Much like what I did for the offensive line, here is my unofficial projections for the Spartans' Defensive Line heading into Spring Ball.
*=freshman
^=transfer
EDGE Projections:
1. Anthony Jones Jr./Anelu Lafaele^
2. David Santiago^/Anelu Lafaele^/James Schott
3. Santiago^/Lafaele^/Schott/Tyler Gillison
4. Schott/Lafaele^/Santiago^/Gillison
5. Gillison/Schott/Santiago^/Stone Chaney
6. Chaney/Gillison
Not sure how the staff utilizes Anthony Jones Jr., besides having him on field a lot. Not sure if he worked out with the EDGE group last year, but I remember Jalen Thompson did but was then reverted to Strong DE. Could just as easily be Jalen Thompson in this role in 2025. Both incoming transfers with 3+ seasons of eligibility is exciting, but I think Ryan said that the staff could add one more EDGE rusher via the portal in the spring. Jordan Hall also played EDGE at points in 2024.
Strong DE projections:
1. Jalen Thompson
2. Anthony Jones Jr./Quindarius Dunnigan
3. Dunnigan/Kekai Burnett
4. Cal Thrush*/Mason Nickel/Burnett
5-7: Thrush*/Nickel/Luke DeJager
Much of the same here, besides the addition of Cal Thrush. Kekai Burnett is a player I could see sneaking up the depth chart with a big spring. Jones and Q definitely push Jalen Thompson. Giving Thompson the nod here since he started all of 2024 if I am not mistaken.
DT Projections, Normal set:
1. Alex VanSumeren/Ben Roberts
2. AVS/Roberts
3-6: Grady Kelly^/Ru’Quan Buckley/Jalen Satchell/Mikeshun Beeler
7-9: Ben Nelson/Derrick Simmons*/Mason Nickel
Run Stop DT Projections:
1. Alex VanSumeren
2-3. Ben Roberts/Ru’Quan Buckley
4. Grady Kelly^
5-6. Ben Nelson/Jalen Satchell
Ru'Quan Buckley breakout potential for sure. Do not see Derrick Simmons playing much this year (lower division of football in MHSAA, think he learns for a year). Would love to be surprised, though.
Pass Rush DT set projections:
1. Ben Roberts
2-5: Jalen Satchell/Alex VanSumeren/Grady Kelly^/Mikeshun Beeler
6-7: Derrick Simmons/Ru’Quan Buckley
Big logjam here without D'Quan Douse. Think Mikeshun Beeler gets his feet wet with some pass rush reps this year. Remember, Satchell, Kelly, and Buckley all graduate post-2025. Jalen Satchell is a guy I have marked as DT2 for pass rush currently, we saw a lot of him on 3rd-and-long late last season. Grady Kelly (3.5 career sacks) definitely makes a push, though.
*=freshman
^=transfer
EDGE Projections:
1. Anthony Jones Jr./Anelu Lafaele^
2. David Santiago^/Anelu Lafaele^/James Schott
3. Santiago^/Lafaele^/Schott/Tyler Gillison
4. Schott/Lafaele^/Santiago^/Gillison
5. Gillison/Schott/Santiago^/Stone Chaney
6. Chaney/Gillison
Not sure how the staff utilizes Anthony Jones Jr., besides having him on field a lot. Not sure if he worked out with the EDGE group last year, but I remember Jalen Thompson did but was then reverted to Strong DE. Could just as easily be Jalen Thompson in this role in 2025. Both incoming transfers with 3+ seasons of eligibility is exciting, but I think Ryan said that the staff could add one more EDGE rusher via the portal in the spring. Jordan Hall also played EDGE at points in 2024.
Strong DE projections:
1. Jalen Thompson
2. Anthony Jones Jr./Quindarius Dunnigan
3. Dunnigan/Kekai Burnett
4. Cal Thrush*/Mason Nickel/Burnett
5-7: Thrush*/Nickel/Luke DeJager
Much of the same here, besides the addition of Cal Thrush. Kekai Burnett is a player I could see sneaking up the depth chart with a big spring. Jones and Q definitely push Jalen Thompson. Giving Thompson the nod here since he started all of 2024 if I am not mistaken.
DT Projections, Normal set:
1. Alex VanSumeren/Ben Roberts
2. AVS/Roberts
3-6: Grady Kelly^/Ru’Quan Buckley/Jalen Satchell/Mikeshun Beeler
7-9: Ben Nelson/Derrick Simmons*/Mason Nickel
Run Stop DT Projections:
1. Alex VanSumeren
2-3. Ben Roberts/Ru’Quan Buckley
4. Grady Kelly^
5-6. Ben Nelson/Jalen Satchell
Ru'Quan Buckley breakout potential for sure. Do not see Derrick Simmons playing much this year (lower division of football in MHSAA, think he learns for a year). Would love to be surprised, though.
Pass Rush DT set projections:
1. Ben Roberts
2-5: Jalen Satchell/Alex VanSumeren/Grady Kelly^/Mikeshun Beeler
6-7: Derrick Simmons/Ru’Quan Buckley
Big logjam here without D'Quan Douse. Think Mikeshun Beeler gets his feet wet with some pass rush reps this year. Remember, Satchell, Kelly, and Buckley all graduate post-2025. Jalen Satchell is a guy I have marked as DT2 for pass rush currently, we saw a lot of him on 3rd-and-long late last season. Grady Kelly (3.5 career sacks) definitely makes a push, though.
