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Basically ... The secondary, statistically, will have one of the better pass defenses in the nation with all five starters returning. However, the run defense has to be far better lacking a physical presence on the front six. As bad as things were last year at times, the D was still night-and-day better than it was in 2002. It should be better with nine starters coming back and decent all-around depth.
Star of the defense: Junior S Kedrick Alexander
Player that has to step up and become a star: Sophomore DT John Mila
Unsung star on the rise: Senior LB Michael LeDet
Best pro prospect: Senior CB Oliver Fletcher
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Alexander, 2) LB Nick Bunting, 3) CB Jermaine Hope
Strength of the defense: Secondary
Weakness of the defense: Pass rush
Defensive Line
Projected Starters
- Defensive end Brandon Lohr, Sr. - Lohr started off last season as an undersized defensive tackle before moving to the end. He made 45 tackles and, potentially, one of the team's most disruptive forces.
- Nose guard John Mila, Soph. - Mila was banged up at the beginning of last year and turned it on at the end finishing with 13 tackles in six games. t 329 pounds, he's by far the biggest player on the line and a potential top run stuffer on the nose.
- Defensive end Josh Walker, Sr. - Walker has seen time at tackle even though he's a better fit at end. He's one of the most experienced players on the line, and now he has to become a pass rusher after not making a sack last year despite starting 13 games.
Top Backups
- DE Cody Madison, RFr. - The 6-3, 243-pound redshirt freshman is a good athlete and will be fighting for playing time behind Josh Walker.
- DE Robert Latu, Soph. - Latu is a decent sized end at 250 pounds and is one of the team's quicker ends. He made five tackles in only three games missing most of the year due to injuries.
- NG Drew Lagow, Jr. - Lagow has experience, but hasn't made too many plays yet. He'll be a 263-pound nose guard behind the 329-pound John Mila.
The Skinny: The line hasn't done much over the last few years and was miserable against the run last year allowing 198 yards per game and 32 touchdowns. Now four of last year's top players are gone and several young players need to shine right away. There needs to be more of a consistent pass rush from the ends.
Player to keep an eye on: John Mila ... Defensive Line Rating: 3.5
Linebackers
Projected Starters
- Kevin Hudson, Soph. - Mostly a special teams player, Hudson has to try and replace the production of star Jorma Bailey and his 80 tackles and seven sacks. Hudson made nine tackles last year seeing a little bit of time on defense.
- Nick Bunting, Soph. - Bunting was the WAC Freshman of the Year and a second-team All-WAC performer making 79 tackles and three sacks in the middle. While not a physical run stopper, he's a good all-around linebacker able to drop in coverage and get into the backfield equally well.
- Michael LeDet, Sr. - The 215-pound LeDet turned into a sure tackler coming over from the JUCO ranks finishing second on the team with 91 tackles and four sacks. He's a speed player who's strong in pursuit.
Top Backups
- Josh DuPree, Sr. - DuPree is a solid veteran and one of the fastest linebackers making 16 tackles last year. His production dropped off, but the 202-pound senior should see more playing time combining with Kevin Hudson on the outside.
- Nelson Coleman, RFr. - Coleman is more of a strong safety playing middle linebacker at 210 pounds. He made nine tackles before having to a take a redshirt year.
- Kinny Spotwood, Soph. - One of the bigger linebackers at 6-1 and 226 pounds Spotwood is a bigger option on the outside. He was a special teamer last year with seven tackles.
The Skinny: The linebackers need to be more physical against the run, which won't be easy considering they're not all that big. The loss of Jorma Bailey is a big one, but Nick Bunting is a rising star in the middle to anchor the corps around.
Player to keep an eye on: Michael LeDet ... Linebacker Rating: 4
Secondary
Projected Starters
- Cornerback Jermaine Hope, Sr. - He's a small corner, but he's effective in pass coverage and a surprisingly physical tackler making 75 stops last year while leading the team with 12 broken up passes and picking off three passes. He's an experienced cover-corner who'll be in the mix for All-WAC honors.
- Free safety Shannon Carter, Soph. - The former minor league baseball player brought his age and experience to the secondary finishing fifth on the team with 76 tackles with three interceptions.
- Spur Clint Rountree. Sr. - As a third safety/fourth linebacker, Rountree made 58 tackles and picked off a pass. He's a decent sized player at 6-0 and 200 pounds and a solid pass rusher.
- Bandit Bobby Blackshire, Soph. - The 6-3, 192-pound Blackshire is a rising star of the secondary. He was a valuable reserve as a true freshman making 27 stops and a sack. He also blocked a kick.
- Cornerback Oliver Fletcher, Sr. - At 6-1 and 175 pounds, Fletcher is the bigger, more physical corner option compared to Jermaine Hope. He was a second-team All-WAC performer finishing with 47 tackles and a team leading four interceptions.
Top Backups
- Bandit Kedrick Alexander, Jr. - Last year's leading tackler with 121 stops, Alexander has been a steady force in the secondary for the last two years both as a run stopper and in pass coverage. He broke up six passes last year and picked off three. The problem: He's suspended after being arrested for breaking into another athlete's dorm room and stealing a laptop computer, a video game and a credit card
- Cornerback C.J. Scott, Sr. - Scott was supposed to be in the starting mix before battling injuries all of last year. He is an experienced corner making 75 career tackles, with nine broken up passes and three interceptions.
- Cornerback Jeff Thibodeaux, Sr. - A good tackler at corner or safety, Thibodeaux was out last year and returns to be a veteran defensive back in the mix. He has 103 career tackles, nine broken up passes and four interceptions in his first two seasons.
The Skinny: The numbers were a bit misleading since teams spent so much time running on the Golden Hurricane, but the pass defense was still strong only allowing 180.9 yards per game and 12 touchdowns. All five starters return to what should be the best secondary in the WAC, and there's more experienced depth than the program has had in years.
Player to keep an eye on: Shannon Carter ... Secondary Rating: 6.5
Special Teams
- Placekicker Brad DeVault, Soph. - DeVault has been decent, but unspectacular over the last two years making nine of 16 kicks last year. He has a good leg, but misses all three tried from beyond 50 yards.
- Punter Chris Kindred, Soph. - Kindred kicked in the first five games of last year, but he only averaged 37.5 yards per kick unlike Cort Moffitt who averaged 43.7 yards. Now that Kindred has a year of experience, he should be more consistent.
The Skinny: The return game will be strong with kick returner Uril Parrish returning after averaging 23.8 yards per kick and Jermaine Landrum averaged 10.6 yards per punt return with a touchdown. The kicking game will be average at best.
Special Teams Rating: 6
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