GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The return of eight lettermen, including five players who own starting experience, appears to have Furman's defensive front primed for improved performance in 2025.

In recent years the bandit position wasn't included in discussion of the Paladin defensive line, but this season, in a nod to adjustments to Furman's defensive philosophy, it joins the mix that now incorporates four positions — bandit, end, tackle, and nose guard — and features 18 players.

"We're doing some things differently this year with the bandit and end positions that will give us more flexibility," said head coach Clay Hendrix.  "We could have two bandits on the field at the same time, so we're a little more interchangeable than we were."

"We have a number of guys in that group (defensive front) who have played some snaps, and I think our depth will be improved.  We were productive at times a year ago, but we're looking for that to go up.  A lot of our optimism comes from natural maturity, which stems from playing experience and being in the off-season program for the last several months.  We should be bigger and stronger, so yes, I look for us to better.  The key for us is to determine who among those guys can play and develop a rotation once we figure out who that will be and how many there are."

Five players comprise the bandit position, and three own playing experience.  They will compete to fill the void left by graduated two-time All-Southern Conference selection Luke Clark.  The five include Dylan Chiedo (6-2, 243, R-Jr.), Tanner Schuck (6-3, 242, R-So.), Trevor Short (6-3, 236, R-Fr.), Griffin Farmery (6-0, 225, R-So.), and newcomer Mason Keely (6-2, 230, Fr.).

Hendrix is hoping Chiedo's potential will finally be realized this fall.

"Dylan spent a good bit of his early career at inside linebacker before making the transition to the outside.  He was a guy we were going to depend on a lot a year ago but played in only a couple of games before breaking his hand and missing the rest of the season.  That allowed us to redshirt him, and he's come back strong and is coming off a good spring practice and solid off-season.  He's a leader, too."

Chiedo's absence due to injury last season paved the way for Schuck to garner significant action in his first season on the field, including playing time in all 11 games and a start versus Western Carolina.  He finished the campaign with 15 tackles and a pair of sacks.

"Tanner's a guy who played a bunch for us last year.  He's really bright, dependable, and solid against the run.  He's also getting better as a pass rusher."

One of the intriguing prospects among Furman's young defenders is Short, who also was pushed up the duty roster a year ago following injuries to Chiedo and Clark.

"Trevor is a guy who has made an interesting transition," said Hendrix.  "He was a defensive back late in his high school career but has gotten bigger and kept growing.  Our plan all along was to have him up at bandit, which he had never played before getting here.  What happened last year is he ended up getting thrust in there and playing more than we had first planned.  The good thing is we were still able to redshirt him.  He's a totally different guy now, who has good length and athleticism."

Short logged his first collegiate start against VMI.

Farmery and Keely will also compete at the position.

"Griffin had a shoulder operation post-season, but he's healthy now and should also help us at snapper."

At the end position, the Paladins must replace the graduated Jeremiah Jackson from among four prospects — Joshua Stoneking (6-3, 260, R-So.), Malaki Dobbins (6-3, 252, R-Fr.), Quay Rush (6-0, 249, Sr.), and newcomer Maddox Dykeman (6-8, 255, Fr.).

"We're looking for more production out of that position and the ability to create negative plays," said Hendrix.

Looking to deliver will be Stoneking, who tallied 13 tackles, a pair of pass breakups, and a blocked kick in 2025.

"Joshua was having a solid year for us before missing the last four games with mononucleosis.  That threw a wrinkle into our plans, but he's bigger, stronger, and a really good pass rusher.  We are excited to see what he can do."

Dobbins saw action in four games — the maximum to still qualify for a redshirt.

"Malachi is a really athletic guy.  He gives us pass rushing ability but also has the potential to be solid versus the run.

"Quay is a fourth-year player who is at his best physically that we've seen him heading into the preseason.  He runs well and played some a year ago."

Prospects appear bright at the nose guard and tackle positions, which count four returnees with notable experience, including three who have logged starting duty. The Paladins also added a graduate transfer into the mix that should further solidify depth — a quality Furman significantly lacked at both positions at this time a year ago.

A season ending injury to veteran nose guard Xavier Stephens five games into the 2024 campaign sped up the experience clock for Ty Kauserud (6-4, 293, So.), who started in the final four games. He finished the season with 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

"Ty is a guy who this time a year ago we had hoped to redshirt but ended up playing a lot and starting several games.  "He was solid in there and is 295 pounds now.  I think his best football is clearly ahead of him."

Marc Hernández (6-4, 312, R-So.) was another first year performer who got fast-tracked into action last season and produced 12 tackles and a forced fumble.

"Like Ty, Marc had to play last year. He gives us a big-body guy and experience in there."

The Paladins appear to have significantly helped themselves with the addition of Joseph Perez-Garibay (6-1, 310, Gr.), a graduate transfer who tallied 23 tackles in 11 games at Idaho State in 2024.

"Joseph has played a lot of football in his career in junior college and at Idaho State.  We were looking for a guy who could come in and give us some quality depth.  He's put in quality work this summer and helps give us three big bodies in there that can contribute."

Perez-Garibay's presence will help cover the expected absence of Bruce Knauber (6-1, 296, R-Fr.), who is sidelined after undergoing surgery in the spring for a torn Achilles tendon.

Johnny Okolo (6-1, 280, Fr.) rounds out the nose guard position.

The tackle slot boasts two players with starting experience and a pair of highly regarded younger performers.

Caldwell Bussey (6-3, 286, R-So.) earned playing time in all 11 games and starts in the final five games in his first full season of action.  A SoCon All-Freshman Team selection, he was credited with 15 stops, including 3.5 for-loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery.

"Caldwell had a really solid year in 2024.  He's a productive guy and a good leader."

The Paladins also welcome back Malachi Harrison (6-1, 274, R-Jr.), who made six starts and registered 13 tackles a year ago

"Malachi is an experienced player who will help us again this year."

A player to watch at tackle, according to Hendrix, is Demetrius Baldwin (6-1, 271, R-Fr.).

"Demetrius is a young player we're really high on.  He was a guy we held and held for the redshirt.  Late in the year we were going to play him for a little stretch, and I remember he went in there against Mercer and caused a fumble.  He's that kind of guy — one who makes plays.  I think he will give us some work from the start."

Among the Paladins' 15 transfer additions this year is Garrison Butler (6-1, 280, R-Fr.), a product of the The Bolles School who signed with Cincinnati a year ago and spent the spring semester at Appalachian State before joining the Paladins in early summer.

"Garrison has a chance to be a good one.  He was highly recruited out of high school in Florida."