Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Fall camp position breakdown: Defensive Line
8/16/2018 1:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Having a good defense usually coincides with good defensive line play, and Middle Tennessee is hoping some experienced linemen can lead the way in 2018.
Led by redshirt senior team captain Malik Manciel, seven players – Tyshun Render, Rosheem Collins, Trae Philpots, Jordan Ferguson, Rakavian Poydras and Jahmal Jones – return this season after making at least one start in 2017.
If that experience can translate into quality line play, the big nasties will lead MT's defense.
Here are the linemen on the roster:
Tackles
Defensive line coach Tommy West: "Right now, I would say our tackles are standing out a little more [than the ends]. We're a little deeper there, and we're playing a little better inside as a group. We're going to be really good inside."
PROJECTED STARTER: Malik Manciel, R-Sr., 6-3, 254
Notable:
PROJECTED STARTER: Rosheem Collins, Sr., 6-1, 316
Notable:
Jordan Ferguson, So., 6-2, 285
Notable:
Rakavian Poydras, R-So., 6-1, 304
Notable:
Aaron Griffith, R-Jr., 6-0, 289
Notable:
Jordan James, R-Jr., 6-4, 314
Notable:
Ja'Kerrius Wyatt, R-Fr., 6-3, 292
Notable:
Ty Nix, R-So., 6-0, 285
Notable:
Ends
Tommy West: "I wish we had a few more ends, but some of our young guys need to step up. We have some guys who can play the position, now they just have to keep getting better to help our depth."
PROJECTED STARTER: Tyshun Render, R-Jr., 6-4, 238
Notable:
PROJECTED STARTER: Jahmal Jones, R-Sr., 6-3, 257
Notable:
Trae Philpots, R-Jr., 6-4, 245
Notable:
Darrius Liggins, R-Sr., 6-4, 238
Notable:
Chris Myers, R-So., 6-6, 254
Notable:
Jordan Branch, Fr., 6-1, 297
Notable:
Javon Ross, Fr., 6-5, 276
Notable:
Jorden Starling, Fr., 6-6, 239
Notable:
Jequaries Martin, Jr., 6-3, 229
Notable:
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
Led by redshirt senior team captain Malik Manciel, seven players – Tyshun Render, Rosheem Collins, Trae Philpots, Jordan Ferguson, Rakavian Poydras and Jahmal Jones – return this season after making at least one start in 2017.
If that experience can translate into quality line play, the big nasties will lead MT's defense.
Here are the linemen on the roster:
Tackles
Defensive line coach Tommy West: "Right now, I would say our tackles are standing out a little more [than the ends]. We're a little deeper there, and we're playing a little better inside as a group. We're going to be really good inside."
PROJECTED STARTER: Malik Manciel, R-Sr., 6-3, 254
Notable:
- 29 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack, four QB hurries in 2017
- Made 11 starts at DT
- Most Improved Defensive Lineman after spring drills (2017)
- Florence, Alabama native (Florence High School)
- Finished high school career with 231.5 tackles, 67.5 TFLs, 19 sacks, 30 QB pressures, 10 pass breakups, three blocked field goals, 1 INT
PROJECTED STARTER: Rosheem Collins, Sr., 6-1, 316
Notable:
- Made 5 starts at right tackle in 2017
- 18 tackles, 2.5 TFLs in 2017
- East Central Community College transfer in 2017
- 44 tackles, 5.5 TFLs in two years at East Central
- Waycross, Georgia native (Ware County High School)
Jordan Ferguson, So., 6-2, 285
Notable:
- C-USA All-Freshman team (2017)
- 2 starts as a true freshman in 2017 at DT
- 30 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 2 QB hurries in 2017
- Atlanta, Georgia native (Norcross High School, St. Francis Academy)
- 45 tackles, 7 TFLs as a senior at Norcross
- Played first three years of high school at St. Francis Academy
Rakavian Poydras, R-So., 6-1, 304
Notable:
- 1 start in 2017 at DT
- 2 tackles and .5 TFLs in 2017
- Clarksville, Tennessee native (Clarksville High School)
- 2015 East-West All-Star Classic participant
- 39 tackles, 6 sacks as a senior (2015)
Aaron Griffith, R-Jr., 6-0, 289
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Transfer from Laney College in 2017
- First Team All-Conference and All-Region as a sophomore at Laney (2016)
- Union City, California native (James Logan High School)
Jordan James, R-Jr., 6-4, 314
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Transfer from Georgetown College in 2017
- LaVergne, Tennessee native (Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, Tennessee)
- Lettered in football, basketball and track and field at BA
Ja'Kerrius Wyatt, R-Fr., 6-3, 292
Notable:
- Redshirted in 2017
- Prattville, Alabama native (Autauga Academy)
- First Team All-State as a senior (2016)
- All-Metro Player of the Year and the Lineman of the Year (2016)
Ty Nix, R-So., 6-0, 285
Notable:
- Suffered an injury in spring drills and will miss the season
- 1 start in 2017 at DT
- Murfreesboro native (Oakland High School)
- Son of former MT defensive coordinator Ty Nix
- TSWA First Team All-State at Oakland (2014, 2015)
- 70 tackles, 5 sacks, 21.5 TFLs as a senior (2015)
- 6A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist (2015)
Ends
Tommy West: "I wish we had a few more ends, but some of our young guys need to step up. We have some guys who can play the position, now they just have to keep getting better to help our depth."
PROJECTED STARTER: Tyshun Render, R-Jr., 6-4, 238
Notable:
- 26 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hurries, four starts at left end in 2017
- C-USA All-Freshman team (2016)
- Newnan, Georgia native (Westlake High School)
- Lettered in football and basketball in high school
- Also played tight end in high school
PROJECTED STARTER: Jahmal Jones, R-Sr., 6-3, 257
Notable:
- Played in 26 straight games
- 33 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries in 2017
- Granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA
- Norcross, Georgia native (Norcross High School)
- Played on Norcross' No. 3 nationally ranked team as a senior in 2012
- 102 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 45 TFLs as a senior at Norcross
Trae Philpots, R-Jr., 6-4, 245
Notable:
- 1 start in 2017 at DT
- 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hurries in 2017
- Moved to DE in spring drills
- Fairburn, Georgia native (Creekside High School)
- Lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Creekside
- All-State honors in football as a senior (2014)
Darrius Liggins, R-Sr., 6-4, 238
Notable:
- Played in 26 straight games
- 14 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble in 2017
- Registered a sack and forced fumble in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
- Oxford, Mississippi native (Oxford High School)
Chris Myers, R-So., 6-6, 254
Notable:
- Played in 7 games in 2017, mostly on special teams
- LaVergne, Tennessee native (LaVergne High School)
- Played tight end at LaVergne along with DE
- Brother, Robert "Snacks" Myers, was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and is currently with the Denver Broncos
Jordan Branch, Fr., 6-1, 297
Notable:
- Maury City, Tennessee native (Crockett County High School)
- Lettered in football and basketball at Crockett County
- All-State in football (2017)
Javon Ross, Fr., 6-5, 276
Notable:
- Perry, Florida native (Taylor County High School)
- Lettered in football and basketball at Taylor County
- Honorable Mention All-State (2016)
- 72 tackles and 3 sacks combined his junior and senior seasons
Jorden Starling, Fr., 6-6, 239
Notable:
- Chattanooga, Tennessee native (McCallie School)
- Lettered in football and basketball at McCallie
- All-State (2017)
- Best of Preps honors (2017)
Jequaries Martin, Jr., 6-3, 229
Notable:
- Chilton, Alabama native (Chilton High School)
- Independence Community College (Kansas) transfer
- 71 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, 2 blocked kicks in two years at Independence
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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