Photo by: Aly Bayliss
Previewing the ACU Defense with HC Keith Patterson & DB Izaiah Kelley
8/23/2024 10:19:00 PM | Football
ABILENE - The ACU football team returns multiple playmakers on defense, including Preseason All-UAC defenders Elijah Moffett, Cirby Coheley and Darius Moore.
Eleven players who started at least one game during the 2023 season are back in the line-up this year.
Last season the Wildcats were second in the conference in interceptions with twelve. Coheley himself finished the year tied for second in the UAC with three picks, and third in sacks per game with 0.55.
We sat down with ACU head football coach Keith Patterson, who spent 16 years as a defensive coordinator at FBS colleges, to talk about how the defense is shaping up before the season opener on Aug. 31.
On the linebackers...
We're versatile at linebacker. We have guys with different skill sets. We've also been able to identify some guys over the past several weeks who are going to provide even more quality depth at the linebacker position.
On getting taller and longer at the defensive back position.
We've got a couple of big corners in Jordan Mukes and Gabe White. Obviously, Harold West is a long, rangy safety. Elijah Moffett is another big, tall, rangy guy back there. Then at our hybrid position there's Izaiah Kelley and Dorian Plumley. I think that bodes well for moving into the season.
On the defensive line's role...
We're a multiple odd-front is what we like to refer to ourselves as. Sometimes it looks like we're in a four-man front even though there's only three down linemen. The biggest thing is understanding moving in and out of odd and even fronts. The goal is to cast a net. There's a three-man net we try to cast on a quarterback, and there's a four-man net, the rush lane net. We need toughness up front because our goal is to stop the run. There's a lot of depth up there - probably eight or nine guys that I feel can play for us and we feel confident with any of them on the field.
On Jerry Lawson's transformation from 250 lbs. at Breckenridge H.S. to 295 lbs. now...
He ate his way to the top, didn't he? I watched his high school film and I knew that's exactly what we look for in players. You take a guy who was so versatile - a guy who was a high school running back and is now playing a three-technique in college football. He's so naturally gifted and strong. His better days are definitely in front of him, he has a ton of upside. Jerry is such a great person.
On getting buy-in from transfers...
I think that's probably the biggest challenge with any college football team in today's world with the [transfer] portal; trying to create chemistry and continuity. There's no way around it other than spending time with your teammates.We do team-building exercises especially on the weekends. The biggest thing is having player accountability where you can show someone their role individually, and they have to accept that role. If you don't like the role you're in, then make more plays, do something to improve that role. If I'm only getting one rep, or ten reps, I've got to make everyone of them county.
It goes all the way back to January when we started with the 'why' and who do we represent. We try to build pride in the history of the city of Abilene, our university, former coaches, great teams and players, and understanding what you truly represent.
Patterson has said several times that the 2024 ACU squad is the one he's felt the most confident in heading into a season. He credits that to the relationships that defensive players have formed with each other.
ACU begins its season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Texas Tech. The first game at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium is the following Saturday - Sept. 7 - against new conference opponent West Georgia.
Season tickets and individual tickets are still on sale! Click here to secure your seat at Wildcat Stadium.
Eleven players who started at least one game during the 2023 season are back in the line-up this year.
Last season the Wildcats were second in the conference in interceptions with twelve. Coheley himself finished the year tied for second in the UAC with three picks, and third in sacks per game with 0.55.
We sat down with ACU head football coach Keith Patterson, who spent 16 years as a defensive coordinator at FBS colleges, to talk about how the defense is shaping up before the season opener on Aug. 31.
On the linebackers...
We're versatile at linebacker. We have guys with different skill sets. We've also been able to identify some guys over the past several weeks who are going to provide even more quality depth at the linebacker position.
On getting taller and longer at the defensive back position.
We've got a couple of big corners in Jordan Mukes and Gabe White. Obviously, Harold West is a long, rangy safety. Elijah Moffett is another big, tall, rangy guy back there. Then at our hybrid position there's Izaiah Kelley and Dorian Plumley. I think that bodes well for moving into the season.
On the defensive line's role...
We're a multiple odd-front is what we like to refer to ourselves as. Sometimes it looks like we're in a four-man front even though there's only three down linemen. The biggest thing is understanding moving in and out of odd and even fronts. The goal is to cast a net. There's a three-man net we try to cast on a quarterback, and there's a four-man net, the rush lane net. We need toughness up front because our goal is to stop the run. There's a lot of depth up there - probably eight or nine guys that I feel can play for us and we feel confident with any of them on the field.
On Jerry Lawson's transformation from 250 lbs. at Breckenridge H.S. to 295 lbs. now...
He ate his way to the top, didn't he? I watched his high school film and I knew that's exactly what we look for in players. You take a guy who was so versatile - a guy who was a high school running back and is now playing a three-technique in college football. He's so naturally gifted and strong. His better days are definitely in front of him, he has a ton of upside. Jerry is such a great person.
On getting buy-in from transfers...
I think that's probably the biggest challenge with any college football team in today's world with the [transfer] portal; trying to create chemistry and continuity. There's no way around it other than spending time with your teammates.We do team-building exercises especially on the weekends. The biggest thing is having player accountability where you can show someone their role individually, and they have to accept that role. If you don't like the role you're in, then make more plays, do something to improve that role. If I'm only getting one rep, or ten reps, I've got to make everyone of them county.
It goes all the way back to January when we started with the 'why' and who do we represent. We try to build pride in the history of the city of Abilene, our university, former coaches, great teams and players, and understanding what you truly represent.
Patterson has said several times that the 2024 ACU squad is the one he's felt the most confident in heading into a season. He credits that to the relationships that defensive players have formed with each other.
ACU begins its season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Texas Tech. The first game at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium is the following Saturday - Sept. 7 - against new conference opponent West Georgia.
Season tickets and individual tickets are still on sale! Click here to secure your seat at Wildcat Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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