GROVE CITY — There's a spring in the step of the players as they walk through the Grove City College football locker room.

Music blares from the stereo as the Wolverines get ready for photo day at Robert E. Thorn Field. They smile. They joke. They talk about the season before them and the high expectations they have for it.

It's not a scene that typically plays out in the facility of a team that went 3-7 the year before.

But Grove City won three of its last four games a season ago. Of the seven losses, three came by less than a touchdown.

A bevy of talent returns.

Every year, there is optimism — the glass is always half full. This year, though, the cup if overflowing.

“We went through some tough times (last year),” said Grove City College coach Chris Smith. “We were really banged up. But the kids kept hanging in there and we got the ship going in the right direction.”

The strong finish was important more than just in the win-loss column, Smith said. It was good for confidence and self image.

The Wolverines return seven starters on offense and five on defense and have a lot of depth that was cultivated because of the rash of injuries last season.

Perhaps the most important holdover from last season is quarterback Brian Pell, who took over as the starter full time in Week 4 after an injury to Clayton Hall and acquitted himself well.

Pell passed for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns and also rushed for 177 yards and a score.

“Brian is very good and solid,” Smith said.

“Statistically, he has been very effective over the last two years. He also has some very good receiving targets.”

One of those targets is Seneca Valley graduate Dustin Anewalt, who caught 22 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown last season.

Another Butler County product, Mars graduate Shane Kaclik, may finally get his chance to be the featured runner for the Wolverines after battling injuries for the past three seasons.

“We're especially happy with Shane. He's come into his own,” Smith said. “He had a very good scrimmage. He deserves it. Blaine Miller was just hard to move out of there. Now it's Shane's turn.

“He has extremely quick feet,” Smith added. “Good lateral movement and a good burst.”

Kaclik, though, won't be a 20-plus carry guy. That's because Smith wants to keep him fresh late in games and healthy late in the season.

Depth will also cut into Kaclik's carries.

“It's actually a challenge to figure out who is going to get a ball,” Smith said.

It's also going to be a challenge for the Wolverines to stick to an identity on offense.

With a solid quarterback and receiving corps and also a strong running game, Smith said he and his coaching staff will have to form a plan and stick to it — whatever that may be.

“We have to decide what kind of team we are going to be and stick to it,” Smith said. “It's a good problem to have because we can pass and run the ball well equally.”

On defense, the Wolverines will be buoyed by the return of linebacker Jason Ferguson and defensive end Marc Shamley.

Both missed the 2011 season because of injury. Ferguson had 105 tackles in 2009 and Shanley had 10 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks in 2010.

“With the return of Ferguson and (Ben) Manwaring at linebacker, we have two really good linebackers,” Smith said. “They are about as good a combination as I've seen.

“Getting Ferguson and Shanley back, we're really excited about that.”