“Top Three” Opposing Players: Lines of Scrimmage

Part three of the top three series, this time we will be looking at the best Linemen the Argonauts will see this a fall, but I’m going to do this one a little differently. Because DL are hard to separate sometimes, it’ll be the top six Defensive Linemen, regardless of position. Additionally OL is such a unit based position, so instead of looking at individuals, we will take a look at the top three OL groups.

Defensive Linemen

Davonchae Bryant UWA

One of the true freaks in the GSC, Bryant transferred to Livingston from UCF and had a monster 2022. Standing an imposing 6’7” 295 pounds, Bryant put up a league best 15 TFL and added 3.5 sacks to earn 1st Team All-GSC honors. On the season he totaled 46 tackles and added 3 PBU. Bryant was super productive against Delta State 12 tackles 1 sack 1 TFL but had arguably his best versus Shorter a 4 tackle, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sack, 3 PBU, 1 hurry performance. For an interior DL facing a bunch of wide open offenses, he was a really consistent contributor, failing to tally a TFL just once in 2022 amid four multi TFL games. Between Bryant and his running mate Jamal Ellis, UWA should have one of the most formidable DL units in the country at the D2 level.

Jamal Ellis UWA

If Bryant is the best returning DL in the conference, then his teammate Jamal Ellis just might be the second best. The 6’4” 285 pound Ellis, a 2nd Team All-GSC finisher, posted 10.5 TFL and an impressive 6 sacks, those numbers were both good for top four finishes in the conference last fall. He had 6 TFL and 2.5 sacks in conference play, which were top 8 marks in the GSC. He had his best games of the season against the quality OL units of Valdosta State (5 tackles 2.5 TFL 1 sack) and Delta State (3 tackles 1 TFL 1 sack), and only failed to post a TFL in three games last year, a three week stretch against Delta State, North Greenville, and West Florida. Ellis is a guy who they can play at a couple different spots across the front, so look for the Tigers to play his strengths off of Bryant in 2023.

Kamari Stephens FAMU

At a point this off-season it looked like Kamari Stephens was going to be moving onward and upward in the transfer portal, but Coach Willie Simmons was able to keep the best DL in the SWAC at home for his final season. A multi-positional defensive menace, Stephens lead SWAC in sacks (10), all solo, which was also good for 7th best at the FCS level. At 6’3”270 he can play inside-out and cause real problems for opposing OLs, and did all season finishing 2022 with a sack in 7 out of 11 games. He put on a show against Bethune Cookman in the Florida classic, closing out the season with 3 sacks in the rivalry game.

Lamarcus Faulkner Delta

Faulkner enjoyed a breakout season in his first year with the Statesmen and finished 2nd on the team in sacks and TFL, behind only another player to know LB Demario Martin. His 9.5 TFL is 3rd best among returning GSC players and his 4.5 sacks was good for a top 5 finish as well. He was productive against the Argos last season, posting a season high 3.0 TFL and forcing a fumble in the Delta State win. He also stood out against a very good UWG OL, where he accounted for 1.5 sacks and another forced fumble. Look for Faulkner will be an even bigger focal point of the DSU DL this year.

Demario Martin Delta State

Martin technically played Delta State’s Bandit OLB position, but his primary duties were as edge setter and pass rusher, and he played on the line often with his hand in the dirt, so here he is with the DL group. He wasn’t a full time starter, as DSU’s 3-3-5 defense rotated a lot of front 7 players depending on opponents, but he as a force in just about every game this season. Martin posted a TFL in 11 of 13 games last fall, finishing with 13.5 (2nd in the GSC) and tallying a league best 8 sacks. He was playing his best ball in the post season, where he finished with 6 tackles 3.5 TFL 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble in two games. Somehow Martin didn’t make the All-GSC list at the end of the season, but there is no doubt he is going to be one of the most dangerous defenders the Argos face in 2023.

Gentle Hunt FAMU

Over the past two seasons, the High Springs native has been a formidable presence in the middle of the Rattlers’ Defensive Line. In his first action in 2021, he was 2nd among DL with 5.0 sacks, 8.0 TFL, and put up 27 tackles while appearing in 10 games as a Defensive Tackle. He didn’t quite match his 2021 production last fall, finishing with just 5.0 TFL and just 1 sack, but did deflect a pass, block a kick, and force a fumble, leading to a 3rd Team All-SWAC honor from Phil Steele. Going into 2023, Hunt should be one of the premier interior DL in the SWAC as evidenced by preseason 2nd Team All-Conference nods by both the Coaches and Phil Steele.

Offensive Line

West Georgia

West Georgia was really strong on the OL last year leading the league in total pressure rate (sacks+hurries/passing attempts+sacks) with 7.1% (league average 11.5%). The Wolves averaged over 5 per carry and 185 yards per game on the ground, but were the #1 offense yards per game in all of D2 football. They finished 7th in SP+ offense (opponent adjusted offensive success) for D2. West Georgia returns 2nd Team All-GSC Center David Bodden, and the four players that made every IOL start last fall, Bodden, Marvin James, Jalen Moore, and Austin Donaldson. They will need to replace two quality Offensive Tackles, but should be among the conference’s strongest OL units this fall.

FAMU

Return 51/55 starts from last season including four guys (Jalen Goss, Charles Davis, TJ Lee, Cam Covin) who were primary starters all year. This unit is well represented in the preseason All-SWAC teams with Goss and Covin named as the 1st Team Tackles, LSU transfer Kardell Thomas made Phil Steele’s 2nd Team, while Morgan Moore and Lee were named to the 3rd Team. In 2022 the Rattlers didn’t have much of a running attack, just 3.7 yards per carry and 108.5 yards per game excluding sacks, but had the 2nd lowest sack rate in the SWAC (4.9%). This was good for 33rd among 132 FCS teams. Bringing back almost everyone who contributed last year and landing a quality SEC transfer should set the FAMU OL up to be one of the best in FCS this fall.

Delta State

The Statesmen had an elite offense in 2022, 3rd nationally per SP+, and that was due largely to high level OL play. They managed to keep Shegog upright, finishing 3rd in total pressure rate (8.0%) in GSC and had a sack rate under 4% (17th natioanlly). Much like UWG, Delta will need to replace both starting Tackles from last year, but are also returning a lot on the interior. The headliners will be 1st Team All-GSC G/C Kewshawn Jennings and 2nd Teamer Jaelon Brown who b0th started every game in 2022. Delta State didn’t have enough records to compile all of their OL starts from last year, but of the 49 recorded starts by Offensive Linemen they get back 27 from the foursome of Brown, Braidron Hodo (3 starts), Jennings, and Jason Judge (2 starts).