. Paksi finished the 2010 season with eight and a half tackles for loss, including three and a half quarterback sacks.

C.J. Carroll (Warren/Fitzgerald), who was an occasional starter at linebacker last season, has been moved to add an explosive presence to the line, and Jason Bajas (Livonia/Stevenson), Andrew White (Jackson/Vandercook Lake), and Charles Young (Detroit/Martin Luther King) were in the rotation of linemen last season.

Albion’s defensive leaders are in the middle corps where linebackers Tony Brown (Bay City/Bay City Central), John Lesinski (Grass Lake/Grass Lake), and Brett McCarty (Alto/Caledonia) — all starters from a year ago — return. Brown recorded a team-best 67 and a half tackles last season, in addition to making an interception and a fumble recovery.

Lesinski was also near the top of the tackle ladder last season, finishing with 37 and a half stops, including three for loss.

Opponents didn’t throw his way often, but Greenwood still finished the 2010 season with four interceptions. He sparked Albion to victory over Adrian College by returning an interception 62 yards for a score. Greenwood finished the season with 24 solo tackles and he was credited with breaking up three passes.

Devin Burnett (Detroit/University of Detroit Jesuit) and Wes Sherman (Okemos/Haslett) are returning starters joining Greenwood in the defensive backfield. In addition to defensive line, one of the positions to watch is cornerback where Jeff Adams (Chelsea/Chelsea), a converted wide receiver, will compete with Jace Garcia (Kentwood/Grand Rapids Christian), who totaled 12 ½ tackles last season, for playing time.

After yielding 164 points in six league games last season, Rundle was asked about the progress he’d like to see in the defense this season.

“We need to do a better job on third down (opponents converted 39 percent last season) and be a more stingy when opponents reach the red zone,” Rundle said.

A first-year player will have a direct impact on field position as a newcomer will take over the kicking duties now that Mychal Galla, a two-time all-MIAA performer, has graduated. Greenwood and Orr headline the speed on the return units, though Rundle pointed out there are enough fast players to provide depth if the opponents opt to kick the ball away from the deep men.

“We’ve got enough talented guys that we can spread them out,” Rundle said of the return units.

Rundle, who has directed the Britons to four MIAA championships, will lead Albion through a challenging schedule that includes three opponents that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs last season. Albion’s home opener is a Sept. 24 date against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. MIAA play begins with an Oct. 1 road trip to Kalamazoo for a meeting with the Hornets inside Western Michigan University’s Waldo Stadium. Albion’s MIAA home dates are Oct. 8 (Alma College), Oct. 22 (Olivet College), and Nov. 12 (Trine University).

“Our philosophy has always been to schedule as tough as competition as possible to test our kids and get them used to playing top-level competition because those are the kinds of teams you have to beat to win the league and compete in the NCAA Playoffs,” Rundle said. “We will be able to meet the demands of the schedule with the veterans we have on the roster.”