Spring Practice Positional Previews: Defensive Line
\Leading up to Arizona State football’s 2018 spring practices, DevilsDigest.com takes an in-depth look at each of the Sun Devils positions heading into spring ball. Today, we look at ASU’s defensive line.
PROJECTED SPRING DEPTH CHART (Starter -- backup)
Defensive end: Darius Slade (R-Jr) \Dougladson Subtyl (R-Senior)
Defensive tackle: Renell Wren (R-Sr) \D.J. Davidson (R-Fr)\ (Sophomore)/George Lea* (R-Jr)
Defensive end: Jalen Bates (R-Jr)\Renell Wren (R-Sr)
*-Injured this spring
WHAT’S NEW
Of the three phases to defensive coordinator Danny Gonzalez’s new 3-3-5 defense, the defensive line will undergo this least amount of change this season.
New position coach Shaun Nua will have the unenviable task of having to replace two NFL-caliber starters from last season's group though.
His biggest focus this spring is trying to find a group that can do more than just fill gaps.
“Just the body size, you want a little bit bigger guys,” Nua told DevilsDigest.com. “Quick twitch, don’t have to drop much, but people can see that they do sometimes.”
It means ASU will want versatility up front. Instead of two dedicated defensive tackles – like what former defensive coordinator Phil Bennett used last season – the Sun Devils will play with two 3-technique ends with a nose tackle sandwiched in between.
“Compared to a 4-3 where you have to speed guys up on the edge, (this system has) a medium-sized 3-technique, and a big nose tackle,” Nua said. “You’ve got three guys that can all push the pocket.”
Last season, 280-pounders Tashon Smallwood and JoJo Wicker helped clog space inside while ASU manufactured pressure on the pocket with Devil-backers Koron Crump and Jay Jay Wilson, as well as other blitz packages.
The front three might be on the move more this year.
“They’re all moving, they’re moving somewhere,” Nua said of the responsibilities for ASU’s linemen. “Left, right, middle, or they drop. So, they’ve got to be able to do all that.”
Gonzalez’s 3-3-5 defense at SDSU last season had Noble Hall (6-3, 265 lbs.) and Chibu Onyeukwu (6-4, 255 lbs.) as the outside 3-techs with Sergio Phillips (6-2, 285 lbs.) in the middle at tackle. Though none of them finished as one of the Aztecs’ top seven tacklers, the trio combined to make 14.5 tackles for loss.
ASU’s new coaching staff won’t hesitate to throw more big bodies on the line of scrimmage if need be, either.
“If we go up against an opponent that puts bigger bodies out there more than what we have, we’ll pull out a linebacker and put in an extra lineman, we’ll pull out a safety and put in an extra linebacker or an extra d-lineman to match up,” Gonzalez said. “What gives us the best chance to win schematically.”
PERSONNEL CHANGES
While the position is relatively unchanged, ASU’s roster of defensive linemen will look significantly different this spring. Gone is the graduating Tashon Smallwood and NFL-bound JoJo Wicker, the two anchors in the trenches for the Sun Devil defense last year.
It will lead to a relatively wide-open competition for spots this spring.
“The one thing that jumps out is the lack of experience,” Nua said. “We lost the guys with a lot of experience. I don’t think, just from the film, that they rotated a lot. So, what happens with that is the guys that we have coming back, it’s lack of experience.
“But, it’s okay, that’s not that big of a deal, we’re just going to make sure that spring practice they got a lot of reps, so that way, they can see as many types of blocks coming their way, and then the expectations of effort that we’re going to require from them.”
The only true returning starter is senior Renell Wren, who took over at defensive tackle last season after AJ Latu was shifted to linebacker.
Nua believes Wren – who made 21 tackles and 3 tackles for loss in 2017 – is poised for a breakout campaign in 2018.
“Isn’t that kid a beast?!” Nua said. “I don’t know why he hasn’t been breaking out yet, I can’t even explain it. I’ve watched him run, he has everything. So, it’s my job to make sure that this is his breakout year. Help him in any way possible, because he has every tool possible — size, speed, even conditioning. You watch him run, he can run all day.”
Another player Nua was excited to see was D.J. Davidson, a 300-pound tackle who was redshirted last season. His missing piece was consistency.
“He can move for that size,” Nua said of Davidson, who is listed at 6-5 and 306 pounds coming into spring ball. “Now, just watching him in workout stuff, even he knows he’s got to be more consistent. But we all do, we need that consistency.”
Maybe the most-anticipated new Sun Devil this spring will be Darius Slade, an Ohio State transfer who Nua called a “good-looking player” and an early candidate to start on the edge. Nua wants to evaluate him with an open mind though.
“I haven’t really watched any film on him, to be honest, which is good, because I want to start from scratch,” the defensive line coach said. “I want to see what he has in the workout. I’m very, very excited about his potential.”
Players like Shannon Forman, Jalen Bates, and Dougladson Subtly will also compete for jobs in the rotation up front.
“I’m pleased with what’s coming back,” Nua said. “Now’s our chance and our turn to put it to good use.”
THINGS TO WATCH FOR THIS SPRING
1) WILL RENELL WREN TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Renell Wren held a mini-coming-out-party against Washington last season, making three tackles and half-a-sack while wreaking havoc inside in ASU’s 13-7 upset of the then-No. 5 Huskies. In the Territorial Cup, he had a season-high five tackles in a win over Arizona.
But in other games, Wren went missing for stretches. He could become a rock at the center of ASU’s new-look defense this year, however. Nua believes he will and went as far as to say, “there’s no excuse. If he doesn’t break out, you can blame me.”
2) WHAT ROLE WILL DARIUS SLADE FILL: At 6-foot-4 and 255-pounds, Ohio State transfer Darius Slade might be the most athletic player in ASU’s defensive line group. His size and strength profile as the adaptable 3-technique Nua is looking and could also play with the versatility – rushing the passer, stopping the run, dropping into coverage – that ASU’s defense needs.
3) WILL ANY YOUNG FACES TAKE CONTROL OF A STARTER’S SPOT THIS SPRING: Shannon Forman took first-team reps last preseason. D.J. Davidson has been continually praised despite not yet playing a game. They are just two inexperienced players who could crack the two-deep this spring and maybe even earn a starter’s role (in Davidson). Or, they could struggle to adjust to a new coaching staff and new scheme and fall down the depth chart. They will both players to keep a close watch on once spring practice begins.
SPRING BALL ROSTER AND PROJECTED ROLES
STARTERS
Darius Slade (6-4, 255, Redshirt-Junior): The Ohio State transfer will bring an athletic mix of speed and size to the edge, his 255-pound frame making him a strong candidate to become a defensive end starter in his first eligible season as a Sun Devil.
Renell Wren (6-5, 295, R-Senior): At times Wren was dominant last season. Other times, he went missing in action as ASU would get gashed on the ground. He has the size and running ability to be a perfect fit at the nose of Danny Gonzalez’s defense though and could all-but-secure a starting job this spring.
Jalen Bates (6-4, 257, R-Junior): Bates was the consistent backup option on the edge last season but only played in three games as he recovered from a serious leg injury. He appears ready to battle for first-team reps on day one of spring and may have the highest ceiling of potential of anyone in this group.
BACKUPS (In order of class)
Jordan Hoyt (6-2, 284, R-Senior): Hoyt spent the majority of 2017 with the second team and enters his final season of eligibility with a chance to crack the two-deep again. The former UC-Davis transfer can probably play any of the three defensive line positions but has the near-300-pound size to compete at nose tackle.
Dougladson Subtyl (6-4, 238, R-Senior): The prolific junior college pass-rusher arrived in Tempe last season with high expectations. But Subtyl only played in four games, making two tackles as he struggled to find a role in then Phil Bennett’s defense. Perhaps the learning curve of playing at the Pac-12 level will be less steep as he could push for legitimate playing time this season.
George Lea (6-3, 275, R-Junior): Lea had his moments last year, spending a good portion of the season splitting reps with Renell Wren as the starting interior tackle. However, Gonzalez said he will likely miss out on spring practice this year, giving younger options behind him a chance to move up the depth chart and cause Lea to engage in a fierce battle to preserve his niche come fall camp.
Shannon Forman (6-1, 299, Sophomore): Forman arrived on campus last fall and found himself taking a handful of first-team snaps during preseason camp and seeing some playing time as a backup through the 2017 season. He never became a first-team staple last season but has the size to compete for a spot at nose tackle, potentially an option when ASU wants to bring more than three linemen on the field.
Jamie Diaz (6-0, 240, R-Sophomore): Diaz has yet to really break through at ASU after transferring from Golden West College (junior college). He spent last season predominantly as a scout teamer and might struggle to move up the depth chart at defensive end this year.
D.J. Davidson (6-5, 306, R-Freshman): ASU’s staff is excited about Davidson, who has the size of a traditional nose tackle and the speed to play in Gonzalez’s defense. According to Nua, the missing piece is the consistency. If Davidson can use his physical attributes to impact every play, he could very well establish a starting role at nose tackle.
Tyler Johnson (6-4, 245, R-Freshman): The Gilbert Highland product redshirted last season but has the physical attributes to compete with the 3-technique players on the edge of the defensive line. There will be plenty of names ahead of him on the depth chart but with his athleticism and overall raw skills, no one should be quick to discount the potential impact he could have.
Note: This list does not include incoming freshman from the 2018 class who will not arrive until the fall.
INJURIES
George Lea: Will miss out on potentially all of spring practice, according to Gonzalez.
*Other positional previews: