4. College Football News Preview 2020: Stanford Cardinal Defense 3 Things To Know
– As disappointing as the offense was last season, the defense was even more of a clunker. Injures were an issue, and the O didn’t provide a lick of help with easy early scores, but the normally dominant D allowed 430 yards and 30 points per game.
And to make matters worse, the transfer portal kicked in.
DT Michael Williams is gone to SMU, DE Jovan Swann left for Indiana, and CB Obi Eboh is now a UCLA Bruin. There are others who bolted – this isn’t a defense that can lose depth – and the top three tacklers from last season are done.
– So where’t the positive? Paulson Adebo might be the nation’s best corner – if he can stay healthy. Kendall Williamson is a good-hitting safety, and helped by a promising young group that got its feet wet last year, the secondary should be stronger after a rough year – allowing just about everyone to bomb away, and with four of the eight picks on the season coming in two games. The pass rush has to help the cause.
– Top backfield playmaker Casey Toohill is done from his outside linebacker spot, and Swann is gone after finishing second in sacks. 6-4, 298-pound junior Thomas Booker is good on one end, and 6-4, 324-pound Dalyn Wade-Perry is a big body for the nose coming off a 12-tackle season.
Along with Toohill, two other parts of the starting foursome in the linebacking corps have to be replaced. Gabe Reid returns at one spot after making 43 tackles, but there’s going to be an overhaul.