Wake Forest Athletics
Spring Practice #4 - Defensive Tackles
3/5/2019 3:30:00 PM | Football
Perhaps the one area of the 2019 Wake Forest team that suffered the greatest loss from the 2018 squad is along the defensive line, particularly at tackle. The Deacons lost to graduation both starting tackles in Will Yarbary and Zeek Rodney. Yarbary, who stated each of the last three bowl games, was sixth on the team with 54 total tackles and led the club with 5.5 sacks. Rodney, a two-year starter, finished his senior campaign with 29 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.
Over the past two seasons, Rodney and Yarbary combined for 75 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Assistant head coach for defense and defensive line coach Dave Cohen will have a number of solid candidates to choose from in replacing the senior duo.
Sulaiman Kamara, a 6-2, 290-pound rising redshirt junior, saw the most action of any of the tackle prospects in 2018. Kamara played in all 13 games and was on the field for 375 snaps while making 28 tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack along with a fumble recovery. Dion Bergan saw considerable action last fall as a true freshman, logging 222 plays in 13 games. The 6-1, 295-pound Bergan notched five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Rondell Bothroyd played in four games in 2018 and was on the field for 35 snaps while maintaining his redshirt freshman status. He picked up his first career sack against Syracuse. Tyler Williams, a 6-1, 290 rising redshirt sophomore, had 11 tackles and a sack while playing 240 snaps in a season cut short by injury. Williams made his first career start against Syracuse last fall.
A potential solid contributor this fall could be Miles Fox, a fifth-year graduate transfer from Old Dominion. Fox was limited to just four games last fall with the Monarchs and has one year of remaining eligibility. Fox was an honorable mention All-Conference USA pick in 2017 when he started all 12 games and led all defensive linemen with 57 tackles while collecting 5.5 sacks.
A pair of youngsters who will continue to challenge the starters for playing time are Tyric Swennie and Adam Winter. Both have gained valuable experience as a member of the scout team and could make a move up the depth chart before the season opener against Utah State on August 30.
Over the past two seasons, Rodney and Yarbary combined for 75 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Assistant head coach for defense and defensive line coach Dave Cohen will have a number of solid candidates to choose from in replacing the senior duo.
Sulaiman Kamara, a 6-2, 290-pound rising redshirt junior, saw the most action of any of the tackle prospects in 2018. Kamara played in all 13 games and was on the field for 375 snaps while making 28 tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack along with a fumble recovery. Dion Bergan saw considerable action last fall as a true freshman, logging 222 plays in 13 games. The 6-1, 295-pound Bergan notched five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Rondell Bothroyd played in four games in 2018 and was on the field for 35 snaps while maintaining his redshirt freshman status. He picked up his first career sack against Syracuse. Tyler Williams, a 6-1, 290 rising redshirt sophomore, had 11 tackles and a sack while playing 240 snaps in a season cut short by injury. Williams made his first career start against Syracuse last fall.
A potential solid contributor this fall could be Miles Fox, a fifth-year graduate transfer from Old Dominion. Fox was limited to just four games last fall with the Monarchs and has one year of remaining eligibility. Fox was an honorable mention All-Conference USA pick in 2017 when he started all 12 games and led all defensive linemen with 57 tackles while collecting 5.5 sacks.
A pair of youngsters who will continue to challenge the starters for playing time are Tyric Swennie and Adam Winter. Both have gained valuable experience as a member of the scout team and could make a move up the depth chart before the season opener against Utah State on August 30.
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