Why UNT's D-Line should be better

When the Mean Green roll out the 2015 version of their defensive line, there will be a couple of guys that will be missed.

One is defensive end Daryl Mason.  Mason had a pretty good career at UNT, not Hall of Fame worthy but certainly in the upper tier of athletes UNT has had at the defensive end position in recent memory.  Mason was undersized at the start of his career but grew into the position as he got older (6-3, 260) and had the look of a D-I caliber player in his junior and senior seasons.  Injuries plagued him throughout his career and in his senior season, and despite leading the team in tackles (19) he played in only 9 of the 12 games.

Another player we will miss is tackle Alex Lincoln.  "Linc" was a solid contributor.  Like Mason, he was undersized but made up for that with his speed and technique.  Again, injuries hurt Linc in 2014 as he suffered a season ending injury against UTEP and after that the UNT run defense was never the same.

So while you miss these two players in 2015 you also have to say that there is a lot of experience and potential coming back.

To man Mason's spot could be either returning sophomore Tillman Johnson or perhaps juco transfer Jareid Combs.  Johnson had a remarkable true freshman year, where he posted 4 sacks in 8 games.  Let me repeat, he was a true freshman.  Unfortunately he was injured and only played in 8 games or he would have led the team in sacks.  If he can stay healthy he could be poised for an all conference type of year, especially if UNT gets production from the rest of the line.

Combs is a 6-4, 260 pound prototypical defensive end who UNT signed out of Iowa Central Community College.  Combs has 4.6 40-speed and had 17 sacks as a sophomore which was the second highest total in a pretty salty league.   It will take Combs a little while to adjust but I would expect him to be an immediate contributor that could make a big impact.

Although UNT loses Daryl Mason who was the leading tackler in the defensive line, it also returns the next 8 tacklers statistically behind him.  In that group there are a couple of guys who may be poised for breakthrough years.

I really like the potential of tackle Sid Moore.  Moore is undersized at 6-1, 257 but has a fast motor and nose for the ball.  He plays nasty and brings a level of intensity that UNT has missed quite honestly.  As a redshirt freshman playing in 9 games he logged 8.5 tackles which is not too shabby for a youngster.

Sir Calvin Wallace is another name to remember.  At 6-2, 296 Wallace fills up space and seems to be on the rise.  After a very slow start, and showing up to camp out of shape he has slowly worked his way back into the mix.  He quietly made 16 tackles last season and as a junior could be even better in 2015.

Jarrian Roberts (pictured above), Chad Polk and Austin Orr all return to the front four after playing in a lot of games last season.  Roberts may be one of the most athletic linemen UNT (18 tackles in 2014) has and this junior campaign could be his breakout year.  Polk led the team in sacks last season (7.5).  Orr is not the biggest tackle at 6-4, 277 but he makes up for it with his intensity. 

A couple other returning players could also provide depth.  End Andy Flusche was a former walk-on who as a freshman showed that he belonged on the field with 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a lot of QB rushes.  Tackle TJ Tauaalo redshirted last season but at 6-2, 290 has the size to help shore up the middle.  End Malik Dilonga (6-4, 260) played in 11 games and logged 11 stops.  Redshirt junior Mustafa Haboul played in only 4 games but had a good spring showing where he was often starting at one of the tackle spots.

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