Starters:
Jeremy Beal—Dominating. That’s the one word that can be used to describe Beal’s 2009 season. He led the team with 11 sacks for 72 yards, 19 tackles for loss adding to 97 yards and three forced fumbles. He’s the clear difference maker in this defensive line. But he’s not exactly a vocal leader. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said numerous times last year how Beal was simply a quiet leader by example. That doesn’t matter, though, as long as he gets the job done, and he will again in 2010.
Frank Alexander—Alexander also has the potential to be a devastating player on this line, and he showed that throughout times last year working alongside Beal and Auston English, who later suffered an injury giving way to Alexander’s full time duty. He played in all 13 games and had seven tackles for loss totaling up to 27 yards. He was part of 1.5 sacks for a loss of 15 yards, and he returned a fumble for a touchdown against Idaho State.
Reserves:
David King—King has the ability to contribute positively, but he hasn’t seen the field a whole lot in his two years in Norman, redshirting in 2008 before playing in only four games last season. In those four, though, there were good results. He recorded a tackle in the Sun Bowl as well as knocking down a pass against Texas A&M.
Justin Chaisson—This 6-foot-5, 265 lb. defensive end from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, N.V. redshirted in his first season in Norman last year, so he doesn’t have any live game experience. But he’s a guy that came out of high school as a four-star recruit with a ton of talent. He figures to be a solid backup to Alexander at the end position.
A couple others:
R.J. Washington—Washington played in only four games last year after redshirting in 2008, and he had three tackles, including a half sack for a loss of three yards against Texas A&M.
Pryce Macon—He didn’t play at all last year in his reserve role, but he did participate in seven games during the 2008 season, posting a three-tackle outing against Tennessee-Chattanooga, and he did well in the Spring Game with a couple of sacks for minus four yards.
Status:
1. In great shape
2. Probably in good shape
3. Questionable
4. Not in good shape at all
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