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Aug. 25—The John Carroll soccer program has produced some stout defenses previously decade.
Stout is to be decided with the 2022 group, however that is sure: It is going to be a younger and comparatively new unit for JCU.
The Blue Streaks — 7-3 a season in the past — misplaced a big chunk on protection.
Gone are all three linebackers in Luke Brown, Hunter Orlando and Brian Robinson of Lake Catholic, who’s now teaching at Mentor. Within the secondary, Tyshawn Jones of Euclid and Nate Leopold are big losses. Jones led the crew in tackles a yr in the past with 70. Up entrance, defensive deal with Daniel Garcar of Mentor was third on the crew in stops, and he additionally must be changed.
One other key loss was defensive finish Ross Valenti, who had eligibility remaining however needed to step away from the sport due to a shoulder damage.
“We’re younger, however now we have a variety of proficient guys who’re working their tails off,” stated JCU defensive coordinator Jeff Lengthy.
JCU’s revamped protection will get a rehearsal Aug. 26 when Case Western Reserve visits Don Shula Stadium for this system’s annual preseason scrimmage. The Spartans’ quarterbacks will check the Blue Streaks.
That is as a result of Case has what Coach Greg Debeljak calls his finest group of QBs in his 19 years as coach there.
It begins with senior Drew Saxton, who has handed for greater than 9,000 yards and 83 touchdowns and is eyeing Willoughby South’s Dan Whalen’s profession faculty marks in each classes. When Saxton is finished for the day, count on to see Mentor grad Ian Kipp quickly after. Kipp transferred to Case after one season at Kent State. Debeljak is worked up about Kipp’s prospects and has stated he’ll play this fall.
Lengthy is conscious of Saxton and Kipp, and the check they’ll current to his defensive unit within the scrimmage.
“Two phenomenal gamers in Drew and Ian,” stated Lengthy. “(Saxton) can gentle it up. And Ian will go down with the legends of Mentor quarterbacks. To place him in a Case uniform goes to make them massively aggressive for the longer term. For us, we’ll have two totally different sort of threats to take care of. Drew, pinpoint passer. Kipp is just a little little bit of all the things. For us, that is superior.”
The JCU secondary that can be examined by Case’s QBs consists of Elijah Chunu and West Geauga’s Justin Renner, a 6-foot-3 transformed receiver, on the cornerback spots. Josh McLean was a nook final yr however is shifting to security. Additionally look ahead to Michael Palmer and Hanover switch Kiefer Askew within the secondary.
“Renner has had an outstanding camp,” stated Lengthy. “Super size. He is going to have the ability to transfer round for us.”
At linebacker, count on Tyler Timmons, Will Ehrbar and Brendan Schnoor to be 2022 replacements. Up entrance, defensive finish Bricker Thiel (8.5 sacks in 2021) returns because the unquestioned chief. Nick Constanzo and Ben Grafton gained priceless expertise late in 2021 as backups and are anticipated to take over as starters on the within. Jake Phillips will man the opposite defensive finish spot with Thiel.
“It is an thrilling camp defensively,” stated Lengthy. “Guys are actually competing for reps.”
When Lengthy first arrived at JCU, he labored below defensive coordinator and former Benedictine coach Joe Schaefer (now the D-coordinator at Youngstown State). Schaefer — together with former JCU head coach Rick Finotti — had been massive followers of competitors all through the season. What a participant did the earlier season — and the earlier week — did not matter as a lot as competing every week and every apply. Spots had been earned in apply with nothing assured. Lengthy has continued that mindset with the protection.
“Nobody was each secure or complacent,” stated Lengthy. “And also you’re additionally creating a task for folks. So we’re attempting to get again to that mindset as a D employees.
“Potential is a double-edged sword. It is a lot enjoyable chasing it. If you happen to by no means get complacent and really feel such as you’ve by no means arrived, it is a variety of enjoyable getting there. That is the place we’re at. We’ve a ton of potential, however now we have to earn all the things we go get.”
Case at John Carroll
What: Scrimmage
When: 10 a.m., Aug. 26
The place: Don Shula Stadium
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