After continuing positive trends made on the defensive side last season, the Northern Arizona linebacker group is looking to retool a bit.
With last year’s leading tackler Byron Evans now graduated, there is a slight new look to the middle of the team’s defense, but not without talented returners.
With key pieces Jake Casteel, fifth in tackles last season and one of the team’s most consistent pieces since his redshirt freshman season in 2015, Taylor Powell, fourth in tackles last year, and Tristen Vance, 10th in tackles and the team’s 2017 special team player of the year, there is some competition in the middle of the Northern Arizona defense going into 2018.