Senior Logan Harrell has provided leadership to a young
group of players.
Dalton Runberg / The Collegian
Coming into this season, it was popular opinion that the Fresno State defensive line was going to be young and inexperienced with only one senior holdover from 2010. Since the beginning of the season, the defensive line continues to improve and has evolved into a formidable group.
The defensive line had its work cut out for it because the ‘Dogs had to replace Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the year Chris Carter, who led the WAC in sacks last season. Carter’s replacements have been junior Matt Akers and sophomore Nat Harrison, who have demonstrated that they can develop into strong defensive contributors for the remainder of this season and into the future.
Although the line has faced a different offensive scheme on a week-to-week basis, it has been able to develop its skills with each game.
The play of the defensive line has helped the Bulldogs stay in reach of a share of a Western Athletic Conference as they currently have a 2-1 WAC record after their only loss came this past Saturday against conference frontrunner Nevada.
Senior defensive tackle Logan Harrell leads the team with five sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, which are slightly down from his numbers a year ago, but he is facing more double teams. Still, he has helped Fresno State win the line-of-scrimmage battle against some of the top teams in the country.
The defense also has only allowed opponents to convert on 42 percent of their third downs. Defensive line coach Will Plemons acknowledges that the lone senior on the defensive line has helped the players around him.
“Just watch Logan [Harrell] play,” Plemons said. “See how hard he plays and how hard he works. Just by watching him the players have a great example of how to become a good defensive lineman.”
After last season, Harrell finished second in the WAC with 10.5 sacks, which was only behind Carter and learned some things about what mindset to have on Saturdays.
“I’ve tried to lead by example,” Harrell said. “Telling guys the attitude and mentality you need every practice and in games. And making sure every practice we get better.”
The group has come together and matured with guys filling the void left by last year’s senior laden defensive line and cementing their own names in Bulldog history.
Junior Tristan Okpalaugo, a former walk-on, has made a difference along the defensive line since receiving significant playing time for the first time as a Bulldog.
Okpalaugo has recorded four sacks, two of which came in Fresno State’s homecoming victory over Utah State and also forced a fumble. Okpalaugo has made strides since he’s been in the program and Plemons has seen the transformation.
“We always knew he had talent and ability,” Plemons said. “He’s starting to catch up to the game.”
Okpalaugo isn’t the only lineman making plays on the field. Senior Chase McEntee has had a strong year logging 16 tackles. This is his first time starting since his sophomore season where he was in the starting lineup seven times.
The rest of the young group of defensive linemen consists of redshirt freshman Tyeler Davison and true freshman Donavon Lewis, who have gotten some game experience so far this year. With so many new faces getting significant playing time this season, Harrell has seen how far they have come since the beginning of the year.
“They’ve had a little bit of experience,” Harrell said. “They’ve really grown this year up front.”