Minus key players, Aggies defensive line looks to step up
The New Mexico State Aggies entered fall football training camp with questions at one of their most critical positions - the defensive line.
It was already determined prior to Saturday's opening practice that senior defensive end Donte Savage and sophomore defensive tackle Augafa Vaaulu would redshirt in 2011 after being ruled academically ineligible.
Things got murkier during Saturday afternoon's practice when senior defensive tackle Tommy Stuart went down with a right knee injury.
It looked serious initially, with Stuart carted off the field while favoring a right knee that he hurt at the midway point of last year - an injury that sidelined him the rest of the way.
After Saturday's practice Stuart said he felt fine, however, walking and putting weight on the leg despite holding crutches.
He will have an MRI on Monday.
"It sounded like it," NMSU head coach DeWayne Walker said when asked if Stuart's injury was serious.
"You hate to speculate that at times. A lot of times with a knee brace on (which Stuart was wearing on Saturday), it cuts down on the severity of the injury."
Going into Saturday's practice the general consensus was that everyone on the defensive line had to step up and stay injury free during a 13-game schedule that kicks off on Sept. 3.
Despite his numbers dropping off last year Savage has been arguably the team's top pass rusher the past two seasons.
Vaaulu was an emerging player, a big-bodied freshman last year who displayed athleticism on a line that produced just nine quarterback sacks.
Stuart was coming on in 2010 when a knee injury Week 7 put him on the shelf.
David Mahoney, entering his senior season at defensive tackle, will have to contribute more this year after a disappointing junior campaign.
The coaching staff is high on junior college transfer defensive tackle Walton Taumoepeau.
Defensive end Pierre Fils had a team-high seven sacks two years ago before recording two last year. He will line up at defensive tackle this season when the Aggies roll out their nickel personnel.
"Always the same pressure every year. I've got to do better, I've got to do good," Fils said.
"We've got depth. We'll be all right."
David Nuimatalolo is a 6-foot-2, 247 pound senior defensive end who appeared in all 12 games last year.
Standing at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, true freshman Stephen Meredith is a big, athletic body and a former rugby player growing up in New Zealand. He played one year of high school football in Garden Grove, Calif., and is expected to take the field this season for the Aggies.
If junior college transfer defensive end Sean Brown can stay healthy, he has the size (6-foot-5, 253 pounds) and speed to help in the WAC as well. "We still got some guys .We do," Walker said. "When we line up and play, people are going to find out what we're all about."
