By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Missouri Southern’s defensive line returns intact from last season.
David Benham returns as the Lions’ top interior lineman, and Jarius Jarvis and Nick Teer are back at end.
Benham, 6-foot-5, 297-pound senior, and Jarvis, 6-4, 240 senior, were honorable mention all-conference selections last year.
Benham led the linemen with 55 tackles last season, two more than Jarvis. Teer, 6-1, 250 junior, made 29 tackles and his 6.5 tackles behind the scrimmage tied Jarvis for second on the team.
“Benham is a fifth-year guy who’s played a whole lot of football,” defensive line coach Raleigh Jackson said. “He’s extremely tough, and he’s smart and a good leader for us.
“Jarvis has improved dramatically from last year. He’s really raised his level of play during this camp. I’m looking for a big-time season out of him his senior year.
“Nick Teer, from the point where he was last year to now, he’s improved tremendously fundamentals-wise. He’s a better athlete, and I’m looking forward to a big season from him as well.”
Providing depth are Maurice Pearl, Sterling Carter, Zopon Williams and Brandon Dean at end and Domenique Butler, Brandon Williams, Kenny Smith and Simo Atagi at tackle.
The Lions plan to employ multiple defensive looks.
“We’re going to be as multiple as possible to make sure we can give the offense difference looks,” Jackson said. “We’re not going to hang our hat on any one thing. We’re going to try to be good at all of them.”
Jackson, who coached the linebackers last year, was impressed in his first exposure to MIAA football.
“I didn’t know a whole lot about the MIAA before I got here,” Jackson said. “But I’m telling you, it’s almost like it’s a Division I-AA conference. There are so many good football teams in this conference.
“It’s tremendously better than I thought it would. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but having played Division I-AA football (as a linebacker at The Citadel) and coming and seeing the MIAA, there is not much difference at all.”
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Veteran linemen return on defense
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