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2011 Furman Paladins Outlook DEFENSE Furman logged modest defensive improvement in 2010, most notably in turnover margin (+0.82), where the Paladins led the SoCon, but significant work is still needed to field a unit that could spark any run to the playoffs. Specifically, the Paladins will have to step up a run defense that last year ranked last in the league (211.7 yards per game), do a better job against opponents on third down (SoCon worst 47.4 percent conversion rate), and find a way to pressure opposing quarterbacks after tallying a SoCon low nine sacks. With seven starters returning, Furman has a chance to realize defensive gains this fall. 2010 Rushing Defense: ...................................................................................... 211.7 (9/108) 2010 Passing Defense: ......................................................................................... 160.9 (3/14) 2010 Passing Efficiency Defense: ....................................................................... 111.91 (2/25) 2010 Sacks: ......................................................................................................... .0.82 (9/114) 2010 Total Defense: ............................................................................................. 372.6 (7/83) 2010 Scoring Defense: ........................................................................................... 25.5 (5/66) (Southern Conference Rank/National Rank) DEFENSIVE LINE Two starters and eight lettermen return along the defensive line, making it possibly the deep- est area in the program. That's good news as the Paladins strive for a more physical, productive defensive effort in 2011. Leading the cast of returnees is All-SoCon defensive end Josh Lynn (6-5, 264, Jr.), who is coming off a 2010 campaign that saw him register 54 tackles and a team high 10 tackles for-loss, including two sacks. He has 14 career starts. Colton Keig (6-4, 260, Jr.), who tallied 21 tackles in 11 starts a year ago, returns at tackle. Top contenders for the two open spots along the defensive front include Neal Rodgers (6-3, 288, So.) at nose tackle and Shawn Boone (6-1, 224, So.) at end. Rodgers registered action in every game a year ago and gives the Paladins a big, physical presence in the middle. Boone, meanwhile,turned in a solid freshman season that featured 22 tackles, as well as an interception return for a touchdown against South Carolina that netted him SoCon Freshman of the Week honors. He and Lynn will be counted on heavily for a stepped-up Paladin pass rush this fall. The experienced depth in the defen- SECONDARY While the graduation of Adam Mims poses the biggest challenge to the offense, the departure of All-SoCon rover/safety Max Lerner looms as the greatest hurdle posed to Furman from a defensive standpoint, and particularly in the secondary, which returns two starters and limited depth. Of the two returning regulars in the defensive backfield, the unquestioned leader is cornerback Ryan Steed (5-11, 188, Sr.), a two-time All-SoCon performer, preseason All-America choice, and Buck Buchanan Award Watch List nominee. Elected to serve as team captain for a second consecutive season, Steed fashioned an outstanding 2010 campaign as evidenced by his 68 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C., product also had an 89-yard fumble return against Georgia Southern to set up another score. Opposite Steed it appears Austin Williams (5-11, 171, So.) is the leading candidate to step into a starting role. His backup and Furman's No. 3 cornerback will likely be Cortez Johnson (5-11, 188, Jr.), with Leander Jones (5- 11, 160, Jr.) and newcomer Rodney Anderson (5-10, 176, Fr.) pushing to get into the picture. At strong safety E.J. Vinsang (5-10, 189, Jr.) has the tough assignment of taking over for the hard hitting Lerner. Vinsang played two years ago in a reserve role and returns to the field this fall after being ineligible in 2010. He is being pushed by Marcus McMorris (6-0, 197, R-Fr.). The free safety job will be manned by two players with experience, Greg Worthy (6-1, 210, So.) and Nathan Wade (6-0, 190, Jr.), though Wade (63 tackles, 3 interceptions in '10) will be unavailable until game four due to a suspension for violation of team rules. Worthy played well down the stretch a year ago, earning starts in the secondary in the last four games and finishing with 52 tackles on the campaign. Derek Murray (6-3, 182, Jr.) will provide backup duty. SPECIAL TEAMS With the exception of kickoff returns, Furman special teams were superb in 2010, and the Defensive end Shawn Boone will look to give a lift to Furman's pass rush. sive front includes Ricky Lang (6-2, 252, Jr.) and Brandon Boykin (6-0, 252, Sr.) at defensive end, and Cody Reynolds (6-4, 240, Sr.) and Rashaun Phillips (6-2, 264, So.) inside. Of that group Lang has been the most productive, notching 21 tackles, including five for-loss, and two sacks in 2010. Topping the list of newcomers likely to make an impact is nose tackle Tyreek Phillips (6-0, 294, R-Fr.). LINEBACKERS Furman appears set at linebacker with the return of starters Kadarron Anderson (6-1, 234, Sr.) and Chris Wiley (5-10, 212, Sr.), as well as converted defensive back Mitch McGrath (6-2, 203, Jr.), who will occupy the strong side post. Anderson, a two-time All-America and member of the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, gives Furman a strong leader and physical presence at middle linebacker. He is coming off a 2010 campaign that saw him post a team leading 121 tackles, good for third in the SoCon. Wiley is entering his third season of starting duty at the weak side position, where last year he totaled 72 tackles and team leading three fumble recoveries. McGrath may be one of the defensive unit's most intriguing stories heading into the preseason. A two-year letterman with impressive speed and nose for the football, he tallied 48 tackles over the past two seasons at rover/safety and has quickly gained the confidence of the coaching staff after making the move to linebacker in the Paladins' return to a 4-3 defensive scheme. On hand to provide backup duty at linebacker are two experienced performers, Sterling Johnson (6-0, 225, Sr.) and Matt Solomon (5-11, 212, Jr.). Johnson logged seven starts and posted 35 tackles and two interceptions at the bandit position in Furman's nickel back scheme a year ago, and Solomon registered 33 tackles. Ray Early was superb as a freshman, converting a league high 11-of-12 field goal attempts. NCAA FCS Playoffs — 1982, '83, 85, '86, '88, '89, '90, '96, '99, '00, '01, '02, '04, '05, '06 5 prospects for a repeat performance are strong with all but one of the principals returning. In Ray Early (5-11, 175, So.) Furman boasts possibly the best placekicker in the SoCon as evidenced by last year's performance that saw him convert a league leading 11-of-12 field goals, including a 52-yard field goal in a victory over Samford, and tally a team high 73 points. Early's ability to again deliver will be aided by the return of snapper Luke Wynn (6-5, 243, Sr.) and holder Bryan Hayes (5-10, 170, Sr.). Punter Chas Short (6-3, 210, Sr.) is back. A year ago he averaged a solid 38.3 yards per attempt and helped the Paladins rank sixth nationally in net punting — an effort that saw oppo- nents total just 15 yards in returns in 11 games. One area that will be a focus for improvement is kickoff returns, espe- cially after a second consecutive last place league average of 18.4 yards per return in 2010. The departure of Mims will guaran- tee a new face on punt returns, mostly likely Will King (6-0, 179, Jr.). Ryan Steed returned two of his four intercep- tions for touchdowns last year.