Spring 2021 Breakdown: Defensive Line

Throughout the spring, BGSUFalcons.com will breakdown each position for the 2021 BGSU football program. Today, we take a look at special teams.

Part 1 - Tight Ends
Part 2 - Offensive Line
Part 3 - Quarterbacks
Part 4 - Running Backs
Part 5 - Wide Receivers
Part 6 - Special Teams

Bowling Green, Ohio – Julian Campenni enters his third season as the defensive line coach for the Falcons, and he has a lot of young, promising talent in his room during film study. He will help the Falcons as they transition under new defensive coordinator Eric Lewis.

Defensive line is similar to many other units in the program in that youth dominates the position group. Eleven of the anticipated 15 student-athletes in the group have freshman eligibility and there is not a single senior in the group.

Karl Brooks is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound menace at defensive end who has started every game he's played for the Falcons over the previous two seasons, and started eight games as a true freshman in 2018. Brooks has the potential to be an All-MAC performer, recording 11.0 tackles for loss over his last 15 games.

Walter Haire is a redshirt junior from Indianapolis, who has started nine games over the previous two seasons for the Falcons. At 6-3 and 275 pounds, Haire will be looked upon to help the production of the interior linemen as a returning starter. He is projected as the opening day defensive tackle.

Anthony Hawkins and Billie Roberts have competed this spring at the top of the nose tackle depth chart. Hawkins, at 6-2, 302 pounds, is a second-year freshman who appeared in all five games and had 12 tackles in 2020 for BGSU.

Roberts is a second-year freshman listed at 6-5 and 301 pounds who chose BGSU over Boston College, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Syracuse, and Tennessee (among others) as a three-star recruit coming out of Muskegon High School. Roberts appeared in three games last season and had two tackles against Buffalo.

Jordan Murphy is a redshirt junior who started all five games last season for the Falcons. Murphy should remain active in a rotation that could include Murphy, Brooks, and Jordan Porter. Murphy is 6-4, weighs 275 pounds, and had seven tackles during the shortened 2020 season.

Dontrez Brown, at 6-3, 285 pounds, was a three-star recruit coming out of Fremont-Ross High School who chose the Falcons over offers from Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. Brown, a freshman, played in all five games last season. He posted 11 tackles last season and will compete this spring for playing time at defensive tackle.

Freshman defensive end Jordan Porter followed high school classmate Billie Roberts to BGSU, and recorded his first career sack against Ohio last season. Porter played in all five games for the Falcons last season and adds impressive, young depth at defensive end. Porter is 6-4 and weighs 255 pounds.

Chris Oliver did not play in 2020, but the sophomore finished the 2019 season with 11 tackles, including seven solo tackles, and a tackle for loss. Oliver is 6-4, 297 pounds, and is originally from Erie, Pa. He will prepare this spring and summer to bounce back and have a productive 2021 campaign.

Jevon Henderson, who is 6-4 and 285 pounds from Centerville, Ohio is entering his fourth season with the program and has 20 career tackles along the defensive line.

Adrian Wilson, 6-5, 237, and Jack Wardzala, 6-0, 252, are returning freshmen who did not see in-game action in 2020 but will compete for room on the depth chart this spring.

Defensive linemen Dierre Kelly and Nate Pabst signed onto the program in December as the Falcons continue to build toward a winning future by being strong up front.

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Karl Brooks

Dontrez Brown

Walter Haire

Anthony Hawkins

Jevon Henderson

Jordan Murphy

Jordan Porter

Billie Roberts

Jack Wardzala

Adrian Wilson

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