Here are the sizes of DL players with the most regular season snaps this year (I included Lacey as he would have been if he stayed the entire year):
Isaiah Foskey – 6’5” and 265 pounds
Justin Ademilola – 6’1.5” and 253 pounds
Howard Cross III – 6’1” and 276 pounds
Jayson Ademilola – 6’3” and 285 pounds
Rylie Mills – 6’5” and 292 pounds
Nana Osafo-Mensah – 6’3” and 250 pounds
Chris Smith – 6’1.5” and 310 pounds
Jacob Lacey - 6'1.5" and 280 pounds
Starting DT's that are 6'1" (276 pounds) and 6'3" (285 pounds) is not ideal to hold up like we'd like against the run game and are subject to getting wore down. Half of the players are under 6'2" and 3/4 are not taller than 6'3". Our starting DL on average is 6'2.5" and 270 pounds. That's not big enough. Contrast this to the DL brought in by Freeman and company the last two years:
2022 DL Class:
Tyson Ford – 6’4”
Aidan Gobaira – 6’4.5”
Donavan Hinish – 6’2.5”
Joshua Burnham – 6’3.5”
2023 DL Class:
Brenan Vernon – 6’5”
Boubacar Traore – 6’5”
Devan Houstan – 6’4.5”
Armel Mukam – 6’3.5”
All of these guys have big, long frames that can hold a lot of mass and are the powerful, fast twitch type. We have an issue going into the '23 season in shoring things up along the DL but this problem will be short lived. In a few years, the front line of our defense is going to look a heck of a lot different than it has under Kelly.
We've written quite a bit about the major upgrades in LB and DB recruiting under Freeman but the DL upgrade that is also underway will be profound and is necessary as well. The defensive roster we will have when Freeman has completed the overhaul will be remarkable. It will be championship caliber and sustainable. Such an upgrade over what Brian Kelly did here for years.