Teams News - 2017 Season Review - Defense

The Golden Ram defense incurred a lot of change on the line and in the secondary this year, as players seemed to be lost due to injury every week. The preseason depth chart was rather senior laden, but several redshirt freshman saw significant playing time and a true freshman was starting by the end of the season. Despite the turnover of active players, the defense still played very well. West Chester played seven games against the top six offenses in the PSAC and finished fifth in total defense (356 yards per game). The rushing defense was sixth in the PSAC (136 yards per game), but the passing defense was ninth (220 yards) and surrendered 24 passing touchdowns while grabbing only nine interceptions.

After struggling to sack the quarterback in 2016, this season they led the conference with 38 sacks for 209 yards. In the category that matters most – scoring – West Chester’s 23 points allowed per game was fourth in the PSAC. West Chester allowed only 35% of third downs to be converted, good for second in the conference.

Defensive Line

As of the offseason, the prospects on the defensive line were bright. All four starters from 2016 were returning, two incoming transfers were expected and there were the prospects of a former starter returning to the team. In fact, the defensive line was so flush with players that Ben Smith was flipped to the offensive line. Ah, the best-laid plans…

By mid–August, it became apparent that Shaq Ryder, who started all 13 games for the 2014 Golden Rams would not be returning and Rutgers transfer Jamil Pollard was no longer on the roster. Rising senior defensive end John Dubyk (8 tackles) suffered an injury that cost him the first eight games of the 2017 season and defensive end Ch'aim Smith (2 tackles, 2 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble) suffered an injury in the season opener against Bentley that cost him the rest of this season. Despite playing in four games and starting three of them, tackle Kavon Johnson (6 tackles, 1 QB hurry) left the program five games into the season while tackle Joe DeSanto (5 tackles) had his season end after five games due to an off-the-field injury.

John Dubyk returned to play the final five games (Photo Ron Hockman)

Joe Desanto had his season cut short (Photo Ron Hockman)

Ch'aim Smith only played a half of football this year (Photo Ron Hockman)

The two mainstays on the defensive line were senior defensive end George Shipp (53 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries) and senior defensive tackle and captain Josh Ganzelli (30 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss), who both started all 13 games for West Chester this season. The year saw the emergence of Diquan Gilbert (39 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 6 QB hurries) who saw action in every game and received ten starts after a highly effective spring. Shipp was named first team All-PSAC East and first team All-ECAC while Ganzelli and Gilbert were named second team All-PSAC East.

Josh Ganzelli served as a captain this year (Photo Ron Hockman)

George Shipp had 8.5 sacks this year (Photo Ron Hockman)

Diquan Gilbert led the team in sacks and QB hurries (Photo Ron Hockman)

Also making a huge appearance on the team was redshirt freshman Omar Peterkin (21 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss) who wasn’t listed on the two-deep in week five against Kutztown and started the following week at Shippensburg.

Omar Peterkin got six starts this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Other linemen that saw more action than was expected over the summer were Shane Griffin (16 tackles, 2.0 sacks), Mark Webb (15 tackles, 1.0 sack), and redshirt freshman David Simmons (7 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 QB hurry). Ben Smith (1 tackle, 1.0 sack) played both ways in a couple of games and Jeff Driggins saw action.

Shane Griffin had 3.5 tackles for loss (Photo Ron Hockman)

Mark Webb had two starts at tackle (Photo Ron Hockman)

Redshirt freshman David Simmons played in nine games (Photo Ron Hockman)

Linebackers

One area where there were no questions was linebacker. After having only one tackle in 2016, Tyler Morrissey (137 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks) had the third most tackles in a season for a West Chester defender. He and fellow linebacker Kevin Duggan (55 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 int) started every game this season for the Golden Rams. Duggan was named second team All-PSAC East while Morrissey was named PSAC East and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Tyler Morrissey led the nation with 137 tackles (Photo Ron Hockman)

Kevin Duggan had a pick-six against Edinboro (Photo Ron Hockman)

Reserve linebacker Geoffrey Phillippe (5 tackles) had his season cut short due to an injury in the fourth game this season. Justice Smith (19 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss) and Zack Hockman (23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss) saw some time at linebacker, but were both very effective special team players.

Besides 19 tackles, Justice Smith also scored a touchdown (Photo Ron Hockman)

Zack Hockman played every game this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Shark linebacker Nydair Rouse (26 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles) had another solid season with Anthony Brown (22 tackles, 1 int, 1 fumble recovered) and Matt Magdelinskas (7 tackles, 2 fumbles recovered) providing backup.

Nydair Rouse had a forced fumble at Indiana (Photo Ron Hockman)

Anthony Brown provided versatility on defense (Photo Ron Hockman)

Matt Magdelinskas tackled soundly on defense (Photo Ron Hockman)

Secondary

In the secondary, Shaquille James (53 tackles, 3 int, 16 pass breakups) started every game at one corner while Quintin Smith (12 tackles, 1 fumble recovered) and Corey Kelley (26 tackles, 1 int, 2 pass breakups) split time at the other corner position.

Shaquille James was third in the PSAC in pass breakups (Photo Ron Hockman)

Quintin Smith recovered a fumble against Edinboro (Photo Ron Hockman)

Corey Kelley had a key pass breakup against Indiana (Photo Ron Hockman)

Free safety Jarey Elder (61 tackles, 2 int, 5 pass breakups) started every game and was second on the team in tackles. He looks to be a mainstay at that position for two more years. James and Elder were both named second team All-PSAC East and first team All-ECAC.

Jarey Elder had two interceptions this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Redshirt freshman Jordan Burney (40 tackles, 5 pass breakups) started the first nine games at strong safety but was supplanted by true freshman Nate Barnes (48 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss) with sophomore Deionte Wilson (26 tackles, 1 forced fumble) also in the mix.

Jordan Burney had two fumble recoveries this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Nate Barnes started the final three games of the season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Deionte Wilson had five tackles against Bentley (Photo Ron Hockman)

Jaishan Thornton (27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups), Rashee Davis (7 tackles, 1 int, 4 pass breakups), and Phil Mitten (3 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss) provided backup in the secondary and played key roles on special teams. True freshman Isaiah Cruz (6 tackles, 1 pass breakup) was lost for the season after three games due to an injury.

Jaishan Thornton was tenth on the team in tackles (Photo Ron Hockman)

Rashee Davis had a pick-six at Millersville (Photo Ron Hockman)

Phil Mitten was a key special teams contributor (Photo Ron Hockman)