WASHINGTON – With less than a week until the 2023 season kicks off at home against Marist on September 2, GUHoyas.com will take an in-depth look at each position with this edition featuring the team's defensive line. 

"We have a really talented group," said Defensive Line Coach Kevin Snyder. "I think we are going to be tough and stingy up front. During the spring, we got to know each other better so coming into the fall they knew what I'm about. We can keep building and get ourselves to the point where we are a winning team up front. I'm proud of the way they work, proud of the way they approach practice, and everything off the field. I'm really excited about what this group can do."

The Hoyas will be led by the 2023 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team selections Ibri Harrell and Mateen Ibirogba. During his sophomore season, Harrell saw action in 10 games at the linebacker position and recorded 41 tackles with 7.5 TFL. The Virginia native also earned a Patriot League Weekly Honorable Mention against Fordham where he tallied 12 tackles and two sacks. 

Ibirogba is coming off a stellar freshman season where he totaled 18 tackles with 4.0 TFL, three sacks and one forced fumble in nine games played. The Maryland native was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for his 2.5-sack performance against Lafayette.

"We're expecting a lot out of Ibri. He's a twitchy player and he really cares about his preparation and how he plays. He takes a lot of pride in how he plays. He does a great job of pushing people when he sees that things aren't right he is going to let them know. I think that's a huge thing to have because the best teams are player-led teams. So it's good to have a guy like that. Mateen has also been working extremely hard. We are looking forward to having a big year from him as well."

The Hoyas will also be led by veteran returning seniors Kwame Achampong, Andrew Messineo and Noah Gick. Combined, the trio has 40 games of playing experience and 46 total tackles. 

"Noah has done a really good job at being stout in the middle. He is a guy who gives us position flexibility. I can put him wherever and he can get the job done, which is huge, especially on the defensive line. Andrew is a veteran guy that we are going to lean on at the tackle position. He really took the next step after the spring so we're expecting him to be in a good position to help us in our rotation. When I got here in the spring, Kwame was a guy that I pushed but he took it in stride and adjusted really quick. We see eye to eye with what he needs to do, and he's done a nice job progressing."

The Hoyas will also feature 2023 captain VeRon Garrison, Ethan Hunt, Andres Franquez, John Caramanico, Stephen Sergio and Cahlede Jackson.

"VeRon has been our rock in the middle. He's just been consistent since I got here. He leads by example by playing really hard and doing things the right way. I couldn't be more proud of what he's done this offseason. John is an angry player when he plays he is stout and strong. He gives us something there that he'll surprise some people with his ability. Stephen was a linebacker coming into camp and then we moved him into the weak end position. He has done a phenomenal job of learning, meeting extra with me, and getting time watching film together. Andres will have some position flexibility for us being a defensive end just because of his size, ability and strength. I'm looking forward to having him be a guy that we can kind of put in multiple positions. Ethan is an effort guy who is no nonsense. He does a great job of just being tough and physical in there. Cahlede did an awesome job at getting his body into better shape this offseason. He worked really hard and he is able to move better."

Georgetown will gain senior De'Andre Wilborn and junior Jed Henry on the defensive line after they played the 2022 season at the linebacker position. 

"De'Andre has been great for our room. He is more of the vocal guy in our room. He has done a really good job of adapting to what we're doing, and he is a guy that we are going to lean on heavily. From spring to fall, Jed has done a phenomenal job of just learning the position. I am looking forward to getting him in there this season and getting him reps so he can just keep progressing into this defensive line."

New to the Hilltop this season is junior transfer from the University of British Columbia, Natale Frangione. 

"Natale plays so hard and physical. He's smaller in stature, but it does not matter. He can rush the passer, he can come off of blocks and he's a guy who I call a fixer. If anything goes wrong, he's a guy who can fix things because he plays so hard. He has been a great addition to our room because when you have effort guys like him, that brings everybody's level up a notch. His energy and effort level is outstanding, and we couldn't be more happy to have him with us."

The Hoyas also added new additions in freshmen Cooper Blomstrom, Chigozie Oge-Evans and Mouhammed Sow.
"Cooper came in and is just a phenomenal athlete. He can run all day and is a quick twitch mover. He's been developing really well and has taken an upward path. Mouhammad is probably our biggest player on our defensive line. He is a big body so when he came in our big thing with him was to get him to attack people and really play low. Chigozie hasn't played a ton of football in his life so the learning curve of football for him is what we have been working on. However, his athleticism is amazing. He is slippery and can get to the quarterback. He's a guy who we probably will lean on in our pass rush, so we're excited to have him here."

"The biggest thing I worked on with this group is developing a different mentality. The big thing on the D-line is always mentality. It's what is your brand of football up front. Our brand has to be that we're going to beat the people across from us. You can't chase stats or else you are going to get beat. You have to be a defensive line that is obsessed with knocking the line of scrimmage back and beating blockers. That has to be our goal. And that's been something that we've talked about since the day I got here."