Talented and inexperienced. That is the quick synopsis of the Coyotes' defensive line group headed by defensive run game coordinator Corey Brown who is beginning year two with the Coyotes.
 
Year one under Brown was an incredible success of course. South Dakota played its best defense of the FCS era and allowed just 120 yards on the ground per game. The group was headed by stalwarts DeValon Whitcomb and Jackson Coker. They have graduated, and of the 14 players in this year's position group, four are upperclassmen in terms of eligibility.
 
"There is a lot of talent – young talent – and competition throughout the room that I'm really excited about," said Brown. "Once that inexperience turns into experience, we can hit a stride and really be an impactful unit this fall.
 
"The other thing that excites me is that it may not be a set-in-stone group that plays week to week. Competition throughout the season where guys continue to get better and healthier means everyone has to bring their "A" game to practice. I go back to my Arena Football days where everybody wants to make that bus."
 
Nick Gaes, Brendan Webb and Micah Roane were staples in USD's two-deep at the position last year. Gaes, despite technically given credit for three starts, played all 12 games, led the Valley with 7.0 sacks in conference play, and placed third in the MVFC voting for Newcomer of the Year. Webb battled through injury for nearly all of last season and managed 4.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles-for-loss.
 
"We lost some vocal leaders, but those three that have started games have led by example throughout fall camp," said Brown. "They are there when we need to bring a young guy along, or teach the way we do a drill or just how we conduct business on the field. At the same time, they work hard and do things the right way, and when the younger guys see that, they pick up their effort because of the expectations those guys have set for the unit."
 
Some of those newer guys earned game experience throughout last season. Several others are new to the program including a trio of freshmen and a pair of transfers. Ben Gansallo is a graduate transfer who played the last three seasons at New Mexico. Kevin Greene redshirted at North Texas in 2021. Dominic Caggiano and Earl Miller Jr. are redshirt freshmen eager to make their Coyote debuts.
 
"Nobody plays just because, they are going to earn it," said Brown. "They need to be consistent and disciplined, and from there be a good technician. Treat play 60 like play two. If we can get 6-8 like-minded guys doing those things that can rotate in and out, that's when we can really take off."
 

 
Returning Starters
Brendan Webb, 5^th-year junior (11.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks in 27 games)
Micah Roane, 5^th-year junior (two-year starter)
Nick Gaes, 4^th-year sophomore (2021 Freshman All-American, MVFC all-Newcomer Team)
 
Returning Letterwinners
Miles Emery, senior (played in three games in 2021)
Blake Holden, 4-year sophomore (played in five games in 2021)
Will Dunn, 3^rd-year sophomore (played in nine games in 2021)
Jack Hagy, 3^rd-year sophomore (played in 11 games in 2021)
Dominic Caggiano, redshirt freshman
Earl Miller Jr., redshirt freshman
 
Newcomers
Ben Gansallo, senior (played in 18 games at New Mexico last three seasons)
Kevin Greene, redshirt freshman (at North Texas in 2021)
Chris Dixon, freshman, Toronto, Ontario
Mi'Quise Grace, freshman, Cincinnati, Ohio
Marcus Simmons Jr., freshman, Germantown, Md.