WVU is small for a 3 man front

Posted on: August 31, 2016 at 14:41:34 CT

in their 3-3-5. Usually teams with a 3 man front have a hoss in the middle, like former college players Dontari Poe (346, LSU), Beau Allen (333, Wisky), B.J. Raji (333, Boston College), Danny Shelton (339, Washington), Eddie Goldman (332, FSU), Terrance Knighton (354, Temple), Damon Harrison (350, William Penn) and Brandon Williams (335, Missouri Southern).

From RockM... http://www.rockmnation.com/2016/8/31/12714964/west-virginia-missouri-depth-chart-noble-nwachukwu-drew-lock

Defensive Line

DE
Noble Nwachukwu (6’2, 275, Sr.) — 42.0 tackles, 13.0 TFL (8.5 sacks), 1 PBU, 1 FF
Adam Shuler II (6’4, 270, RSFr.) — 247 Composite rating: 0.8492

NT
Darrien Howard (6’1, 297, Sr.) — 14.5 tackles, 3.0 TFL (1 sack), 1 PBU
Alec Shriner (6’4, 286, RSFr.) — 247 Composite rating: 0.8305

DE
Christian Brown (6’2, 298, Sr.) — 28.5 tackles, 4.5 TFL (2 sacks)
Jon Lewis (6’3, 265, Jr.)

WVU’s run defense was outstanding last year, but three of the top six linemen and each of the top four linebackers are gone. There’s a lot of play-making to replace, and there’s going to be pressure on Nwachukwu to produce up front. (Alternately, there’s going to be pressure on Mizzou’s tackles to keep him from producing.)