By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Spring ended up being a mirage for the Southern defensive line.
Back then, the Jaguars seemed to finally have so much depth, with 12 linemen in spring practices and the promise of a handful more to come when the freshmen checked in.
However, SU has lost five defensive linemen since the spring, and the unit will have to lean more on youth.
“The guys are catching on pretty well,” third-year defensive line coach David Geralds said. “We’ve got some young, smart guys.”
Gone are two tackles — senior Isaiah Thomas, a former North Carolina transfer who had 40 tackles in eight games, and junior Alston Smith, a Temple transfer — and three ends — Lionel Roberts, trying to resurrect his football career after time in the Detroit Tigers; sophomore Jowelle Bullock (eight tackles in six games) and junior Jimmy Hollins (11 tackles in five games).
Roberts is not cleared to play, while Smith and Bullock left the program and Hollins and Thomas are academically ineligible.
“I felt pretty good during the spring,” Geralds said. “That did hurt, but that happened and we have to move on, we have to get these other guys ready.”
There are 10 defensive linemen on the roster — with four of those as true freshmen. Plus, junior Frank Harry is a South Florida transfer who came to the program in the spring.
There are two juniors — end Vince Lands (62 tackles, 18 for losses and six sacks) and tackle Joseph Selders (27 tackles and four sacks) — and three sophomores — ends Don Holloway (eight tackles in six games) and Wesley King (16 tackles and one sack in seven games) and tackle Dwayne Charles (12 tackles in four games).
There are no seniors.
The real concern is on the inside, where Thomas and Smith would have made SU deep and big. Now, in addition to their absence, Harry has been in and out with heat-related troubles, while freshman Calvin Cunningham may have a shoulder injury.
Those two are the only backups (although King can slide over from end) to Charles and Selders inside.
Geralds likes the players he has, saying, “They’re hard-nosed guys. They’re ready to do whatever it takes to get the job done. That’s what you look for, especially in that position. You have to be physical up front. There’s no way around it.”
However, the line could do with having more and bigger bodies.
Because SU is smaller and thinner now than the Jaguars expected to be, the defense has looked at playing more with three down linemen instead of their traditional four-man set.
SU has used both looks in preseason camp.
“We’re looking at both (a three-man front and a four-man front),” SU head coach Pete Richardson said. “It depends on how the down people go.
“It’s going to be hot (in a 2 p.m. season opener at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.). We’re going to have to have numbers. That will keep the interior guys from taking that beating. Plus, you get more foot speed on the field, because we’ve got a lot of linebackers who can run and hit and we have experience in the secondary.”
SU doesn’t have a lot of experience at linebacker, but the Jaguars are counting on having improved speed throughout the defense — line, linebackers and defensive backs.
“(A three-man front) helps out as far as our depth, more than anything else,” Geralds said.
Of the freshmen, Cunningham and end Steven Williams are ahead.
Williams, who was the only freshman to come to summer school and voluntary summer conditioning, has been particularly impressive.
“He’s got one speed, and it’s all out,” Geralds said.
Ends Ted Jones and Dexter James are the other freshmen. The luxury would have been to redshirt one or two of the freshmen, but they may all have to play.
“I have three freshman ends who are going to be pretty good — athletic, quick, fast,” Geralds said.
What Franks can do is the “X” factor. He’s 6-foot-4, 300 pounds.
“It’s improving,” Richardson said of the line play. “The thing that’s been inconsistent is Frank has been in and out.
“We have enough individuals that we’re able to move around and keep them fresh.”
Of the veterans, Lands and Selders are proven talents and make the right side strong and fast.
Charles, a former linebacker, had a solid spring, according to coaches, and continues to improve.
“With him being a linebacker, he was already able to run,” Geralds said. “That was a plus for the defensive line.”
Meanwhile, Holloway has edged King in a strong competition at left end because Holloway has better speed.
“I’m looking for perfection,” Geralds said. “I’m going to push for that. I don’t like to settle for less.”
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