Football | 9.1.15

ST. PAUL, Minn. – When Concordia-St. Paul opens the 2015 season on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Husky Stadium against St. Cloud state, the Golden Bears will feature a defensive unit loaded with experience and playmakers at all three levels.
 
Perhaps the most significant addition to the defensive side of the ball was the acquisition of seasoned Division II defensive coordinator Ted Egger, who joins the Golden Bear coaching staff with well over a decade of experience at four other DII programs.
 
With a history working in four other Division II programs providing Egger with plenty of different styles to employ, he'll be able to do so using seven returning starters from the 2014 team with an eighth coming back from injury after starting in 2013.
 
In the offseason, it's been senior defensive lineman Hank Goff who has made constant headlines with his background as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran machine gunner following a season at South Dakota State where his football results far exceeded his academic interests at the time. Goff's story has been well documented in the media, with his hunger for the game of football providing a second chance at a productive future through a degree at Concordia.
 
In addition to his leadership and passion for the game, Goff provides guidance as a player constantly looking to make his teammates better around him. He's also had his share of individual success, coming off an All-NSIC honorable mention campaign in 2014.
 
But he's not the only hungry defensive stopper as senior inside linebacker Jordan Halverson has constantly played with a mean edge to his game that will culminate with a rare sixth year of eligibility due to a medical hardship during the 2013 season. In his second try at a junior campaign in 2014, Halverson succeeded in his shot at redemption on the football field with a career-high 108 tackles while making his second All-NSIC South Division Second Team.
 
He finds himself just 44 tackles shy of the career record held by another inside linebacker, Brian Doyle (2001-04) who played on the Golden Bears' first NSIC Championship team in 2003.
 
Both players found themselves named to the USA College Football Preseason All-America Second Team, along with senior outside linebacker Josh Trifunov who had an 89-tackle season to earn All-NSIC Second Team honors.
 
Up and down the defense, it's difficult to pinpoint the most experienced, talented or the deepest position group.
 
The defense returns its top tackles leaders, its top shutdown cornerback and three out of four in the secondary.
 
However, there will be some notable vacancies to replace including the top two backfield playmakers in defensive end Dion Roche (14.0 TFL, 10.5 sacks) and outside linebacker Nick Jauch (16.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks) along with strong safety Abdullah Asad (3 INT).
 
DEFENSIVE LINE
Like the offense, everything starts at the line of scrimmage on the defensive side where the imposing Goff resides.
 
"Hank Goff leads our defensive line, he's an exceptional player and leader," said fifth year head coach Ryan Williams. "He'll have some pass rushing opportunities this year, but his past life experiences really sum up what it means to be an impact player on our defensive line. This is an effort position with a disciplined group of players that knows they are pieces to a bigger puzzle within our defensive scheme and we do expect them to be able to get after the passer by way of pressure."
 
Joining Goff as a returning starter up front is sophomore Chazz Roberts, who started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman. "Chazz is a really good nose guard and we liked what we saw from him last year as a starter, and we'll expect the same things from him this year, but at a higher level."
 
The other defensive end position opposite Goff will be filled by a combination of first year starters. "Jackson Dobbs is coming off his redshirt season and is a young guy who has really stepped up and we also expect Damon George to play more this year."
 
The defensive line also welcomes back Ryan McKee to the roster after playing in 10 games including a start in 2013 as a sophomore, making 11 tackles.
 
"McKee is back and playing good football this fall, and we also have a couple of experienced transfers in Gerardo Figueroa who played for us last year and incoming transfer Re'Shon Howard."
 
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Trifinov is the top returner on the outside, entering his senior year with 206 career tackles, but 188 of those coming over the last two seasons.
 
"Josh is going to be a four year player for us, one of those rare players who had his redshirt pulled as a freshman and he's one of those special players," said Williams. "He's made plays for four years, we have high expectations for his senior year and so does he. He'll be one of our defensive leaders."
 
On the opposite side, junior Sam Johnson appears poised to step into a starting role after backing up Trifunov and Jauch the last two years. Like Trifunov, Johnson had his redshirt pulled in his first year on campus and has played in 21 out of a possible 22 games as a Golden Bear. "Sam has had a good camp and is a smart and physical football player."
 
Providing depth on the outside is transfer David Reed, a highly recruited prep player from Miami, Fla. who was originally ticketed for the Division I level as a safety before heading to a junior college as a linebacker where he's slated to play at Concordia, "David is also a really good football player on the outside," added Williams.
 
The outside linebacker spot is rounded out by a pair of players who embody the versatility and athleticism that Williams profiled as a program strength in the offensive season preview as Billy Brown and JeQuan Rushing have both found solid roles on the defense. Brown was recruited as a quarterback before being listed as a running back in his second year while Rushing was initially listed as a defensive back before adding the strength necessary at linebacker.
 
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Halverson's experience and nose for the football lead the way for the inside linebackers, where senior Jahphet Grant also returns from a missed season due to injury in 2014.
 
"Both Jordan and Jahphet are physical and athletic and both have come back from the same injury in consecutive seasons. They are both healthy and have a chance to be as good of a starting tandem of inside linebackers we have had playing together in a while. They can both run, which is what sets them apart and makes them really good, this defense occupies the offensive line by slanting and stunting and these two guys have to be able to make plays. They have the skillset to do just that, along with the proven reps and track record to back it up," explained Williams.
 
Grant played in all 11 games in 2013, starting eight contests while ranking sixth on the defense with 46 tackles including four loss and a sack.
 
Behind them, Williams is excited about the quality depth offered by JJ Przybylka, Chris Krakau, Cole Warren and Mitch Zillman.
 
"JJ started some games (five) last year as a redshirt freshman, Krakau has been a great utility linebacker, Warren is coming off his redshirt season and can step in and do some good things for us. Watch for Zillman, though, he's a guy that we'll look to pull his redshirt and play him on special teams and get him going as a backup linebacker. He'll be a really good player, and is probably the third most athletic kid in this group after our starters."
 
SECONDARY
"As a group, we have a chance to be as athletic as we've been back there with our speed and quality ball skills. But beyond the sheer talent, we've been able to develop our secondary depth through a productive fall camp," Williams stated.
 
CORNERBACKS
Like each of the aforementioned specific position groups, the corner will be anchored by a senior with extensive starting experience with a productive track record. Jimmy Mireri has played in 32 out of a possible 33 games over the last three years, having a career year as a junior as he tied his career high 63 tackles while picking off three interceptions. He also returned nine kickoffs including a 90-yard touchdown and had a 36-yard touchdown catch in a rare appearance as a wide receiver.
 
Aside from his ability to make plays via the interception, return game and as a receiver Mireri has long been a strong cover corner as evidenced by his 35 career passes defended with 31 of those being pass breakups (four career INT's) and 165 tackles (115 solo).
 
"Jimmy has been a player for us for a long time and the expectation is that he'll back that up with a strong senior season and help to lead that corner group as well as the secondary."
 
Starting opposite Mireri at the corner is junior college transfer Jamie Fore from Jacksonville, Fla. by way of Fond du Lac Community College. "He has the physicality of a safety but runs like a corner. But the best quality about Jamie is that he's a true competitor and competes as much as anyone on our football team. You see it in the way he goes about things and his daily actions as well as on the field."
 
The team's third cornerback and potentially a player that can back up both spots is sophomore DeCeon Schumann. "It's great to see this young man excel and not only win a travel spot but be a trusted guy in the secondary and is a quality football player. Rodney Smith and Jonathan Johnson will be battling for the fourth and fifth corner positions as well as important special teams roles."
 
SAFETIES
A defensive co-captain along with Goff, senior Jordan Nieuwsma shifts to the safety position after holding a starting corner position in his career. Like a few others on defense, Nieuwsma had his redshirt pulled in his true freshman season in 2012 and has played in 29 of 33 games since. He made 37 tackles last season along with four tackles for loss, five passes defended and a key fourth quarter interception in the end zone to secure a victory over Augustana.
 
He's flanked by junior Breon Hoosier, another player who contributed as a true freshman in the program. Last year, Hoosier played in all 11 games and started six as a sophomore, making 36 tackles including five passes defended.
 
"Jordan is a senior and a leader of the secondary while Breon has looked as good as he's ever looked. Going into his third year and after playing as a true freshman, Breon is finally to that point in his career where he feels comfortable. It's exciting because he's a really good player and he's just fearless out there."
 
Adding depth to the position behind them and battling for two or three spots in the secondary depending on how special teams roles factor in are junior Dominic Nabak, sophomore Blair Griffith and true freshman Brandon Russell who is on the verge of joining Zillman with having his redshirt pulled.