Position Previews: Defensive Line

It’s time we start breaking down each position as the season will be here in about 2 months. I don’t have any inside information, so these are mainly guesses on my part and if you take anything away from this, it’s the opportunity for a discussion.

Possible Starters:

Boundary End:

Trey White (6-2, 255) Sr-Tr

White is a stud and I think that although this team will assuredly miss David Bailey and Romello Height, the addition of White will make this transition feel pretty seamless. White had 53 tackles last year for San Diego State and that included 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7 sacks. The true disruption here is the 17 quarterback hurries, which last year, Bailey had 14.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. With more talent around White, this is going to make his job that much easier.

Tackle:

A.J. Holmes (6-3, 300) Sr-1L
Julien Laventure (6-0, 285) Sr-Tr

I tend to think that Texas Tech will see some sort of combo-platter with Holmes and Laventure, and that’s because I tend to think that they are both really good and you could see a combination of the two of them at the same time. In part-time action last year Holmes had 38 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, along with 4 pass break-ups and 7 quarterback hurries. Last year for the Akron Zips, Laventure had 45 tackles, 4 sacks, 10.5 tackles for a loss, and 6 hurries. Highly productive at a lower level, but obviously talented.

Noseguard:

Mateen Ibirogba (6-4, 300) Sr-Tr

Last year at Wake Forest Ibirogba was pretty darn good, 21 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss as well as 2 sacks. I don’t know that many players can replicate Lee Hunter and how he man-handled opposing centers and guards, so it be interesting to see how well Ibirogba does as the main guy in the middle.

Field End:

Adam Trick (6-4, 250) Sr-Tr

Just put on repeat about what I wrote about White. Trick is going to be highly productive because he had 8.5 sacks last year as likely the guy who was being double-teamed and offenses are going to have to make a choice between him and White. Add in the 12.5 tackles for a loss and 59 tackles as well as 13 quarterback hurries and 4 passes broken up. I’ll be interested to see week 1 how this stacks up.

Likely Back-Ups:

Boundary End:

Jamond Mathis (6-1, 250) Jr-Tr
LaDamion Guyton (6-3, 250) Fr-HS
Amarie Fleming (6-2, 230) Jr-Tr
DeMarcus Marks (6-3, 210) Fr-HS

Really an embarrassment of riches here. Mathis was very productive at Kent State, while Guyton may be one of the better freshmen on the team and not see a ton of action because of who is in front of him. Fleming is from Division II and may need a year to adjust. Marks is likely a project.

Tackle:

Jojo Johnson (6-2, 290) Jr-Tr
Krush Johnson (6-2, 295) Fr-HS
Dylan Singleton (6-5, 305) Fr-RS

Jojo Johnson is likely going to get a good amount of playing time, but between the starters and the additional back-up noseguards, I don’t see the rest of these guys playing a ton. Their time will come, but probably not this year.

Noseguard:

Bryce Butler (6-4, 325) Sr-Tr
Jayden Cofield (6-2, 330) Jr-2L
Keyshawn Williams (6-3, 320) So-Sq
Ayden Johnson (6-1, 330) Fr-HS

Butler and Cofield should definitely get some time and maybe the most fascinating thing that will happen on my end of things will be how the playing time is split up between Butler and Cofield and all of these guys.

Field End:

Ansel Nedore (6-3, 270) Jr-2L
Charles Anderson Jr. (6-6, 275) So-1L
Sean Robinson (6-5, 225) Fr-RS

Nedore and Anderson are so close and I don’t know what the rotation will be like, but they are likely ready for bigger roles. Although my guess is that if these were ready then Trick and White would not be part of the plan.