2021 Football Defense Preview

Photo by: Mike McLaughlin

8/28/2021 10:14:00 PM | Football

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Lions return eight starters from 2019 season on defense, including all four linebackers and defensive backs.

NEW YORK—Columbia's defense enters the 2021 season counting on a large group of returnees and impressive newcomers to help bolster a unit led by Defensive Coordinator Paul Ferraro.

Under Ferraro, who is in his 40^th year coaching football at the NFL and NCAA Division I levels, Columbia has built an efficient, dependable, aggressive, and attacking defense built on toughness, improved athleticism, and superb game-planning. Over the last five seasons, Columbia's defenses have been ranked among the nation's top-10 in four different statistical categories and among the top-20 in 11 different statistics. In addition, 21 Columbia defensive players have earned All-Ivy League honors.

In 2021, Columbia returns eight total starters and a full complement of players at both linebacker and defensive back. Depth at both positions is at an all-time high as the Lions return all four starters at each group. As a result, competition for playing time is at an all-time high.

Due to players recovering from injuries, the Lions enter the 2021 season loaded with skill and talent at linebacker. Justin Woodley and Cam Dillon, both starters at the beginning of the 2019 season, went down with injuries early in the year. Because of this, several players were allowed the opportunity to step up in their absence and now the Lions return more high-level depth than ever before. Before his injury, Dillon, a preseason 2021 All-Ivy League selection, led the conference in tackles and finished the year with 22. Woodley, an inspirational leader, attempted to come back after a preseason injury but unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury in the lone game he played in. Scott Valentas emerged as an All-Ivy League player and Freshman All-American with 60 tackles, and a team-best eight tackles for loss. John Harris also played a key role as he contributed 53 tackles and two forced fumbles. Several other players also stepped up and earned valuable experience and the Lions find themselves in great shape heading into 2021.

The defensive backs unit also returns four players who started games in 2019. It is a stark contrast from when the Lions entered the 2019 season with the least experience at defensive back. A First Team All-Ivy League honoree and 2019 All-Ivy League player, Ben Mathiasmeier has emerged as a big play leader at safety for the Lions. Mathiasmeier had an outstanding 2019 season as he led the Lions in tackles (67), solo tackles (43), and interceptions (two). He also produced the most memorable play of the season when he picked off a pass at the goal line to secure Columbia's dramatic overtime victory over Harvard. Mathiasmeier is joined by a veteran crew including preseason All-Ivy cornerback Will Allen (20 tackles, four pass breakups in 2019), cornerback/safety and big-play generator Fara'ad McCombs (13 tackles in 2019), along with starting safety Jordan Colbert (19 tackles). Bryan Bell-Anderson is also back at cornerback after making 24 tackles and four pass breakups, along with Ryan Rhoden.

Traditionally one of the deepest position groups at Columbia, the defensive line will feature some new faces this year, including its coach, Andrew Kukesh. Kukesh is in his first year as Defensive Line Coach after serving as the Defensive Assistant for the last two years. He inherits a fairly new group of talented defensive linemen anchored by veterans Cameren Carter, Paul Akere, Mitchell Shinskie, and Mitch Moyer. Carter, a preseason Second Team All-Ivy League selection, has totaled 5.0 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss in 27 career games, while Akere has made great strides in both size and speed over the last year. Since the Lions sometimes play eight or nine defensive lineman, each of the 23-player unit has an opportunity to earn playing time.

Key losses from Columbia's 2019 team include two-time All-Ivy League selection and all-time Columbia career sacks leader Daniel DeLorenzi (26 tackles, 5.5 sacks), captain and linebacker Michael Murphy (51 tackles, 4.5 TFL), and All-Ivy League cornerback Benjamin McKeighan (30 tackles, eight pass breakups).

Below is a position-by-position look at the 2021 Columbia Lions' Defense:

DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL ROSTER

DEFENSIVE LINE (23 players)
Defensive Line Coach: Andrew Kukesh

Cameren Carter, Sr.
Preseason Second Team All-Ivy League selection…Fifth-year senior…Played in 27 career games…Has made 27 career tackles (14 solo) with 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries…Saw extensive action as a backup defensive end as a junior in 2019…Totaled 13 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in 2019…Converted from linebacker to defensive line during his sophomore season in 2018…Played in all 10 games as a first-year linebacker, adding six tackles.

Paul Akere, Sr.
Played in 12 career games as a defensive end…Has seven career tackles and one sack on career…Listed as backup defensive end on depth chart as a sophomore in 2019…Finished 2019 with six tackles and 1.0 sack.

Mitchell Shinskie, Sr.
Two-year letterman who has played in 10 career games at defensive tackle…Registered 14 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack in career…Played in nine of 10 games at defensive tackle as a sophomore in 2019.

Mitch Moyer, Jr.
Saw action in eight games a first-year defensive end in 2019…Concluded 2019 season with seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 0.5 sack.

Cam Coleman, Jr.
Played in three games and listed as a backup defensive end as a first-year in 2019…Finished year with two tackles and one sack…Emerged at the tail end of the 2019 season.

Drake Morey, Sr.
Xavier Thibault, Sr.
John Alyn, Sr.
Evan Loesel, Sr.
Drew Davis, Jr.
Hugh McLean, Jr.
Thomas Thibault, Jr.

Newcomers: David Bartholomew, So.; Ben Corniello, So.; Reid Englert, So.; Raleigh Erwin, Fr.; Oki Hautau, Fr.; Taylor Johnson, So.; Brendan Jones, Fr.; James Knox, So.; Savon Rawlins, So.; Reid Spachman, So.; Justin Townsend, Fr.

Players Lost from 2020 Roster: Cooper Wilson, Ogonna Oraedu, Andrew Nichols.

LINEBACKER (17 players)
Linebackers Coach: Justin Stovall

Scott Valentas, Jr.
Preseason Second Team All-Ivy League selection for the second straight season…Earned Third Team Freshman All-America honors by Phil Steele Magazine and honorable mention All-Ivy League honors following his first year in 2019…Named Ken Gerrman Freshman of the Year at team banquet…Two-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week…Began first-year as backup linebacker but emerged as a starter following several injuries…Led Columbia and set a school-record for most tackles for loss in a season for a first-year with 8.5, ranked second on team with 60 tackles (30 solo), intercepted a pass, recovered and forced a fumble in 2019.

Justin Woodley, Sr.
Fifth-year senior…Battled injuries in both 2018 and 2019 but has played in 14 career games with four starts at middle linebacker…In three-year career, has made 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, broke up three passes, recovered a fumble, intercepted two passes and scored a touchdown on a recovered blocked punt…Named preseason Third Team All-Ivy League selection prior to his junior year…Started one game before suffering a season-ending injury…Missed seven games of sophomore season with injury…Named team Ken Germann Freshman of the Year after 2017 season which he spent as a backup linebacker and totaled 19 tackles, two interceptions, and 1.5 tackle for loss.

John Harris, Sr.
Played in 17 games with six career starts at linebacker…Made 53 total tackles (26 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack, and two forced fumbles…Started six of 10 games played, including each of the last five games as a sophomore in 2019…Ranked No. 3 on the team in tackles with 53 (26 solo) and ranked No. 11 in the Ivy League in tackles per game (5.9) in 2019…Played primarily on special teams as a first-year in 2018…Played in eight of 10 games on special teams as a first-year.

Cam Dillon, Sr.
Preseason Second Team All-Ivy League honoree…Has seen action in 13 career games with three starts at linebacker…Has made 30 career tackles (13 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups…As a sophomore, started the first three games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season…Was leading the Ivy League in tackles through two games and ended up with 22 tackles (11 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and a pass breakup…Played in all 10 games as a first-year in 2018.

Cameron Brown, Sr.
Two-year letterman who has played in 10 career games and on special teams…Registered seven tackles (five solo) as a sophomore in 2019.

TJ McGarry, Jr.
As a first-year in 2019, saw action in eight games at linebacker and on special teams…Made eight tackles (six solo) on year.

Devin Hart, Sr.
Played in five games in 2019 as a sophomore…Made four tackles on the year.

Ryan Hamilton, Jr.
Saw action in four games at linebacker and on special teams as a first-year in 2019.

Dante Landolfi, Sr.
Joshua Smythe-Macaulay, Sr.
Watson Tansil, Sr.

Newcomers: CJ Brown, So.; Will Butz, Fr.; Rocco Milia, Fr.; Shawn Riley, Fr.; Scott Rosati, So.; Anthony Roussos, So.

Players Lost from 2020 Roster: Carson Powell, Luke Adams.

DEFENSIVE BACK (25)
Defensive Backs Coach: Andrae Murphy

Ben Mathiasmeier, Sr.
Preseason First Team All-Ivy League honoree…2019 Ivy League honorable mention selection…Columbia's William V. Campbell Award nominee…Two-time Academic All-Ivy League honoree…Fifth-year senior…Played in all 30 career games with 13 starts as a strong safety…Made 97 career tackles (58 solo) with three interceptions, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries…Started three games at safety in 2018…Named team's Most Valuable Defensive Player Award at 2019 team banquet…Started all 10 games at safety as a junior in 2019…Led Lions in tackles (67), solo tackles (43), and interceptions (2) in 2019…Played in all 10 games with three starts, finished year with 22 tackles as a sophomore.

Will Allen, Sr.
Preseason Second Team All-Ivy League honoree…Fifth-year senior…Has played in 28 career games with 17 starts at cornerback…Registered 39 career tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, seven passes defended, six pass breakups and one interception in career…Enters season ranked No. 2 in school history in blocked kicks (5)…Made 20 tackles, broke up four passes, intercepted one pass as a junior in 2019…Started seven games at cornerback before injuries slowed him in 2018…Honorable Mention All-Ivy League kickoff returner as a first-year in 2017…Has 831 career kickoff return yards on 33 attempts for a 25.2 yards per return average with a long return of 91 yards.

Fara'ad McCombs, Sr.
Has played in 17 career games with seven starts…In career, made 41 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, intercepted two passes, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and broke up eight passes…Saw action in eight games with one start at cornerback as a junior in 2019…Finished year with 13 tackles and four pass breakups as a junior in 2019…Saw action in nine games with six starts as a first-year cornerback and made 28 tackles (19 solo) with four pass breakups.

Jordan Colbert, Sr.
Has seen action in 10 career games with seven starts at safety…Made 19 career tackles (14 solo) with one pass breakup as a sophomore in 2019.

Bryan Bell-Anderson, Jr.
Saw action in nine career games at cornerback…Made 24 tackles (12 solo), finished with four pass breakups, and 0.5 tackle for loss as a sophomore in 2019…Made career-high nine tackles with a pass breakup in final game of the season at Cornell in 2019.

Ryan Rhoden, Sr.
Has played in 17 career games as a defensive back and on special teams.

Chris Park, Sr.
Played in 10 career games as a DB and on special teams.

Graham Flinn, Sr.
Fifth-year senior…Has seen action in 15 career games, mainly on special teams…Made four career tackles.

Derric Lee, Sr.
Railan Peace, Jr.
Kevonte Polk, Jr.
Dom Dodson, Jr.
Inho Choi, Sr.
Mike Fluegel, Sr.
Mitchell Sturgill, Sr.
McLeod Buckham-White, Jr.

Newcomers: Aaron Brebnor, Fr.; Hayden McDonald, Fr.; Carter McFadden, So.; Mahari Miller, So.; Lucas Mireur, Fr.; Seth Parker, So.; Jalen Smith, Fr.; Mason Tomlin, Fr.; Jackson Wallace, Fr.

Players Lost from 2020 Roster: Blake Wooden