2024 Football Preview: Defense/Special Teams

Liam and Ozzie.

When you watch the Princeton football defense last year, you became very familiar with those two names. The dynamic duo combined for 187 tackles and in a pair of All-Ivy performances and were the unquestioned leaders of the Tiger defense.

And while they deserved the praise they received throughout the season, they were bolstered by talented younger teammates on all three levels. Those teammates are now ready to take a greater role for a Princeton team that believes it can still put together a top-level defense in the Ivy League.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Bob Surace believes he has numerous impact players set for his defensive line rotation. Senior Jack DelGarbino's most memorable Princeton athletics moment hasn't come on the football field — he pinned the Iowa heavyweight as a member of the Tiger wrestling team — but he demonstrated his worth as a top-level interior defender last season. He led all Tiger linemen with 51 tackles last season, and he has the physicality to be an absolute menace in the middle of the line.

Classmate Ryan Ives is a bit longer than DelGarbino, and while he may not be as strong, he has the athleticism to both hold his gap and get into the offensive backfield. Ives has built off the experience of a 21-tackle season last fall, and has looked terrific in the preseason.

Senior Collin Taylor is the tallest player among the defensive linemen, and he thrived when he was moved to the outside. A long, athletic player, Taylor is tough to throw over, but he has also demonstrated more ability to create pressure in the backfield over the last few weeks.

Freshmen aren't expected to contribute much to the defensive line, but London Robinson got called into duty as a rookie last fall and did more than hold his own. He played in nine games, made five tackles and forced a fumble in a late-season showdown against Yale. With a full offseason in the weight room and that game experience to build on, Surace is excited to see what he will bring this year.

Junior Bakari Edwards is the returning team leader in sacks last season (4); he ranked in the Ivy League Top 10 last season, and could be one of the major disruptive forces in the league this fall. Classmate Aaron Richard will also be counted on to create pressure for opposing quarterbacks after playing seven games and having two multi-tackle games last fall.

Surace likes the consistency throughout his defensive line rotation, but he is looking for 1-2 players to move past 'consistent' and break into the All-Ivy conversation. Without the game-breaking linebackers from 2023 behind them, the defensive line needs to create more pressure on their own and make life easier for the players behind them.

LINEBACKERS

While the returning experience last fall came at the inside linebacker position, defensive coordinator Steve Verbit has two outside linebackers returning this fall who both played every game last season and combined to make 55 tackles and three sacks.

Nicholas Sanker was finding his way as a sophomore before an injury cut his season short, but he gained a full season of experience last year (20 tackles, 4.5 for loss), and he has built off that with an impressive offseason. Sanker put on 10 pounds of muscle, but he didn't sacrifice any of his speed to do so. He has had a different look this fall — a more confident and comfortable one — and Surace is excited to see what level he can reach.

Marco Scarano made one tackle in the first four games last season, then averaged more than 5.5 per game over the final six weeks. He had a tackle for loss in five of those six games, and added either a quarterback hurry or a pass breakup in half of them. He is fast, he finds the ball, and he needs to be accounted for by opposing quarterbacks every play.

Both Jackson Ford and Carson Irons are among the leading contenders for the inside linebacker position after strong preseasons. Ford played in 16 games over the two seasons and recorded seven tackles, while Irons played in every game last year and had six tackles.

Sekou Roland is also vying for significant time in the linebacker rotation; he made one of the biggest plays of the 2023 season, a strip sack over Columbia in the Ivy opener. Roland is a talented, dynamic athlete, and Surace hopes the experience from last season will create a strong foundation for his awareness this fall.

Chase Christopher and Will Beesley are names to watch as well. Beesley will always be in the right spot, which earned him playing time in every game last season, while Christopher brings a level of athleticism that is rare in the Ivy League, though he lacks the gameday experience of most of his position mates.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Princeton is loaded with experience at the cornerback position, which includes five returners who played serious varsity minutes last year.

Senior Jalen Newman had a case for All-Ivy recognition last season. He made 29 tackles, recorded an interception in the win over nationally ranked Harvard, and led all Princeton players with six pass breakups. Classmate Mason Armstead led all returning defensive backs with 30 tackles last season, and he is a Swiss Army knife-type player that can fit in any scheme, while fellow senior Jackson Fischer had an interception against Brown and was one of the surprise performers as the season progressed.

Junior Glenie Cross III may not have seen as much time as the afore-mentioned three players, but his skill and athleticism pops in practice. Sophomore Evan Haynie played in six games as a freshman, and he made a major jump during the spring session.

Torian Roberts and Nasir Cook will also vie for time in both the defensive backfield and special teams.

Junior Nasir Hill is Princeton's leading returner in tackles (62) from last season, and he could be one of the Ivy's most disruptive defensive players this fall. He was a second-team All-Ivy honoree last year after ranking 12th in the Ivy League in tackles and adding three interceptions and five pass breakups.

Senior Payton Tally, junior Tahj Owens and sophomore Kavon Miller are three strong contenders for time in the safety rotation.

Among the favorite moments of the preseason for Surace was watching the 1-on-1 showdowns between Princeton receivers and defensive backs. Both should be strengths for their respective sides, and they only made each other better through their daily matchups over the last few weeks.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter Brady Clark earned All-Ivy recognition as a freshman last season by averaging 39.2 yards per punt and leading the Ivy League in both fair catches and punts inside the 20. Senior placekickers Jeffrey Sexton and Sam Massick have had a competitive preseason, and both will carry significant experience into the season.

Logan Rager and Luke Gnepper are both solid options as long snappers, and the loaded set of defensive backs will allow the Tigers to go after both kicks and punts this season. AJ Barber and Dareion Murphy are both experienced returners, and either has the athleticism to create big plays.

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Players Mentioned

Mason Armstead

AJ Barber

Will Beesley

Chase Christopher

Brady Clark

Nasir Cook

Glenie Cross III

Jack DelGarbino

Bakari Edwards

Jackson Fischer

Jackson Ford

Luke Gnepper

Evan Haynie

Nasir Hill

Carson Irons

Ryan Ives

Sam Massick

Kavon Miller

Dareion Murphy

Jalen Newman

Tahj Owens

Logan Rager

Aaron Richard

Torian Roberts

London Robinson

Sekou Roland

Nicholas Sanker

Marco Scarano

Jeffrey Sexton

Payton Tally

Collin Taylor

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