Here is a preview of the Texas State defense. This is not quiet as long as the offensive preview. But once again, feel free to ask any questions.
On defense, Texas State will run a 4-2-5 defense, with former Rice Co-DC Craig Naivar calling the defense. This will be the 3rd new defensive coordinator in 4 year. And the defense as a whole is still very young with only 3 projected starters being seniors while 4 projected starters will juniors, and 4 projected starters will be sophomores. Add onto that, 6 more reserves that are expected to see significant time will be sophomores as well.
DE: Jordan Norfleet, Ron Jackson, Blake McColloch, Jamie Clavell-Head, Austin Kirpes, Tylond Robertson – Expect Jordan Norfleet and Ron Jackson to be the starters with McColloch and Clavell-Head being the two main backups, with Austin Kirpes a 2 star recruit last year also getting some playing time as well. I would also expect Tylond Robertson to redshirt.
DT: Preston Brown, Jeff Clermond, Adley Eshraghipour, Deshun Williams, Darius Hood, Samuel Mayes – The two starters will likely be Preston Brown and Adley Eshraghipour (a redshirt Junior who missed all of last year because of injury). Other than Eshraghipour all the other DL are either sophomores or freshman. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of Mayes or Hood to also get some time this year as a freshman in reserve action.
LB: Bryan Iwiji, Joshua Minde, Jopolo Bartu, Brian Lilly, Charles Holmes, Drew Hamilton, Josh Robinson, Keishe’ Wilcox – Expect Bryan Iwiji and Brian Lilly to be the two starting LB’s with Jopolo Bartu, Joshua Minde and Charles Holmes all getting significant time as well. This is the oldest unit on the squad with Iwiki, Minde, and Holmes all being seniors this year, while Bartu and Lilly will both be juniors.
CB: Darryl Morris, Derek Lopez, Mario Wiggins Jr, Phillip Benning, Craig Mager, and David Mims – Darryl Morris and Derek Lopez will be the two starters with Darryl Morris being a full time starter last year, and our shut down CB. And Derek Lopez is returning as a part time starter from last year. Phillip Benning was the other returning CB to get the most time last year seeing action in 9 games. The biggest question is who will be the #4 CB, Mario Wiggins Jr did see action in 3 games last year, but Craig Mager is a freshman that red shirted last year. I would expect to see David Mims red shirt this year.
S: Jarrad Stewart, Jason McLean, Xavier Daniels, Matt Harris, Josh Medford, Jeremy Dickey, and Jarvis Walker – I would expect the starters to be Jarrad Stewart, Jason McLean, and Jarvis Walker. Jarrad Stewart is a Sophomore who transferred from Utah and was a part time starter for us last year, as were Xavier Daniels and Jason McLean. Jarvis Walker is a transfer from Kentucky who is expected to take over the Kat/Rover position in the 4-2-5 defense. I would also expect Matt Harris to see time backing up Walker. Harris has seen time at both S and LB for Texas State and I expect to see him move back to S under the new 4-2-5 scheme.
On defense, Texas State will run a 4-2-5 defense, with former Rice Co-DC Craig Naivar calling the defense. This will be the 3rd new defensive coordinator in 4 year. And the defense as a whole is still very young with only 3 projected starters being seniors while 4 projected starters will juniors, and 4 projected starters will be sophomores. Add onto that, 6 more reserves that are expected to see significant time will be sophomores as well.
DE: Jordan Norfleet, Ron Jackson, Blake McColloch, Jamie Clavell-Head, Austin Kirpes, Tylond Robertson – Expect Jordan Norfleet and Ron Jackson to be the starters with McColloch and Clavell-Head being the two main backups, with Austin Kirpes a 2 star recruit last year also getting some playing time as well. I would also expect Tylond Robertson to redshirt.
DT: Preston Brown, Jeff Clermond, Adley Eshraghipour, Deshun Williams, Darius Hood, Samuel Mayes – The two starters will likely be Preston Brown and Adley Eshraghipour (a redshirt Junior who missed all of last year because of injury). Other than Eshraghipour all the other DL are either sophomores or freshman. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of Mayes or Hood to also get some time this year as a freshman in reserve action.
LB: Bryan Iwiji, Joshua Minde, Jopolo Bartu, Brian Lilly, Charles Holmes, Drew Hamilton, Josh Robinson, Keishe’ Wilcox – Expect Bryan Iwiji and Brian Lilly to be the two starting LB’s with Jopolo Bartu, Joshua Minde and Charles Holmes all getting significant time as well. This is the oldest unit on the squad with Iwiki, Minde, and Holmes all being seniors this year, while Bartu and Lilly will both be juniors.
CB: Darryl Morris, Derek Lopez, Mario Wiggins Jr, Phillip Benning, Craig Mager, and David Mims – Darryl Morris and Derek Lopez will be the two starters with Darryl Morris being a full time starter last year, and our shut down CB. And Derek Lopez is returning as a part time starter from last year. Phillip Benning was the other returning CB to get the most time last year seeing action in 9 games. The biggest question is who will be the #4 CB, Mario Wiggins Jr did see action in 3 games last year, but Craig Mager is a freshman that red shirted last year. I would expect to see David Mims red shirt this year.
S: Jarrad Stewart, Jason McLean, Xavier Daniels, Matt Harris, Josh Medford, Jeremy Dickey, and Jarvis Walker – I would expect the starters to be Jarrad Stewart, Jason McLean, and Jarvis Walker. Jarrad Stewart is a Sophomore who transferred from Utah and was a part time starter for us last year, as were Xavier Daniels and Jason McLean. Jarvis Walker is a transfer from Kentucky who is expected to take over the Kat/Rover position in the 4-2-5 defense. I would also expect Matt Harris to see time backing up Walker. Harris has seen time at both S and LB for Texas State and I expect to see him move back to S under the new 4-2-5 scheme.
