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Southeast Missouri State football preview: Defense
Southeast Missouri State University football players.
Glenn Landberg
Linebackers
The Redhawks' top two tacklers from a year ago both return to lead the linebacking corps once again.
Southeast Missouri State University football player, Chad Meredith.
Glenn Landberg
Senior Roper Garrett, a second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, and junior Chad Meredith, who finished with 106 and 68 tackles, respectively, are part of a core group of defensive returners.
Junior Kendall Donnerson, junior Josh Kinzer, senior Terrance Hill, senior Byron Wilson and junior Rider Garrett all return after seeing action in the majority, if not all, of the team's 11 games last season, and Omar Pierre-Louis made the move from safety to outside linebacker after starting three games and playing in all 11 a year ago.
Roper Garrett is listed as a Week 1 starter along side Hill on the inside. The rush outside linebacker will be Donnerson, while Meredith will hand duties as the star outside linebacker.
The position figures to be a strength of the team again this year as long as players are able to remain healthy, something that has been an issue the past two seasons.
Coach's quote
"Love my two-deep. ... I trust them. I've been with these kids for awhile. I think we have a good working relationship. I think they believe, which is the biggest part of it. I just think the level of trust is high. ... Relationships take time. It's going on our third year, so they trust me, I trust them."
— Bryce Saia, defensive coordinator
Player's quote
"We have a solid group. This is the most talent I've seen at that position since I've been here. It's exciting to see. Having depth is awesome. Being able to flip another person and have the same level of competition is really exciting to see."
— Chad Meredith, junior linebacker
31 — Number of sacks for the Southeast defense, which was the third most in a season in program history. While it was defensive end John Popovich who paced the Redhawks' defense with five sacks, linebackers Roper Garrett (4.5) and Chad Meredith (3.5) were the next top contributors.
Defensive line
Southeast Missouri State University football player, Marlon Hampton.
Glenn Landberg
The Redhawks' biggest tasks were replacing three-year starter Jon Slania at defensive tackle and getting the returning starters on the defensive line healthy.
John Popovich, who missed much of the preseason with mononucleosis, is back at defensive end. Popovich led the team with five sacks last year, played in every game and made eight starts as a junior. He'll start the season listed on the depth chart behind senior Fernando Whigham, who's yet to see any action with the Redhawks.
Senior Marlon Hampton and junior Joshua Wilson are the top returners at on the interior. Hampton played in every game, starting six and recording 31 tackles. Wilson had 13 tackles in seven games and five starts. He missed four with a knee injury. Senior Anthony Cheatum, redshirt freshman Ryan Ochoa and redshirt freshman Ryan Truvillion are also options in the middle of the defensive line.
Fletcher Evans returns the most experience at defensive tackle. He played in three games as a sophomore. Redshirt freshman Jermell Massey is also in the mix.
Coach's quote
"I don't know that I've ever been more excited about a total group of guys coming into it. I think we've got some older guys that have been in the fire and we have some quality, good freshmen that we've added in there. I think we've got a good group of guys that are hard workers and really looking forward to working with them."
— Ricky Coon, defensive line coach
Player's quote
"Just watching the film, seeing what mistakes you made. You grow from that. Mistakes aren't wasted plays. You can always learn something from them. And I think we did this camp."
— John Popovich, senior defensive lineman
293 — The average weight of Southeast's 11 defensive lineman listed on the roster. Since the current coaching staff took over, an emphasis was placed on bringing in bigger linemen and bulking up the ones they already had. Mission accomplished.
Defensive backs
Southeast Missouri State University football player, Eriq Moore.
Glenn Landberg
Southeast's secondary returns some of its top performers from a year ago.
The Redhawks' top corner and safety -- junior Mike Ford and senior Eriq Moore -- are back to pester opposing receivers, along with Ryan Moore, who started 11 games at cornerback.
Eriq Moore was third on the team with 60 tackles while Ford, a second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection as a sophomore, was fifth on the squad with 44 tackles. He also broke up seven passes.
JJ Flye, Steve Durosier, and Jamarl Holloway also return at CB. Flye only saw action in one game due to nerve and skin damage from a fireworks accident and Durosier mainly played special teams as a true freshman. Holloway played in every game. Holloway, a senior, will be the Week 1 starter alongside Ford, who stands at 6-foot.
The Redhawks' passing defense ranked seventh in the OVC, with opponents averaging 172.5 yards passing in 11 contests. Last year's unit corralled 10 interceptions, including five from Ford.
Coach's quote
"They've got a lot of experience and just play with a lot of energy. Really it's one of those things where those guys, they're looking for that next level. They've been playing in the same system for a couple years now, so it's more like for them, 'What can we do better? How can we get better?' which is what I like."
Salim Powell, defensive backs coach
Player's quote
"I think because our safeties, they communicate so well it's just easy for us all to communicate and make sure we're on the same page. It just helps a lot having those older guys being able to see stuff and being used to seeing that and being able to help us out and making sure that everybody's on the same page."
— Mike Ford, junior cornerback
5 — Number of interceptions by the Redhawks junior cornerback Mike Ford, whose total ranked second in the OVC and led all players on Southeast's roster.