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Basically ... The potential is there for the defense to rock if the corners play better and the line holds its own. The Rebels will switch to a 3-4 playing into their strength at linebacker. The recruiting class was almost all about defense showing a commitment to being better, but the current players in place will be fine.
Star of the defense: Senior SS Jamaal Brimmer
Player that has to step up and become a star: Sophomore DT Howie Fuimaono
Unsung star on the rise: Junior DE Leon Moore
Best pro prospect: Brimmer
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Brimmer, 2) LB Adam Seward, 3) LB Ryan Claridge
Strength of the defense: Linebacker, safety
Weakness of the defense: Defensive line
Defensive Line
Projected Starters
- Defensive end Pete Dunbar, Sr. - Dunbar gets one more season after redshirting because of a sports hernia. He has decent size and good quickness with a little bit of career
experience.
- Defensive tackle Howie Fuimaono, Soph. - The short, powerful Fuimaono turned into a solid freshman campaign pressed into starting duty for four games finishing with 22 tackles. He suffered
through some growing pains, but the experience should help tremendously.
- Defensive end Leon Moore, Jr. - Moore has bulked up and is looking like he's about to bust out as a top pass rusher. The now-270-pounder made four sacks last year to go along with 35 tackles
and three forced fumbles. He's the difference maker on the Rebel line.
Top Backups
- DE Brian Nicholson, Sr. - Nicholson is big enough to play tackle, but will primarily backup up Pete Dunbar at one of the ends.
- DT Isaiah Totua, Jr. - Totua isn't the space eater on the inside that Howie Fuimaono is, but he's an active player who showed this spring that he'll be a key contributor.
- DE Isaac Watts, Jr. - The former Arizona Wildcat has all the skills to be a top pass rusher, but he'll have to play behind Leon Moore to start out the season.
The Skinny:
The switch to a 3-4 makes will be a huge help to a line that needs time and depth to develop. This is a good sized group with a few emerging playmakers, but the goal will primarily be to not
be a detriment. If the front three can simply hold their own against the run, they'll have done their job.
Player to keep an eye on: Leon Moore ... Defensive Line Rating: 4.5
Linebackers
Projected Starters
- Reggie Butler, Sr. - Butler made an impact from the word go as a transfer last year making 47 tackles and three sacks. He's not the run defender the other veteran linebackers are, but he's
better at dropping into pass coverage and doesn't make mistakes.
- Adam Seward, Sr. - Seward has been one of the rocks of the conference over the last three seasons with 312 tackles and two All-Mountain West selections. He went from being a good run defender
to a complete linebacker last year timing his blitzes better and making more plays against the pass.
- Ryan Claridge, Sr. - The most athletic linebacker of a very active group, Claridge is the highlight reel players always in the opposing backfields and always making the key play. He isn't
quite the linebacker that Adam Seward is, but he's close.
- John Andrews, Sr. - Andrews is a speedy and athletic defender always finding a way to be around the ball. He led the team with five fumble recoveries while adding 74 tackles, three sacks and
ten tackles for loss.
Top Backups
- Zach Bell, Sr. - Bell has bulked up becoming more of a linebacker than the former safety he was. A tremendous backup and potential starter, Bell will spell Claridge on the inside after
making 33 tackles last year.
- Terrence Young, Sr. - An experienced and valuable reserve on the inside, Young made 11 tackles in a reserve role last year. There's a major drop-off from Adam Seward to Young, but he's still
a reliable player in the rotation.
The Skinny:
The move to a 3-4 alignment is a good one taking advantage of the team's biggest strength. It's hard to find a better pair of inside linebackers than Adam Seward and Ryan Claridge, while the
outside linebacker can hold their own. If JUCO transfers Bobby Kelly and Matt Pattison play as advertised, the depth will be loaded as well.
Player to keep an eye on: Zach Bell ...Linebacker Rating: 9.5
Secondary
Projected Starters
- Cornerback Ruschard Dodd-Masters, Sr. - Dodd-Masters grew into a decent all-around defensive back last season and a sure tackler making 50 stops and an interception. He's a big defender who
has the potential to be a top player, but still needs to make more plays when the ball is in the air.
- Strong safety Jamaal Brimmer, Sr. - The best strong safety in college football, Brimmer followed up a breakout sophomore season with a fantastic junior campaign making 77 tackles, three
sacks, ten tackles for loss and six interceptions. He still has things in his all-around game to work on, like his one-on-one pass coverage technique, but there's not any glaring weakness
in his game. He's a lock to be a Thorpe Award finalist
- Free safety Joe Miklos, Soph. - After needing a while to get used to the change, the huge hitting Miklos made the conversion from linebacker to safety with tremendous success finishing
second on the team with 82 tackles and scoring two touchdowns on two fumble recoveries. He's the rising star of the secondary.
- Cornerback Ernest Gordon, Soph. - Gordon had a good year as a true freshman learning on the fly as a reserve. He doesn't have a lock on the starting cornerback job, but at the very least
he'll be a consistent contributor.
Top Backups
- Free safety Will Togai, Sr. - Tagoi has the best all-around skills of anyone in the secondary able to play safety or corner with good speed and great size. He was knocked out for the year
early on with a knee injury, but he made 22 tackles and broke up two passes in only four games.
- Cornerback Jason Rogers, Soph. - Rogers was all set to be one of the starting corners last year before tearing his ACL. His return will be key for the overall depth of the
secondary.
- Cornerback Charles Ealy, Jr. - The JUCO transfer came in this spring and instantly impressed with his quickness and physical play. He could end up taking over Gordon's starting spot.
The Skinny:
This was a good pass defense, but not a great one breaking in the cornerbacks and lacking quality depth. Now things will be solid with Jamaal Brimmer leading a veteran group with good athletes
and some big hitters. If some of the injured players from last year come through, this will be one of the Mountain West's deepest secondaries.
Player to keep an eye on: Charles Ealy ... Secondary Rating: 6.5
Special Teams
- Placekicker Sergio Aguayo, RFr.. - Dillon Pieffer nailed 20 of 25 field goals last year, but it'll now be up to high school hotshot Sergio Aguayo to be a consistent and clutch weapon. He has
a good leg, but he has to prove himself in game situations.
- Punter Gary Cook, Sr. - Cook isn't a booming punter, but he's one of the most accurate punters in college football putting 48 kicks inside the 20 over the last two years. He'll be in the mix
for the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter if he averages 43.4 yards per kick again.
The Skinny:
If Sergio Aguayo turns out to be adequate, the kicking game will be fine. German soldier Hubi Schulze Zumkley will handle the kickoffs and could end up being the long range field goal kicker.
Tremayne Kirkland is one of the best punt returners in America averaging 12.6 yards per return, but the kickoff returners have to do far, far better than the 114th best average of 16 yards per
return.
Special Teams Rating: 6.5
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