Defensive End/Rush:
Recap: The Crusaders struggled mightily from '12-'15 but one mainstay on the line was defensive end and captain John Guilford. He was a perennial all conference type of player and registered 19.5 sacks over his career, was by far and away the most productive defensive lineman. With his graduation the Crusaders played the position by committee and were forced to play the position by committee due to injury of expected starter Jay Slone. Also graduated was starter Cody Cotton who moved from safety, to linebacker, to a rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. He accumulated 41 tackles, 0.5 a sack, an interception, and two fumble recoveries as a SR. The Crusaders were able to combat this with SO Mike Wheeler coming into his own.
Graduated:
#34 Jay Slone 6-1 230 RSJR: redshirted as an outside linebacker in '13. Moved to rush the spring of '14. Had a solid rookie campaign in '14 playing in 7 games as a rookie amassing 12 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Was injured quite often in '15 still playing in 8 games as Cotton's primary backup. Had 16 tackles, 1tfl, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Moved to a true defensive end in '16 expecting to lighten the loss of Guilford. Only played in 5 games on the year due to injury still posting 12 tackles, 1 tfl, and a sack. Is one of the few players expected to return for a fifth year.
Starters:
#18 Mike Wheeler 6-2 230 JR: Recruited as a mike backer in '15. Played in 5 games as a true freshman in '15 racking up 3 tackles. Moved to rush in the spring. As a sophomore was able to start all 11 games. Accumulated 42 tackles on the year, 2 tfls, a sack, a quarterback hit and 2 forced fumbles. Look for him to add more weight and improve as a returning starter in '17.
#95 Murphy Osmond 6-5 230 SO: Was thrust in the rotation due to the injury to Slone. Will need to gain weight for next season but also could be much improved his sophomore campaign. Had 19 tackles, 1.5 tfls, half a sack, 2 pass breakups, and a quarterback hit as a rookie. Look for those numbers to improve in '17.
Rotation:
#33 Gowan Baldwin 6-3 240 JR: Played as a wide receiver in high school due to athleticism. Recruited as a Strong side linebacker playing 7 games in his rookie campaign in '15. Did not record any stats on the year. Moved to Rush in the spring. Hopped in the rotation playing 10 games in '16. Had 11 tackles on the season and 1 tfl. Look for him and Wheeler to be the primary edge rushers in '17.
Reserves:
#54 Jesse Studyvin 6-4 250 JR: Was Guilford's primary backup in '15 playing in 9 games as a true freshman piling up 7 tackles. Played in only 3 games as a sophomore only recording 3 tackles. Due to size and strength could be moved to defensive tackle in the spring. Expect more snaps in '17 for Studyvin.
#48 Brent Dickson 6-5 220 SO: A huge frame that could play either end or rush in '17. Played rush his rookie season appearing in 2 games in '16. Played fairly while piling up 5 tackles in mostly garbage time. Could be poised for a breakout season if weight is gained and Slone does not return. Look for him in '18 and '19.
#57 Torrin Sallis 5-9 240 RSSO: Recruited as a mike backer and redshirted the '15 season. Moved to rush linebacker in the spring. Appeared in 1 game in his rookie campaign in '16. Has the strength but not necessarily the size to play d-tackle in '17.
Redshirts:
#55 Connor Sperling 6-2 240 RSFR: Good size was a defensive end in high school. Recruited as a rush linebacker in '16 and the coaches were able to redshirt him. Has good size and looks to crack the rotation in '16.
#87 Jordan Goebel 6-3 230 RSFR: Recruited as a true defensive end. Could be a good run stopper down the line. Needs to gain weight before next season. Could crack the rotation along with Sperling and Zajac in '17.
#94 James Zajac 6-6 240 RSFR: Excellent defensive end size for a freshman. Great testament that he was able to redshirt. Coaches were raving about him in fall camp so maybe injury was a factor in redshirt decision. Will most likely get a good amount of snaps as a sophomore. Like Studyvin could also move to d-tackle given size and frame.
Recap: The Crusaders struggled mightily from '12-'15 but one mainstay on the line was defensive end and captain John Guilford. He was a perennial all conference type of player and registered 19.5 sacks over his career, was by far and away the most productive defensive lineman. With his graduation the Crusaders played the position by committee and were forced to play the position by committee due to injury of expected starter Jay Slone. Also graduated was starter Cody Cotton who moved from safety, to linebacker, to a rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. He accumulated 41 tackles, 0.5 a sack, an interception, and two fumble recoveries as a SR. The Crusaders were able to combat this with SO Mike Wheeler coming into his own.
Graduated:
#34 Jay Slone 6-1 230 RSJR: redshirted as an outside linebacker in '13. Moved to rush the spring of '14. Had a solid rookie campaign in '14 playing in 7 games as a rookie amassing 12 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Was injured quite often in '15 still playing in 8 games as Cotton's primary backup. Had 16 tackles, 1tfl, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Moved to a true defensive end in '16 expecting to lighten the loss of Guilford. Only played in 5 games on the year due to injury still posting 12 tackles, 1 tfl, and a sack. Is one of the few players expected to return for a fifth year.
Starters:
#18 Mike Wheeler 6-2 230 JR: Recruited as a mike backer in '15. Played in 5 games as a true freshman in '15 racking up 3 tackles. Moved to rush in the spring. As a sophomore was able to start all 11 games. Accumulated 42 tackles on the year, 2 tfls, a sack, a quarterback hit and 2 forced fumbles. Look for him to add more weight and improve as a returning starter in '17.
#95 Murphy Osmond 6-5 230 SO: Was thrust in the rotation due to the injury to Slone. Will need to gain weight for next season but also could be much improved his sophomore campaign. Had 19 tackles, 1.5 tfls, half a sack, 2 pass breakups, and a quarterback hit as a rookie. Look for those numbers to improve in '17.
Rotation:
#33 Gowan Baldwin 6-3 240 JR: Played as a wide receiver in high school due to athleticism. Recruited as a Strong side linebacker playing 7 games in his rookie campaign in '15. Did not record any stats on the year. Moved to Rush in the spring. Hopped in the rotation playing 10 games in '16. Had 11 tackles on the season and 1 tfl. Look for him and Wheeler to be the primary edge rushers in '17.
Reserves:
#54 Jesse Studyvin 6-4 250 JR: Was Guilford's primary backup in '15 playing in 9 games as a true freshman piling up 7 tackles. Played in only 3 games as a sophomore only recording 3 tackles. Due to size and strength could be moved to defensive tackle in the spring. Expect more snaps in '17 for Studyvin.
#48 Brent Dickson 6-5 220 SO: A huge frame that could play either end or rush in '17. Played rush his rookie season appearing in 2 games in '16. Played fairly while piling up 5 tackles in mostly garbage time. Could be poised for a breakout season if weight is gained and Slone does not return. Look for him in '18 and '19.
#57 Torrin Sallis 5-9 240 RSSO: Recruited as a mike backer and redshirted the '15 season. Moved to rush linebacker in the spring. Appeared in 1 game in his rookie campaign in '16. Has the strength but not necessarily the size to play d-tackle in '17.
Redshirts:
#55 Connor Sperling 6-2 240 RSFR: Good size was a defensive end in high school. Recruited as a rush linebacker in '16 and the coaches were able to redshirt him. Has good size and looks to crack the rotation in '16.
#87 Jordan Goebel 6-3 230 RSFR: Recruited as a true defensive end. Could be a good run stopper down the line. Needs to gain weight before next season. Could crack the rotation along with Sperling and Zajac in '17.
#94 James Zajac 6-6 240 RSFR: Excellent defensive end size for a freshman. Great testament that he was able to redshirt. Coaches were raving about him in fall camp so maybe injury was a factor in redshirt decision. Will most likely get a good amount of snaps as a sophomore. Like Studyvin could also move to d-tackle given size and frame.