The defensive line remains a bright spot for the Bulldogs heading into the 2024 season. The defensive tackle position is stacked with Egodogbare, Gulley and Yang returning serious size and power to the interior front. Egodogbare was unblockable at times as a freshman but had his sophomore season derailed by an injury. Gulley is a classic nose guard type who is difficult for defenders to move at the point of attack. Yang seems to constantly surprise opponents with his combination of quickness and strength as the best pass rusher of the group. Jourdain, Oxendine and Austin all return to add even more depth at the position after solid play a year ago. Patterson is a huge loss at end, although Shaber is back after earning the starting slot in 2023. Tyler and McDonough both return with significant experience on the outside. Sophomore James Cave inherited the #33 jersey in the wake of Larry’s transfer and should be a force in 2024. There are still several talented sophomores waiting in the wings such as Jackson-Bass, Tate, and Fadeyibi. Reno and company hit the recruiting trail hard in search of defensive linemen bringing in Jackson Boone (6’4”, 210 lbs.), Xavier Rivers (6’1”, 230 lbs.), Trent Page (6’2”, 250 lbs.), Sam McGivern (6’2”, 245 lbs.), Mack Johnson (6’3”, 255 lbs.), and Lota Ugokwe (6’2”, 230 lbs.). Boone has ideal length for the position and has a very quick first step off of the ball at defensive end. Rivers has tremendous speed and power off the edge with the ability to blow through double teams or outmaneuver offensive tackles. Page was one of the top recruits in the class and seems to have the physicality to develop into a special tackle or end. McGivern plays with great technique and has a motor that doesn’t stop as he chases down ball carriers. Johnson uses his size and speed to effortlessly shed blockers with versatility to play multiple positions along the front. Ugokwe has one of the top highlight reels of the class as he explodes off the line of scrimmage to punish quarterbacks.
8 days to go!
17 replies on “DL Preview”
Are some of the lighter freshmen DLs potential LBs?
Holy Cross is getting primed for Yale. They beat the crap out of Bryant today .
43 to 22 2nd half annihilation
Was there a blues white scrimmage today? Is there any proof that we actually have a team?
You’re so right, bulldog. Perhaps the roster on the website is fake news.
I don’t understand why everyone feels the need to complain. The Bulldogs have been extremely successful under Reno. He doesn’t want people at practice for a reason, he keeps the team a team and they are truly a family. There are 10 opportunities to see the boys play, practice isn’t meant for the public, it’s private.
People at practice (Dewitt Cuyler Field) didn’t seem to bother the 1960 or 68 team very much.
Pardon us for being interested in a school and sport that many of us have been following for forty, fifty, and even sixty years or more. There is a word for that. Being a fan.
Says the parent of a player,who is able to watch practices . I can’t watch the NY Giants on Fox .!! God help me
Some of us are even more ancient. On December 1, 1945 I saw my first game at the Bowl. Oh, yes the score. Yale 28-Harvard 0. I was taken by my father who’d just returned from the Pacific.
And yes again, we’ve had a great run recently, but let’s hope the team has not become a cult, or dare I say it, a secret society.
Ah, age. Make that a “0” not an “o.” Or, is an “o” even better?
Does anyone remember Fernando Mendoza.? The QB , that decommited from Yale 2 years ago.
Well that kid is the real deal. Beat Auburn 21 to 14at Auburn and beat San Diego State last Saturday 31-13 . Good luck to him.
Did Larry play for SDSU
No activity for Larry, But I have a wish. I’d like to see Teo Falk, on the Defensive line. He reminds me of Ted Hendricks, the Dline monster for the Raiders. If he has any athleticism, he could plug up the passing game for the opponents . Just a thought
Teo Falk was actually a defensive lineman coming in and they moved him over to offensive line after 2 years
Gentlemen; good thought from Mr. JH however, he is listed as a offensive lineman might be a difficult task for a transfer to a defensive line position with no experience. The reference to Mr. Hendrix is accurate. looking forward to the depth chart of our blue in the next day or two
Gentlemen; as an adjunct to my above comment, the depth chart may not come out until the morning of the game based on game day decisions, and so it goes. apparently, we live in a new era of nondisclosure and transparency much different from the past. for those of us who are deeply entrenched with our blue history for more than seven decades, sometimes it’s hard to accommodate changes in perspective. Apparently, Coach Reno has elected to keep it close to the vest, which is his prerogative as the head coach of our blue. I can only wish him and our squad the best of luck.
I’ve been a fan since 1966. I went to one of Carm’s practices in the ’80s. It was very boring. If others find interest and pleasure in watching them, well sure, that’s great.
Personally, I want to win. If private practices, and thus zero chance of opponents getting info on us, increase our chances of winning, cool. Just win, baby. 2-0, 56-55, I don’t care.