THREE-YEAR LETTERMAN - A respected veteran redshirt senior who will serve as captain of the squad this fall...started his final year of college football with a great spring and had a good influence on the younger players with his hard work and good technique...will start at defensive end and will anchor a defensive front that has starting experience at each position...has developed into a dependable defender after starting his college career on offense.
2007 - Played in all 11 games and began the season as a reserve before moving into the starting lineup in week six and made six straight starts at defensive end....had 23 total tackles including 3.5 tackles-for-loss for -14 yards...recovered a fumble in the Lehigh game.
2006 - Was switched from fullback to defensive end at the start of fall practice and quickly established himself in the two-deep rotation at end...started the first nine games at defensive end...had a season-high four tackles against both Davidson and James Madison and also had a tackle-for-loss against the Dukes...lettered for the second time.
2005 - Was the backup fullback for most of the season and saw most of his action on special teams...carried twice for four yards on the season...lettered for the first time.
2004 - Did not see game action and was redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL - A graduate of Moorefield High School in Moorefield, W.Va....All-State Honorable Mention as a senior at Moorefield where he played both fullback and linebacker on the state championship team...rushed for over 1,000 yards and had 70+ tackles as a senior...also played high school football at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Va. and Broadway (Va.) High School...named Second Team All-State at Stonewall Jackson...also lettered in baseball and wrestling...National Honor Society.
PERSONAL - Full name is Mark Andrew Viola...brother Tony played football at William & Mary...father Mark A. Viola was a defensive tackle at Fairmont (W.Va.) State from 1977-80...Civil Engineering major.
