Texas State’s defensive line takes shape as training camp approaches

Editor’s Note: Texas State beat writer Nick Castillo will be previewing each position as the Bobcats gear up for the start of training camp on Friday. 

The Bobcats know what they’re starting defensive line will look like in 2018. 

Senior Ishmael Davis, junior Dean Taylor, sophomore Caeveon Patton will anchor Texas State’s defensive line in its 3-4 scheme. 

“We’re so much better in our defensive line than we were when we got here,” head coach Everett Withers said at Sun Belt Media Day. “We were playing with a (5-foot-10), 260 pound offensive lineman in year one at nose guard. Now Dean Taylor is at (6-foot-5), 315 (pounds). He’ll start for us at nose. We get Ish Davis back. He was injured for us most of all of last year. He’s a very big part of our defensive line. And then a sophomore Caeveon Patton, who played a lot as a true freshman. Those will be our starting three guys in our 3-4 scheme. We’ve got a number of guys that will be playing behind those guys. So, we feel good about our depth. We signed four linemen in last year’s class. So, we’ve added depth in our defensive line.”

During his freshman campaign, Patton recorded 25 total tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack. Taylor tallied 17 tackles in 2017. Before suffering a season-ending injury, Davis amassed 19 total tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. 

Behind those three, the Bobcats have senior nose tackle Sami Awad and sophomore nose tackles Gjemar Daniels and John Lilly. Awad tallied 16 tackles in 2017, Daniels had four and Lilly recorded two. 

At defensive end, Texas State has sophomore Jaquel Pierce and redshirt freshman Jakharious Smith. Pierce notched three tackles last season. 

The Bobcats added transfer Kingsley Onyirioha. Texas State signed 2-star defensive tackle Nico Ezidore and 2-star defensive end Dotson Schaefer and Jacourtney Calvin in the 2018 recruiting class. The Bobcats also signed 3-star outside linebacker Jake Lynch, who’s listed as a defensive lineman. 

The Bobcats’ defensive line appears set as they head into training camp on Friday.