Over the course of this final month leading up to the start of the 2022 South Alabama football season, we will preview all the position groups on the Jaguar roster.

The nine-part series examines each position group ahead of the season opener versus Nicholls State on Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium. This installment looks at South Alabama's defensive line.

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RETURNING STARTERS (4)
- Charles Coleman III (Jr., 6-3, 274) – Started nine games while seeing action in all 12 contests, where he collected 32 stops with a team-high-tying six tackles for loss, including 4½ sacks, most on the squad
- Brock Higdon (R-So., 6-7, 251) – Saw action in all 12 games, starting on four occasions, and recorded 22 stops, including 1½ behind the line of scrimmage, forced two fumbles and was credited with three quarterback hurries
- Gi'Narious Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 301) – Saw action in each of South's 12 outings, starting on 10 occasions during the 2021 season where he totaled 23 stops, with 2½ tackles behind the line of scrimmage, one sack and was credited with two other quarterback pressures
- Wy'Kevious Thomas (R-So., 6-2, 304) – An honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2021 after being credited with 49 total tackles — highlighted by 5½ for loss including 2½ sacks — two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries

OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS (8)
- Lamondre Brooks (R-Fr., 6-2, 238) – Redshirted in 2021, but was considered among the top 30 recruits in Alabama and top 50 nationally at outside linebacker by Rivals.com, receiving three stars from the organization and three stars from 247Sports.com
- Zeke Chapman (Sr., 6-2, 305) – Played in every game last fall, making nine stops highlighted by 1½ behind the line of scrimmage, and was credited with one quarterback hurry
- Carlos Johnson Jr. (So., 6-0, 271) – Played nine games, all off the bench during the 2021 season, and recorded 10 tackles, including a pair of sacks 
- Jamall Hickbottom (So., 6-2, 288) – In 12 games during the 2021 season, he posted 20 tackles, where he recorded 3½ stops behind the line of scrimmage, with 2½ of those credited as sacks
- Terry Perry (Jr., 6-0, 238) – Saw action in 10 games where he recorded 14 tackles, three for loss, a pair of sacks and a quarterback hurry
- Jamie Sheriff (Sr., 6-2, 262) – Missed the 2021 season due to an injury suffered during preseason camp after starting six games and appearing in all 11 contests during the 2020 season where he was credited with 21 total tackles, including a sack
- Ed Smith IV (R-Fr., 6-2, 290.) – Redshirted the 2021 season, but recorded 64 tackles during his senior prep season, including six stops behind the line of scrimmage with five sacks 
- Maurice Strong Jr. (Jr., 6-1, 303) – Missed the 2021 season after making five starts during the 2020 season where he posted a total of 14 tackles with three for loss, adding a pair of quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery

NEWCOMERS (2)
- Nick Curtis (R-So., 6-5, 210) – Transfer from Auburn who saw action in two games in 2021, and sat out the 2020 season after transferring from Kent State
- Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge (R-Fr., 6-6, 262) – Transfer from Oklahoma who was a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals and a three-star prospect by ESPN, and was also rated as the No. 10 strongside defensive end by 247Sports and No. 15 by Rivals coming out of high school

2021 LETTERWINNERS/ROSTER MEMBERS LOST (3)
- Cole Daniels
- Ethan Rinke
- Zyon Walker

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- The position group accounted for 11.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for loss during the 2021 season and return all but 0.5 TFLs from the unit (Walker)
- Thomas had the most tackles among the Jaguar defensive linemen, tying for third on the team overall, and it was the most stops by a defensive lineman at South since 2018 
- Thomas – who earned preseason honors from a pair of preseason publications this summer – also tied for second on the team in tackles for loss and was fourth in sacks, and he was credited with at least one stop behind the line in six games 
- Coleman was an honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference selection as an edge defender by Pro Football Network last fall
- Higdon's three quarterback hurries were tied for most on the team

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