2017 Frontier Conference Football Preview: D-Linemen

Defensive linemen can certainly anchor whether or not a Frontier Conference defensive unit will be dominant or not. And this coming season, around the league, there are certainly some chances for new faces to emerge in the defensive trenches.

As a whole, the league graduated six of the eight D-linemen from the 2016 Frontier All-Conference Team. Included in that was one of the best defensive ends to ever play at Montana State University-Northern in four-year starter and First-Team performer Tyler Craig. And not only is Northern losing its all-time sack leader in Craig, who was as productive as they come in his four years at MSU-N, the Lights must also replace a bevy of talent and beef along the front four, including Pat Barnett and Lane Urick.

One of those players ready to go to the next level for the Lights is sophomore DT Elijah Dennison (6-2, 255). Dennison moved into a starting role last season, and finished with 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Now, while still young, Dennison will be called upon to lead an otherwise new defensive front for defensive coordinator Jake Eldridge and the Lights.

While most teams are replacing stars all along the D-line this season, the Carroll College Fighting Saints look at their line as a strength, especially with the return of standout seniors Beaugh Meyer (6-2, 275) and Alec Basterrechea (6-2, 244). Meyer was an All-Conference DT for the Saints a year ago, recording 47 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and is known as one of the best run stoppers in the league. On the outside, Basterrechea was a terror, especially late in the season, as he finished the year with 41 stops, 14 TFL’s and 5.5 sacks. And that tandem should give Carroll a fierce front this fall.

Montana Tech and head coach Chuck Morrell seem to always have a big and testy front, but graduation has hit the Orediggers hard in that area. Still, Tech returns All-Conference tackle Tyler Sanders (6-2, 265), who had 55 tackles and 6 TFL’s a year ago. Tech is also deep on the defensive side of the ball, with junior Brock Beede and senior Levi Dawes also returning, so its line should be solid once again.

Southern Oregon could be another team to watch on defense this fall, especially with three starters returning up front. New head coach Charlie Hall has Sam Woods (5-1, 280), Armando Gauger (6-1, 245) and Sean Rogers (6-5, 230) all returning this season, and together, they combined for 104 tackles and 12 sacks a year ago. And the trio should give the Raiders one of the most experienced and stout defensive lines in the Frontier this coming season.

Other top players to watch along the D-line this coming season include College of Idaho’s Carlos Murana, Rocky Mountain College’s Ryder Rice and Eastern Oregon’s Zach Lacey.

Editor's Note: This is the second installment in the Havre Daily News' annual preview of the upcoming Frontier Conference football season. For a look at the top offensive linemen in the Frontier, see Friday's HDN.