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Princeton University Athletics
Kirby, Weiss, Jackman Lead Young Defensive Line
August 31, 2001 | Football
Aug. 31, 2001
In advance of the upcoming football season, www.goprincetontigers.com will take a position-by-position look at the 2001 Tigers. Today, we look at the defensive line:
Starters returning: DE Tim Kirby
Starters lost: DT Michael Long, DT Nathan Podsakoff, DT Aron Tremble
Other returning lettermen: DE Phil Jackman, DE Joe Weiss
Look out for: Sophomore Sean Story
Did you know? Of the 14 defensive linemen on the roster, 13 are either freshmen or sophomores.
How young is Princeton's defensive line? Its only veteran is himself a rookie.
Senior Phil Jackman is the only one of 14 Tiger defensive linemen who is not a freshman or sophomore - and Jackman is going through his first football training camp.
Still, younger might not necessarily be a problem. And the defensive line may end up as one of the strengths of this year's Tigers. Princeton has a pair of emerging stars at the end positions, and Jackman's addition to that group should make the pass rush a potent one. Sophomores Tim Kirby and Joe Weiss figure to start at the end positions, and don't be surprised if one or both makes a serious run at All-Ivy honors.
"Tim and Joe are much improved from last year," says defensive coordinator and line coach Steve Verbit. "They're playing like men. They're 20-25 pounds heavier, and their strength has increased immeasurably, as has their knowledge of the game."
Kirby was a starter for much of last year, and Weiss played as much as any of the other linemen by season's end, leading the team with four sacks.
Jackman also emerged last year as a serious pass rush threat as part of his amazing story. Jackman was recruited as a basketball player, a sport he played for his first two years at Princeton. After that, he decided to try to play football, a sport he had never played on any level before. He joined the team after the season started, switching positions twice before finally becoming an end by midseason. He finished with a strong second half of the season and then went through the spring and the trip to Japan before finding himself in a summer training camp for the first time.
"He continues to improve," Verbit says. "He shows you new things every day, and you have to remember that this is a game he's never played before."
Jackman will play primarily in pass-rush situations, when Kirby will move to tackle. As for the rest of the time, the key is to find which defensive tackles will rise to the top.
Whoever they are, they'll be young. Jeff Michsky, a sophomore, has the most experience, but he was a center a year ago. Classmates Sean Story and George Pilcher also have a chance to start, as do a host of freshmen, including Trey Greene, Chris Lebeis and Ian Withrow.
"All 14 linemen are vying for playing time," Verbit says. "And a lot of them are going to get some. We'll probably run a four to six man rotation at tackle."