2020 Defensive Line Position Preview
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Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)
It’s never been a secret that Indiana has not had the depth along the defensive line that other schools in the Big Ten boast year after year. And with the departure of Mark Hagen, former defensive line coach for the Hoosiers, one might assume it would be a similar story in 2020. However, Hagen did not take another job because there is a lack of talent in the pipeline. In fact, Indiana might finally have the depth they’ve desired up front. Today, we’ll highlight who will be making an impact along the defensive line for Kevin Peoples, the new defensive line coach, in 2020.
#6 James Head Jr, 6’5” 261 Pounds
James Head Jr. Image: Indiana University Athletics
James Head Jr. will be entering his junior season on the perimeter of the defensive line after collecting 20 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble last year. He started all 13 games at defensive end and brought great athleticism to the position. He could often be seen standing up out of his three-point stance and acting almost like a linebacker on third downs chasing down opposing quarterbacks. Wommack assured media of Head’s continued development recently, saying “he’s doing some really good things on the outside. Him along with some youthful depth.”
#51 Jovan Swann, 6’2” 280 Pounds
Swann is the fifth-year newcomer to the team, a graduate MBA student transfer from Stanford. His older brother, Mario Swann Jr, played safety for the Hoosiers from 2013 to 2015 and Swann is familiar with the state having graduated from Center Grove High School. Swann tallied 85 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, and one blocked field goal in 39 appearances (13 starts) with the Cardinal.
Since he boasts lots of collegiate experience, Swann’s biggest challenge will be adjusting from Stanford’s 3-4 system into the Hoosier’s four-down linemen approach. Speaking of Swann, Wommack said, “He is such a powerful guy. He is a strong guy that at Stanford was running more of an odd front, 3-4 system and we are more of a four-down system. I think there has been a little bit of an adjustment period for him with that change. He has that strength and physicality that will allow him to be somebody that we utilize.”
#34 Damarjhe Lewis, 6’3” 301 Pounds
The defensive line room has plenty of returning bodies, but if I had a bet for a freshman to crack the regular rotation it would be Damarjhe Lewis. Lewis was ranked 57th best defensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports and comes with a Big Ten ready body. He compiled offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss, Penn State, Auburn, and Florida State, among others. The high 3-star recruit posted four sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 37 total tackles in just 7 games his senior year of high school.
#98 Jerome Johnson, 6’3” 304 Pounds
Johnson is one of two fifth-year seniors along the line, but the longest tenured as a Hoosier. Johnson led all IU defensive linemen in 2019 with 43 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss, five of which were sacks. He also tacked on two quarterback hurries. Wommack said of Johnson that he “has always been a very good football player but I have always thought that there is more that Jerome has to give. I think we are starting to see that from him.” Kevin Peoples added “Jerome Johnson is a talented player who can stop the run and provide a pass rush.”
He leads all active Hoosiers with 9.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss and has won the team’s Chris Dal Sasso Award for the past two seasons, an internal award given to the team’s Outstanding Lineman. He’ll look to continue these dominating performances at the tackle position in the 2020 season with the Hoosiers.
#94 Demarcus Elliot, 6’3” 311 Pounds
Elliot is a guy that Wommack can trust because of his experience, but he feels even more confident in him heading into 2020 because of his offseason progression. He feels Elliot has “taken his game to a different level.” He’s coming off a season in 2019 in which he tallied 35 tackles, three sacks, five tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in 13 games (12 starts) at tackle. His tackle total was good for second behind Jerome Johnson on the defensive line. He was the line’s best one-man wrecking crew, as he finished first among defensive linemen in solo stops. Elliot should split time with Sio Nofoagatoto’a at the nose tackle position.
#87 Michael Ziemba, 6’3” 258 Pounds
Third on the defensive line in tackles in 2019 was defensive end Michael Ziemba. He tallied 33 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two recovered fumbles, and three quarterback hurries. Wommack had rave reviews for the senior from Florida, saying he has “become a more physical player across the board.” Coach Allen has already hinted that his starting defensive line will include Ziemba, along with James Head Jr, Demarcus Elliot, and Jerome Johnson.
#92 Alfred Bryant, 6’2” 255 Pounds
Alfred Bryant was a rotational guy that saw action in all 13 games in 2019 and will be looking to take the next step forward this season. The redshirt junior from Texas was a guy that you could tell was improving every game, having his best performances toward the end of the season. He had four of his twenty-five total tackles at the Gator Bowl, one of those coming for a loss. He’ll fill a backup role behind Ziemba and James Head at defensive end. Peoples has already challenged him to show out in 2020. “We're looking for Alfred Bryant to step up and provide some pass rush and do things that will showcase his ability."
#50 Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 6’4” 315 Pounds
Sio showed last year as a true freshman that he was simply too good to not see the field in more than just the four games that would have allowed him to redshirt. Instead, the nose tackle from the American Samoa played in ten games. He collected nine total tackles with a season high of three at the Gator Bowl. He earned Defensive Player of the Week honors in the victory against Northwestern.
#55 CJ Person, 6’3” 291 Pounds
CJ Person was injured for a bit of 2019 and ultimately redshirted, but he was productive in the four games he did play in. He was named defensive scout team player of the year but likely won’t be spending much time with the scouts anymore.
“You guys probably did not notice it, but in overtime against Purdue, there was C.J. as a true freshman using one of his four games and played an executed on a critical down in overtime,” said Wommack. “He made a nice play in the backfield that got us to make them kick a field goal and we won the game. Those guys taking a more central role in our defense, we are excited about them.”
#18 Jonathan King, 6’3” 260 Pounds and #91 Jeramy Passmore, 6’3” 263 Pounds
Rounding out the team’s defensive end depth will be a pair of Florida defensive lineman, redshirt sophomore Jonathan King and redshirt freshman Jeramy Passmore. On the pair, Wommack said, “We have some exciting guys in Jonathan King and Jeramy Passmore, who have stepped their game to a different level and have given us something out there on the perimeter that we are really excited with.” King saw seven games of action in 2019 but has not yet recorded a tackle, though he did break up a pass in the game against Northwestern. Passmore has not yet seen game action but earned scout team player of the week honors in the game against Ball State.
With Indiana’s four-man defensive front, these are the eleven individuals that show the best signs of seeing consistent playing time for Indiana in 2020. However, additional depth can be found below. Most of these young players are still developing and perfecting their game before seeing consistent playing time, especially with the veteran group the Hoosiers return this year.
Additional Team Depth
· Beau Robbins, 6’5” 250 Pound Redshirt Freshman
· Jalen Mayala, 6’5” 230 Pound Freshman
· Shamar Jones, 6’1” 270 Pound Redshirt Sophomore
· Stephen Walker II, 6’3” 300 Pound Redshirt Freshman
· Christian Love, 6’0” 289 Pound Redshirt Sophomore
· Caleb Murphy, 6’4” 260 Pound Freshman
· Antoine Whitner Jr, 6’5” 305 Pound Redshirt Freshman