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Posted: Aug 03, 2018

Camp Preview: Defensive Line

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With the Bryant University football team set to open camp on August 6, BryantBulldogs.com breaks down the Black and Gold position by position.  

Defensive Line

Returning: Kevin Lazo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Dillon Guthro (Newburyport, Mass.), Anthony DiMatteo (Holbrook, N.Y.), Fernando Casanova (Jacksonville, Fla.), Derek Child (Needham, Mass.), Peter Corbett (Wantagh, N.Y.), C.J. Demers (Farmingdale, N.Y.), Elo Deneus (Cambridge, Mass.), Hanover Dill (Schenectady, N.Y.), Darnell Grant (Newark, N.J.), Kodi Ojukwu (Dix Hills, N.Y.), Tomas Wright (St. Augustine, Fla.), Greg Wood (Braintree, Mass.), Jared Piatnik (Bethel, Conn.), Derrick Leroy (St. Augustine, Fla.), Will Theodoropoulos (Manhasset, N.Y.), Andrew Wallace (Cranston, R.I.)

Newcomers: Greg Johnston (Asheville, N.C.), Connor Payne (Massapequa, N.Y.), Leon Schmid (Suffield, Conn.), Trey Bennett (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)

Position Coach: Michael Donovan

Notes and Notables

  • Bryant lists 21 defensive linemen on its roster heading into August camp. Of the 21, 17 are returners.
  • Two of Bryant's four captains are defensive linemen, as Lazo and Guthro both return for their fifth year in Smithfield.
  • Both Lazo and Guthro were All-NEC performers a season ago. Lazo blocked a program-record four kicks on his way to earning second-team honors.
  • Guthro was a first-team selection after he posted 38 tackles, four sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss last season. He has posted 8.5 sacks in the last two years.
  • The trio of Corbett, DiMatteo, and Wright all combined to post 18 or more tackles last season. Corbett recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score, DiMatteo posted 19 tackles and Wright has nine sacks in his first two seasons.
  • Ojukwu emerged as a threat last season, posting 3.5 sacks, with 2.5 of them coming in the final two games of the year.
  • In total, Bryant returns each of its top eight on the defensive line from a season ago.
  • The Bulldogs will also welcome back Casanova after he missed 2017 with an injury. As a true freshman, Casanova played in all 11 games and made eight tackles.

Fun Fact

  • Incoming freshman Leon Schmid played high school football at Suffield Academy in Suffield, Conn. Schmid, however, grew up in Germany and is the first Bryant football recruit from the country.  

    The Bryant University football team begins its 20th season on September 1 vs. New Haven. Tickets are available at BryantBulldogs.com/Tickets.

    Follow Bryant University football on Twitter and Instagram to get an inside look at the program.