A Look at the SFA Defensive Line
8/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2008
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team enters the 2008 season with a host of familiar faces on the front line led by preseason all-conference defensive end Tim Knicky. The 'Jacks are hoping a number of returners, along with new defensive coordinator David Gibbs and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, will translate into increased production in 2008.
SFA's defensive line was the catalyst for a 2006 team that finished tops in the Southland Conference in scoring defense, rush defense and total defense during league contests. But those numbers didn't hold true last season with the 'Jacks finishing at, or near, the bottom of the league in each category.
To help get the Lumberjack defense back to the top of the league SFA head coach J.C. Harper hired Kocurek to coach the defensive line. Kocurek came to SFA from West Texas A&M where he was the assistant head coach, and helped guide the Buffaloes to the 2007 Lone Star Conference title.
"The one thing that I always try to get my players to do is to play extremely hard," said Kocurek. "When other people watch our defensive line on film, I want them to see guys who are attacking the line of scrimmage, playing with good fundamentals and playing extremely hard for four quarters. When you watch our defensive line we are going to be physical, we're going to attack and we're going to play hard."
A veteran who fits into that mold is junior defensive end Tim Knicky. One of the vocal leaders of the defense, Knicky has received all-conference recognition each of the past two seasons.
"Tim has stood out since my first day here," said Kocurek. "He is renlentless on the field, and does everything we ask him to. He is one of those guys who will lead by example, but when something needs to be said he will also voice his opinion."
Knicky finished fourth on the team in tackles with 60, including 21 solo stops. He also finished among the league leaders in sacks (4.0) and tackles for losses (15.0).
The Lumberjacks' other bookend is 6-2, 245-pound junior Andre Hicks. One of the more consistent players during his time on campus, Hicks enters the '08 campaign as one of the leaders on the defensive front.
A former tight end, Andy Anderson, has made the switch to the defensive side of the ball and has looked impressive throughout training camp. A 6-3, 245-pound, transfer from Florida International for the 2007 season, Anderson brings size and speed to the position. He is slotted to backup up Hicks, while sophomore Rainey Sternes will back up Knicky. Sternes (6-3, 220) has followed a similar path as Anderson spending time on both sides of the ball.
The 'Jacks will turn to sophomore Kenneth Charles and junior Kendall Jernigan to lock up the interior. Charles is coming off an impressive rookie season that saw him work his way into the starting lineup. He finished the season with 18 tackles, including two for losses, and two fumbles forced. Junior Efrain Sanchez is listed as the backup.
"Charles is similar to Knicky in the fact that he comes to practice everyday and gives you everything he's got," said Kocurek. "He is also a very coachable young man. He is willing to learn, and does everything that we ask him to do."
Jernigan is a powerful interior lineman who played in 19 games during his first two seasons on campus, but they have been in a reserve role. He enters his junior campaign listed as the early starter. Jernigan has posted 22 tackles, and four tackles for losses in limited playing time for SFA. He will be competing for playing time with 6-0, 300-pound Longview native, Gordon Booker.
"I'm excited about the whole group," said Kocurek. "Our starters have been the same four since the spring, and they have held their jobs during preseason drills. That is the ideal situation for any coach. Those 15 practices during the spring are crucial to the fall. We've brought in some new guys, but they are obviously going to be behind. The veterans are important helping bring the younger guys along."
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