As the college football season approaches, HERO Sports takes a look at the top returners at each position in every FCS conference.
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No matter how skilled an offense is, if it can't get a push up front or protect the quarterback against edge rushers, it's going to be a long day. Defensive linemen can single-handedly impact a game, as we saw in the first few FCS games this last weekend.
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Big Sky: Jay-Tee Tiuli, Eastern Washington
A huge presence in the interior at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Tiuli had 33 total tackles and four sacks last season as a first team all-conference performer. He led the Eagles with 4.5 sacks as a sophomore two years ago. NFLDraftScout.com lists him as the No. 26 ranked defensive tackle for the 2018 NFL Draft. [divider]
Big South: Anthony Ellis, Charleston Southern
A HERO Sports Preseason All-American, Ellis wreaked havoc last season as the Big South Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound defensive end had seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2016. He'll expect a lot of attention on him again this season, but always seems to find a way to make plays. [divider]
Colonial Athletic Association: Andrew Ankrah, James Madison
Ankrah's stats may not jump off the page, but he's a key part in JMU's defensive line that is atop the FCS. Depth there leads to a lot of rotations, but Ankrah's impact is felt every snap he takes. With great length on the edge at 6-foot-4, he had 44 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2016. [divider]
Ivy League: Kurt Holuba, Princeton
Holuba was named an Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year finalist last season and was an all-conference first team selection. He led the league with seven sacks in conference play and really came on at the end of the season when he recorded 6.5 of his eight total sacks in the last five games. [divider]
Mid-Eastern Athletic: Antonio Brown, North Carolina Central
A preseason first team all-conference pick, Brown is coming off a junior season where he ranked third in the MEAC with eight sacks and fourth with 14.5 tackles for loss. The defensive end was a second team all-conference player last season while adding 56 total tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. [divider]
Missouri Valley Football: Dalton Keene, Illinois State
After a MVFC Honorable Mention season as a sophomore in 2015 and being selected to the Second Team last year, Keene is set for a big senior campaign and raise his NFL stock. NFLDraftScout has him ranked the No. 33 defensive tackle heading into the season. In 2016, he recorded 65 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. [divider]
Northeast: Jordan Baskerville, Wagner
Baskerville was the only non-senior defensive lineman on last season's NEC First Team. He led his team in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (5.5). Twenty-one of his 34 total tackles were solo. At 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, Baskerville plays defensive end in Wagner's 3-4 defense. [divider]
Ohio Valley: Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State
Jackson showed he was worthy of his HERO Sports preseason all-American honors in the FCS Kickoff game Saturday vs. Chattanooga. Fresh off his OVC Defensive Player of the Year campaign, he was consistently in the backfield against the Mocs from his defensive end position with four quarterback hurries. His NFL stock rose on national television and will continue to rise. [divider]
Patriot League: Pat Afriyie, Colgate
Afriyie is coming off Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors and enters 2017 a HERO Sports preseason all-American. Last year as a junior, he led the conference and ranked fourth in the FCS with 10 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. [divider]
Pioneer Football League: Jonathan Petersen, San Diego
Petersen was named first team all-conference as a junior in 2016. He racked up 12.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, Petersen could be another Torero who gets a shot in the NFL. [divider]
Southern: Miles Brown, Wofford
Brown held his own last season as a sophomore and then some. At 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, it's easy to see why. An all-conference first team pick, he was a key part in Wofford's defense that was ranked among the best in the FCS. He accounted for 48 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. [divider]
Southland: P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State
Hall is finally a senior. A HERO Sports preseason all-American, the 6-foot-1, 310-pounder has been causing headaches since his freshman season in 2014, where he earned conference and national freshman of the year honors. Hall was the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season and has career numbers of 224 total tackles, 129 solo, 67 tackles for loss, 36 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions. [divider]
Southwestern Athletic: Keontre Anderson, Jackson State
A HERO Sports preseason all-American, Anderson has great size at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds. He finished first last season as a junior in the SWAC with 25.5 tackles for loss and tied for second with nine sacks to go along with 55 total tackles.
Which FCS defensive lineman will have the best 2017 season?
