Fall Camp Preview: Defensive Line
8/5/2025 4:57:00 PM | Football
KENT, Ohio – Kent State's defensive line is deep, experienced, and quietly emerging as one of fall camp's most competitive position groups. Between the size and strength of the interior and the twitchy, relentless edge rushers, the Golden Flashes' front is shaping up to be a high-motor unit capable of disrupting both the run and pass.
Inside the Trenches with Bill Teerlinck
The interior defensive line, led by Coach Bill Teerlinck, is still taking shape, but one thing is already clear — this group brings size, depth, and versatility.
"We do have some big guys, we have some fast guys, we have some strong guys," Teerlinck said. "We've got noses, we've got threes — the great part about camp is putting the puzzle together."
That puzzle includes returners like Mason Maddox and Josue Cordoba, who are making noticeable strides. Maddox, a redshirt junior, spent time helping on the offensive line last year, but is back on defense and thriving.
"Mason has made great strides," Teerlinck said. "He's smart, he's physical — he's seasoned. He knows where to go and when to do it."
Cordoba, a redshirt freshman, has transformed his frame, reportedly gaining 30 pounds in the weight room since arriving on campus. "He's a physical specimen," Teerlinck added. "He's getting used to how to attack and strike."
Newcomers Jelani Davis, Amon Williams, and Thomas Aden bring needed experience and positional flexibility. Davis has shown quickness and slipperiness in the backfield, while Williams has embraced a "Swiss Army knife" role, playing everything from a zero-tech to a five.
"As of now, Amon is kind of a little bit of run, little bit of pass, little bit of 50/50," Teerlinck said. "Jelani's been more the pass rusher — living in the backfield."
There's no official depth chart yet in Teerlinck's room — instead, the philosophy is built on fresh legs and rotational value.
"We don't have ones, twos, threes, and fours. We have 'who's up next,'" Teerlinck said. "You might see different guys every five plays. The run guys will play run downs, the pass guys will play pass downs, and the 50/50 downs — whoever's fresh."
Interior Defensive Linemen
Thomas Aden | 6-1 | 280 | R-Jr.
Mason Maddox | 6-1 | 275 | R-Jr.
Aiden Burgess | 6-0 | 305 | R-Fr.
Josue Cordoba | 6-3 | 280 | R-Fr.
Darian Blachewicz | 6-2 | 270 | Fr.
Amon Williams | 6-1 | 275 | Gr.
Jelani Davis | 6-2 | 285 | R-Sr.
Coming Off the Edge with Malcolm Robinson
If the interior is about bulk and physicality, the edge is about twitch, burst, and attitude — and that's precisely how Coach Malcolm Robinson wants it.
"The thing that stands out most is how quickly they're picking up the defense," Robinson said. "We're trying to fit a new identity, a new culture, and those guys have gravitated toward it."
Veterans like Antoine "AJ" Campbell Jr. and Mattheus "Stretch" Carroll have established the standard. But this fall, Robinson says leadership is a shared responsibility.
"Last year, we put a lot of weight on one or two guys. Now we've got all seven guys in the room leading each other," he said.
Several young edge defenders are rising fast, including Antonio Bottiggi, Jahien Roy, Jamond Mathis, and Garrett Dial.
- Bottiggi: "So freaking strong... his power in the run game and his rushes are insane."
- Roy: "A power rushing freak. He can bend the corner and play the run. He's dynamic."
- Mathis: "A natural pass rusher. He's his own person, not a replacement for anyone. But we've got one, at least one, real guy there."
- Dial: "Probably the fastest, most athletic kid in the room. Once his body catches up, he'll be very dynamic."
As far as priorities, Robinson is firm: stop the run first.
"I'm a stop-the-run guy — that's just who I am," he said. "Setting edges, controlling the C-gap, knocking people back — you earn the right to rush the passer on third down."
Still, Robinson is confident the group can do both.
"We've got the guys to get it done," he said. "They love it — and I believe they'll show it."
And when asked for a potential breakout name, Robinson couldn't choose just one.
"Jahien Roy and Garrett Dial," he said. "They're two peas in a pod. They've put in the work, get extra reps, and will surprise people."
Edge Rushers
Jamond Mathis | 6-3 | 245 | R-So.
Antoine Campbell Jr. | 6-3 | 250 | R-Sr.
Mattheus Carroll | 6-3 | 240 | Gr.
Jaihien Roy | 6-2 | 230 | R-Fr.
Antonio Bottiggi | 6-2 | 245 | R-Fr.
Garrett Dial | 6-3 | 225 | R-Fr.
Mohammed Hazime | 6-3 | 250 | R-Jr.
Bryce Griffin | 6-2 | 210 | Fr.
Bryce Faulk | 6-1 | 240 | R-So.
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