2024 Samford Football Preview: Defense and the Schedule
If you missed it, here is our preview for the offense from earlier this week.
The 2024 Samford defense will look different this season. Some of the players are not necessarily different but the scheme will be. Samford is breaking in a new defensive coordinator in Adam Braithwaite who replaces Chris Boone. Boone is now the linebackers coach at Troy.
Braithwiate comes to Samford from Tennessee Tech where he led the Tech defense last season. He does have experience coaching in the Southern Conference being the safeties coach before becoming the defense coordinator at Chattanooga from 2012-2016.
During his time at Chattanooga, the Mocs defense ranked sixth in the FCS in total defense.
By Samford head coach Chris Hatcher’s own admission, the defense was maybe too much bend but don’t break in 2023.
“We were more of a 3-man front team and I hate to say we were bend but don’t break,” said Hatcher. “We would bend, bend, bend, then we would make a goal line stand. That was kind of the way we played. We are going to be a more attacking defense and will be more multiple with our 3 down and 4 down fronts.”
This Samford defense will lean more to the four man down fronts rather than the three man fronts in this Adam Braithwaite scheme.
Last year, the defense was solid at times. Samford finished seventh in total defense in the SoCon while finishing third in scoring defense allowing 24.3 points per game. The defense was not as attacking which is the word Hatcher used to describe what the defense will look like in 2024.
To that point, Samford finished near the bottom of the conference in sacks, tackles for loss, and interceptions. Braithwaite’s style is different. In one year at Tennessee Tech, the Golden Eagles led the Big South/OVC in total defense and third in passing and rushing defense.
What does attacking mean? Braithwaite described what that means to him.
“I do think we are attacking,” said Braithwaite. “To me, attacking doesn't necessarily mean what calls you’re making and dialing up fifty billion different blitzes. It's more about the style of play and that is what I’m trying to impress upon our guys. It’s more about how we play the game that makes us attacking as opposed to what scheme I’m calling. We are just trying to focus on playing hard and playing with a hard edge.”
Defensively, Samford added 13 transfers on the defensive line and in the secondary. For the returners, it all starts with All-American linebacker Noah Martin. Martin has racked up just about every pre-season accolade one could receive. He also is the recipient of the 2024 Charles Williams Memorial Jersey which means Martin will don the #5 jersey.
In 2023, Martin finished with 109 total tackles which was good for 13th in the entire country. He is exactly the type of player and person on and off the field to lead this Samford defense and team.
Martin appreciates the accolades but does not think they define him.
“It’s still a great honor and I’m very thankful to have that,” said Martin. It does put a spotlight on me, I wish it would just highlight the team. I do think it puts me under a microscope, like a spotlight that guys do look to me.”
Sticking with the linebackers, Jaden Mosley has returned for his junior season. Mosley finished second on the team in total tackles in 2023 with 62 and 4.5 tackles for loss. He also has All-Southern Conference potential and this Samford linebacker tandem could make some noise across the conference.
Thomas Neville provides some depth at that position and Samford also added LB Malik Gaither from Alcorn State who played his high school ball in Georgia.
On the defensive line is where this defense returns some pieces but also adds some new players at this position. You see it on the FBS level and it is the same in the FCS level, having a quality defensive line is what takes your defense to another level.
On the interior, DT Josh Mathiasen is back for his senior season as Mathiasen had 15 total tackles last season. DL Jamall Thompson returns for his junior season. DT Johnny Johnson is also back along with sophomore DT Makhi Gilbert who was a member of the All-SoCon Freshman Team a season ago.
Via the transfer portal, Samford added four new pieces in Georgia State DT Corey Warren, Dartmouth DL Jaylin Rainey, Northwestern State DL Nazir Sy, and Bethune-Cookman DE Conroy Cunningham II. Who among this group will make the biggest impact? That is a big question for this defense.
Cunningham has played the most out of this group who tallied 37 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He would be one to watch out for purely for the numbers he put up for BCU last season.
Also on the edge, Xavier Nurse is back who had 33 total tackles and a sack. There is some experience and it looks like good depth, it is just a matter of who steps up and leads.
The last three seasons Samford has been adding more from the transfer portal in this position than any other, in the secondary. Still with the portal additions, Samford does return some key players from a season ago.
At the safety spot. junior Midnight Steward and sophomore CJ Douglas are back from a season ago. Both flashed at different times last season. Douglas especially did in the season finale win over UT-Martin finishing with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Senior Wade White returns who finished with 25 total tackles last season.
Samford added two safety transfers in Northern Iowa’s Edwin Dearmon and Copiah-Lincoln CC’s Andrew Johnson. Both were productive players at their previous stops. Dearmon played five seasons at UNI and recorded 58 total tackles, two TFLs, and 2 interceptions. Johnson had 38 total tackles last year at Copiah.
Dearmon is the highlight of this maybe entire transfer portal class on both sides of the ball. He is extremely experienced and when healthy has improved each and every season. Dearmon has star potential in this defense.
At the cornerback position, junior Dontae Pollard is back after a productive 2023. Pollard started 10 games. Senior Kamron Smith appeared in 11 games last season and had 14 total tackles and three pass breakups. Senior Jamari Cannon also played in 10 games and had an interception in the season finale.
Samford returns three players who played a good number of snaps while also bringing in four cornerbacks from the portal. This group is highlighted by Seth Parker from Columbia. Parker gets to come back home after playing his high school football at Hoover High School.
Xavier Lanier started five games at Tulsa who transferred in. Then with potentially the best name in all of college football, Quantaves “Gumbo” Gaskins is a Vanderbilt transfer who also has some playing experience.
This Samford defense has some quality returning players and have the perfect on-field leader in All-American LB Noah Martin. However, they did lack in key areas last season and did not complement the offense which struggled to some extent in 2023.
The main question is who steps up along the defensive line and breaks out. Samford’s linebackers will be the strength of this team with Martin and Mosley. On the back end, does CJ Douglas parlay that great season finale into a good sophomore campaign? Which transfer outside of Edwin Dearmon steps up and helps this defense get off the field in key situations?
There are less questions on the defensive side of the ball for Samford but you add in a new system with almost a whole new staff. Can Samford lean on this older defense while the offense gets it rolling with a new signal caller?
In regards to the schedule, Samford’s schedule sets up a little bit nicer in 2024. Samford opens 2024 at new FCS member West Georgia. UGW is led by former Mercer defensive coordinator Joel Taylor. The Bulldogs then head to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators. If you remember, Samford put a major scare into the Gators in 2021 putting up 42 first half points.
Samford’s home opener is a sneaky one as they host Alabama State on a Saturday night on September 14. Big that Samford gets a night game in 2024 after not having one last season. That should be a charged atmosphere.
Samford’s SoCon opener is September 28th at Furman which will be a tough game. Their next toughest game is at Chattanooga on November 16th. These will be the two toughest games of the season.
However, the six games between those two hard road games are very winnable. The hardest in that stretch is hosting Mercer on October 19th. These six games are below.
vs VMI
At ETSU
Vs Mercer
At The Citadel
Vs Wofford
Vs Tennessee Tech
At ETSU could also be a tough game but the Buccaneers have too many unknowns with a new head coach in Tre Lamb. Also, ETSU hosts Chattanooga the week prior to Samford.
Samford then hosts Western Carolina in what could be a win and in scenario for the FCS Playoffs. The Catamounts return their quarterback and the 2024 Preseason SoCon Player of the Year in Cole Gonzales.
In 2024, the NCAA is allowing FCS schools to play 12 games this year due to an extra weekend between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.
Before Samford’s 2022 magical season, Samford was picked to finish sixth by the coaches in the SoCon Preseason Poll. This year, Samford was predicted to finish fifth.
Questions do remain as we have outlined on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Samford has every chance to get back to the FCS Playoffs but how well does the new QB mesh with the newer pieces on offense? This Samford defense is wanting to be more attacking and aggressive in 2024. Does that evolve into better statistical results and get off the field?
We cannot wait to have these questions answered and we are almost there everybody. College football and Samford football is near, get excited.
Our latest State of the Bulldogs Podcast episode examines the Samford defense. You can watch it here and look up the show on Apple and Spotify to listen.
