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2023 WVU Defensive Line Preview

We continue our Spring preview series for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team by looking at our 2023 WVU defensive line preview.

Very Little Loss

Since the end of the 2022 season, the WVU defensive line has taken minimal hits regarding the transfer portal. Most notably, Taijh Alston (Colorado), Aric Burton, and Jordan Jefferson (LSU) used the portal to move away from WVU. The other two losses to the position are Dante Stills, who was drafted 213^th overall in the sixth round of the NFL draft, and Brayden Dudley, who was moved to Bandit.

Stills played in a school-record 59 career games that, included 37 starts, while also holding the career tackles for loss (52.5) record and No. four in sacks (23.5). In the 2022 season, he finished with 26 tackles, 13 solo stops, 4.5 sacks, and nine tackles for loss. Alston played 16 career games with 12 starts. In his 13 games last season, he finished with 37 tackles, 23 solo stops, five sacks, and 11 tackles for loss.

Jefferson played 30 career games in his four seasons with the program. Last season he had 31 tackles, 13 solo stops, and three sacks. Though he saw little action last year, Dudley had one tackle in his two games. Burton entered the transfer portal this April but has yet to be picked up by a school.

With the loss of Stills, Alston, and Jefferson leaving a mark on the defensive line, those returning will have something to prove. These three were tremendous during their time with the program, so it will be interesting to see who steps up to the plate this coming season.

Who’s Returning?

There are 11 returners to the WVU defensive line, seven of whom had seen playing time in the 2022 season. Sean Martin, Mike Lockhart, Edward Vesterinen, Taurus Simmons, Anthony Del Negro, Asani Redwood, and Jalen Thornton are returning for the 2023 season. This group accounted for 78 tackles, 39 solo, and six sacks last year. When you compare numbers, it’s easy to see that it won’t be easy to repeat the stats from last season.

Derek Berlitz, Hammond Russell IV, Harry Hilvert, and Zequi Lawton are among those returning who didn’t see time on the field last year. Whether they see playing time will significantly depend on their reps during camp leading up to this highly anticipated season.

Joining The Defensive Line

Seven players have joined the defensive line room this offseason, presumably offsetting the losses. Tomiwa Durojaiye, Oryend Fisher, Corey McIntyre, Fatorma Mulbah, Davoan Hawkins, Donovan Grayson, and DJ Cotton have become a part of this program. With the talent of these athletes, it will be intriguing to see what they bring to the room.

Photo courtesy: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Kaitlin Persinger

Kaitlin attended West Virginia University for her undergraduate degree, receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism with an emphasis in sports media. She interned with the WVU Football program for two-and-a-half years. She wrote two newsletters for the program, one for alumni and the other for donors. I interviewed staff, coaches, players, alumni, and donors for these newsletters. Kaitlin received her Master’s of Science in Sport Management from Louisiana State University in May. She also interned with Marshall University Volleyball as their Volunteer Director of Operations and the WV Golf Association/USGA as their PJ Boatwright Intern. On June 4 she and her husband welcomed their first child, Beaux. In her spare time she runs her own photography and graphic design business.