NORFOLK, Va. - Seven starters are back from a defensive unit which ranked second in the MEAC and sixth in the nation last year in yardage allowed (265.6). Although three-time All-American Terrell Whitehead departs from the nation’s third-ranked secondary, the Spartans are well-stocked on the defensive line, at linebacker, and at the cornerback positions.

Junior nose tackle Josh Turner is back after earning first-team All-MEAC honors. Despite seeing double and sometimes triple-teams in NSU’s three-man front, Turner still amassed 46 tackles, eight for loss. Senior Ray Jennings (four sacks), junior Joey Christine (19 total tackles) and sophomore reserve Tory Williams (four tackles for loss) should team with Jennings to form the basis for a strong line. Jennings will be entering his third year as a starter and has 9.5 career sacks. Christine has one start under his belt but was a regular contributor off the bench, as was the athletic Williams.

Junior Steven Bunce, who has seen a good deal of time off the bench in his first two seasons, should also see time in NSU’s two-deep rotation.

Incoming recruits Nico Washington, Matthew Grant and Tremondae Branch will also compete for playing time. Washington enters the season slated to back up Turner and has been impressive with his 6-4, 310-pound frame.

NSU’s deepest position on defense is linebacker. Seniors Anthony Taylor (second-team All-MEAC in 2009) and Lamont Thorpe (19 tackles) and juniors Corwin Hammond (67 tackles, 8.5 for loss), Onyemechi Anyaugo (35 tackles) and Hasan Craig (seven career starts) all have starting experience. Taylor and Hammond form an athletic inside tandem with Anyaugo providing backup. Thorpe and Craig are the favorites to start at the outside linebacker positions, though they will be pushed by sophomore Liberty transfer Jamal Giddens and returning letterwinners Terrence Pugh and Frank Clemmons, a pair of tall, athletic sophomores.

Craig is coming off an injury-shortened 2009, but his absence provided opportunity for Thorpe, Pugh and Clemmons to gain valuable experience. Giddens, meanwhile, sat out at NSU after transferring from Liberty where he posted 29 tackles, three for loss, as a true freshman in 2008.

Seniors Jamie Short and Dante Barnes form a tall, rangy tandem at the cornerback positions. Short is the most experienced returning member of the Spartans’ secondary, with 27 career starts. He had 28 tackles and two interceptions last season despite offenses throwing away from his side of the field much of the time. Barnes made four starts as NSU’s nickel cornerback last year, making three interceptions.

Junior Marquis Cuffee are experienced reserves at cornerback, and redshirt freshman Natturner Harris has immense potential. Coaches also like how redshirt freshman Marcus Center has progressed and expect him to make an impact this year, as well.

Juniors DeVonte Reynolds (free safety) and Ricardo Volcin (strong safety) figure to replace departed starters Whitehead and Josh Anderson, respectively. While not as experienced as their predecessors, Volcin and Reynolds have the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact. Reynolds is a 6-3, 200-pound converted receiver who came on in a reserve role at safety last year. He and the 6-2, 210-pound Volcin are both athletic, physical players.

Senior Dwight Fluker-Berry moves back to defense, where he played in 2008 before trying his hand at receiver last season. He will compete with Reynolds for time at free safety. Redshirt freshman strong safety Denzel Coleman should also see plenty of action in the secondary, and freshman Keenan Lambert could also factor into the mix.

SPECIAL TEAMS
NSU loses both starting specialists in kicker Justin Castellat and punter Billy Rudd. Redshirt junior Ryan Estep should ably handle the placekicking duties after playing behind Castellat the last two seasons, while junior college transfer Troy Muenzer will handle the punting duties. Senior Stephen Coffin will begin his fourth and final year as the Spartans’ long snapper. True freshman Ryan Lee will also get a chance to kick this year, likely on kickoffs.

Fluker-Berry should remain one of the bigger return threats in the MEAC. He has averaged nearly 24 yards per kickoff return and 13 per punt in his first two years at NSU. Jeremy Wicker and Donovan Cotton also have experience returning kicks for the Spartans, while players like Patrick Mills, Short and Barnes could also get a shot.