UNI building defensive line depth this spring

CEDAR FALLS — Progress has been made, but Northern Iowa’s defense has plenty more to get done during its remaining spring football practices.

Both inside linebacker spots are up for grabs, multiple spots are open in the secondary and a defensive line with new depth is in the midst of a competitive battle for snaps.

Happening simultaneously to position battles is former defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson reacquainting himself with the team after spending the 2022 season at Toledo as the Rockets defensive coordinator.

“I think we need to become more consistent, honestly,” Johnson said. “We flash and different guys flash at different times, but we need to get to a level of consistency that is going to give us the ability to beat Iowa State.

“That’s really what the focus is going to be on for the next seven practices is, OK, you did it once but can you do it every snap?”

Having had time to look back at last season’s film, he said the defense showed a lot of improvement in its last eight games, but with graduations there’s not much to count on headed into the 2023 season.

“We’re really, really inexperienced,” Johnson said. “We’ve got talent, (but) we’ve got to continue to focus on the details and technique. The magic will be how much improvement, or what kind of strides can we make as a group, in the next seven practices. Just because most of these guys are really, really raw and green.”

The one position group that does feature accomplished returnees is defensive line. Khristian Boyd and Devin Rice each earned Phil Steele all-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2022. Caden Houghtelling was limited to just seven games last season with an injury, but received all-MVC honors in 2021 when he led the team with 7 1/2 sacks.

Along with its three returning seniors, redshirt sophomore Cannon Butler captured a starting spot last season with three sacks in nine games. Cordarrius Bailey and transfers Cartez Crook-Jones, Warren Peeples, Grant Reasner and Malik Stewart are battling with a number of underclassmen for playing time.

“We are very experienced up front,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of continuing to work and get better. And we’ve got some younger guys there, too, and that’s a position that requires a lot of depth. So we’ve got to bring some of those younger guys along.”

At linebacker, Ben Belken, Tucker Langenberg and Cam Baker are a few names with experience. However, Johnson said the position is a wide-open battle.

“Everybody is in the mix,” Johnson said. “Right now I wouldn’t say that there’s one guy at that position that you would say, ‘man, he’s far ahead of everybody else.’

“As with anything, it’s a process. The whole group has shown improvement, (but) we still have a long way to go.”

UNI has announced its spring game will be held April 21, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. and be preceded by a tailgate event and kids clinic that begins at 5:30.