It has taken three short seasons – including a COVID year – for coordinator Travis Johansen to take the Coyotes' defense to new heights. Last year's playoff team set program bests at the FCS level for yards and points allowed and was especially stingy against the run.
 
Those numbers were a collective effort, no doubt, but all-American linebacker Jack Cochrane and his cohorts certainly held a lead role in that success. Cochrane is now with the Chiefs, but his lieutenants are back alongside another coach Hodge, Elijah Hodge, to keep the troops marching forward.
 
The new general is preseason all-American Brock Mogensen who is likely to assume the middle linebacker spot Cochrane held last year. Mogensen was the team's leading tackler two seasons ago during the COVID shortened spring of 2021. He earned all-Valley honors for his efforts.
 
Plenty of other household names are back as well and all are in their fifth or sixth seasons of college football. Jakari Starling and Jonathan Joanis are looking to bounce back from injuries sustained during last season. Tre Thomas emerged as a result and was the team's sixth-leading tackler last fall. Stephen Hillis, a special player on special teams the last three years, is also in the fold for a spot in the rotation.
 
For Hodge, the ability for players in his group to learn and play multiple linebacker positions is what he's most proud of in making his first impressions.
 
"I love that we have a good mix of guys who have played a lot of snaps along with younger guys pushing for play time," said Hodge, who has spent the last decade in the education field before returning to the college game. "I challenge each of these guys to learn all three positions – stud, mike and will. If I understand what the guy next to me is doing, I can play faster.
 
"I look at all of our veterans as starters. They each bring a different set of skills and my job is to put our best guys in the best situations. The mike position is really important to our defense. We're going to put the best guy there and right now Brock is that guy. He aligns our front, makes a lot of checks and he's the man in the middle. We may have certain packages that highlight different player's strengths, but it's all in an effort to put the best 11 on the field."
 
Hodge was keen to make his own first impressions of the Coyotes before reaching out to his older brother, Abdul, who is back at Iowa this year. But Abdul is just one resource Elijah has relied on in his transition to a collegiate coach.
 
"I'm a seeker of knowledge," said Hodge. "My brother is a resource I can tap into, but I also sit down with Brock, Jakari and all of these veterans on the game. I have the mastermind, Coach Johansen, who is always a resource, and I try find any way to get myself better as a coach so I can develop those players to the best of their abilities."


Returning Starters
Brock Mogensen, fifth-year junior (all-MVFC performer in spring 2021, preseason All-American)
Tre Thomas, fifth-year junior (sixth-leading tackler in 2021)
Jonathan Joanis, sixth-year senior (missed final nine games due to injury)
Jakari Starling, fifth-year junior (three-year starter, missed five games last year due to injury)
 
Returning Letterwinners
Stephen Hillis, fourth-year junior (played all 28 games the last three seasons)
Cade Parker, third-year redshirt freshman
Matt Medill, redshirt freshman
Austin Rosetta, redshirt freshman
 
Newcomers
Gary Bryant III, freshman
Mackenson Owens, freshman
Wyatt Hatcher, freshman
Gage Tennyson, freshman