BALTIMORE, MD -- In the sixth of a seven-part series breaking down the 2015 Johns Hopkins football team, HopkinsSports.com takes a look at the Blue Jay defensive line. While newcomers to the program may make an impact this season, the breakdown includes only returning players.

Who's Gone - There's no way to dance around the fact that the Blue Jays lost a strong group of players from the defensive line. Gone are First Team All-Centennial selections Michael Longo (also the CC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014) and Michael Rocca and nine-game starter Brannock Furey from last year's team. This trio combined for 125 tackles, 25.5 TFLs and 17 sacks a year ago.

Also moving on May with his degree was Matthew Connery, who missed seven games last season with an injury, but counted 29.5 TFLs and 15.0 sacks in his career.

Who's Back - While the losses are obvious, the cupboard is far from bare. Seniors Tory Prati and John Hardin are the most experienced returning players as they have combined to play in 40 games in the last three years. Both are coming off the best season of their careers as they combined for 43 tackles, 9.0 TFLs and two sacks. Their ability to take on even larger roles and provide leadership to an otherwise young group will be essential.

Sophomore Lance Hammond stepped right in last season and played in all 12 games with two starts. He ranked eighth on the team in tackles (35) and quickly established himself as one of the top young defensive players in the Centennial Conference. He has the ability to develop into Johns Hopkins' next all-conference level defensive lineman.

Junior Kyle Bonci will also take on an increased role as he steps into Longo's shoes at the rover spot. Bonci played in 11 games last season and toatled 12 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and one sack. He is quick off the edge and appears poised for a breakout season.

One of the keys to the Blue Jays' recent success along the defensive line has been the team's depth and the upcoming season should see the same deep rotation. In addition the above, senior Preston Stafford and sophomores Keonte Henson, Nick Marinelli, Tommy Burke and Chris Stauch all played in at least six games last season and will have the opportunity to grab an increased role.

Henson is making the move to rover after playing in all 12 games last season as an outside linebacker/special teams standout, while the others all played along the line as freshmen.

Numbers to Know

2 - The number of First Team All-Centennial performers the Blue Jays must replace as Michael Longo and Michael Rocca both graduated in May.

4 - Sophomores who appear on the team's initial depth chart at defensive line. The biggest one-year jump in development for a player often happens from freshman to sophomore year.

35 - Tackles for Lance Hammond as a freshman last season. His 35 stops are the most among all returning defensive linemen.

- Pride and Poise -