Training Camp Position Preview: Defensive Line
8/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
As Liberty has started its preparation for the 2016 football season with practice this week, LibertyFlames.com starts its position previews today with a look at the defensive line.
Liberty's defensive line suffered a big lost in terms of graduating seniors from last year's squad with the departure of 2015 Big South Defensive Player of the Year Chima Uzowihe.
Uzowihe's on-the-field accomplishments were numerous for his final year with the Flames. The defensive end was named to the All-Big South first team, STATS FCS All-America second team, Associated Press FCS All-America second team and the Roanoke Times All-State first team.
The senior finished the 2015 season with 52 tackles (34 solo, 18 assisted), including 17.0 tackles for a loss (86 yards) and 8.0 sacks (62 yards). The senior led the Big South and ranked No. 17 in the country in tackles for a loss (1.5 per game). He also led the conference and ranked No. 18 in the nation in sacks per game (0.73).
Along with Uzowihe, Nolan Spicer graduated after starting six games in 2015 and making 28 career appearances. The nose guard finished his career with 32 tackles (14 solo, 18 assisted) and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
However, defensive line coach Vantz Singletary's four-man front still has plenty of firepower coming into 2016, led by JaRon Greene and Erwin Dessources.
Greene has started 25 career games with most of his career starts coming at nose guard. The senior ranked seventh on Liberty's roster in 2015 with 36 tackles (16 solo, 20 assisted), including 4.5 tackles for a loss and 2.0 sacks.
Dessources tied Greene for seventh place on Liberty's defensive stats sheet with 36 stops (20 solo, 16 assisted), including 6.0 tackles for a loss and 2.5 stops. He also ranked fourth in the country with three force fumbles. The senior suffered a season-ending injury against Charleston Southern and missed spring workouts as he was in recovery from offseason surgery.
Dessources (DE) and Greene (DT) are slated to anchor the left side of Liberty's defensive line, while Spencer Cook (NG) and Juwan Wells (RE) are the front runners to hold down the right side of the line.
Cook has appeared in 17 career games, including all 11 contests in 2015. He finished last season with 13 tackles (five solo, eight assisted) and a forced fumble. Wells had a breakout season in 2015, finishing with 7.5 tackles for a loss, including 5.0 sacks, in eight games.
Tolen Avery (DE), Dia'Vante Brown (DT) and Will Brown (NG), along with several underclassman will look to provide backup to the four slated starters and keep the defensive line's success going in 2016.
August Training Camp Depth Chart – Defensive Line
DE
42 Erwin Dessources (Sr., 6-1, 235)
55 Tolen Avery (So., 6-4, 235)
47 Ben Thomas (R-Jr., 6-2, 260)
DT
76 JaRon Greene (Sr., 6-2, 310)
58 Dia'Vante Brown (Jr., 6-2, 240)
NG
66 Spencer Cook (Jr., 6-1, 285)
90 Will Brown (So., 6-2, 275)
97 Aaron Waller (Jr., 6-3, 300)
RE
54 Juwan Wells (So., 6-2, 215)
91 Javon Frazier (R-Fr., 6-2, 235)
95 Devin Fisher (R-Fr., 6-1, 230)
DL Reserves:
52 Michael Anderson (Fr., 6-3, 220)
75 Gregg Storey (So., 6-5, 315)
