Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh Football Preview: Defensive Line
8/21/2019 12:49:00 PM | Football
Throughout the month of August Lehighsports.com will be taking a position-by-position look at the 2019 Lehigh football team. The Mountain Hawks, under the direction of first-year head coach Tom Gilmore, opened preseason camp on August 1 and are preparing for the 2019 season-opener August 31 versus Saint Francis at Goodman Stadium.
We continue with a look at Lehigh's defensive line.Â
The Mountain Hawks must do a better job stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback if they want to improve defensively. Lehigh returns a pair of starters and nine total players from a unit that produced just 11 sacks last season.
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"Our players have matured physically and mentally and we're going to try our best to put them in positions to stop the run and rush the passer," Gilmore said. "Matt Borich, our defensive line coach, is a known entity in this league. They players have really taken well to him. He's doing an outstanding job and the players have been making significant improvements there."
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Juwan Morrow emerged as a force on the interior of the defensive line with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while providing energy and leadership. He has been granted a fifth year of eligibility and will work at the tackle spot with senior Colin Nace and junior Jason Dooling, both of who have seen playing time limited due to injury.
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"Having a guy like Juwan back on the D-line is a major bonus," Gilmore said. "He is not only a really good player, and I think he can be a dominant player for us there, but he's also a great leader. You look at him in the weight room, and on campus. He's one of those guys that's always doing the right thing. He's highly respected among the players and the coaches. He's a guy that can be a major force for us on the inside."
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Lehigh is somewhat younger at the other interior line position. Sophomore Michael Laurencelle saw more playing time towards the back end of last season and flashed in the spring. Sophomore Bartek Rybka saw action in the defensive line rotation prior to a season-ending injury. Freshman Dean Colton could also figure in the mix on the interior line.
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"Mike Laurencelle really emerged as a force inside in the spring," Gilmore said. "He's a big, strong, physical guy. He did a really good job. We also have experienced guys like Bartek Rybka, Colin Nace and Jason Dooling and we're looking forward to seeing how they come along."
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At defensive end Lehigh returns senior Davis Maxie, who started all 11 games at the "hawk" position and gained notoriety for his fumble return touchdown on the first play from scrimmage at Lafayette. Junior Jack Kircher has appeared in 17 games in his first two seasons and will be part of the defensive line mix. Junior Zac Troxell will vie for time as well.
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On the other side, Erik Slater appeared in 11 games, rotating with Maxie at the "hawk." He had 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Freshmen Mikhari Sibblis, Michael Callahan and Jackson Michaels will all look to contribute off the edge.
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"Slater and Maxie saw a lot of time in the spring for us," Gilmore said. "They're bigger and stronger and should be bigger forces against the run, but should also be able to put some pressure on the quarterback. They're very athletic. By mixing some things up in the spring it really freed those guys up. They did a good job of pressuring the quarterback. Jack Kircher is another guy who played last year and brings some size on the edge. He's a good run stopper and continues to develop as a pass rusher."
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We continue with a look at Lehigh's defensive line.Â
The Mountain Hawks must do a better job stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback if they want to improve defensively. Lehigh returns a pair of starters and nine total players from a unit that produced just 11 sacks last season.
Â
"Our players have matured physically and mentally and we're going to try our best to put them in positions to stop the run and rush the passer," Gilmore said. "Matt Borich, our defensive line coach, is a known entity in this league. They players have really taken well to him. He's doing an outstanding job and the players have been making significant improvements there."
Â
Juwan Morrow emerged as a force on the interior of the defensive line with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while providing energy and leadership. He has been granted a fifth year of eligibility and will work at the tackle spot with senior Colin Nace and junior Jason Dooling, both of who have seen playing time limited due to injury.
Â
"Having a guy like Juwan back on the D-line is a major bonus," Gilmore said. "He is not only a really good player, and I think he can be a dominant player for us there, but he's also a great leader. You look at him in the weight room, and on campus. He's one of those guys that's always doing the right thing. He's highly respected among the players and the coaches. He's a guy that can be a major force for us on the inside."
Â
Lehigh is somewhat younger at the other interior line position. Sophomore Michael Laurencelle saw more playing time towards the back end of last season and flashed in the spring. Sophomore Bartek Rybka saw action in the defensive line rotation prior to a season-ending injury. Freshman Dean Colton could also figure in the mix on the interior line.
Â
"Mike Laurencelle really emerged as a force inside in the spring," Gilmore said. "He's a big, strong, physical guy. He did a really good job. We also have experienced guys like Bartek Rybka, Colin Nace and Jason Dooling and we're looking forward to seeing how they come along."
Â
At defensive end Lehigh returns senior Davis Maxie, who started all 11 games at the "hawk" position and gained notoriety for his fumble return touchdown on the first play from scrimmage at Lafayette. Junior Jack Kircher has appeared in 17 games in his first two seasons and will be part of the defensive line mix. Junior Zac Troxell will vie for time as well.
Â
On the other side, Erik Slater appeared in 11 games, rotating with Maxie at the "hawk." He had 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Freshmen Mikhari Sibblis, Michael Callahan and Jackson Michaels will all look to contribute off the edge.
Â
"Slater and Maxie saw a lot of time in the spring for us," Gilmore said. "They're bigger and stronger and should be bigger forces against the run, but should also be able to put some pressure on the quarterback. They're very athletic. By mixing some things up in the spring it really freed those guys up. They did a good job of pressuring the quarterback. Jack Kircher is another guy who played last year and brings some size on the edge. He's a good run stopper and continues to develop as a pass rusher."
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