Elon University head coach Jason Swepson had eight starters to replace in his second season as the leader of the Phoenix. In Tuesday's practice, the first team offense and defense got some reps against each other.
The Phoenix are making replacements at running back, tight end, wide receiver, offensive line, linebacker and defensive back.
Here are the first team units on offense and defense from Tuesday's practice and my thoughts on their selections.
Offense
QB Thomas Wilson (Sr.); RB Matt Eastman (Jr.); WR Aaron Mellette (Sr.), Jeremy Peterson (Sr.), Rasaun Rorie (Jr.); TE Chris Harris (Sr.); OL Justin Ward (Sr.), Clay Johnson (Jr.), Gavin Billings (Jr.), Dennis Wagner (Jr.), Kyle Herbert (Sr.)
The offensive line is facing the biggest reboot. With starters Ned Cuthbertson and Logan Hardin and would-be starter, if not for injuries, Rodney Austin all moving on to graduation (Austin to the NFL's Detroit Lions), the O-line will be the biggest piece in the Phoenix offense this year. If Thomas Wilson is not protected well, we will probably see the 21 interceptions that we saw from him last year. Couple this group with returning SoCon all-freshman teamer Austin Sowell, the O-line will be an experienced group with two seniors.
At running back, Eastman comes in as the senior of the group. In the spring game, he showcased some skill as the bruising, pounding type of runner any football team is enhanced by. To fill out the rest of the three-back system Swepson ran with last season, freshmen Tracey Coppedge, B.J. Bennett (both recruited) and tryouts Thuc Phan and Ryan Seaberg as well as University of Akron transfer and sophomore Karl Bostick will compete. Bostick took second-team snaps on Tuesday, while Coppedge and Bennett will likely fight for third-string. Fortunately, the lack of experience won't hurt much; Elon's pass-happy offense was one of the best in the SoCon this past season and will continue to rack up the yards through the air.
Rorie will basically replace the graduated Christian Dennis at the No. 3 wide receiver spot, and Harris moved from wide receiver to replace Andre Labinowicz and Taylor Berry at tight end. Freshmen recruits Jesse Tate and Doug Warrick will push Harris for snaps at TE.
Wilson will have familiar targets Mellette (113 rec.-1639 yds.-12 TD) and Peterson (39-333-2) to throw to, the backbone of the Phoenix offense anyway.
Defense
DL Jay Brown (Jr.), Tony Thompson (Jr.), Olufemi Lamikanra (Sr.), Jordan Jones (Jr.); LB Blake Thompson (Sr.), Jonathan Spain (So.), Odell Benton (So.); DB Miles Williams (So.), David Wood (Jr.), Edward Burns (Jr.), Chandler Wrightenberry (Jr.)
The defensive line retains all starters, including Tony Thompson, a preseason all-SoCon second-team selection. The four combined for 8.5 sacks and 116 total tackles last season.
The linebackers took a big blow in losing Joshua Jones to graduation and, eventually, the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones led the team in tackles (112) and sacks (four) last year, as well as providing intense leadership on game day. Fellow linebackers Zach Henderson (58 tackles) and Dale Riley (22 tackles in fivegames) also graduated. Coaches hope Blake Thompson (60 tackles, second-best in 2011) will step up from safety to lead the defense and the linebackers. Former all-freshman SoConer and Spain (37 tackles) and fellow sophomore Benton (14 tackles in six games as a true freshman in 2011) will compliment him well.
Jonathan Conner is the only graduate from the defensive backs, but a big one: fifth in team tackles with 48 last season. Wood, who normally returns kicks and punts for the Phoenix, performed well in practice on Tuesday, even getting an interception from Wilson during drills. The former baseball player will probably see a more expanded role in the defense this year.
Those are the projected starters at this moment, and I don't see them changing at all unless sophomore defensive back Akheem Langham, who was not in pads Tuesday, makes a move on the starting cornerback spot of either Wood or Williams.
But, there's still a few weeks of camp left until Sept. 1 and North Carolina. Stay with The Pendulum for continuing coverage and analysis of preseason practices by following The Pendulum Sports Desk (@pendulumsports) and myself (@zacharyhorner) on Twitter. Also, look forward to The Pendulum's Fall Sports Insert, on newsstands Aug. 29, filled with previews of the fall Elon sports such as football, cross country, soccer and volleyball.