EMORY, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Football Team made significant improvements on the defensive side of ball during the 2015 season. The 6-4 (4-3 ODAC) Wasps finished third in the league in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. The team also improved its average points allowed and yards allowed over the course of the year. E&H's play spring-boarded six defensive players to All-ODAC honors this year.
Junior cornerback Tre'von Lightfoot was the lone first team player on the defensive side of the ball for Emory & Henry. Lightfoot tallied 49 tackles and intercepted four passes on the season. His 17 passes defended were good for ninth in the country and first in the ODAC. Lightfoot was honored with an ODAC Defensive Player of the Week nod after a four-tackle, one-interception game against East Tennessee State University.
Assisting Lightfoot in the defensive backfield was Second Team All-ODAC safety Ryan Byrd. Byrd finished the regular season as the second-leading tackler in the league with 96 stops. Byrd was named ODAC Defensive Player of the Week after a week-one win in which he had 13 tackles, a sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss. Brothers Jaylyn Johnson and Eric Johnson started nine games each for the Wasps defensive backfield. The two combined for 80 tackles, three turnovers, and seven pass breakups.
The linebacker corps was once again anchored by senior Rennel Marshall. Marshall was selected to the All-ODAC Second Team for the second consecutive season after finishing second on the team with 66 tackles. Junior Rasheen Williams was selected to the Third Team in his first season at the linebacker position. Williams finished the year with 62 tackles, two sacks, and an interception. Sophomore Andrew Long was fourth on the team with 54 tackles and brought the ball carrier down behind the line of scrimmage four times.
The defensive line was a major force to reckon with this season. The team led the ODAC in sacks with 26 on the year, 19 of which came from members of the defensive line. With strong play in the trenches, the Wasps saw two defensive linemen receive All-ODAC honors. Senior Victor Montalbano was selected to the second team. The defensive tackle finished with 31 tackles, four for loss, and a sack. Sophomore Tyler Rose was selected to the third team after a 27-tackle, three-sack season.
Leading the Wasps in sacks for the second straight year was junior Jaylen Simmons with 3.5 sacks. Senior Mitch Carter finished up his career on a high note, finishing second in the ODAC with 11.5 tackles for loss including three quarterback sacks. He also led in the conference with three forced fumbles. Senior Dakota Harmon, junior Tyler Tune, and freshman Kash Jones all finished the year with 2.5 sacks.
The Wasps defense will lose four regular defensive starters to graduation after this year. But with three All-ODAC players returning to the defense, the Wasps will look to reload and continue their ascension to the top of the ODAC.
The special teams review will be available Thursday, December 3.
Team Leaders
Tackles – Ryan Byrd – 96
Tackles for Loss – Mitch Carter – 11.5
Sacks – Jaylen Simmons – 3.5
Forced Fumbles – Mitch Carter – 3
Fumble Recoveries – Jaylyn Johnson – 2
Interceptions – Tre'von Lightfoot – 4