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Basically ... The Ohio D was good last year at everything except keeping offenses out of the end zone allowing far too many big plays and dying down the stretch. The back eight will be excellent as SS Rob Stover and LB Dennis Chukwuemeka lead the way for what should be one of the league's top run defenses. The front three is average and won't get to the quarterback, but is big enough to hold firm against the run.
Star of the defense: Senior LB Dennis Chukwuemeka
Player that has to step up and become a star: Sophomore DT David Escobar
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore CB T.J. Wright
Best pro prospect: Senior SS Rob Stover
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Chukwuemeka, 2) Stover, 3) FS Chip Cox
Strength of the defense: Linebacker
Weakness of the defense: Defensive tackle
Defensive Line
Projected Starters
- Defensive end Kevin Carberry, Sr. - Carberry has been a decent pass rusher, but he hasn't been consistent. He's good against the run making 40 stops to go along with his 3.5 sacks, and now he
has to shine as a senior.
- Defensive tackle David Escobar, Soph. - Escobar didn't see too much action as a freshman, but now the 280-pounder will take over the starting job in the middle. The walk-on still needs plenty
of work, but he has more experience than any of the other tackles.
- Defensive tackle Zach Kiesch, Jr. - The JUCO transfer is a smart, big player who needs to get into the backfield. While not a natural pass rusher, he has the quickness and the strength to be
a decent disruptor.
Top Backups
- DE Seth Ream, Jr. - At 232 pounds, Ream is the smallest player in the line rotation. He has decent speed, so he needs to become a good situational pass rusher.
- DT Ivann Parker, RFr. - With almost no experience and little bulk in the middle, the 280-pound Parker will see plenty of work rotating with David Escobar on the nose.
The Skinny: This could be a major issue. Ohio has been strong against the run and has relatively good size using three mid-weight tackles with two disguised as ends, but there is little
to no overall experience and now pass rush. Their job is to hold at the point of attack and let the linebackers and safeties get to the quarterback, but it wouldn't kill the ends to make more
plays. There's almost no experience on the nose.
Player to keep an eye on: Zach Kiesch ... Defensive Line Rating: 4
Linebackers
Projected Starters
- Matron Church, Soph. - The 6-3, 230-pound sophomore will act almost line another defensive end on the outside using his size and strength to be a force against the run. He had a strong
freshman year making 19 tackles and three quarterback hurries.
- Matt Muncy, Soph. - Muncy was technically a backup, but he got more than his share of work including a few starts finishing fifth on the team with 53 tackles. He's more like an extra strong
safety on the inside, but he can run and has great instincts.
- Dennis Chukwuemeka, Sr. - The star of the defense, Chukwuemeka has made 216 tackles over the last two years and is a terror at getting into the backfield. He can do a little bit of everything
well and should be in the hunt for All-MAC honors once he comes off his knee surgery.
- Tyler Russ, Soph. - Russ hit the weights and moved from safety to linebacker where he was looking like a major star making 51 tackles in only seven games of work. He'll return to once again
be a guided missile on the outside.
Top Backups
- Spencer Tatum, Soph. - Tatum was all set to be a starter on the inside before he was knocked out for the year with a hip problem. He's back and will challenge Matt Muncy this fall for
time.
- Pete Brately, Sr. - While limited in his overall skills, the walk-on has no problem finding the ball finishing third on the team with 85 tackles making nine quarterback hurries. He'll find
time somewhere in the mix starting out the year backing up Dennis Chukweumeka.
The Skinny: The potential is there for this to be a very strong group led by top tackler Dennis Chukweumeka. Tree sophomores take over the other three spots, but they can all move and
they can all make plays against the run. Expect a boatload of production from the starting four even though there isn't a true All-MAC playmaker outside of, possibly, Chukweumeka. There's nice
depth if Spencer Tatum returns healthy.
Player to keep an eye on: Tyler Russ ... Linebacker Rating: 5.5
Secondary
Projected Starters
- Cornerback Dion Byrum, Jr. - Byrum is the team's number one cover-corner and a solid tackler with 40 stops and 13 broken up passes with two interceptions last year. He's very quick with the
most experience of all the corners.
- Free safety Chip Cox, Sr. - With the speed of a corner, Cox is great in coverage breaking up 25 passes over the last two years. He's only 5-9 and 185 pounds, but he isn't afraid to tackle
with 138 stops in two seasons.
- Strong safety Rob Stover, Sr. - Stover stepped into the starting role and had a great season finishing with 92 tackles and two interceptions. At 6-0 and 201 pounds, he provides the pop in the
secondary and has the wheels to get into the backfield with 14 tackles for loss and four sacks.
- Cornerback T.J. Wright, Soph. - Wright was mainly a reserve, but he was the team's most dangerous corner returning three interceptions 119 yards and breaking up 11 passes. He's a wisp at
5-11 and barely pushing 170 pounds, but his quickness makes up for it.
Top Backups
- CB Andre Bradford, Sr. - Bradford came in from the JUCO ranks and proved to be a good tackling corner making 47 stops. His problem was in pass coverage as he was merely average eventually
giving way to T.J. Wright.
- FS Rashad Butler, Sr. - Butler has been a steady player for the last two years moving in and out of the secondary lineup. He's one of the team's biggest players and can hit with 34 stops last
year.
The Skinny: The secondary gave up too many big plays allowing 220 yards per game and 20 touchdowns, but that was still not all that bad finishing sixth in the MAC. T.J. Wright and Dion
Byrum as strong corners while Chip Cox and Rob Stover form a solid safety tandem. Expect more production from the entire group this year.
Player to keep an eye on: T.J. Wright ... Secondary Rating: 5.5
Special Teams
- Placekicker Greg DiMarino, Jr. - DiMarino hit all seven of his kicks from inside 30 yards, but went a shaky one of five from beyond. The job will be open with Craig Donahue getting a shot
this summer.
- Punter Matthew Miller, Jr. - Miller was good, but not spectacular averaging 39.8 yards per punt putting 12 inside the 20. He should be solid again.
The Skinny: There has to be more overall boom to the kicking game. Dion Byrum was a strong punt returner averaging 11.8 yards per return while Chris Jackson and Scott Mayle were decent
at kickoffs. The punt coverage unit was miserable giving up 12.6 yards per return.
Special Teams Rating: 6
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