VIDEO: Dan Redding Interview
Redding is the only position coach who can boast of having multiple preseason All-SAC selections in his meeting room.
Both tackles Brian Bembry (Parrish, Fla.) and Montel Presley (Bushnell, Fla.) grabbed the accolades with Bembry on the first team and Presley on the second.
"It's a lot of fun with this group," Redding said. "Brian has so much flexibility and range, that makes him dangerous. Montel is just strong in the middle. He's very good with his hands and is quite bullish."
Bembry redshirted last season after going down with an injury in preseason practice. As a freshman, Bembry started all 12 games for Carson-Newman as a defensive tackle. He produced 33 tackles in his freshman season with 13 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 3.5 sacks. His 13 tackles for loss led the team and were third in the South Atlantic Conference. His 3.5 tackles for loss against Limestone (10/31) were a season high both for Bembry as an individual and Carson-Newman as a team. He also had three tackles for loss against Catawba (9/19). He turned in a career high five stops against Limestone.
Presley sat out the last three games of the year last year. He started the first eight games of his career before groin injuries sidelined the freshman for the rest of his opening campaign at Mossy Creek. Presley made 33 tackles on the defensive line with three tackles for loss. His most impressive outing came against Lenoir-Rhyne (10/1) when the nose guard powered his way to 11 tackles. He had a stop behind the line of scrimmage in four of the first five games he played. He blocked a field foal against Mars Hill (9/24). He had more than five tackles against Catawba (9/17) and Wingate (10/22).
Players returning from an injury or academic issues is a theme for the C-N D-Line in 2017. All the returning ends battled through something either last season or in the spring. Ross Pryor (Kingwood, Texas) had ankle issues. Jordan Pryce (Spartanburg, S.C.) battled nagging injuries and Jaysen Cook-Calhoun (Hoover, Ala.) was ineligible and then hampered by injuries in the spring.
"Cook-Calhoun comes back from an injury in the spring and has tons of range and speed," Redding said. "Ross battled injuries two years ago. To have those guys back and fully healthy is really great. Last year we got decimated early with injuries. We're very thankful to have a full room. They've done a great job."
As a freshman, Cook-Calhoun appeared in eight games for the Eagles with 26 tackles, seven stops for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also notched a pass break up and two quarterback hurries. He delivered a hit on a Brevard quarterback that was featured on Fox Sports One and ESPN. His seven tackles for loss ranked fourth on the team while his 5.5 sacks were second on the team and tied for third in the SAC.
Pryor appeared in all 11 games with 10 starts on the defensive line for the Eagles. Pryor made 41 tackles, including 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage with a half sack. He also registered two quarterback hurries. Pryor was especially effective against Wingate (10/22) when he produced a career high 12 tackles. He also notched eight tackles against Lenoir-Rhyne (10/1). Meanwhile Pryce appeared in 10 games with five starts on the defensive line. He made 17 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. He topped out with a four-tackle game against Wingate (10/22).
Coy DeWeese, Wyclef Phanor and converted offensive lineman Jordan Whitaker add depth at the position.
Redding pointed to Delaware State transfer Javon Barnes and true freshman Jimarco Witherow as new players who could make an impact.
"Both of those guys picked up the defense quickly in the summer," Redding said. "We go through their assignments and they work by themselves. They didn't make mistakes in doing that. They're very intelligent players and we'll expect great things from them."
Carson-Newman football's position previews continue Tuesday with the defensive backs.
