Season Preview: Defense

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University football team opens its 2022 season on Thursday, September 1 when it faces Florida International in Miami.

Leading up to kickoff BryantBulldogs.com will preview the 2022 Bulldogs. 

Defense

Returners: J.T. Anderson, TJ Butler, D.J. Cunningham, Lake Ellis, Joseph Fano, Calson Goodwill, Sean Hunt, Elijah Infante, CJ McGarity Jr., Danny McKinnon, Justin Mucci, Coby Oxendine, Jayvis Rayside, Braden Sayles, Nick Senerchia, Amari Wharwood, Chris Yates, Antonio Zarur, Kenny Dyson Jr., Vince Gilchrist, Nsaiah Harriet, Chidi Nna, Jack Daly, Eric Dukes, Christopher Eaton Jr., Michael Otty, Anilson Rocha, Darnel Shillingford, Jaymian Simon, Joe Andreessen, Paul Castro, Brandan Coward, Darian Duarte, Austin Edmonds, Colin Elliott, Dontae Lunan, Clayton McAlpine, Carmine Palmisano, Derrius Perryman, Ryan Saddler, Ben Silver, Malachi Steele

Newcomers: Chase Aston, Devon Banks, Cade Beesmer, Marcus Crawford, Joshua Earl, Kaden Hamilton, Eddie Jackson III, Jamison Jarvis, Nolan Larkin, Dedric Walker, Nick Porada, Hollis Dirstine, Beau Shugarts, Jailynn Simon, Maximus Villar, Reider Fry, Herrick Louis, Andre Smith, Devon Anderson, Olatunde Mkparu, Dylan Perez

Bryant has been one of the nation's best defensive teams over the last two years and this fall it could feature one of the best units in program history. Leading the way is a front seven that includes all-conference defensive linemen Jack Daly and Kenny Dyson Jr., and all-league linebackers Joe Andreessen and Ryan Saddler. Bryant will also welcome back 10 others that are upperclassmen, giving the Black and Gold as deep and experienced a unit as ever. 

It starts up front with the senior quintet of Daly, Dyson Jr., Chidi Nna, Nsaiah Harriet and Darnel Shillingford. The five came in together and are ready to produce another outstanding year for defensive line coach Ken Goodwin. Daly has earned All-NEC First Team honors in each of the last two years, while Dyson Jr. wreaked havoc off the edge to the tune of a team-high 7.0 sacks last fall. Nna is a former NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Harriet and Shillingford both had career years in 2021. Bryant will also welcome back juniors Christopher Eaton Jr. and Ben Silver and a group of underclassmen that includes Vince Gilchrist, Eric Dukes, Michael Otty and Jaymian Simon. 

The bread and butter of Bryant's defense lies in the middle with the duo of Andreessen and Saddler back for another year together. They combined for 171 tackles a season ago, with Saddler posting 91.0 - the seventh-most in a single season in program history. Andreessen added a league-high three interceptions to his 80.0 tackles and is a two-time All-NEC First Team selection. The group is bolstered by juniors Colin Elliott, Dontae Lunan and Austin Edmonds. Elliott made 37.0 tackles last year, while Lunan is back after missing the season with a knee injury. Bryant also welcomes back seniors Clayton McAlpine and Derrius Perryman and Carmine Palmisano. 

In the back end, the Black and Gold will look to upperclassmen D.J. Cunningham, Lake Ellis and Jayvis Rayside to continue what they started last year. Ellis made 37.0 tackles and intercepted a pass, Rayside had 34.0 tackles and two INTs and Cunningham is one of the few seniors in the secondary. Also back is Chris Yates, a sophomore that produced 12.0 tackles last fall. TJ Butler and J.T. Anderson lead a young group in the secondary that is primed to leave its mark.