BALTIMORE, MD - In the sixth of a seven-part series breaking down the 2016 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: The Blue Jays must replace starters Tory Prati and John Hardin, who combined for 75 tackles and 8.5 tackles for losses last season en route to both earning CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.

We're Honored: Johns Hopkins produced a pair of All-Centennial Conference selections on the defensive line last season - and both players are back in 2016 in juniors Keonte Henson and Lance Hammond.

Henson, who was in his first season playing on the line in 2015, earned First Team All-Centennial honors as he finished fourth on the team in tackles (61), paced the team in tackles for losses (10.5) and sacks (5.5) and forced a pair of fumbles. Working from the interior, Hammond grabbed Second Team All-Centennial status last season with 39 tackles, 3.5 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks.

Not a Two-Man Show: While Henson and Hammond may grab the headlines, there is no shortage of other talented defensive linemen on the team - and it's not a group that will lose much as only one of the eight players on the team's initial depth chart is a senior.

Kyle Bonci is the lone senior among the top eight and he is poised for a breakout season after totaling 29 tackles, 5.0 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks; he plays on the end opposite Henson.

A junior, Tommy Burke, and a pair of sophomores Arman Mizani and Hayden Good, provide experienced depth at the end position. Burke saw action in 11 games last season and posted 17 tackles. Mizani played in all 12 games as a freshman and posted 20 tackles, while Good played in eight games and had 10 stops to his credit.

Joining Hammond on the interior of the line will be junior nose guards Nick Marinelli and Chris Stauch and sophomore Anthony Davidson, who should see time at defensive tackle. Marinelli and Stauch both played in nine games last season and a combined 31 games in the last two years, while Davidson saw action in 10 games as a freshman last season.

Defensive Coordinator Mickey Rehring has employed a deep rotation to build depth and keep players fresh, especially early in the season. With nine experienced players returning, that should continue in 2016.

Inside the Numbers
9 - The number of defensive linemen the Blue Jays return this season that saw action in eight or more games last season.

294 - Career combined tackles for Johns Hopkins' nine returning defensive linemen, only one of which is a senior.

11 - All-Centennial Conference defensive linemen Johns Hopkins has produced in the last five seasons (2011-15).

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