2012 Position Preview: Defensive Line

 

Every Monday Katfans.com will be taking a look at the 2012 football season, one position at a time!

The Sam Houston State Bearkats, fresh off a trip to last year’s National Championship game, are gearing
up for another season, where they look to defend their Southland Conference Title

The Bearkats utilize a 4-3 defense, which uses the tackles in the middle to both fill the running lands
and create space for the rushing defensive ends and linebackers. The old saying is, “games are won and lost in the trenches,” and because of that, that’s exactly where we start our position previews; The 2012 Defensive Line.

Overall the Bearkats return three (3) conference award winners and starters on the defensive line.
Defensive Coordinator Scott Stoker will have his squad ready to go when the opening bell sounds,
however, the question is, who will be in the ring?

Let’s take a look.

The Starters:

Defensive Ends:

Image: GoBearkats.com

(#92) Andrew Weaver, SR, 6’1’’ 245

Weaver was named to the 2nd team All Southland Conference as a rush defensive end. In 2011 he registered 5 sacks, 7.5 Tackles for loss, and 23 total tackles. He’s not necessarily the biggest guy on the defensive line, in fact he’s the smallest, but he uses his speed as a former linebacker (Texas A&M) and his technique to his advantage to be a constant in the opponent’s backfield. Look for him to have a stellar 2012 senior campaign. He projects as a linebacker in the NFL, and because of his speed up front, scouts will take a look.



(#97) Jarrett Brown, JR, 6’3’’ 265

Image: GoBearkats.com

Brown transferred in from Oklahoma just days before the 2011 pre-season camps began, and made a very strong impression in his first year on the team. Playing mostly as a back-up to outgoing senior Ed Decambre, Brown recorded 4 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 21 total tackles in 2011. Brown was a big factor early on in the season, but faded late and was a non-factor in the playoffs. He’ll need to work on his conditioning, as he disappeared late in games, but from all accounts, the starting defensive ends are
going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Defensive Tackles:

Image: GoBearkats.com

(#59) J.T Cleveland, SR, 6’0’’ 290

Cleveland looks to improve on his 2011 campaign, one in which he was named 1st team All Southland Conference, as an interior defensive lineman. Playing in every single game, Cleveland registered 1 sack,
5 tackles for loss, and a Defensive line-leading 35 total tackles.

(#66) Gary Lorance, JR, 6’0’’ 290

Image: GoBearkats.com

Lorance, who like Weaver, was also named to the 2011 2nd team All Southland Conference, had a stellar 2011 season that saw him book 4 sacks, 30+ total tackles, and a whopping 8 tackles for loss. In the middle, Cleveland and Lorance are listed as the exact same size and weight, and while they aren’t monsters in size like some tackles around the conference, they more than make up with it with their agility and penchant for finding the Quarterback, and pushing back the opposing line.

The Known Back- Ups:

(#91) Preston Sanders, JR, 6’3’’ 255 (Defensive End)

Sanders will more than likely backup Andrew Weaver this year. In 2011 Sanders netted 5.5 tackles for
loss and 21 tackles and made an appearance in most every game.

(#95) John Trotter, SO, 6’3’’ 270 (Defensive Tackle)

Trotter burned his redshirt during 2011 and saw playing time in only a handful of games, but still
registered a sack and a handful of tackles backing of Gary Lorance. Look for him to add a few more
pounds of “good weight,” this year and to be more effective in his back-up role to #66.

(#99) Forbes Baggett, JR, 6’2’’ 285 (Defensive Tackle)

Baggett will serve as the primary backup for the heralded JT Cleveland. In 2011 he saw plenty of playing
time and was able to come away with 1 sack, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 11 total tackles. While he won’t
be pushing Cleveland or Lorance out of their starting gigs, he’s a solid and well-rounded replacement
should one of them get hurt, or to spell stints of fatigue.

Keep an Eye On:

(#93) Tim Galvan, JR, 6’2’’ 240 (Defensive End)

Has not seen much playing time as he is also a transfer, like Weaver and Brown, however he has the
measurable to be an effective rushing defensive end, but does he have the motor? He is going to be one
guy given a pretty hard look by the coaching staff in spring drills and pre-season.

(#34) Casey Devries, SO, 6’4’’ 240 (Defensive End)

Excellent size and speed to play either position, but projected as more of an end due to the logjam at
Defensive tackle.

(#58) Ishmael Thorns, SO, 6’2’’ 245 (Defensive End)

After a stellar high school career, Thorns looks to step up this season and see some playing time. He is
pretty quick for a defensive end, and is most comparable to Andrew Weaver, as far as how he uses his
hands to get past the initial lineman.

PROJECTED TWO-DEEP FOR INCARNATE WORD

SDE
Andrew Weaver
Preston Sanders

DT
Gary Lorance
John Trotter

DT
JT Cleveland
Forbes Baggett

WDE
Jarrett Brown
Tim Galvan

Stay tuned to Katfans.com as next we will move into the second level of the defense and look at the linebackers!