MORE THAN JUST THREE
8/10/2019 1:59:00 PM | Football
Coaches Excited About Young Defensive Line Group
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Beyond the veteran trio of James Lynch, Bravvion Roy and James Lockhart, there are mostly question marks in Baylor's defensive line.
But, that's not how d-line coaches Frank Okam and Joey McGuire see it.
"Everyone knows about James Lynch and Bravvion and James Lockhart," said Okam, who coaches the defensive tackles and nose guards, "but the guys that I think have made a significant jump are Niadre Zouzoua, Chidi Ogbonnaya and Rob Saulin. Those guys have really done a great job at the next tier of competing and trying to learn to play football the right way. I'm really excited about the freshmen group. Those guys have a chance to be special."
The 6-4, 237-pound Zouzoua had five sacks last year at Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y., and was ranked the seventh-best junior college defensive end in the country by Rivals.
"He's a freak of nature," Roy said of Zouzoua. "(He's) 6-4, runs a 4.5 (40-yard dash), probably has a 40-inch vertical."
McGuire, who switched from coaching tight ends to defensive ends in the spring, said Zouzoua has "had a great last couple days. He's really quick off the ball, he can really bend."
Ogbonnoya is a 6-5, 290-pound sophomore who made five tackles as a reserve last season, while the 6-5, 295-pound Saulin spent time at tight end and offensive line before settling in with the defensive line.
"He's a guy who played basketball in high school," Okam said of Saulin. "When I recruit defensive linemen, I always try to look for guys that have natural agility. He's been able to bring that over to the defensive line play, and we've been able to play him at every position on the defensive line because of that."
That agility and athleticism is particularly prevalent in a freshman group of Garmon Randolph (6-7, 236), TJ Franklin (6-4, 294), Harrison White (6-5, 255) and Gabe Hall (6-5, 295).
"You're fixing to see a lot of long, really big, fast guys," McGuire said. "It's pretty intimidating if you get the four guys between TJ Franklin, Garmon, Harrison White and then the big boy, Gabe. If you get those guys walking at you, you've got a little bit different group going out there."
Besides Saulin, two other players transitioning to the defensive line are former tight end and wide receiver Bralen Taylor (6-7, 255) and sophomore Ryan Miller (6-2, 289), who started the first two games of the 2017 season at center and saw action in all 13 games last year.
"He's been able to get a lot of push up the middle of the pocket," Okam said of Miller. "I'm really pleased with a guy who I've just had a spring to work with, how far he's progressed from when he first started playing d-line to where he is right now."
At 6-2, Miller "can get under people really good and just drive them back," Roy said. "That's what we need at the nose is to put the center in the quarterback's lap."
For McGuire and Okam, though, it still starts with the veterans.
"Those older guys are the ones making everything go," McGuire said. "When you've got a nose guard right now in Bravvion Roy that runs a sub-5.0; he's probably a 4.9, maybe even lower than that, at 325 pounds. I mean, those guys can really go. I think you're seeing a more athletic group out there."
A Freshman All-American two years ago, the 6-4, 290-pound Lynch earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season with a team-leading 5 ½ sacks and nine stops behind the line.
"We've got d-linemen chasing plays 60 yards down the field," Okam said. "James Lynch yesterday chased our receiver all the way down and was only five yards behind the receiver. That just tells you the work they put in this summer and the effort they can put in play-in and play-out. That's something that's definitely exciting for us."
Okam said Lynch can make another jump this season by improving his physicality.
"He's a very athletic player and a very intuitive player, and he's very fast as far as how he reads football," Okam said. "If we can ask a little bit more power with that, I think he has a chance to be really elite."
The 6-2, 263-pound Lockhart, who transferred to Baylor after two seasons at Texas A&M, did not make the expected impact last year. After redshirting in 2017, he totaled 11 tackles with one sack and three stops behind the line.
"He had to sit a year, and then I think he almost kind of felt his way into what he was going to do," McGuire said. "From the spring till now, he knows he's a senior and he knows this is it, and he's playing like a man with his hair on fire."
Okam said the biggest difference he's seen in Lockhart is his confidence level.
"He's really confident in his ability, and confident players are usually good, talented players," Okam said. "He's always had the skill set since he was at Ennis. So, this is about all the maturation coming together, and he's done a great job of making sure he's confident, comfortable, explosive and violent."
The 6-1, 333-pound Roy has made 16 starts in the previous three seasons, with just two sacks, but he knows what he's capable of this year.
"My goal is to be an All-American, and I know I can do that," he said. "I just have to live up to expectations, and that's what I'm planning to do. . . I know what I've got to do. I don't say much, I just have to get the job done."
After going through their first scrimmage on Saturday, the Bears will take a day off before resuming practice on Monday in preparation for the Aug. 31 season opener against Stephen F. Austin.
For single-game and season ticket information, got to www.baylorbears.com/bthere.
Baylor Bear Insider
Beyond the veteran trio of James Lynch, Bravvion Roy and James Lockhart, there are mostly question marks in Baylor's defensive line.
But, that's not how d-line coaches Frank Okam and Joey McGuire see it.
"Everyone knows about James Lynch and Bravvion and James Lockhart," said Okam, who coaches the defensive tackles and nose guards, "but the guys that I think have made a significant jump are Niadre Zouzoua, Chidi Ogbonnaya and Rob Saulin. Those guys have really done a great job at the next tier of competing and trying to learn to play football the right way. I'm really excited about the freshmen group. Those guys have a chance to be special."
The 6-4, 237-pound Zouzoua had five sacks last year at Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y., and was ranked the seventh-best junior college defensive end in the country by Rivals.
"He's a freak of nature," Roy said of Zouzoua. "(He's) 6-4, runs a 4.5 (40-yard dash), probably has a 40-inch vertical."
McGuire, who switched from coaching tight ends to defensive ends in the spring, said Zouzoua has "had a great last couple days. He's really quick off the ball, he can really bend."
Ogbonnoya is a 6-5, 290-pound sophomore who made five tackles as a reserve last season, while the 6-5, 295-pound Saulin spent time at tight end and offensive line before settling in with the defensive line.
"He's a guy who played basketball in high school," Okam said of Saulin. "When I recruit defensive linemen, I always try to look for guys that have natural agility. He's been able to bring that over to the defensive line play, and we've been able to play him at every position on the defensive line because of that."
That agility and athleticism is particularly prevalent in a freshman group of Garmon Randolph (6-7, 236), TJ Franklin (6-4, 294), Harrison White (6-5, 255) and Gabe Hall (6-5, 295).
"You're fixing to see a lot of long, really big, fast guys," McGuire said. "It's pretty intimidating if you get the four guys between TJ Franklin, Garmon, Harrison White and then the big boy, Gabe. If you get those guys walking at you, you've got a little bit different group going out there."
Besides Saulin, two other players transitioning to the defensive line are former tight end and wide receiver Bralen Taylor (6-7, 255) and sophomore Ryan Miller (6-2, 289), who started the first two games of the 2017 season at center and saw action in all 13 games last year.
"He's been able to get a lot of push up the middle of the pocket," Okam said of Miller. "I'm really pleased with a guy who I've just had a spring to work with, how far he's progressed from when he first started playing d-line to where he is right now."
At 6-2, Miller "can get under people really good and just drive them back," Roy said. "That's what we need at the nose is to put the center in the quarterback's lap."
For McGuire and Okam, though, it still starts with the veterans.
"Those older guys are the ones making everything go," McGuire said. "When you've got a nose guard right now in Bravvion Roy that runs a sub-5.0; he's probably a 4.9, maybe even lower than that, at 325 pounds. I mean, those guys can really go. I think you're seeing a more athletic group out there."
A Freshman All-American two years ago, the 6-4, 290-pound Lynch earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season with a team-leading 5 ½ sacks and nine stops behind the line.
"We've got d-linemen chasing plays 60 yards down the field," Okam said. "James Lynch yesterday chased our receiver all the way down and was only five yards behind the receiver. That just tells you the work they put in this summer and the effort they can put in play-in and play-out. That's something that's definitely exciting for us."
Okam said Lynch can make another jump this season by improving his physicality.
"He's a very athletic player and a very intuitive player, and he's very fast as far as how he reads football," Okam said. "If we can ask a little bit more power with that, I think he has a chance to be really elite."
The 6-2, 263-pound Lockhart, who transferred to Baylor after two seasons at Texas A&M, did not make the expected impact last year. After redshirting in 2017, he totaled 11 tackles with one sack and three stops behind the line.
"He had to sit a year, and then I think he almost kind of felt his way into what he was going to do," McGuire said. "From the spring till now, he knows he's a senior and he knows this is it, and he's playing like a man with his hair on fire."
Okam said the biggest difference he's seen in Lockhart is his confidence level.
"He's really confident in his ability, and confident players are usually good, talented players," Okam said. "He's always had the skill set since he was at Ennis. So, this is about all the maturation coming together, and he's done a great job of making sure he's confident, comfortable, explosive and violent."
The 6-1, 333-pound Roy has made 16 starts in the previous three seasons, with just two sacks, but he knows what he's capable of this year.
"My goal is to be an All-American, and I know I can do that," he said. "I just have to live up to expectations, and that's what I'm planning to do. . . I know what I've got to do. I don't say much, I just have to get the job done."
After going through their first scrimmage on Saturday, the Bears will take a day off before resuming practice on Monday in preparation for the Aug. 31 season opener against Stephen F. Austin.
For single-game and season ticket information, got to www.baylorbears.com/bthere.
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