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| Senior safety Duke Williams leads an experienced Wolfpack secondary. |
On the defensive line, the Wolfpack are solid despite replacing Roy Brett from last season who recorded 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks (glad we won't be seeing him off the edge).
At the left defensive end position is sophomore Brock Hekking (6-4 260-pounds) who recorded 10 tackles last season in 7 games as a reserve in 2011. He had 3 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in the opener against Cal. Behind him is junior Sam Foster (6-4 265-pounds) who recorded 8 tackles and a half sack in 8 games last year. At the defensive tackle position, the Wolfpack have sophomore Jordan Hanson (6-2 285-pounds) (had 3 tackles and one tackle for loss in the win over Cal) and senior Mark Avery (6-4 280-pounds) behind him. The Bulls need to exploit the lack of experience and use their guards (Estenor, Popek, Martin) to get holes in the running game against them. At the other defensive tackle position, junior Jack Reynoso (6-3 275-pounds) returns after recording 24 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks in 8 games from last season (he did not record any stats in the first game). Behind him is redshirt freshman Rykeem Yates (6-2 270-pounds) which leaves a lot of inexperience behind Reynoso. At the right defensive end position, sophomore Jake Peppard (6-3 255-pounds), sophomore Tyler Houk (6-4 255-pounds) (had 1 tackle last Saturday) and redshirt freshman Lenny Jones (6-3 245-pounds) (had 3.5 tackles in the win) will all rotate for playing time. None of them recorded a stat last season, giving the advantage to Eatmon off the edge in this game.
At the SAM linebacker position is senior Jeremiah Green (6-2 230-pounds) who recorded 48 tackles last season with 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 7 passes defended, and one QBH (had 3.5 tackles and one tackle for loss vs. Cal). Behind him is redshirt freshman Burton De Koning (6-2 220-pounds) who did not recorded any stats last season due to redshirting (1 tackle vs. Cal). At the MIKE position is senior Albert Rosette (6-2 245-pounds) who recorded 29 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and defended 1 pass last season (3 tackles vs. Cal). Behind him is redshirt freshman Jordan Dobrich (6-2 230-pounds). At the WOLF (weak side) is senior DeAndre Boughton (6-1 220-pounds) who did not record any stats last season. Behind him and splitting duties with him is senior Dray Bell (6-2 225-pounds) who recorded 16 tackles last season, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack. The numbers for the linebackers are real low for the returning group from last season. They all have good size and most are seniors, but they do not have a lot of game experience, so the USF running game needs to come right at them and the passing game should attack the zone and use the size of the tight ends to get the mistmatches they can exploit.
At the cornerback position is senior Thaddeus Brown (5-11 180-pounds) who totaled 22 tackles last season and defended 1 pass. Behind him is senior Malik James (6-0 195-pounds) who did not record a stat last year. At the other cornerback position is senior Khalid Wooten (6-0 195-pounds) who totaled 65 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 interceptions, 4 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles last season (had 4 tackles vs. Cal). Behind him is junior Markus Smith (6-1 185-pounds) who recorded no stats last season. The Nevada starting corners have good size, especially with Wooten, but the depth behind the starters, despite having experience in the system, have not played that much over their careers. At free safety is senior Marlon Johnson (5-11 190-pounds) who totaled 49 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 passes defended, and forced one fumble last season (1.5 tackles vs. Cal). Behind him is sophomore Charles Garrett (5-11 190-pounds) who didn’t record a stat last season. At strong safety is senior Duke Williams (6-1 190-pounds) who totaled 78 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery last season (6.5 tackles vs. Cal). Behind him is senior Tyler Thompson (6-2 205-pounds) who recorded 14 tackles last season as a reserve. Like cornerback, the starting safeties are experienced, but the depth behind star Williams is thin on experience and will be pressured to help provide depth in this game to help support the starters.
Overall, the Wolfpack defense is solid with experience in the secondary, but they have questions up front on the line and their depth is not that experienced, meaning a lot of new players will be taking the field, something USF has to take advantage of.
I know this team is strong and very solid at the same time. With perseverance, hard work, and determination, these players won't back down and will surely give a good fight!
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