ETSU defense looks to bring more pressure

Look for the East Tennessee State defense to play more aggressive this season. ETSU football coach Will Healy brought in J.C. Price from Virginia Tech in March to become the Bucs' defensive line coach and associate head coach. He's working closely with coordinator Chad Staggs for a defense built on putting pressure on opposing offenses. Price's background includes eight years at James Madison where he was part of the Dukes' 2004 FCS national championship staff. He later coached at Marshall before moving to Virginia Tech. Staggs has enjoyed having Price come on board as the Bucs look to improve from last season when they finished third in the Southern Conference in total defense at 402 yards per game and gave up 28.8 points per game. "J.C. is one of those veteran guys that Chad respects right off the bat," Healy said at the team's weekly press conference. "He's an associate head coach for us, and I wanted his voice to be heard, not just in the defensive room, but from the entire team." Healy likes that Price is direct, and while loyal, wants to know the reason for doing certain things. He's not afraid to share his opinion with Healy. "He's been a really good critic in a good way," Healy said. "He's like, why are you doing this? If you've ever been around him, he's not a very politically correct human being, so he has no problems telling you how he feels. That's been great for me, but knowing that it's coming from a loyal place. I have no problems being questioned if we're about getting the right answers for our players." The players have certainly responded in a positive way. Brenden LeBlanc, a senior defensive lineman, likes what he's seen. LeBlanc, a preseason All-Southern Conference selection, has played for three different defensive coordinators and three different head coaches while at ETSU. "The mentality that Coach Price brings has really changed the way we play up front — a lot more aggressive, attack, get vertical," LeBlanc said. "It's all about destruction. Coach Price is really good about drawing up games and really getting the best guys free to make plays. It's been a great combination to have him and Coach Staggs together." One reason the Bucs are able to be so aggressive up front and feel more comfortable in man-to-man defense is its talented secondary. Under Staggs last season, ETSU ranked second in the Southern Conference with 12 interceptions, an improvement of seven over the previous year. The Bucs return Mike Jenkins, Jivon Oggs and Jimmy Bowdry, who combined for five interceptions last season, along with talented transfer Devin Hunter who had two interceptions at Tennessee Tech. "That's been the one position where we've been a little banged up," Healy said. "We should get those guys back, but I don't know that it'll be this week. I think we've got a lot more depth and a lot more talent (than last season). You've got three guys coming back very experienced in Jimmy, Mike and Oggs, and then you're putting the pieces around those guys. I feel differently about our ability to play man coverage." There is also the linebacking corps led by preseason All-SoCon selection Dre Delinois and Qua Birdsong. It all comes together with the pressure up front. Healy believes the team can create tackles for losses, get pressure on the quarterback and get opposing offenses behind the chains. LeBlanc feels that way too. This is a huge week for Isaiah Potts, who transferred to ETSU from Campbell before the 2025 season. There are also new faces on the defensive line who have LeBlanc confident about the Bucs' ability to be aggressive up front. "KJ Gillespie is going to start as a true freshman out of high school," LeBlanc said. "Mason Ball, he's been here for three years, but he's going to start his first game here. We have Charles Woodard, he's our defensive end and he's a JUCO guy. He's going to play his first snap of Division I football." As the veteran of the group, LeBlanc is the leader and one giving solid advice. LeBlanc has 63 tackles over the past two seasons while playing on the line. He has a few tips for the younger guys with the pace of Division I football. "It's just slowing your mind down. It's fast at first, but it's nothing that anybody on this team can't handle," he said. "It's breaking things down into smaller pieces than just you know trying to go make a play. The ball always finds you if you're doing the right thing. That's my philosophy."