BEAUMONT, Texas – With the start of preseason camp in full swing, and Lamar University in the midst of drills, LamarCardinals.com will be doing its annual position-by-position breakdown of the team heading into the season opener against No. 8 Idaho (Aug. 31, 2023).
 
Today LamarCardinals.com will be breaking down the LU defensive linemen.
 
DL Quick Facts:
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 4/5 
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/2
Newcomers: 11
 
Stats:
The Cardinals as a team ranked seventh in the league last season in scoring defense (37.7 ppg) and sixth in total defense (442.1 ypg).
 
The Storyline:
The Cardinals defensive line might be the position hardest hit by attrition following the 2022 season. Lamar returns four letterwinners from the position and one starter (two if you consider Caleb Williams made four starts), but the Cardinals are not void of talent at the position. Jaymond Jackson (6-3, 263) is back for his third season with the program. During his time on campus, he has played in 23 games earning 20 starts, including all 12 games last season.
 
Jackson ended his sophomore campaign with 26 total stops, including 3.0 for losses, and provides the Cardinals with an immediate impact player. Add to the mix Williams (5-11, 290) who started four games and you have two very strong pieces in place for the front three. Although Williams didn't start the majority of the games at nose tackle, he was a key part of the rotation and proved he could handle the full-time roll if called upon to do so. Williams provides size and strength in the middle of the line which will be hard for opposing offenses to move and be forced to go around. As a sophomore, Williams recorded 26 tackles, including 3.5 for losses and 2.5 sacks.
 
The Cardinals have a plethora of individuals returning from last season who either redshirted the 2022 campaign, or gained valuable game time experience in a reserve role. They will be expected to take a step forward in their production – a list that includes Jayden Madkins (6-2, 300, Fr.-R), Colin Hedges (6-0, 255, Fr.-R), Jacob Ferree (6-2, 227, Fr.-R), Pius Njenge (6-4, 261, Jr.).
 
There is talent in this group alone to work with, but the coaching staff added an influx of talent to go along with a list of already mentioned returners. The incoming crop of 11 linemen consists of nine prep standouts and two transfers (one FBS and one FCS transfer). The two transfers are Siale Suliafu (6-0, 265, So., Missouri State) and James Perkins (6-4, 250, So., UL Monroe). Suliafu played in 22 games during his two seasons with the Bears and was a former Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team selection after his freshman season, while Perkins played in five games for the Warhawks before making his way to the Golden Triangle.
 
The incoming freshmen include Alex Sumler (6-3, 245), Makhi Reed (6-3, 300), Khai Mcghee (6-2, 251), Peyton Christian (6-1, 280), Royce Maloles (6-2, 230), Kei'Trone Simpson (6-2, 245), Daniel Obinna-Kanu (6-0, 275) and Alex Haralson (6-5, 265).
 
With so much youth up front, this group will get tested early but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The amount of youth provides an opening for those younger guys to step up and fill roles.