4. College Football News Preview 2020: Eastern Michigan Eagles Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense that was 99th in the nation – allowing 430.5 yards and 31 points per game – has some work to do with four of the top six tacklers gone. Stopping the run is the biggest early key, but the secondary suffers the biggest losses with three of the five parts gone.
Blake Bogan is a good veteran who worked at the free safety spot – making 54 tackles with a pick – and 5-8 senior Freddie McGee is a battler at one corner.
– Can the defensive front come up with more pressure? The Eagles were 98th in the nation in sacks and 121st in tackles for loss, but three of the four parts are back on the line.
The tackle combination of Woo Scott and Mikey Haney are back along with their main backups. Top pass rusher Turan Rush – he made five sacks with 39 tackles – is back at one end.
– Leading tackler Kobie Beltram is gone from the linebacking corps, but 223-pound senior Terry Myrick is back on the outside coming off an 89-tackle season. The middle would’ve been there for Brandon Burks to take over, but he’s in the transfer portal, putting the pressure on junior Desean Boyd to become a factor.