As the Jackson State football team opened fall camp Monday, the hope was for another Cricket Celebration Bowl appearance.
It is fitting the defense finally received validation at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day on July 16. JSU defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams and defensive back Esaias Guthrie were chosen to the preseason All-SWAC Team. A year before, there were no Tigers selected to the preseason defensive team.
In 2023, Jackson State led the SWAC in interceptions with 17. But if Jackson State is to make a run at the SWAC title in 2024, the Tigers must dominate at a position no one is hyping — the defensive line. That position group is coming off of a disappointing 2023 after the 2021 and 2022 seasons, when its play helped lead to consecutive SWAC crowns and Cricket Celebration Bowl appearances.
Here are three things to keep on eye on the Jackson State defensive line in 2024:
Jackson State football is counting on Division I veterans
Tigers coach T.C. Taylor went heavy in the transfer portal the past two seasons. Half of the 16 defensive linemen on the 2024 Jackson State roster played on Division I teams before joining the Tigers. The transfers must help with depth and the attrition that occurs during a season. Here is a look at the defensive linemen with Division I experience on the JSU roster.
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Joshua Nobles, a 6-4, 225-pound junior, transferred from Western Michigan in 2023.
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John Brown, a 6-1, 258-pound graduate student, played at McNeese State in 2023.
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Phillip Webb, a 6-5, 265-pound senior, played for Jackson State in 2023 after transferring from LSU. He recorded 22 tackles and had three sacks.
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Tyas Martin, a 6-4, 330-pound junior, who had 14 total tackles and played in 11 games. He transferred from Colorado in 2021.
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Zyon Walker, a 6-1, 290-pound senior, transferred from South Alabama but did not play in 2023.
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Athen Smith, a 6-2, 260-pound graduate student, transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff this offseason. He played in 11 games and had 18 tackles in 2023.
Jackson State must stop the run
Another reason Taylor recruited so many defensive lineman is because of the two games in 2023 in which Taylor watched the Tigers get pushed around, by Florida A&M and Texas State.
Against Florida A&M, Jackson State scored 10 consecutive points and had momentum in the fourth quarter. On their next possession, the Rattlers held on to the ball from their 13-yard line with 7:26 to play and ran the ball 12 times in 13 plays, gaining 84 yards, and ran the clock out.
“We got our butts kicked today out there today,” Taylor said after the 28-10 defeat.
At Texas State, the Bobcats defeated JSU 77-34. Jackson State never forced Texas State to punt and allowed 399 yards rushing.
HOW SWAC SNUB HELPS JSU DEFENSE How a SWAC snub is pushing Jackson State’s defense ahead of 2024 season
Jackson State D-line has to provide a stronger pass rush
The defensive line must get to the quarterback.
In the 2022 championship season, Jackson State sacked opposing quarterbacks 48 times; last season, the Tigers recorded 29 sacks. The pass defense surrendered 135.3 yards per game in 2022 and was No. 1 in the SWAC. That number jumped to 187.4 in 2023.
A sack total approaching the 2022 numbers might not be realistic, but an improved pass rush is critical to the Tigers’ SWAC title hopes.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State football: 3 keys for the defensive line in 2024
The Clarion Ledger
