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Defensive Line Preview: Five Players Return With Experience From 2023 Season
8/5/2024 8:19:00 PM | Football
Veterans Jason Williams, Michael Heldman, Jonah Pace, Kade Kostus, and Jonathan Decker return to the Chippewas’ defensive line in 2024.
MOUNT PLEASANT—Defensive Line Coach Jesse Williams has five key veterans returning and has added a large group of talented players to supplement his 2024 Central Michigan defensive line room.
Last year, Central Michigan ranked 10th out of 12 teams and No. 106 nationally in sacks with 1.67 per game. The Chippewas also ranked No. 10 in the MAC and No. 105 in tackles for loss nationally at 4.8 per game. Expect those rankings and numbers to improve with the players CMU has returning, the players coming off injuries, and the new transfers and freshmen on the roster.
Players returning who saw significant playing time on the defensive line last year include Jason Williams, Michael Heldman, Jonah Pace, Kade Kostus, and Jonathan Decker. All have experience and will be expected to contribute in the upcoming season.
The Chippewas must replace defensive tackle Jacques Bristol, who graduated, accomplished interior lineman Robi Stuart, and ends Quindario Lee and Maurice White from last year's team. Bristol led the Chippewas in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (8.0), finished with five quarterback hurries and totaled 44 tackles (18 solo). Lee (3.0 sacks, 7.0 TFL) and White (3.5 sacks, 5.0 TFL) both made contributions last year.
DEFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL ROSTER
44 | Kade Kostus | 6-2 | 260 | R-So. | Rockford, Mich.
49 | Keshawn Hayden | 6-3 | 250 | R-Fr. | St. Louis, Mo.
52 | Brenan Salani | 6-4 | 220 | Fr. | Manton, Mich.
56 | Jeremiah Waldrond | 6-2 | 270 | Jr. | Fuquay Varina, N.C.
80 | Adam Kaminski | 6-7 | 240 | Fr. | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
81 | Malik Denkins | 6-3 | 250 | R-So. | Cincinnati, Ohio
90 | Oumar Conde | 6-3 | 260 | R-So. | Bronx, N.Y.
91 | Jonah Pace | 6-5 | 285 | R-Jr. | Marengo, Ill.
92 | Cade Riddle | 6-2 | 225 | R-Fr. | Brighton, Mich.
93 | Daniel Bennett | 6-5 | 250 | Fr. | White Springs, Fla.
94 | Jason Williams | 6-2 | 290 | Jr. | Ocoee, Fla.
95 | Jaden Davis | 6-4 | 245 | Sr. | Center Line, Mich.
96 | Quavion Bird | 6-1 | 310 | Fr. | Lake Wales, Fla.
97 | Michael Heldman | 6-4 | 260 | R-Jr. | Romeo, Mich.
98 | Jonathan Decker | 6-5 | 300 | R-Jr. | Elkhart, Ind.
99 | Pius Odjugo | 6-3 | 295 | Jr. | Warri, Nigeria
Interior lineman Jason Williams is Central Michigan's most distinguished returnee on the defensive line. A preseason All-MAC pick, Williams made seven starts and played in all 12 games last season. He finished the year ranked No. 9 on the team with 36 total tackles (13 solo), with two 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two quarterback hurries. Over the last three seasons, Williams has seen action in 37 games with eight starts, totaled 67 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He is one of the most experienced returnees on the squad.
A redshirt junior, Michael Heldman also brings superb game-day experience to the position. A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, he has played in 27 games with 17 starts, made 44 career tackles (26 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, forced two fumbles, and registered 12 quarterback hurries. He enters the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in school history in career quarterback hurries and needs just four more to set the school record of 15 held by Jacques Bristol (2019-23) and Blake Serpa (2011-15). Last year, he set a school-record for QB hurries in a season with 10, made 22 tackles (13 solo) and registered 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss.
Jonah Pace also returns in the interior position and has seen action in 25 career games with 21 career tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. Last year, he played in all 12 games and made 17 tackles.
Kade Kostus saw action in 11 games last year and finished with four tackles. Jonathan Decker, who moved from offensive line to defensive line prior to the 2023 season, saw action in eight games and registered five tackles in a backup role. A junior college All-American, Malik Denkins returns to action after recovering from a season-ending injury in 2023. Oumar Conde (one game) and Keshawn Hayden (three games) are both one season more experienced and will compete for playing time.
The Chippewas have added several transfers who will look to make an impact. Pius Odjugo (6-3, 295) impressed with his quickness, size and skill during spring practice, Daniel Bennett (7.5 sacks last year) and Jeremiah Waldrond both transfer in from Louisburg, and Jaden Davis (11 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks last year) transfers in from Wayne State.
Redshirt freshman Cade Riddle also returns to the squad, while freshmen Quavion Bird, Adam Kaminski, and Brenan Salani also join the rotation. Bird and Kaminski both earned high-level accolades in high school. In addition, Hakeem McCullers, Rasheed Gregory, and Jayshaun Coffman are all late roster additions.
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Last year, Central Michigan ranked 10th out of 12 teams and No. 106 nationally in sacks with 1.67 per game. The Chippewas also ranked No. 10 in the MAC and No. 105 in tackles for loss nationally at 4.8 per game. Expect those rankings and numbers to improve with the players CMU has returning, the players coming off injuries, and the new transfers and freshmen on the roster.
Players returning who saw significant playing time on the defensive line last year include Jason Williams, Michael Heldman, Jonah Pace, Kade Kostus, and Jonathan Decker. All have experience and will be expected to contribute in the upcoming season.
The Chippewas must replace defensive tackle Jacques Bristol, who graduated, accomplished interior lineman Robi Stuart, and ends Quindario Lee and Maurice White from last year's team. Bristol led the Chippewas in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (8.0), finished with five quarterback hurries and totaled 44 tackles (18 solo). Lee (3.0 sacks, 7.0 TFL) and White (3.5 sacks, 5.0 TFL) both made contributions last year.
DEFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL ROSTER
44 | Kade Kostus | 6-2 | 260 | R-So. | Rockford, Mich.
49 | Keshawn Hayden | 6-3 | 250 | R-Fr. | St. Louis, Mo.
52 | Brenan Salani | 6-4 | 220 | Fr. | Manton, Mich.
56 | Jeremiah Waldrond | 6-2 | 270 | Jr. | Fuquay Varina, N.C.
80 | Adam Kaminski | 6-7 | 240 | Fr. | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
81 | Malik Denkins | 6-3 | 250 | R-So. | Cincinnati, Ohio
90 | Oumar Conde | 6-3 | 260 | R-So. | Bronx, N.Y.
91 | Jonah Pace | 6-5 | 285 | R-Jr. | Marengo, Ill.
92 | Cade Riddle | 6-2 | 225 | R-Fr. | Brighton, Mich.
93 | Daniel Bennett | 6-5 | 250 | Fr. | White Springs, Fla.
94 | Jason Williams | 6-2 | 290 | Jr. | Ocoee, Fla.
95 | Jaden Davis | 6-4 | 245 | Sr. | Center Line, Mich.
96 | Quavion Bird | 6-1 | 310 | Fr. | Lake Wales, Fla.
97 | Michael Heldman | 6-4 | 260 | R-Jr. | Romeo, Mich.
98 | Jonathan Decker | 6-5 | 300 | R-Jr. | Elkhart, Ind.
99 | Pius Odjugo | 6-3 | 295 | Jr. | Warri, Nigeria
Interior lineman Jason Williams is Central Michigan's most distinguished returnee on the defensive line. A preseason All-MAC pick, Williams made seven starts and played in all 12 games last season. He finished the year ranked No. 9 on the team with 36 total tackles (13 solo), with two 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two quarterback hurries. Over the last three seasons, Williams has seen action in 37 games with eight starts, totaled 67 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He is one of the most experienced returnees on the squad.
A redshirt junior, Michael Heldman also brings superb game-day experience to the position. A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, he has played in 27 games with 17 starts, made 44 career tackles (26 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, forced two fumbles, and registered 12 quarterback hurries. He enters the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in school history in career quarterback hurries and needs just four more to set the school record of 15 held by Jacques Bristol (2019-23) and Blake Serpa (2011-15). Last year, he set a school-record for QB hurries in a season with 10, made 22 tackles (13 solo) and registered 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss.
Jonah Pace also returns in the interior position and has seen action in 25 career games with 21 career tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. Last year, he played in all 12 games and made 17 tackles.
Kade Kostus saw action in 11 games last year and finished with four tackles. Jonathan Decker, who moved from offensive line to defensive line prior to the 2023 season, saw action in eight games and registered five tackles in a backup role. A junior college All-American, Malik Denkins returns to action after recovering from a season-ending injury in 2023. Oumar Conde (one game) and Keshawn Hayden (three games) are both one season more experienced and will compete for playing time.
The Chippewas have added several transfers who will look to make an impact. Pius Odjugo (6-3, 295) impressed with his quickness, size and skill during spring practice, Daniel Bennett (7.5 sacks last year) and Jeremiah Waldrond both transfer in from Louisburg, and Jaden Davis (11 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks last year) transfers in from Wayne State.
Redshirt freshman Cade Riddle also returns to the squad, while freshmen Quavion Bird, Adam Kaminski, and Brenan Salani also join the rotation. Bird and Kaminski both earned high-level accolades in high school. In addition, Hakeem McCullers, Rasheed Gregory, and Jayshaun Coffman are all late roster additions.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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