4. College Football News Preview 2020: Texas State Bobcats Defense 3 Things To Know
– All things considered, the defense did a decent job with the offense providing little help. It wasn’t any good against the run, but the secondary wasn’t bad – the Bobcats were second in the Sun Belt in pass defense.
However, the top three tacklers, six of the top eight, nine of the top 13, and 13 of the top 20 are done. An improvement starts by generating a wee bit of a pass rush after coming up with just 13 sacks.
– The line gets 290-pound junior Nico Ezidore for either the nose or as a big end – he made 44 tackles last season – and 285-pound senior tackle Caeveon Patton is coming off a 61-stop season. The depth will be a bit of an issue, but 5-11, 315-pound junior Gjemar Daniels will provide a little size.
– There’s no replacing Bryan London in the linebacking corps, but the entire group needs an overhaul. JUCO transfer Maureese Wren is a former Louisiana Tech Bulldog who needs to light it up on the outside, and 6-2, 215-pound Markeveon Coleman will get the first look in the middle.
The secondary that needs more help from the pass rush loses three starters, but it gets back promising corner Khambrail Winters, a true sophomore who came up with 53 tackles. Leading returning tackler Jarron Morris is only 5-9 and 158 pounds, but he can hit – he’s back on the other side.
The safeties need an overhaul, and it likely starts with Texas Tech transfer Christian Taylor along with Iowa State transfer Tory Spears.