Defensive Line (22 scholarship players, 9 EDGE and 13 interior linemen)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Anthonie Cooper (interior lineman)
Senior Elijah O’Neal (EDGE)
Senior Harold Brooks III (interior lineman)
Senior Jeff Clark (interior lineman)
Senior Prince Dorbah (EDGE)
Junior Jacob Kongaika (interior lineman)
Junior Gharin Stansbury (EDGE)
Junior Clayton Smith (EDGE)
Junior Justin Wodtly (interior lineman)
Sophomore Sam Benjamin (interior lineman)
Sophomore CJ Fite (interior lineman)
Sophomore Roman Pitre (EDGE)
Sophomore Tristan Monday (interior lineman)
Sophomore Blazen Lono-Wong (interior lineman)
Redshirt Freshman JP Deeter (interior lineman)
Redshirt Freshman Landen Thomas (EDGE)
Redshirt Freshman Kyran Bourda (interior lineman)
Freshman Ramar Williams (interior lineman)
Freshman James Giggey (EDGE)
Freshman Salesi Manu (EDGE)
Freshman Albert Smith (EDGE)
Position snapshot: 22 defensive linemen is an embarrassment of riches. But post-spring attrition can really come into play when you have a first-year position coach, as in ASU’s Diron Reynolds, who likely would want just around 15 players. That doesn't mean that we are guaranteed to see seven departures, but more than one or two departures is fully expected.
The need for defensive tackle quality depth is more or less fulfilled, but if there’s any addition in this position room (Reynold will coach both EDGE and interior linemen), this will be the need rather than EDGE.
Linebacker (8 scholarship players)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Caleb McCullough
Junior Zyrus Fiaseu
Junior Keyshaun Elliott
Junior Jordan Crook
Junior Krew Jackson
Sophomore Tate Romney
Redshirt freshman K’Vion Thunderbird
Freshman Martell Hughes
Position snapshot: Granted, in a scheme that will often feature two linebackers, you don’t need an abundance of players in this unit. But the extremely shallow depth following the 2023 season is all but a distant memory, thanks to an outstanding job by the staff. The addition of Elliott may eliminate the need for a spring transfer here.
Safety (including nickel back) (8 scholarship players)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Shamari Simmons
Senior Macen Williams
Junior Myles “Ghost” Rowser
Junior Xavion Alford
Sophomore Kamari Wilson
Sophomore Cole Martin
Redshirt freshman Montana Warren
Freshman Tony-Louis Nkuba (could play corner)
Position snapshot: Great depth here with Alford, who is essentially the best 2024 addition (after being ruled ineligible in 2023), and Simmons likely starters at safety. But Wilson and Rowser will push both of them, and Warren may have the biggest upside of any of the safety of this group, although they could also be at the nickel rotation.
Cole Martin likely to be slated as the starting nickel, with Macen Williams as the primary backup. Tony-Luis Nkuba is a promising freshman that can play multiple positions in the backfield.
Cornerback (10 scholarship players)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Ed Woods
Senior Roman Rashada
Junior Laterrance Welch
Sophomore Javan Robinson
Sophomore Keith Abney II
Redshirt freshman Keontez Bradley
Redshirt freshman Lenox Lawson
Freshman Plas Johnson
Freshman Chris Johnson
Freshman Rodney Bimage
Position snapshot: Woods is a proven starter, and Welch and Robinson both add much needed experience here and are expected to push Woods. Abney is someone I do expect to take that next step after showing flashes as a freshman. This role offers a huge opportunity for both the freshmen who redshirted and the incoming freshmen to carve a niche in the rotation. The future of this group does look bright, and no additions are expected here.
Special teams (2 scholarship players)
Junior Parker Lewis
Freshman Kanyon Floyd
Along with walk-on and sophomore Ian Hershey, who did redshirt last year and is expected to receive a scholarship, all three will sort out the placekicker and punter duties only in fall camp when Lewis and Floyd arrive.
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Anthonie Cooper (interior lineman)
Senior Elijah O’Neal (EDGE)
Senior Harold Brooks III (interior lineman)
Senior Jeff Clark (interior lineman)
Senior Prince Dorbah (EDGE)
Junior Jacob Kongaika (interior lineman)
Junior Gharin Stansbury (EDGE)
Junior Clayton Smith (EDGE)
Junior Justin Wodtly (interior lineman)
Sophomore Sam Benjamin (interior lineman)
Sophomore CJ Fite (interior lineman)
Sophomore Roman Pitre (EDGE)
Sophomore Tristan Monday (interior lineman)
Sophomore Blazen Lono-Wong (interior lineman)
Redshirt Freshman JP Deeter (interior lineman)
Redshirt Freshman Landen Thomas (EDGE)
Redshirt Freshman Kyran Bourda (interior lineman)
Freshman Ramar Williams (interior lineman)
Freshman James Giggey (EDGE)
Freshman Salesi Manu (EDGE)
Freshman Albert Smith (EDGE)
Position snapshot: 22 defensive linemen is an embarrassment of riches. But post-spring attrition can really come into play when you have a first-year position coach, as in ASU’s Diron Reynolds, who likely would want just around 15 players. That doesn't mean that we are guaranteed to see seven departures, but more than one or two departures is fully expected.
The need for defensive tackle quality depth is more or less fulfilled, but if there’s any addition in this position room (Reynold will coach both EDGE and interior linemen), this will be the need rather than EDGE.
Linebacker (8 scholarship players)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Caleb McCullough
Junior Zyrus Fiaseu
Junior Keyshaun Elliott
Junior Jordan Crook
Junior Krew Jackson
Sophomore Tate Romney
Redshirt freshman K’Vion Thunderbird
Freshman Martell Hughes
Position snapshot: Granted, in a scheme that will often feature two linebackers, you don’t need an abundance of players in this unit. But the extremely shallow depth following the 2023 season is all but a distant memory, thanks to an outstanding job by the staff. The addition of Elliott may eliminate the need for a spring transfer here.
Safety (including nickel back) (8 scholarship players)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Shamari Simmons
Senior Macen Williams
Junior Myles “Ghost” Rowser
Junior Xavion Alford
Sophomore Kamari Wilson
Sophomore Cole Martin
Redshirt freshman Montana Warren
Freshman Tony-Louis Nkuba (could play corner)
Position snapshot: Great depth here with Alford, who is essentially the best 2024 addition (after being ruled ineligible in 2023), and Simmons likely starters at safety. But Wilson and Rowser will push both of them, and Warren may have the biggest upside of any of the safety of this group, although they could also be at the nickel rotation.
Cole Martin likely to be slated as the starting nickel, with Macen Williams as the primary backup. Tony-Luis Nkuba is a promising freshman that can play multiple positions in the backfield.
Cornerback (10 scholarship players)
Current players (in order of 2024 eligibility):
Senior Ed Woods
Senior Roman Rashada
Junior Laterrance Welch
Sophomore Javan Robinson
Sophomore Keith Abney II
Redshirt freshman Keontez Bradley
Redshirt freshman Lenox Lawson
Freshman Plas Johnson
Freshman Chris Johnson
Freshman Rodney Bimage
Position snapshot: Woods is a proven starter, and Welch and Robinson both add much needed experience here and are expected to push Woods. Abney is someone I do expect to take that next step after showing flashes as a freshman. This role offers a huge opportunity for both the freshmen who redshirted and the incoming freshmen to carve a niche in the rotation. The future of this group does look bright, and no additions are expected here.
Special teams (2 scholarship players)
Junior Parker Lewis
Freshman Kanyon Floyd
Along with walk-on and sophomore Ian Hershey, who did redshirt last year and is expected to receive a scholarship, all three will sort out the placekicker and punter duties only in fall camp when Lewis and Floyd arrive.
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