The New Mexico State defensive line is going to look a lot
different in 2012 after losing four players from last year’s starting unit.
David Niumatalolo, Pierre Fills, David Mahoney and Dejuan
Yates finished their Aggie careers by playing in all 13 games in 2011.
Niumatalolo finished fourth on the team in total tackles
with 84, while Fills finished with a team-high three sacks on the year. Mahoney
and Yates combined for 54 tackles, 34 and 20 respectively.
The defensive line
experienced its share of struggles and setbacks last season. The Aggies had
trouble stopping the teams of the offense-heavy Western Athletic Conference,
especially those with good rushing attacks.
NMSU was last in the conference in rushing defense and sixth
in total sacks. Injuries throughout the season added additional salt to the
line’s collective wounds. However, the Aggies will have decent depth on the
defensive line in 2012.
The key player returning to the Aggie defensive line this
year is redshirt senior Donte Savage, who missed all of last season after being
ruled academically ineligible. During spring camp, Savage said having to sit
out the year humbled him and made him appreciate the game more. Savage has
All-WAC talent and is poised for a big year.
Fellow senior Walton Taumoepeau started in seven of the
final nine games of 2011. Taumoepeau had a productive season, recording 25
tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass break ups.
Sophomore Stephen Meredith was one of the players who attempted
to fill the void left by Savage’s absence last year. The 6-foot-4-inch lineman
from Garden Grove, Calif. played in 12 games and recorded 21 tackles, eight of
which were solo efforts.
NMSU head coach DeWayne Walker also added a few junior
college transfers to the defensive line, including Nick Olivia, Kevin
Laudermill and Kalvin Cruz. Walker also inked Las Cruces native Matt Romando,
who transferred from Michigan State.
Olivia played two seasons at College of the Canyons, where
he was named first team All-Northern Conference. The 6-foot-4-inch junior
finished with 32 tackles and three-and-a-half sacks last season.
Laudermill enters his first season at NMSU after
transferring from West Los Angeles Community College. Laurdermill recorded 40
total tackles, 20 solo tackles and four sacks for West LA last season, earning
second team all-conference honors.
Cruz begins his Aggie career after playing two seasons at
Ventura College. The junior from Littleton, Colo. recorded 40 total tackles, 12
tackles for a loss and six sacks last season, earning him second team
all-conference honors.
In charge of putting everything together is Romeo Bandison,
who is entering his first season as the Aggies’ defensive line coach. Before
arriving in Las Cruces, Bandison was the defensive line coach at Colorado from
2005-2010. He held the same position at Boise State from 2001-2005.
After allowing more yards per game than any team in the
WAC last season, the Aggie defensive as a whole should be much improved from a
year ago, especially if the defensive line plays up to its potential.
Aggie Defense by the
Numbers in 2011
Total Yards Allowed
Per Game: 462.2 (8th in WAC)
Rushing Yards Allowed
Per Game: 218.8 (8th in WAC)
Passing Yards Allowed
Per Game: 243.4 (4th in WAC)
Check back tomorrow
for a preview of the Aggie passing game
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