We conclude our positional breakdowns for the defensive side of the ball today as we take a look at the defensive line. Be sure to take a look at our previous breakdowns of the corners, safeties, and linebackers.
Defensive line analysis:
The Flames return a veteran front line anchored by senior JaRon Greene. The key for this group moving forward this summer and into the fall is developing some depth. As defensive line coach Vantz Singletary pointed out, “you like to have 2-deep, a solid 8, maybe 9 guys that you can count on, that you can trust.”
DE
1. Erwin Dessources (Sr., 6-1, 235)
Dessources suffered a pretty devastating injury in the Charleston Southern game last November, and he missed most of the spring as he continues to recover. “He’ll be 100% in the summer. We just took him real slowly,” Gill explained. “I anticipate him to have a fantastic season.” Coach Singletary said Dessources has been making the most of the time while he’s been injured. “He’s training, working out, studying a lot of film. (He’s) gotten bigger, stronger.”
2. Tolen Avery (So., 6-4, 235)
Ever since Avery arrived on campus prior to the start of the 2014 season, we’ve heard nothing but glowing remarks about his upside. Coach Singletary continued to heap praise on him saying, he “has really turned a lot of heads with his play.” So, while Avery hasn’t seen the field much to this point (only 8 games in his first 2 seasons), much is expected of the redshirt-sophomore from Texas. He should get plenty of time behind Dessources this season, and be the odds-on favorite to be a full-time starter beginning in 2017.
3. Ben Thomas (R-Jr., 6-2, 310)
DT
1. JaRon Greene (Sr., 6-2, 310)
Blink your eyes and Greene is suddenly a senior. The big defensive tackle has played in 36 games while starting 25 throughout the course of his Liberty career. Has he plateaued in his development? Not so, says position coach Singletary, “he’s had the best camp of all his years here. (I’m) really pleased with his leadership and his play. He’s been very consistent. He’s running, he’s moving, he’s coaching other guys.”
2. Dia’Vante Brown (Jr., 6-2, 240)
Brown has been used sparingly in his first 2 seasons with the Flames, primarily on special teams. Expect to see plenty of him this fall. “He’s been kind of the utility guy, he’s played multiple positions and he’s been a joy to watch,” Coach Singletary noted. “(He’s) a ball of fire, has a lot of energy.”
3. Marc Wilson (Jr., 6-3, 250)
NG
1. Spencer Cook (Jr., 6-1, 285)
Cook started the final 3 games of the 2015 season, and he will be counted on in a big way in 2016. Coach Singletary isn’t worried, “Cook has just been dynamite” during the spring, and he was aptly named starter at nose guard. Greene and Cook provide quite the intimidating tandem on the front line with their size.
2. Will Brown (So., 6-2, 275)
Will Brown didn’t play as much as some other returning defensive lineman, seeing time in 9 games and totaling 6 tackles. Singletary likes his upside, “Brown has been very good. He’s come in and hasn’t really fallen off a great deal (from the fall). He’s still working on little things, still learning, still developing.”
3. Aaron Waller (Jr., 6-3, 300)
RE
1. Juwan Wells (So., 6-2, 215)
Wells will be tasked with attempting to fill All-American Chima Uzowihe’s shoes, and after the conclusion to his 2015 season, he may be able to do just that. In the final 2 games of the season, against Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, Wells recorded 4.5 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks. He carried that over into the spring as Singletary said he had an “unbelievable camp” and was even named a captain. Quite the impressive feat for a true freshman to be named a team captain less than a year after showing up on campus.
2. Javon Frazier (R-Fr., 6-2, 235)
Coach Singletary is hoping Frazier can be a guy that breaks into the 8 man rotation in the fall. He redshirted last year and offers the Flames a change of pace edge rusher. He’s more of a “speed guy” and can be used as a change up on how Liberty attacks teams, according to Singletary.
