The defense, or the lack thereof, has been the most talked about subject for Aggie football fans since the end of last season. The base got pumped when it was announced that new Head Coach Shawn Gibbs would be bringing defensive coordinator Denzel Jones with him from Fort Valley State.
Jones had been a star all-conference middle linebacker on the school’s first Celebration Bowl championship team in 2015 and was so dominant in that game he was named the game’s Defensive MVP. Jones immediately began to cut his coaching teeth right out of the gate the following year becoming the inside linebacker coach for the legendary Rod Broadway.
Jones excelled in that role for four more years through three more HBCU national championship squads before leaving with Gibbs for Fort Valley State as their new defensive coordinator. In his three years at FVSU, his defenses limited opponents to just 81 yards rushing per game and very respectable mark of 296 yards per outing in total offense. Those defenses were also extremely active creating an average of 19 turnovers per year.
The confidence level for improving the A&T defense went through the roof when almost a month later when Courtney Coard was named associate head coach and defensive line coach. Coard is considered one of the finest defensive minds in the FCS having previously led both A&T (2018- 2019) and NCCU (2022-2023) to Top 10 finishes in the nation in total defense.
The raiding of NCCU staffers continued with former A&T All-America Tony McRae, who was the Eagles defensive backs a year ago now assuming that same post at his alma mater. During his 3-stint in Durham, NCCU won its only Celebration Bowl in 2022 and made the school’s first NCAA playoff appearance in 2023.
Now that these very familiar veteran defensive minds will again join forces this season, hopes are high that A&T will dramatically improve over last year’s dour performance of allowing over 38 points and nearly 440 yards in total offense per game.
The 2024 defense was woefully undersized for the most part, averaging just 240 pounds from end to end. It also didn’t help that the defensive schemes that were utilized were meant for a different type of personnel which allowed for much larger opposing offensive linemen to simply dominate the line of scrimmage resulting in huge chunks of yardage through the running game.
A switch back to a more traditional four-man front should be a far better fit plus committing to a renewed emphasis on gap control and vertically attacking up field to stop the run first.
Fans are looking at the preseason rosters asking where all the interior guys are noting that very few are listed as such. Old heads learned a long time ago that rosters are good for primarily one thing and that’s identifying jersey numbers and not even that on occasion.
The Aggies has a few key returning bodies that have some notable playing experience and should contribute a great deal either as starters or in the rotation while most of the group will add a lot of new names on the roster by way of the transfer portal or redshirts.
A&T’s defensive history through its golden years was about all about favoring speed and agility over sheer girth and that seems to be the case once again. The tackle spots will feature veterans Christopher Allen Jr. (6-4, 290, R-Jr.), Kelvin Broadhurst (6-1, 280) and Fort Valley Sate transfer Marcus Hood (6-3, 285, Jr.) who was a starter for the Wildcats last year.
Moving to the middle to help solidify the group will be newcomer Mecca Carr-Bourdeaux (6-5, 275, R-So.), a transfer from OVC champion Tennessee State. Carr-Bordeaux is also a North Carolina native from Rocky Point and Pender County HS.
Giovanni Divers (6-5, 265, R-So.) moved inside during spring practice after spending last season at end. True freshman Sidiq Cabaniss-Ali (6-1, 280) from Charlotte Independence could play a role as well.
Looking around at the various rosters of A&T’s upcoming CAA opponents, size wise the Aggies are on par with the interior stature of the other league teams they will mirror.
The traditional base 4-3 defenses that A&T fans became accustomed to in the 2010’s will look a lot different today heading into the late 2020’s.
Because the CAA teams are known for to have outstanding quarterback play and high-powered passing attacks year in and year out, it puts a premium on having quality dedicated pass rushers that can come off the edge but can also contain the outside run lanes. The Aggies should be particularly better in this area, the first of three, where A&T must really be on point defensively to affect the turnaround that everyone is hoping for.
Transfer Tim Alderman (6-3, 232, GR), formerly of Austin Peay and Fort Valley State. steps into the lineup and will make bones very early on for the A&T defense. His career stats are impressive – 101 tackles, 30.5 TFL, and 17 Sacks. Alderman originally started his career as an outside linebacker but moved to end as a sophomore, became an All-SIAC selection at Fort Valley and the rest is history.
Jelani King Leverett (6-4, 240, R-Sr.) will be fighting for the opposite side starting spot after having a strong spring and summer camp serving the 2024 season in a reserve role. He’ll have to overcome 5th-year senior Micheal Ethridge (6-3, 235) who has battled with injury most of last year and will see plenty of snaps in the rotation as well.
Three new faces that should help impact the pass rush are Travon Dye (6-2, 240, R-Fr.), Alabama A&M transfer Peyton Scott (6-4, 225, R-Fr.) and Marley Gordy (6-2, 230).
While the number for readily experienced players is still limited and the size at tackle may not be ideal for some tastes, A&T is still in a far better off situation in terms of ability they than they were last September. The one thing that the Aggies cannot afford is a repeat of the wholesale season ending injuries to their key components up front in these early non-conference games as they did last season.
There is a reason why linebackers are called the quarterbacks of the defense. They set the defensive alignments for each down. They must read the offensive sets and personnel and communicate any adjustments to assignments and coverages accordingly. And finally, they are literally involved in almost every single play on every single down.
A&T will have some experienced talent in this area and some decent depth as well. Stepping into the thick of things will be veteran Josh Iseah (6-2, 238, Jr.). Many times, over the last two years the extremely athletic Iseah was pressed into playing with a hand in the dirt as an undersized defensive lineman which was not well suited for his skill set but was necessary because of the lack of depth. Even then he accounted for 90 tackles, 9 TFLs, 2 sacks. Back at his natural position, you can expect those numbers to skyrocket as he now will be free to roam in space.
There will be three talented inside linebackers that should excel in the new defensive alignment. Terrien George (6-3, 227, R-So.), Jayden Williams (6-1, 225, So.) and David Mack (5-11, 240, R-So.).
Williams was forced into some early heavy duty work probably ahead of schedule but the experience he received really began to validate itself late into last season. The same could be said for Mack who did a lot of growing up in real time on the field. Mack who plays bigger than his shorter stature would suggest is as hardnosed and physical as they come. He totaled 51 tackles which second most on the team a year ago.
George had a very scary moment in spring practice in 2024 with a frightening contact injury but after a year away has come into this season completely healthy and has really made an impression in camp.
Another veteran at the second level that A&T fans will recognize from the other side of the football in Charlie Dixon (6-2, 227, R-Jr.). For the last three years Dixon was a big running back and occasionally used at tight end but converted over to the defense in the spring and the switch seems to have agreed with him. It is indeed a luxury to have a big outside linebacker with 4.55 speed. It will be interesting to see how he will be utilized this season.
There are two new additions who will make some noise, one a true freshman and the other a promising transfer from a conference rival.
Freshman Eddie Conover (6-2, 218) was probably the best kept secret among recruiting circles in and around the Charlotte area. This early enrollee made an immediate splash in the spring where he caught the eye of both coaches and fans alike. The multi-sport athlete earned All-Queen City Athletic Conference honors as he tallied totaled 165 tackles, including 39 for loss while piling up 19 sacks for his time at Hough High School.
MarQuis Roberts (6-1, 220, R-Jr.) transferred in at mid-year from Campbell and should be an asset to a budding young linebacker contingent. Who is he? Roberts was a two-time VISSA all-state linebacker in Virginia, earning all-conference honors three times.
Overall, the linebacker positions could be the one big key in turning the Aggies defense around. The better defenses on the CAA all have one thing in common – fast, physical linebackers that can really run, tackle well in space, and play with bad intentions without remorse.
If A&T’s linebacker depth chart can live up to what it appears to be on paper, the Aggies could perhaps win a couple of additional games that no one suspects they can do against their schedule. Again, like the defensive line, it will be a depth issue. A&T must stay relatively healthy until the time conference play starts then things might be on the uptick heading into October.
If there is one area where there are far fewer question marks going into this season it will be the secondary. There is a bevy of experience in the defensive backfield with the return of both corners with graduate students Aaron Harris (5-11, 185) and Ty Williams (6-1, 185).
Both have them are veteran 3-year starters who excel in man-to-man coverage although Williams missed most of last season with an early season injury is set return at full strength.
Harris accounted for 30 tackles, 10 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles and one interception good for a 70-yard pick six. His big additional plus is his special teams play where he was one of the nation’s best return specialists with a 29.9-yard average per return including a 94-yarder for a TD against NCCU.
Up and coming Steven Davis II (6-1, 170, R-Jr.) returns after missing last season with a broken arm. Davis, the son of Greensboro Dudley HS head coach Steve Davis is a long lengthy corner with good speed and instincts.
Redshirt freshmen Jaylen Roseboro (6-2,175) and David Macon (6-0,180) will be key reserves along with true freshman “Pee Wee Jones” (6-1,185) from state champion West Charlotte where he had 27 tackles, 7 TFLs and was ranked in the top 50 among defensive backs in North Carolina this past season.
The safety spots have been really bolstered with the return of some battle tested sophomores, the return of a big contributor from injury, and some new faces that bring with them both additional size and physicality.
Tre Mittman (6-0,185, So.) was pressed into the starting role at free safety very early as a true freshman when injuries mounted in the secondary and had to learn the college game under fire right out of the gate which had both its highs and lows. Despite his inexperience Mittman produced 40 tackles and an interception and should be vastly improved in 2025 because of that experience.
Cam Maddox (6-1, 205, GR) earned a starting spot at strong safety last year after transferring from Dartmouth, but injuries cut his season short, but he is now back and is looking to make his final season a memorable one.
Khristian Tyson (6-2, 190, So.) is an outstanding tackler who can play both the safety and cornerback positions. Joshua Coleman (6-2, 190, R-Jr.) will be counted on to provide help against the run. Cameren Dalrymple (6-0, 174, R-Jr) has been converted to defense after spending all last year at running back where he performed well playing extensive minutes as a reserve. Redshirt freshman Jamaal Purefoy-Thaxton (6-1,195) is a physical tackler with a high motor who will compete at the rover position.
New faces will abound at the safety posts vying for playing time. Transfer Willie Hamilton (6-1, 200, R-Jr.) comes in from Jacksonville State, Kamari Blankumsee (5-10, 190, Jr.) followed Gibbs to Greensboro from Fort Valley State along with incoming freshmen Mykell Harvey (6-2,180) and Tyler Howard (6-0, 175).
The experienced depth in the secondary is probably the best on the team outside of the running back room. The backside of the defense should be a strong suit instead of liability with the return of three proven starters along with more size, physical maturity and game experience having been added down the depth chart.
