With nearly 20 defensive linemen listed on Northern Arizona's roster, the Lumberjacks will see an influx of new names at the front of their defense alongside six core returners.
Eloi Kwete leads the way among Northern Arizona's key returners, starting 11 games at defensive end last fall. Finishing with 45 tackles overall, Kwete ranked fourth on the team. Adding 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, and Kwete's totals placed second for the Lumberjacks. Defensive tackle Sheldon Newton also played in 11 games with three starts, finishing with 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Debuting during Northern Arizona's spring season, Newton quickly made an impact in the middle of the Lumberjacks' line and closed out the season with a sack in two of the final three games.
Mark Ho Ching and Nehemiah Magalei's 10 games played tied for third among Northern Arizona's returners. Ho Ching returned to the line after missing the 2021 spring season, finishing with 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Meanwhile, Magalei started five games in the fall after debuting as a true freshman in the spring season and recorded 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Starting six games at defensive tackle and playing in eight total, Cosmas Kwete finished with 5.0 tackles for loss, the fifth-most on the team. Recording 11 quarterback hurries in the eight games, Kwete's total stands as the most by any Lumberjack since 2009. Similar to Magalei, AJ Maluia debuted in the spring season and played in six games during the fall.
While many of Northern Arizona's defensive line additions arrive as true freshmen, Logan Bayus brings plenty of collegiate experience from Colorado Mesa. Earning All-RMAC Honorable Mention honors with 41 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries last fall, Bayus returns to his home state after playing in 26 games for the Mavericks since 2017. Additionally, Micah Carreon, Alani Ma'afu and Warren-Stevens Tayou enrolled early and spent spring camp with the Lumberjacks. Ezekiel Duncan and Jaxon Richards also joined the Lumberjacks during the offseason and arrived for the fall.
At linebacker, Northern Arizona is looking to replace Tristen Vance and Harrison Beemiller who each started 11 games in the middle of the Lumberjacks' defense last fall. Serving as the primary third middle linebacker last season, Jhasi Wilson played in all 11 games for Northern Arizona and finished 10th on the team with 29 tackles. Adding 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the fall, Wilson has played in 22 career games since 2019. Despite missing all of the fall 2021 season, Heston Lameta stands as Northern Arizona's second-most experienced linebacker with 13 games played in 2019 and the spring season. Demetrick Watts II, Tommy Ellis and Jonathan Hunter all played in at least five games last fall, splitting time on defense as well as special teams. Northern Arizona also added Camilo Arquette and Brandon Wong as part of the 2022 recruiting class.
While the middle of Northern Arizona's defense may be inexperienced, the back end boasts a pair of All-Big Sky Conference safeties and multiple past contributors.
Coming off an All-Big Sky Second Team selection in the fall and a unanimous First Team honor in the spring, Morgan Vest enters his final season with the Lumberjacks. Tallying 159 tackles in his 16 games over the past two seasons, Vest also picked off five passes last spring to rank sixth in the FCS and tie for the sixth-most in program history. Vest was named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team ahead of the season and could be in contention for an All-American honor. After missing the fall with an injury, Anthony Sweeney rejoins Vest in the secondary after recording 24 tackles, two pass breakups, 1.0 tackles for loss, one interception and one quarterback hurry in the spring that earned him All-Big Sky Second Team honors. During his most recent full season, Sweeney finished with a team-high 83 tackles in 10 games during the 2019 season, adding five pass breakups, second on the team, and forcing two fumbles to rank third on the team.
Also returning after missing the second half of his true freshman season due to an injury, Brady Shough impressed in his short time on the field. Picking off a pass against Arizona and returning it for a touchdown, Shough scored the first points of the game in Northern Arizona's eventual upset. Similarly, Kamdan Hightower also returns from an injury that cost him most of the fall after he debuted with a pick-six of his own in the spring season. Shough finished with 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups during his debut season while Hightower recorded seven tackles and a pass breakup during his spring debut. Dyvine Wallace and Jakobe Walton add depth at safety, nickelback and cornerback after playing in eight and 10 games respectively last fall, with Wallace 15th on the team with 17 tackles and Walton contributing 15 of his own.
At cornerback, Colby Humphrey stands as Northern Arizona's top returner with 44 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups last season, with the breakups ranking 11th in the Big Sky. A starter in six games, Humphrey will be joined by Jacob Mpungi as the most experienced corners with the former running back starting five games at corner last season.
Northern Arizona's 2022 recruiting class initially included nearly double-digit signees with the additions also including a few transfers. Among the transfers are former Southern Utah corner Alonzo Davis, who appeared in 32 games for the Thunderbirds and earned All-Big Sky Second Team honors following the spring season, and George Steele, formerly at Jacksonville State, who rejoined his former high school defensive coordinator Rudy Griffin after playing in 34 games and recording 73 tackles as a member of the Gamecocks.
Just as they must do on offense, Northern Arizona needs to replace a former All-American at
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