TOWSON, Md. - On Tuesday morning, the Tigers returned to Unitas Stadium for their sixth practice session of the Spring.
A trio of seniors, Frank Beltre, Matt Morgan and Romale Tucker, will lead the Tigers' defensive line again this season. All three of the seniors are veteran performers who have been standouts for the Tigers the last three years.
"We are very fortunate to have three guys with so much experience on the defensive line," says Canute Curtis, the Tigers' Defensive Line Coach. "Frank, Matt and Romale have been regulars in the starting lineup for three years now and that is an amazing amount of experience that we can use."
A first team All-Colonial Athletic Association defensive end last year, Beltre was one of the leaders for a Tiger team that won the CAA regular season title and posted a 9-3 record. An honorable mention All-American, he made 68 tackles, including 12 for lost yardage.
"Frank's motor runs non-stop," says Curtis, in his fourth season as the Tigers' defensive line coach. "You can't coach that. But, Frank gets better every day and he is always working hard. It's great to have him for another year."
Tucker, who transferred from Syracuse after the 2008 season, was a linebacker in 2009. As a sophomore, he made the switch to defensive end. Since then, he has been a fixture on the defensive line.
In his career at Towson, Tucker has made 150 tackles, including six sacks. Last season, he led all CAA defensive linemen with 73 tackles, including 9 1/2 for lost yardage.
"We're looking for a big year out Romale this season," says Curtis. "He has been doing a good job for us the last two years and he is very comfortable in his role. He is a very athletic player who can make an impact on any play."
A versatile lineman who has played defensive tackle and defensive end in his career, Morgan started all 12 games at defensive tackle last season. In his career, he has made 67 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks. A native of Horseheads, N.Y., he has been a very steady player in his career.
In addition to the three seniors, Curtis can rely on juniors Arnold Farmer and Ben Chroniger for more contributions this season. Sophomore Drew Cheripko is back with one more year of experience. In addition, newcomers like Syd Holt and Jon Desir have done well in the Spring.
Another newcomer, Brendon Gannon, has also been impressive. He is a local player who transferred to Towson from Western Michigan University. He has three years remaining.
"We lost some good leaders in Marcus Valentine and Rob Osborne," says Curtis. "But, we have a lot of talent and experience. I am excited about seeing how these guys do."
The Tigers return to their Spring practice on Thursday morning.
