Defensive Line Hard To Call     The following comments assume that all players currently on the roster return for the 2004 season. The Bison defense has a few question marks, not that they’re lacking talent, it’s just a question of who will start. Defensive line hard to call…     With the influx of jc linemen into the defensive roster, it’s hard to predict what the starting lineup will be. It seems apparent that Isaac Snell, Dwight Summerville and Travis Ware will be in the starting mix. The other starter may be either Rodney Thompson, Isaac Savant, Justin Frick, or Brian Dahl. With Adam Palczewski, Matt Skoy and redshirt freshmen Adrian Herry and James Bechdol bringing the roster defensive linemen numbers to only 11, the possibility of an 8 man rotation seems unlikely. But this is a talented bunch and barring injuries it could happen. Linebackers a numbers game…     The arrival of Joe Mays on the scene takes a fairly cut and dried starting group and scrambles the picture just a little. Originally we would have called the starters as 6th year senior Brian Erenberg, junior Kole Zimmerman, and junior Jayd Kittelson. But Mays may push Kole Zimmerman or Brian Erenberg and will contend with them for playing time. It can only make the Bison defense better.     One theory of recruiting says you recruit a lot of linebackers because they are the best athletes. The ones that outgrow their position become defensive ends, ala Isaac Snell and the lighter ones become college safeties, ala Mike Sheppard or fullbacks, ala Johnny Frank. To that end the linebacker position is usually most numerous on the roster. On the Bison roster along with the previously named 4, we have Brett Itterman, Jake Johnson, Alex Kingsley, Rob Mamula, Jadyn Nelson, Dan Nicholson (rumor has it he has been moved to fullback), Ross Olson, Tommy Ray, Josh Rud, Matt Weidler, and Bill Wrigley. Defensive back starters cut and dried, or are they???     With starters CB Matt Gorman, CB Bobby Babich, and S Jared Essler returning and S Craig Dahl who played as a true freshman also coming back it would seem that the lineup would be cut and dried. We feel that Gorman and Essler are locks. But a lot of talent other than those four also returns and it would seem one or more will push Babich and Dahl for playing time. S Tony Bizal, CB Sam Boraas, CB Joe Bowen, S John Bradley, CB Patrick Brons, CB Ricardo Clarke, CB David Earl, S Kyle Ihry, S Brett Johnson, S Cody Kittelson, S John Majeski, S Eric Miller, CB Ryan Olson, CB Scott Walter, and S Corey Weber are the rest of the returning talent. Of those on the list Scott Walter, Cody Kittelson, Ryan Olson, Kyle Ihry and John Bradley have the most experience. Sam Boraas, Joe Bowen, Patrick Brons, Ricardo Clarke, David Earl, John Majeski, and Eric Miller sported redshirts last season. Look for one or more of them to make a big splash in preseason camp. It looks like the Bison will be probably have the most depth at defensive back. Competition always adds to the quality.