Thursday, August 30, 2018
After another solid season under defensive coordinator Bryce Saia, the Southeast Missouri State football team hopes a mix of returning starters and fresh faces will keep the defense among the best in the league despite the loss of several key players.
The Redhawks gave up 345.7 yards per game last year and were fourth in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference in points per game, allowing 21.8 ppg. That bend-but-don't-break approach -- with SEMO finishing sixth in the conference in total defense -- followed a 2016 season in which SEMO ranked third and fourth in the conference in scoring and total defense, respectively.
Five starters return from last year's unit -- although just three are listed as starters on the Week 1 depth chart -- and the six departed starters were big losses. Linebacker Chad Meredith and cornerback Mike Ford are currently with the NFL's Detroit Lions after signing as undrafted free agents while linebacker Kendall Donnerson was a seventh-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers and remains with the team. SEMO's other starting corner, Rico Williams, is gone and was at the Washington Redskins' rookie minicamp this spring. Safety Omar Pierre-Louis and defensive lineman Joshua Wilson are also gone.
Linebackers
Southeast lost both starting outside linebackers in Donnerson and Meredith, although Meredith struggled with injuries and missed three games. Still, that duo combined for 97 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
The Redhawks do have leading tackler Zach Hall back at inside linebacker after he racked up 79 tackles, including 15 for a loss. He also led the team with nine sacks. The junior is a Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference pick, SEMO's only defensive selection, and will lead the defense from the Mike position.
Senior Demarcus Rogers will start at the other inside linebacker spot. He was eighth on the team with 35 tackles last season.
Senior Devin Alexander, a returning starter at inside linebacker, is not on the Week 1 two-deep after battling injuries during fall camp.
With Meredith playing hurt at times last year, Justin Swift got some experience at outside linebacker, racking up 39 tackles including nine tackles for loss. He will start opposite senior Marcus Goree, who saw limited playing time last year.
"With Chad getting banged up, Swift did get a lot of reps so that helps," Saia said. "But now he's got to step up because he's not rotating with Chad anymore. He's the guy."
Omardrick Douglas and Derrick Calhoun are the backups outside.
"Swift and Goree and Omardrick are the outside 'backers who can hopefully replace the two outside 'backers that are in the NFL," Saia said.
Malden High School product and junior Nick Thompson will back up Hall at the Mike position while redshirt freshman Eli Morris is behind Rogers on the depth chart.
There's a contingent of local talent at linebacker with Jackson High School graduate Nathan Brown, former Charleston High School star Jeremy Tucker and Kennett High School alumnus Britt Harris on the roster.
Secondary
The Redhawks lost three of their four starting defensive backs to graduation with the sole returner being strong safety Bydarrius Knighten. As a freshman last year, Knighten was fourth on the team in tackles with 52 and had one interception with three pass breakups.
While NFL talents in Ford and McWilliams along with second-leading tackler Pierre-Louis are gone, the Redhawks have plenty of returning experience. It's just not starting experience.
Cape Girardeau Central graduate Al Young and Taj Jenkins played in all 11 games last year, and Shabari Davis had two interceptions, including one against Kansas.
This year, the Redhawks will be counting upon all three with Young and Jenkins starting at cornerback and Davis as a nickel option.
"The good thing with guys like Al, he started a couple of games last year and played a lot," cornerbacks coach Ray Smith said. "Shabari Davis is another guy who gained some reps as well, and Taj Jenkins is a guy who filled in as well. The top three guys, they've been around -- this is my second year, so they're used to me. This is their third year -- with Shabari it's been two. But there's been a lot of reps, reps, reps, reps. I'm a big rep guy, and I can see them getting better.
"I know we lose a lot with Mike Ford and Rico McWilliams, but with the three guys being around those guys and a lot of repetition and being with me and in the system, I think we'll be fine."
Young, who starred at Central and switched to defense before last season, had 15 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery last year. Smith is counting upon the junior to excel this fall.
"He's huge," Smith said. "We need everybody. It ain't gonna be a one-man, two-man committee. We're going to be a whole unit. He's one of those pieces I need to come through this year and be one of the top guys in the OVC if not in the nation, pass-defense wise."
At free safety, DJ Freeman replaces Pierre-Louis, who also led the team with three interceptions.
Redshirt freshman Octavius McClatchey, sophomore Marcus Lucas and true freshman Trai Hodges are other options in the secondary.
Defensive line
The heart and soul of the defense is up front, Saia said.
Clarence Thornton returns as a starter on the three-man front after ranking sixth on the team with 42 tackles. Reggie Miles started last year but is listed as the backup nose tackle on the Week 1 depth chart. Sophomore Daterraion Richardson is slated to start there. Bryson Donnell is the third starter while Josh Price is his backup.
Hillsboro High School graduate Ryan Ochoa, who had five tackles for loss last year, is Thornton's backup.
SEMO's depth extends beyond the two-deep, though, with coaches and players believing they have nine capable lineman they can rotate in and out during games.
"The heart and soul of the whole defense is our D-line," Saia said. "At this level, it's hard to find a good two-deep, and we might be three-deep. ... That's the strength of [the defense]."
Special teams
Nicholas Litang returns at place kicker after making 7 of 16 field goals last season with a long of 45 yards. He was 1-for-6 from 40 yards or more and had three kicks blocked.
He or Kendrick Tiller will handle kickoff duties.
Jake Reynolds is back at punter after averaging 39.6 yards on 60 punts, including a season-best 78-yarder. He had 21 punts down inside the opponents' 20-yard-line.
Kickoff return specialist Cam Sanders transferred out of the program in the offseason after averaging 26.5 yards per return with one touchdown. Zach Smith will replace him with starting running back Marquis Terry as another option.
Zach Smith and Shabari Davis split time returning punts last year and could do the same this season.
Camden Boyle is the long and short snapper with Central graduate and senior Zach Stagner as backup.
Corey Manne is the holder.
DEFENSE AT A GLANCE
Starters back
DB Bydarrius Knighten
DL Clarence Thornton
DL Reggie Miles
LB Devin Alexander
LB Zach Hall
Starters lost
DB Mike Ford
DB Omar Pierre-Louis
DB Rico McWilliams
DL Joshua Wilson
LB Chad Meredith
LB Kendall Donnerson
Key stats
Points allowed per game: 21.8
Rushing yards allowed per game: 139.0
Passing yards allowed per game: 206.7
Key returners
Tackles: Zach Hall (79)
Sacks: Hall (9)
Interceptions: Shabari Davis (2)