Spring Practice Day 5: Defensive Line
KENT, Ohio - The Golden Flashes kept their pads on Monday morning, but went back inside to avoid the rain for a fast-paced practice. During the final 15 minutes, crowd noise blasted over the speaker system for live game situations.
After practice, Defensive Line Coach Brian George spoke about what he's seen thus far.
"It's a solid group with a lot of depth," George said about his defensive linemen. "We've thrown a lot at them and they've done a very good job with it. We've got a lot of guys eager to learn that have spent a lot of time in the film room.
"It helps to have a lot of guys with playing experience that understand a lot of the concepts we're working on. They're getting used to the tempo and the mental part has to continue to come along. They've got to know the defense well enough that they don't have to think about it on the field. That allows them to cut loose and play fast."
The defensive line welcomes the return of seven letterwinners, including 2010 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Roosevelt Nix.
"Roosevelt's a very good football player," George said. "My job is to push him to help him play even better next season."
"The new coaches are bringing a lot of energy and the players are buying into it," Nix said. "I'm trying to be more of a leader on and off the field. And I'm willing to do whatever I have to do for that."
Letterwinners Returning
Dana Brown Jr. (Jr./Jr., 6-1, 255, McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area)
Jake Dooley (Jr./Jr., 6-2, 236, Mason, Ohio/Mason)
Mark Fackler (So.So., 6-4, 235, Kenton, Ohio/Kenton)
Zack Hitchens (So./So, 6-2, 225, Willowick, Ohio/Lake Catholic)
Ishmaa'ly Kitchen (5th/Sr., 6-3, 304, Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney)
Roosevelt Nix (So./So., 6-0, 240, Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg)
Lee Stalker (5th/Sr., 6-2, 254, Butler, Pa./Butler)
Letterwinners Lost
Monte' Simmons
The Golden Flashes continue spring practice Tuesday, April 5, with a kick scrimmage.
Kent State's 15-practice slate concludes April 16 with the annual Spring Game, which will take place at 6 p.m. in Dix Stadium and is free and open to the public.
