There were a lot of positives to discuss regarding the offense of East Stroudsburg University football, and the same can be said for the defense. The Warriors excelled at turning the ball over, leading the PSAC with 19 total interceptions while recording 13 forced fumbles, which was tied for second.
Led by defensive linemen Deshawn McCarthy and Dasean Dixon, East Stroudsburg also gave up the fewest rushing yards per game (100.1) and the fifth-fewest total yards per game (314.6).
Unlike the offense, however, many of the key contributors won’t be back in 2024. Most have exhausted their eligibility, while McCarthy is pursuing a spot in the NFL and Dixon transferred in the offseason, leaving many holes in the front seven.
Head coach Jim Terwilliger isn’t deterred by the departures, though. In fact, his response to addressing the holes was an optimistic one.
ESU football hopes to address the explosive plays from the secondary in 2024
“It’s not a rebuild, but more of a reload situation,” Terwilliger said. “Losing an NFL prospect like Deshawn McCarthy, those are big shoes to fill. But after the 14 practices, I’d say the strength of our team is up front. Our defensive ends Aidan Hayward and Ryan Hieber have both seen playing time in the last two years; it’s now their time to step up and be the big dogs. You insert Terrell and Myles Reynolds and Trenton Dunnick, who just completed their freshmen seasons. Now all of a sudden you’re like ‘Deshawn who?’
“We might not have the star-studded power that we had, but what we have is a unit that just rushes the passer. I really look forward to seeing those guys. It’s their time.”
The future of the front seven looks promising, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to have the same thoughts about the secondary. But while they did lead the conference in picks, the Warriors also gave up the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/east-stroudsburg-footballs-defense-respond-090338013.html
Author : Pocono Record
Publish date : 2024-05-24 09:03:38
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