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It's the age-old question for Monmouth football: what can the defense do?
High-flying offense is the expectation for the Hawks. It is the program's persistent identity even as the style of offense has evolved and adjusted to take many different forms. But the defense is the eternal question mark. This year, Monmouth seems to have found answers.
After a 9-3 season that was undercut by late losses to New Hampshire and Albany, the Hawk defense in particular is motivated and well-positioned to take the next step. They'll need to set the tone for the entire team as Monmouth must replace nine of 11 starters on offense, but returns seven starters (and plenty more key contributors) on defense. The expectations remain high for Monmouth, as they were one of two Coastal Athletic Association teams in the Stats Perform preseason top 25 rankings (22nd) along with reigning conference champion Rhode Island.
In the wake of the unexpected death of first-year defensive coordinator Lou DiRienzo Jr., the Hawks have carried his legacy forward with continued improvement going into the fall. It is a deep source of motivation, and that has showed across the roster.
With the preseason CAA defensive player of the year leading the way, this can be the year that the Monmouth defense makes a name for itself. But there are key changes on the edge and in the secondary, so who are the players that will need to step up to keep the momentum going? Here's an early look at the candidates and a rough draft of the team's depth chart now that fall camp is underway.
[IMG alt="Monmouth football player Brendan Bigos. Monmouth football players have a lot of support from friends and family, especially local families, who turn out regularly at home football games.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
West Long Branch, NJ"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/9f616b7b85f0d68855c127c6cc924b22[/IMG]
The perfect place to start is on the interior of the defensive line, which is shaping up to be the deepest position group on Monmouth's defense. The Hawks have so many quality options, it's hard to deduce who will lead the team in snaps as the starters in a literal sense. And as with most of the defensive position groups, the estimate needs to be taken with a grain of salt as players will be rotated in with different personnel groupings.
Redshirt seniors Brendan Bigos, Bryce Rooks and JJ Lewis are all reliable and proven players with well-rounded skillsets as run defenders with solid pass rushing ability. Hugo Gill, a transfer from Temple and Charleston Southern, is another reliable run stuffer. Sebastien Achaempong provides a bit more pass rushing juice, and interior pressure could be one area where the team looks to improve after losing the top two edge rushers. Another player to watch is Keisean Johnson-Wilson, a 6-foot-2 and 295-pound transfer from Findlay.
But then there's all the emerging players that have positioned themselves to be in the defensive line rotation with their play in practices. In particular, former Red Bank Catholic standout Avery Barnes and Cedar Creek product Mandel Pettiford have flashed exciting ability as interior pass rushers. That's eight players that can comfortably take the field in the fall.
Depth Chart estimate:
The edges of the front four are less defined outside of returning starter Hunter Watson. But to be clear, Watson is a really explosive cornerstone player that has seemingly made another leap this spring after a great campaign as a redshirt freshman in 2025. The 6-foot-5 and 260-pound defensive end was always a reliable run defender and flashed pass rushing ability with four sacks last fall, but he looks like he could be a dominant playmaker in 2026 in both facets. Expect him to essentially step into the Josiah Graham role as a staple player in the front But there's no quick solution for replacing the production of Graham and Lamont Lester after the duo combined for 19 sacks and six forced fumbles last season.
Beyond Watson, there are questions but a lot of promising pieces. Syracuse transfer Jahide Lesaine Jr. has immense talent and athleticism that is evident in drills, but it hasn't consistently translated to success in 11-on-11 reps. Mounir Keshen was the star of the spring game as a hybrid linebacker that could potentially work off the edge in pass rushing situations, and Donovon Rondeau is in a similar mold. UMass transfer Donovan Dyson is also in that positional category, but he was setback by injuries in the spring. Monmouth will have a high-floor option when former Wall standout and Penn grad transfer Jake Davis joins in the fall, as he had three sacks last season for the Quakers.
Like the defensive tackles, this group is presented in one singular positional hierarchy. But in reality, there will be rotations and sub-packages that could see edge defenders and interior lineman moved around the front. Keshen is still primarily a linebacker, so he isn't with this particular group.
Depth Chart estimate:
[IMG alt="Monmouth football player Charlie Sasso reacts after recovering a fumble. Monmouth football players have a lot of support from friends and family, especially local families, who turn out regularly at home football games.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
West Long Branch, NJ"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/872292fead63492301bbfdfe9ae569dd[/IMG]
The linebacker position is shaping up to be one of the big strengths of this unit, and that's before considering that several linebackers have shown the potential to help reinforce the pass rush. It starts with team captain Charlie Sasso, Ryan Russo, and Spencer Kishbaugh. They're all proven players from last year, and Russo really showed the ability to be a game-wrecker. He led the team with two interceptions and was third on the team with 62 total tackles in addition to two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
The other rising player to watch is redshirt freshman Chris Ulmer, who had a very good spring and brings unique physical element at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. With those four guys, the two interior linebacker positions are solid. The outside linebacker/hybrid safety position is the source of intrigue. Last year, it was Justin Bennin occupying the "viper" position in the defense. Redshirt freshman Jah Reid could be a very exciting potential replacement in that role, but it seems like Monmouth might go a bit heavier with Keshen. Another player who had a strong spring was Ryan Alexander, who sort of splits the difference stylistically. Also in the mold of Keshen is freshman Jaylen Carter, a freak athlete at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds with tons of upside.
It will be interesting to see what ends up as Monmouth's preferred defensive personnel group as a base defense, but the aim is clearly to be dynamic and multiple in the looks presented to opposing offenses.
Depth Chart estimate:
LB1
LB2
LB3
Buckle up for the most-wide open positional group on the defense. That competition begins after Chris Palmer, who was outstanding as a true freshman last season and could develop into an all-conference level player if he continues to improve as a sophomore. Redshirt sophomore Kyle Jackson is an experienced corner with length at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and redshirt junior Donovan Fey is similarly experienced with that longer build. Omar Ibrahim, a transfer from Hampton and formerly Temple, had a strong spring.
Those four are presumably at the top, but there's a lot of competition. Redshirt junior Zac Ricci has seen plenty of opportunity and redshirt freshman Elijah Mathis is another long corner at 6-foot-3 that could make a leap in year two. Redshirt sophomore Amir Haskett, a transfer from Richmond, is another player to watch as he's proven he can play outside and notched two starts last year. But he might be more of a nickel safety in the Monmouth defense. That's similarly the case for Amori McNeil, an exciting freshman from Don Bosco. There's a lot of good candidates, but this group is a guessing game after Palmer.
Depth Chart estimate:
The trend of wide-open competition after a cornerstone headliner also applies to the safety position. Jaeden Jones is a star. The junior captain was the CAA preseason defensive player of the year for good reason after performing at an All-American level as a sophomore. He led the team in total tackles with 118, including 74 solo tackles which was twice as many as second-best on the team. He also had five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
Jones is a game changer that will be moved around the defense to maximize his impact. But there's still a big question as to who will occupy the other safety spot. On a surface level, Hasson Manning Jr. seems like the most intuitive candidate. The senior transfer from Delaware made 10 career starts for the Blue Hens, but played more in a reserve role last year. Jaiden McLendon Parker, a transfer from D-II Glenville State, is another candidate. Freshman Alexander Williams has shown a lot of tenacity in his moments. And then the versatile duo of Haskett and McNeil could potentially play safety. And redshirt senior Trey McLeer is yet another player with game experience vying for the spot.
Depth Chart estimate:
SS
FS
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth football preview of every defensive position, 2026 depth charts
Continue reading...
High-flying offense is the expectation for the Hawks. It is the program's persistent identity even as the style of offense has evolved and adjusted to take many different forms. But the defense is the eternal question mark. This year, Monmouth seems to have found answers.
After a 9-3 season that was undercut by late losses to New Hampshire and Albany, the Hawk defense in particular is motivated and well-positioned to take the next step. They'll need to set the tone for the entire team as Monmouth must replace nine of 11 starters on offense, but returns seven starters (and plenty more key contributors) on defense. The expectations remain high for Monmouth, as they were one of two Coastal Athletic Association teams in the Stats Perform preseason top 25 rankings (22nd) along with reigning conference champion Rhode Island.
In the wake of the unexpected death of first-year defensive coordinator Lou DiRienzo Jr., the Hawks have carried his legacy forward with continued improvement going into the fall. It is a deep source of motivation, and that has showed across the roster.
With the preseason CAA defensive player of the year leading the way, this can be the year that the Monmouth defense makes a name for itself. But there are key changes on the edge and in the secondary, so who are the players that will need to step up to keep the momentum going? Here's an early look at the candidates and a rough draft of the team's depth chart now that fall camp is underway.
[IMG alt="Monmouth football player Brendan Bigos. Monmouth football players have a lot of support from friends and family, especially local families, who turn out regularly at home football games.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
West Long Branch, NJ"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/9f616b7b85f0d68855c127c6cc924b22[/IMG]
Defensive Tackle
The perfect place to start is on the interior of the defensive line, which is shaping up to be the deepest position group on Monmouth's defense. The Hawks have so many quality options, it's hard to deduce who will lead the team in snaps as the starters in a literal sense. And as with most of the defensive position groups, the estimate needs to be taken with a grain of salt as players will be rotated in with different personnel groupings.
Redshirt seniors Brendan Bigos, Bryce Rooks and JJ Lewis are all reliable and proven players with well-rounded skillsets as run defenders with solid pass rushing ability. Hugo Gill, a transfer from Temple and Charleston Southern, is another reliable run stuffer. Sebastien Achaempong provides a bit more pass rushing juice, and interior pressure could be one area where the team looks to improve after losing the top two edge rushers. Another player to watch is Keisean Johnson-Wilson, a 6-foot-2 and 295-pound transfer from Findlay.
But then there's all the emerging players that have positioned themselves to be in the defensive line rotation with their play in practices. In particular, former Red Bank Catholic standout Avery Barnes and Cedar Creek product Mandel Pettiford have flashed exciting ability as interior pass rushers. That's eight players that can comfortably take the field in the fall.
Depth Chart estimate:
- Bryce Rooks, R-Sr.
- Brendan Bigos, R-Sr.
- JJ Lewis, Sr.
- Sebastien Achaempong, R-So.
- Keisean Johnson-Wilson, Gr.
- Hugo Gill, R-Jr.
- Avery Barnes, R-So.
- Mandel Pettiford, R-Fr.
You must be registered for see images attach
Defensive End/Edge
The edges of the front four are less defined outside of returning starter Hunter Watson. But to be clear, Watson is a really explosive cornerstone player that has seemingly made another leap this spring after a great campaign as a redshirt freshman in 2025. The 6-foot-5 and 260-pound defensive end was always a reliable run defender and flashed pass rushing ability with four sacks last fall, but he looks like he could be a dominant playmaker in 2026 in both facets. Expect him to essentially step into the Josiah Graham role as a staple player in the front But there's no quick solution for replacing the production of Graham and Lamont Lester after the duo combined for 19 sacks and six forced fumbles last season.
Beyond Watson, there are questions but a lot of promising pieces. Syracuse transfer Jahide Lesaine Jr. has immense talent and athleticism that is evident in drills, but it hasn't consistently translated to success in 11-on-11 reps. Mounir Keshen was the star of the spring game as a hybrid linebacker that could potentially work off the edge in pass rushing situations, and Donovon Rondeau is in a similar mold. UMass transfer Donovan Dyson is also in that positional category, but he was setback by injuries in the spring. Monmouth will have a high-floor option when former Wall standout and Penn grad transfer Jake Davis joins in the fall, as he had three sacks last season for the Quakers.
Like the defensive tackles, this group is presented in one singular positional hierarchy. But in reality, there will be rotations and sub-packages that could see edge defenders and interior lineman moved around the front. Keshen is still primarily a linebacker, so he isn't with this particular group.
Depth Chart estimate:
- Hunter Watson, R-So.
- Jahide Lesaine, Jr.
- Donovan Dyson, R-Jr.
- Jake Davis, Gr.
- Donovan Rondeau, R-Fr.
[IMG alt="Monmouth football player Charlie Sasso reacts after recovering a fumble. Monmouth football players have a lot of support from friends and family, especially local families, who turn out regularly at home football games.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
West Long Branch, NJ"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/872292fead63492301bbfdfe9ae569dd[/IMG]
Linebacker
The linebacker position is shaping up to be one of the big strengths of this unit, and that's before considering that several linebackers have shown the potential to help reinforce the pass rush. It starts with team captain Charlie Sasso, Ryan Russo, and Spencer Kishbaugh. They're all proven players from last year, and Russo really showed the ability to be a game-wrecker. He led the team with two interceptions and was third on the team with 62 total tackles in addition to two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
The other rising player to watch is redshirt freshman Chris Ulmer, who had a very good spring and brings unique physical element at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. With those four guys, the two interior linebacker positions are solid. The outside linebacker/hybrid safety position is the source of intrigue. Last year, it was Justin Bennin occupying the "viper" position in the defense. Redshirt freshman Jah Reid could be a very exciting potential replacement in that role, but it seems like Monmouth might go a bit heavier with Keshen. Another player who had a strong spring was Ryan Alexander, who sort of splits the difference stylistically. Also in the mold of Keshen is freshman Jaylen Carter, a freak athlete at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds with tons of upside.
It will be interesting to see what ends up as Monmouth's preferred defensive personnel group as a base defense, but the aim is clearly to be dynamic and multiple in the looks presented to opposing offenses.
Depth Chart estimate:
LB1
- Charlie Sasso, R-Sr.
- Spencer Kishbaugh, R-Jr.
LB2
- Ryan Russo, R-Sr.
- Chris Ulmer, R-Fr.
LB3
- Mounir Keshen, So.
- Ryan Alexander, R-Jr.
- Jah Reid, R-Fr.
You must be registered for see images attach
Cornerback
Buckle up for the most-wide open positional group on the defense. That competition begins after Chris Palmer, who was outstanding as a true freshman last season and could develop into an all-conference level player if he continues to improve as a sophomore. Redshirt sophomore Kyle Jackson is an experienced corner with length at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and redshirt junior Donovan Fey is similarly experienced with that longer build. Omar Ibrahim, a transfer from Hampton and formerly Temple, had a strong spring.
Those four are presumably at the top, but there's a lot of competition. Redshirt junior Zac Ricci has seen plenty of opportunity and redshirt freshman Elijah Mathis is another long corner at 6-foot-3 that could make a leap in year two. Redshirt sophomore Amir Haskett, a transfer from Richmond, is another player to watch as he's proven he can play outside and notched two starts last year. But he might be more of a nickel safety in the Monmouth defense. That's similarly the case for Amori McNeil, an exciting freshman from Don Bosco. There's a lot of good candidates, but this group is a guessing game after Palmer.
Depth Chart estimate:
- Chris Palmer, So.
- Kyle Jackson, R-So.
- Omar Ibrahim, R-Jr.
- Donovan Fey, R-Jr.
- Zac Ricci, R- Jr.
- Elijah Mathis, R-Fr.
You must be registered for see images attach
Safety
The trend of wide-open competition after a cornerstone headliner also applies to the safety position. Jaeden Jones is a star. The junior captain was the CAA preseason defensive player of the year for good reason after performing at an All-American level as a sophomore. He led the team in total tackles with 118, including 74 solo tackles which was twice as many as second-best on the team. He also had five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
Jones is a game changer that will be moved around the defense to maximize his impact. But there's still a big question as to who will occupy the other safety spot. On a surface level, Hasson Manning Jr. seems like the most intuitive candidate. The senior transfer from Delaware made 10 career starts for the Blue Hens, but played more in a reserve role last year. Jaiden McLendon Parker, a transfer from D-II Glenville State, is another candidate. Freshman Alexander Williams has shown a lot of tenacity in his moments. And then the versatile duo of Haskett and McNeil could potentially play safety. And redshirt senior Trey McLeer is yet another player with game experience vying for the spot.
Depth Chart estimate:
SS
- Jaeden Jones, Jr.
- Trey McLeer, R-Sr.
- Alexander Williams, Fr.
FS
- Hasson Manning, Sr.
- Jaiden McLendon Parker, R-Jr.
- Amir Haskett, R-So.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth football preview of every defensive position, 2026 depth charts
Continue reading...
