By Niles Hall (@n23hall) – Content Editor | Senior linebacker John Norwood and linebackers participate in individual drills on April 9. (Photo by Max Garcia (@maxgarci09) – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State football is in the final stages of spring training camp as the Spartans enter a defensive reset.
SJSU defensive coordinator Bojay Filimoeatu is changing the team’s defensive identity in his first offseason with the role.
“Our biggest thing is preaching relentless effort,” Filimoeatu said. “We want to make sure we’re tightening up our coverage in the backend and being disciplined up front. It’s our biggest objective”.
In the transfer portal, the Spartans added nine defensive players after losing almost every defender who started in the team’s last game of the season against Fresno State University.
In addition to the transfer portal moves, the defense bolstered its staff, adding Joe Dale as safeties coach and secondary guru Brian Norwood as defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Norwood has 35 years of coaching experience with stops across the country. Most notably, he’s coached at the University of Los Angeles, Texas Christian University, and Pennsylvania State University.
Norwood will be tasked to help improve a secondary that ranked 109th in the nation, allowing 246.5 passing yards per game last season.
“I came in as well as many places that I came to, not looking back but looking forward,” Norwood said. “ There’s a new group of guys, they’re working hard, they’re doing what we’re asking them to do so I’m excited.”
The Spartans’ limited roster turnover brings competition across the defensive lineup. Most importantly, the team will need to find its defensive signal caller and outside linebackers.
SJSU has depth at linebacker, with 16 players on the roster, many with limited experience. Senior Ethan Powell leads the group in snaps, starting many games at outside linebacker over the past two seasons.
Juniors Naseri Danielson and Dylan Lee have experience at middle linebacker last season; the duo served in backup roles.
“There’s more competition in the rooms,” Danielson said. “That just helps everyone rise when you have competition, so them [last season’s starters] leaving honestly benefited both the linebacker rooms.”
The most returners on the SJSU defense will come from its defensive line, with seven returners and three transfers. Only two of the returning linemen have starting experience.
The Spartans’ defense, with new faces and few returners, will look to adopt Coach Filimoeatu’s defensive style.
“With Bojay [Filimoeatu] switching up the defense philosophy. We’re more aggressive,” Danielson said. “Our DBs feel comfortable on the backend. When you put it together, it’s a great defense.”
SJSU football will look to build on spring training with the final stretch having four more practices and the Spring game on April 18 at CEFCU Stadium at 1 p.m.
