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Defensive line and linebackers of the UWF football team can play “freely”

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During the portion where three members of the University of West Florida offensive football team spoke at Media Day on Monday, Jamontez Woods said – to some laughter – “these guys are going to talk.”

He was referring to the Argos defense. And without pointing a finger or even looking, one of the defensemen who spoke later in the day knew exactly who Woods was talking about.

“Oh, he talks about me. I'm the main one,” said Virgil Lemons, a senior defensive back who transferred to UWF last year. “All day, every day. I want to talk to you and know how you feel. If I won, I'll let you know I won. …

“If you win – next game.”

And it looks like that's the mindset of the entire UWF defense for the 2024 season. After implementing a new scheme and playbook last year under Kavell Conner, now entering his second year as defensive coordinator, the Argos could enjoy a stellar defensive season in 2023.

UWF was among the best in the Gulf South Conference, allowing an average of just 18 points per game and 276.8 yards per game — 43 fewer yards than the next-best team, West Alabama. The Argos also led the conference in sacks with 225, 43 more than Delta State.

Defensive lineman John McMullen, now a graduate, had a team-high 22 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks, along with three forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries. He was the team's first unanimous All-American and received first-team honors from the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association, the American Football Coaches Association and the Associated Press.

However, the Argos have many outstanding defensive players back. Walker Robinson (61 tackles, 2 sacks) is back. GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year Ralph Ortiz returns to Pen Air Field after a season with 40 tackles and 3 interceptions.

“We're definitely more familiar now and we got some game reps for the most part last year. We have some older guys that have actually made it in a game. That will help with transfers and stuff,” said Aidan Swett, a defensive lineman who missed most of the 2023 season after an early injury. “Coach Conner has done a great job of getting the guys involved. The deployments have been a lot smoother this year than last year.”

“As a head coach, it certainly helps me sleep better at night. But as an offensive player, it makes my life a little harder at practice. I'm excited about our defense,” head coach Kaleb Nobles said of the defense on media day. “Coach Conner and the entire defensive staff have done a great job of coming up with good plans. In the second year of defense, going from a three-man to a four-man front is good for our guys. They've really embraced the system and know what to expect from us.”

As for signings and transfers during the year, there were 11 players who signed on National Signing Day – including a local star, Tyrell Marshall of Navarre. Marshall originally committed to Memphis last summer before decommitting to the Tigers in November. Marshall previously told PNJ that special teams coordinator Jordan Remsza was the first coach to contact him after decommitting.

UWF also had five transfers during the year, four of which were defensive linemen. Nobles previously mentioned that getting the size and experience of someone who already has playing experience at the college level is a big deal.

“I just try to bring the guys along, establish the culture and get them to buy in. Talent is never an issue,” Swett said. “But it can be difficult sometimes to get the guys to buy into the culture and get them into the playbook, but they're doing well.”

“Everyone is sticking to the playbook a lot more this year,” Ortiz said. “I feel like we're executing our jobs at a really high level.”

Of particular note, UWF has signed Traevon Mitchell, a defensive player from GSC rival Chowan. Nobles said Mitchell has a very similar quick first step off the line as McMullen, which excites the defense and coaching staff.

With the four-man defensive line that Conner's defensive scheme brought with it last year, much more pressure is possible from the front seven – which includes players like Will Breland at linebacker, who also returns at the start of the 2023 season from a season-ending injury.

“The ball comes out fast. And if it doesn't come out fast, it's a sack. And that's nice for me,” Lemons said with a little grin.

“It's definitely a lot more fun,” Swett said of the front four. “Coach Conner gives us a lot more freedom to make plays. … It doesn't matter who's out there, we're going to attack them.”

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. Reach him at X (@BenGriecoSports) and by email at [email protected]..

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