Rutgers 2013 Season Preview: Defensive Lineman

The defensive line should be one of Rutgers’ biggest strengths this season. The Scarlet Knights not only have a talented starting four up front, but they have a ton of quality depth at the position, and that will be huge since they figure to face a lot of up tempo offenses this year. As usual, this group will be a bit undersized, but they will more than make up for any size deficiencies with speed and quickness. They should be a pain in the ass for opposing offenses to block, and also free up second level defenders to make plays.

Senior nose tackle Ike Holmes was outstanding last year while receiving his first opportunity as a starter, but his season was cut short after he suffered a wrist injury in the fourth game. When he is healthy, Holmes can provide some much needed size at the center of Rutgers’ defense. He is a very strong player who can hold double teams and fight through them, and that allows everyone around him to make plays. It is an unglamorous job, but it is vital to the success of the defense as a whole, and you won’t find a lot of guys in college who can eat up blockers as well as Holmes.

Starting next to Holmes as the three technique tackle is sophomore Darius Hamilton. The former 5 star recruit was involved in the defensive line rotation as a reserve last season, and he flashed his talent and made some plays. Hamilton is undersized for a defensive tackle, but he makes up for it with his technique that is second to none (having a father who played in the NFL probably helped a ton in that regard) and his quickness and burst off the snap. With Holmes eating up blockers next to him, Hamilton should be freed up to make a ton of plays in the back field.

Backing up at nose tackle is Kenneth Kirksey, who received a lot of praise from Kyle Flood during training camp. He would probably start on a lot of teams, and he is another big bodied guy who can take on double teams. Third string nose tackle Al Page is a talented player who should see some playing time as well, and he fits the same mold as Holmes and Kirksey.

Daryl Stephenson and Sebastian Joseph are listed as the co-backups at the three technique spot. The red shirt sophomore Stephenson is a quick player who missed all of last season with a lower body injury. Now that he is healthy, he should be a productive back up. Joseph is a true freshman, and he is quick off the snap and has a massive wing span on him that can not only combat blockers, but knock down some passes as well.

On the outside, Jamil Merrell starts at the strong side defensive end spot. He really broke out last year when moving inside to tackle, but he is a better fit on the end. He is capable of containing the outside and standing his ground against blockers, and he has tremendous quickness that allows him to make plays in the backfield. He is not an explosive pass rusher, but he is a very solid all-around player. Like his brother Jamal, he was named a captain and must take on a big leadership role on this defense.

Starting at the weakside end or “R” position is the senior Marcus Thompson. Thompson was effective last year in this position a year ago, and like Merrell, he is very strong against the run. It is tough to get outside of him, and he has the quickness to beat blockers off the ball and make plays in the backfield. He is also not a dominant pass rusher, but he will often drop back into coverage, as the “R” is considered a hybrid lineman/linebacker in the Scarlet Knights’ defense.

Backing up on the strong side are sophomores Djwany Mera and Max Issaka. They will both probably be utilized as situational pass rushers. At the “R” position, converted linebackers Dave Milewskki and Quanzell Lambert make up the second unit. Milewski missed all of last season with a knee injury, and he will finally get an opportunity to see the field after suffering multiple torn ACLs. Lambert came to Rutgers as a highly touted middle linebacker, but he is a better fit at end. He is quick to diagnose plays and is a very strong tackler. Red shirt freshman Julian Pinix Odrick would have been involved in the the line rotation, but he suffered a serious injury during spring able and will likely miss the entire season.

The defensive line will be the backbone of Rutgers’ entire team. This position group has by far the most talent, depth and experience of any at Rutgers right now. The departure of Scott Vallone will certainly hurt, but this may be the best group Rutgers has ever had up front on their defense.