2014 Hobart Football Preview - Defense

Defensively Hobart brings back one of the best teams in the East. The Statesmen “D” led the LL in scoring (14.5 PPG), total (296.4 YPG) and red zone (60.6%) defense in 2013. This unit remains mostly intact, save for the secondary, which we will discuss below:

DE – The Statesmen boast one of the best DEs in the nation. Once again led by SR DE Tyre Coleman opposing offensive coordinators will struggle to keep their QBs and RBs upright in 2014. Coleman earned All-American honors for the second year in a row and comes into this preseason as a first team All-American pick by D3football.com, Sporting News and Lindy’s. In 2013 Coleman led Hobart with 7.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss (TFL). The other DE job is open and will be a competition between the five returning players, plus a talented FY class. Who wins this job will be a key outcome of this preseason’s camp.

DL – SR DT Troy Johnson and JR DT Tucker Gumkowski returns to bolster the middle of the Hobart defense. Both players contributed a combined 75 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2013. Like at DE, the Statesmen have a number of young, up and coming players who will get time rotating in to spell Johnson and Gumkowski.

ILB – Hobart will need to replace the production of Cory Davis who finished 2013 second on the team with 74 stops including two TFL and half a sack. Fortunately leading tackler JR LB Trayvon Toney returns and could be poised for another big year. Toney racked up 77 tackles, including 4.5 TFL, in 2013. SR LB Jacob Price (48 tackles, 1 TFL) and SO LB Zach Thornton (25 tackles, 2.5 TFL) also return and should play big roles in 2014. JR LB Jacob Stanley (10 tackles, 1.5 TFL and one sack) converted to ILB in the spring and adds depth to an already talented squad.

OLB – Not having Devin Worthington back is a big loss, but once again the depth Hobart boasts in this area should impress Statesmen fans. SR OLB Nolan Toran was a force in 2013 tallying 20 tackles, one TFL and two interceptions. SR OLB and Co-Captain Matt McGriff and SO OLB Marcus Jemison (33 tackles and one TFL) will compete for more time in 2014. SO Mike Harper is also in the mix, having converted from FS to OLB this spring.

DB/FS – The secondary lost a good deal of experience with the graduations of Jolyon Davis and Connor Garrett. SR DB Fajri Jackson returns off a 1st team All-LL season that included 44 tackles and will take a leadership role in the defensive backfield this season. SO DB Matt Cragg also earned valuable experience and could see an expanded role in 2014. Otherwise, Statesmen fans can expect to see both new upperclassmen and incoming players competing for time at FS and CB. The development of this unit will play a key role in the 2014 season, especially against teams like Endicott, Curry and LL foes such as Union and UofR who should have strong passing games as they've had in prior years.