OCG Breakdown: New Defensive Front and the Defensive Ends

One of the biggest changes for West Florida this season, from a schematic standpoint, is going to be the deployment of the defensive front seven. UWF is has, for basically the history of the program, used a stacked 3-3-5 (see below) base alignment. From this look Coach Darian Dulin utilized three big bodied defensive linemen, capable of taking on multiple blockers and allowing the second level defenders to flow and make plays. This second level included a Nickel Back that was a hybrid S/OLB. In 2021, UWF trotted out Brandon Penerton (6’1” 285) Matt Gotel (6’4” 325) and Myles Meyer (6’1’ 335) as the primary three man front, while in 2022 they were a little smaller with Aidan Swett (6’3” 270) Pooda Walker (6’1” 315) and a combo of Brandon Wade (6’2” 290) and Larron Cox (6’2” 260). Even with the slight downsizing in 2022 those both are very big D2 fronts and that is what remained on the roster in the spring, both in numbers and skill sets.

This year under new DC Kavell Conner, UWF is going to be running more of a blended 4-3/4-2-5 defensive scheme, like Clemson has used in recent years (if you want a more detailed breakdown of the Brent Venables/Clemson defense check it out here). In this system, the MIKE and WILL LB will be traditional Inside Linebackers, but the SAM is going play a hybrid role and there may even be a designated 3rd CB/Nickel that can come on for obvious passing situations, giving the unit flexibility between 4-3 and 4-2-5. What the defensive alignment should look more like is shown in the diagram below, with the A Inside Linebacker being WILL (Willie Jordan) while the A Outside Linebacker being SAM (Kode Lowe). The most noticeable change is the addition of a fourth Defensive Lineman, what is generally referred to as an EDGE or more traditionally Weakside Defensive End, a wide aligned Defensive End who skews toward twitchy pass rush specialist, think Cleveland Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett. This wasn’t a position or DL skill set that UWF had on previous rosters, because the 3-3-5 doesn’t put as much emphasis on DL playmaking. Putting more guys on the line, and spreading them across the offensive front will mean fewer double teams for the Argos DL and a greater chance for those guys to cause chaos behind the line. It should also benefit a very athletic LB group and their ability to avoid OL leaking up to the second level with four bodies to occupy five up front. This should hopefully improve a UWF run defense that struggled against the run last year (120th out of 163 for defensive rush yards per game, 102nd for defensive rush yards per attempt).

The benefit of this scheme change for the Argos is that they have a ton of productive returning options at LB, the aforementioned Jordan and Lowe, as well as returning starter Will Breland and key rotational players Gael Laurent, Onelio Rios, and Walker Robinson. The move from having three stacked LBs and a hybrid to having two LBs and a hybrid means that their depth at those positions should be among the strengths of the team. However, the upshot is that the Defensive Line room isn’t really built to have four players on the field in terms of numbers, there are only 10 DL on the roster post spring, or skill sets, no Defensive Ends listed > 6’3”. UWF’s most productive returning DL, and the only returning DL starter, is DE Aidan Swett (2021+2022 43 tackles 6.5 TFL 2.5 sacks), but he projects more as a Strongside Defensive End where he will likely line up in a 5T alignment (outside shoulder of the Offensive Tackle). In the spring he shined in his new role while UWF played a couple of guys opposite of Swett, most notably RS Soph. Georell Kidd (6’2” 265, 2022 3 tackles). Some other players, like Kenneth Martin and James Kitt looked to be repping some at DE as well, but came to UWF as Interior DL players. As soon as it was clear that UWF was making this shift, I felt like DE in general (EDGE more specifically) was a group that Coaches Conner and Melo were going to need to address to successfully implement their plans. Clearly they agreed.

As National Signing Day came to a close in early February, UWF had only added a single DL prospect, Defensive Tackle Johnnie Perdue, but since then there has been a flurry of activity along the DL with the Argos defensive staff adding a total of four DE prospects to the roster. On February 24th the staff secured a commitment from Coffeyville CC and former ECU Defensive End Jason Romero Jr, four days later they landed super talented c/o ‘23 DE Withchiel “Hank” Filamar from Winter Park HS, a month after that they snagged a flip from Valdosta State in Saginaw Valley State (D2) transfer Jake Dorn, and just last week rounded that group out with Chicagoland native Byron Puryear, a JUCO All-American from College of DuPage. Lets take a look at the Defensive End room player by player, and I’ll try to give a little more insight into what to expect from this group in 2023.

6th Year Senior Aidan Swett

Swett came to UWF from Bishop Kenny HS in Jacksonville as part of the 2018 signing class. He has been with the Argonauts for five years, and has been a contributor for the past three years, after redshirting in 2018 and sitting out the canceled 2020 season. During the 2019 National Championship run he recorded 10 Tackles 2.0 TFL 1 Sack 2 Hurries over 8 contests, as a primary backup in 2021 he finished with 15 Tackles 3.5 TFL 2 Sacks and 4 Hurries in 11 games, and moving into a fulltime starter role last season finished with 28 Tackles 3.0 TFL 0.5 Sacks and 4 Hurries starting every game for the Argos. Swett appeared to be one of the strengths of the defense in the spring practice period and available clips from the spring game. He is a big guy (6’3” 270) who probably has the ability to slide inside if needed, but he isn’t just a block eater and can get off the line and bend the edge. The Super Senior is poised to be the leader of the DL and one of the most important parts of a new look defense.

RS Soph. Georell Kidd

A Miami native, Kidd played his final prep season with national powerhouse Miami Northwestern before signing with FBS Buffalo in the 2019 recruiting class. He spent a Redshirt season with the Bulls before sitting out the 2020 season and joining UWF just before fall camp in 2021, but didn’t see any time with the Argonauts until last fall. Kidd primarily was playing opposite Aidan Swett with the first unit DL during spring and he tallied a couple of sacks in the spring game. He has had minimal college experience thus far, despite being four years removed from his prep career, but he was a powerful inside/outside pass rusher in high school. According to his Buffalo bio he tallied an eyepopping 17 sacks his Senior season, and it seemed like UB wanted to grow him into an interior DL. At UWF, however, it looks like he is going to be a DE and with his build (6’2” 265) he might be a pretty similar player to Swett, stout but still with the ability to press the passer. I’m curious how he will be deployed once the rest of the names on the list make it to campus, but he definitely has a leg up after spending a lot of time with the first team during spring football.

6th Year Senior Jacob Dorn

The first of the new faces to the room, Dorn comes to UWF after a pretty productive 5 year career at Saginaw Valley State from the perennially strong GLIAC (D2). He saw playing time immediately with the Cardinals playing in 11 games as a True Fresh. in 2018 tallying 28 Tackles 5.0 TFL 2 Sacks, going on to play a total of 33 games for SVSU and ending his career with 7.5 Sacks and 12.5 TFL. Dorn eventually would commit to GSC rival Valdosta State in February before backing off that commitment and flipping to the Argos. Another big guy for a DE, Dorn is listed at 6’3” 275 on the SVSU roster, but appears to be slimmed down to around 260 coming off a season ending injury that saw him play just 9 games in 2022. Despite the injury shortened season, Dorn finish with career bests for tackles (31) TFL (6.5) and sacks (3.5). You can take a look at his 2022 highlights here.

RS. Junior Byron Puryear

The talented JUCO transfer is the most recent addition, a Chicago native, Byron Puryear (6’4” 225) comes to UWF fresh off a massive season with the College of DuPage. In his one season with the Chaparrals, Puryear lead the team in TFL (13.5) and Sacks (8) and added 4 PBUs while playing in just 8 of DuPage’s 11 games. Those marks were good for 2nd and 5th in JUCO (Div. III) and earned him First Team All-American honors. He spent the three previous seasons at D2 Quincy University, where he didn’t appear in any games in 2019 before the cancellation of the 2020 season. In his first action, he shined for the Hawks appearing in 10 games, leading the team with 4.5 Sacks and forcing 3 Fumbles. Puryear gets busy at DE and uses long arms to be super disruptive even when he doesn’t get to the passer, evidenced by 3 Forced Fumbles at Quincy and 4 PBU at DuPage. His experience, 18 games in the last two years, could put him at a major advantage at the beginning of fall practice. I was able to track down his 2021 and 2022 highlights, so take a look.

Soph. Jason Romero Jr.

The Coffeyville transfer was the first of the two JUCO additions the Argonauts landed this spring. Romero played in the first three games of the Raven’s 2022 schedule, tallying 6 tackles 1 TFL 1 Sack 1 Forced Fumble. Like Georell Kidd, Romero originally signed with an FBS program, enrolling at ECU in the 2020 class, he then appeared in five games as a True Freshman totaling 34 snaps and recording just 1 Tackle. He was impressing observers during spring practice in 2021, especially physically, but left the team shortly thereafter before ending up at Coffeyville. As a player, he has the kind of skillset that UWF is missing, long and athletic with good acceleration off of the line, Romero has prototypical size for an edge defender at 6’4” 225. Romero has yet to put it all together as a college football player, but he was a standout prep player and has the physical potential to be a big time pass rush specialist for the Argonauts. Check out Romero’s three game JUCO highlight, along with some practice clips.

True Fresh. Withchiel “Hank” Filamar

Hailing from Winter Park High School in the Orlando area, Hank is the only player on this list who has never played a down of college football, he also may be the most physically talented. As a c/o ‘23 Senior he is listed in the same 6’4” 225 range as both Puryear (c/o ‘19) and Romero (c/o ‘20), while on the track he runs the 100 M and 4 x 100 M, with a PR of 11.76 and qualifying for regionals in the relay. He also competed in weightlifting in 2022, benching 280 and squating over 400. On the field Filamar finished his Senior campaign leading WPHS with 10 Sacks and 13 TFL in just 9 games per Maxpreps, however Winter Park played 12 games and Hank may have had as many as 14 Sacks. He is long, he is an explosive athlete off the line, and he plays very physical. While it isn’t always easy for Freshman to get on the field, Filamar certainly has a chance. You can see what the 4M First Team All-State performer did as a Senior here.

Predicting the Depth Chart

It is a little hard to say right now, because several of these guys have yet to step foot on Pen Air Field, but if I was a betting man my best guess at the depth chart going into fall camp would be:

SDE: Aidan Swett, Jake Dorn, Georell Kidd

EDGE: Byron Puryear, Jason Romero Jr., Georell Kidd

But I also expect a heavy defensive rotation up front, so all five of these guys should get a lot of reps as the coaches figure out what groups work best together. I also think Swett, Dorn, and Kidd could all slide inside on pass rush downs, providing a lot of flexibility with this group.