SFA Fall Camp Report - Defensive Tackles
8/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 21 Practice Photo Gallery
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – With just over two weeks to go until the 2015 season kicks off against Northern Arizona, reality is starting to set in for Stephen F. Austin about just how close the season truly is. Especially considering this Lumberjack team is starting the season in a little different position.
After posting an 8-5 season in 2014, a five-win improvement from the year before, tying for third in the Southland Conference and earning an NCAA playoff berth for the first time since 2010, SFA is no longer an unknown team from the piney woods of East Texas.
As more and more preseason publications have been released, containing their predictions for the upcoming season, the “Stephen F. Austin” name has become more and more common. The Lumberjacks find themselves ranked 14th in the College Sports Madness preseason poll, 15th in Lindy’s College Football, 17th in the eyes of the Sporting News and 24th among the STATS FCS rankings.
Picked to finish second (sports information directors) and fourth (coaches) in the preseason SLC polls, Lumberjack players have also caught national attention. Offensive lineman Byron Williams has been tabbed a preseason All-American by STATS FCS with quarterback Zach Conque being named the SLC Preseason Player of the Year by College Sports Madness.
But head coach Clint Conque is well aware that championships and accolades are not won in August.
“It’s nice for our players because it shows them their hard work isn’t going unnoticed,” Conque said. “But at the same time, it adds that much more pressure. The key will be to see if our players are mature enough to respond to that pressure and live up to those expectations.”
One of the reasons for SFA’s lofty preseason rankings has to do with the Lumberjack defensive tackles, one of the most talented and experienced groups in the Southland Conference. Anchored by seniors Donald Bryant, Shayvion Hatten and Lance Skyler, SFA’s defensive front should once again cause headaches for opposing offenses.
The play of the Lumberjack defensive line was one of the most telling signs of SFA’s revamped defense in 2014. The trio combined for 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season as the ‘Jacks ranked among the national top-20 in both categories.
For their careers at SFA, Bryant, Hatten and Skyler have played in 85 games with 51 starts, registering 248 tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, and the trio has no plans of letting up now.
All three have looked solid during fall camp, battling with SFA’s experienced offensive line every day as nine of the 10 starters on both sides of the trenches return in 2015.
But even more than the production they bring, position coach Chris Van Horn has been pleased with the leadership and instruction they’ve brought to the rest of the position which consists of four redshirt freshman and true freshman.
After redshirting last season, Lamont Alexander has emerged as one of the heir apparents to the senior trio, taking extensive reps with the first team and making his presence felt on a daily basis. Bubu Alvarez and Braxton Kelly have also made the most of their extensive reps as well.
Two newcomers also appear to be promising as well, comprised of TCU transfer Demetrion Amie and freshman Paul Hill. Both have the size and speed capable of being productive players as they continue to learn the system and become more confident with each practice.
After dominating the spring practice schedule, and having its way in the spring game this past April, the defensive line is looking to continue that reputation as game changers tomorrow when the Lumberjacks hold their first scrimmage of fall camp. Practice is set to begin at 4 p.m. at Homer Bryce Stadium as the event is open to the public and is free of charge.
Q&A with Defensive Tackle Coach Chris Van Horn
On the progress of the defensive tackles through fall camp:
“There has been a tremendous amount of growth from day one. I’ve been blessed with three older guys that just needed to shake the rust off a little bit, and they’ve done a good job of that. They’ve taken limited reps, but they’ve made sure the reps they do take count. They’ve been tremendous leaders in helping bring the young guys along at a fast pace. We slowed things down the first couple days, but after about day five things came flying pretty quickly. There has been a learning curve for some of the young guys as they’re getting more reps than they’ve been use to, but they’ve all gotten better and it’s been a nice start.”
On the value of having three senior leaders to anchor the defensive tackles:
“Having been a defensive lineman my whole life, I can attest that the defensive line is the anchor of the entire defense. That’s where it all starts, and even though the game has spread out these days, they’re still won in the trenches. You win the battle up front, you’ve got a chance to win a lot of football games. More than anything, those seniors have done a great job of leading the younger players in our group. They have been very vocal during team drills, and I think the younger guys trust them. They’ve really done a good job of fine tuning their craft and they have been extremely motivated all through camp. Shayvion and Donald have played together for years and Lance has become a key member of that friendship. They are good friends on and off the field and should be a very key point of our defense this year.”
On having that consistency with each other and the coaching staff:
“They know what to expect. There are no question marks when it comes to me or to coach Williamson about what they are suppose to do. Their practice habits have gotten tremendously better from what they were last year. Last year we were coaching effort, this year its all about technique and scheme, which makes a huge difference. Those seniors have then turned and become almost like coaches to the younger guys, taking a guy or two under their wing and watching what they do on the field.”
On the young players getting ready to step up in 2015:
“There’s no doubt a couple of them are going to be on the field this year. Lamont Alexander, Demetrion Amie, Braxton Kelly and Bubu Alvarez, they aren’t freshmen anymore. They all went through camp last year either here or with their previous institution, they’ve been through it all, now its about which of them can separate themselves from the others. We also have our true freshman in Paul Hill, who it probably has been a little bit more of a learning curve, along with Demetrion to an extent, but he’s done a great job to walk into a room with three seniors and holding his own. It’s going to be an interesting battle over these next two weeks to see who separates themselves from the rest and earns the chance to get on the field.”
On facing the veteran offensive line:
“It’s been awesome. We’re both deep enough where we’re able to mix and match our units so that everyone gets a chance to go against different guys and it’s not always Lance Skyler against Byron Williams. We can get our younger guys like Lamont and see if he can hold his own against arguably one of the best offensive lines in the conference. And we get to do that every day. The old adage is iron sharpens iron. They take pride in being really good, and we do, too. There are some battles, some friendly altercations that happen, but it makes us all better, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
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