Focus: Defensive Line
August 15, 2019 | Football
Tanner Karafa is the veteran leader in the middle of the Eagles' defensive line group heading into 2019.
Returners: Brandon Barlow (RJr.), Kyiev Bennermon (RFr.), Jaleel Berry (RSo.), Ryan Betro (RFr.), Tanner Karafa (Gr.), Joey Luchetti (RFr.), Bryce Morais (RJr.), TJ Rayam (Jr.), Reggie Terry Jr. (RSo.), Marcus Valdez (RSo.)
Newcomers: Spencer Bono (Fr.), Ireland Burke (Fr.), Mike Ciaffoni (Fr.), Izaiah Henderson (Fr.), Jackson Ness (Fr.), Shitta Sillah (Fr.), Richard Yeargin (Gr.)
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Karafa anchors the defensive line from the tackle position as his role and responsibility on the defense has increased each season. He redshirted in 2015, played six games in 2016, played in all 13 games at defensive end in 2017 and then won a starting job a year ago. Karafa started all 12 games at defensive tackle in 2018 and is the only returner from the Eagles' defensive line. He racked up 47 tackles, 8.5 TFLs and four sacks. Rayam, a nose tackle, is the second most experienced player on the line with 16 career games played, including 10 off the bench last season. He supplied eight tackles, including 1.5 TFLs.
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A mixture of moderate experience and relative youth are expected to fill out the defensive line's depth chart. Barlow and Valdez were on the Eagles' two-deep last season and were both productive in their opportunities at defensive end. Barlow, who started the short-lived SERVPRO First Responder Bowl last December, made 15 tackles last season, while Valdez added 13. Entering the mix of veterans is Yeargin, a graduate transfer from Clemson. He was a four-year member of the Tiger football team, but missed each of the last two seasons due to injuries sustained I nan automobile accident. On the field, Yeargin posted 21 tackles and 5.0 TFLs in two seasons for Clemson.
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Three redshirt-freshmen could break out on the defensive line this season, including Luchetti, who transitioned from tight end to defensive end early in his freshman campaign. A 6-foot-6 product that was the No. 6 overall prospect out of Massachusetts by 247Sports, he played in one game with one tackle and two receptions. On the interior, Bennermon and Betro both waited in the wings as freshmen. Bennermon checks in at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds and Betro is 6-foot-4, 295.
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"There has been a lot of growth and development there. [Karafa] is the anchor of our group. He was very competitive a year ago with the other three guys we had [on the line] in Zach, Wyatt and Ray. Knowing that going into this season that he was going to have to be out of his comfort zone and maybe do some things that didn't fit his personality, has enabled him to be a leader. The thing about Tanner is, he's a great student, a great person, passionate in everything he does. I think our other defensive tackles are seeing that.
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"We're young and we're fertile and it's interesting to see the growth in each one of these guys. Right now, guys are really starting to get a little better feel for the game. Bennermon will be a guy that we continue to bring along and starting to see a difference in. Rayam has the most experience on the defensive line, other than Tanner. He's a person who has really worked this offseason to better himself and we've got a couple surprises in our freshmen that are going to have bright futures."
Newcomers: Spencer Bono (Fr.), Ireland Burke (Fr.), Mike Ciaffoni (Fr.), Izaiah Henderson (Fr.), Jackson Ness (Fr.), Shitta Sillah (Fr.), Richard Yeargin (Gr.)
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Karafa anchors the defensive line from the tackle position as his role and responsibility on the defense has increased each season. He redshirted in 2015, played six games in 2016, played in all 13 games at defensive end in 2017 and then won a starting job a year ago. Karafa started all 12 games at defensive tackle in 2018 and is the only returner from the Eagles' defensive line. He racked up 47 tackles, 8.5 TFLs and four sacks. Rayam, a nose tackle, is the second most experienced player on the line with 16 career games played, including 10 off the bench last season. He supplied eight tackles, including 1.5 TFLs.
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A mixture of moderate experience and relative youth are expected to fill out the defensive line's depth chart. Barlow and Valdez were on the Eagles' two-deep last season and were both productive in their opportunities at defensive end. Barlow, who started the short-lived SERVPRO First Responder Bowl last December, made 15 tackles last season, while Valdez added 13. Entering the mix of veterans is Yeargin, a graduate transfer from Clemson. He was a four-year member of the Tiger football team, but missed each of the last two seasons due to injuries sustained I nan automobile accident. On the field, Yeargin posted 21 tackles and 5.0 TFLs in two seasons for Clemson.
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Three redshirt-freshmen could break out on the defensive line this season, including Luchetti, who transitioned from tight end to defensive end early in his freshman campaign. A 6-foot-6 product that was the No. 6 overall prospect out of Massachusetts by 247Sports, he played in one game with one tackle and two receptions. On the interior, Bennermon and Betro both waited in the wings as freshmen. Bennermon checks in at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds and Betro is 6-foot-4, 295.
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THE STATS
#2 Yeargin, Richard- Career at Clemson: 21 tackles (12 solo), 5.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks
- 15 tackles (7 solo), 2.0 TFL
- 2018: 47 tackles (27 solo), 8.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 1 FR; Career: 64 tackles (38 solo), 10.5 TFL
- 13 tackles (4 solo), 0.5 TFL
- 8 tackles (1 solo), 1.5 TFL
THE D-LINEÂ ROOMS
Berry, a defensive tackle who played in five games last season with made two tackles, and Morais, an end with eight career games played and four tackles, bring veteran depth to the defensive line… Terry, a linebacker-turned-end, made his debut in 2018 after arriving at BC in 2017 following a prep year at Bridgton Academy… on the edge, BC has added Bono, Ness and Sillah… Bono and Ness each earned All-State honors in Ohio as seniors in high school, while Sillah, who entered camp at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, was the top rated outside linebacker prospect in New Jersey by 247Sports… Inside, the Eagles added Burke, Ciaffoni and Henderson… Burke was the No. 2 DT prospect in New Jersey by 247Sports, Ciaffoni was All-State at nearby Lincoln-Sudbury in 2018 and Henderson enrolled at BC for the 2019 spring semester as the No. 2 DT prospect out of New Jersey by ESPN.Â
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Antoine Smith, Defensive Tackles Coach"There has been a lot of growth and development there. [Karafa] is the anchor of our group. He was very competitive a year ago with the other three guys we had [on the line] in Zach, Wyatt and Ray. Knowing that going into this season that he was going to have to be out of his comfort zone and maybe do some things that didn't fit his personality, has enabled him to be a leader. The thing about Tanner is, he's a great student, a great person, passionate in everything he does. I think our other defensive tackles are seeing that.
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"We're young and we're fertile and it's interesting to see the growth in each one of these guys. Right now, guys are really starting to get a little better feel for the game. Bennermon will be a guy that we continue to bring along and starting to see a difference in. Rayam has the most experience on the defensive line, other than Tanner. He's a person who has really worked this offseason to better himself and we've got a couple surprises in our freshmen that are going to have bright futures."
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