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This offseason, McNeese underwent a major change with their football roster.
57 new players stepped into Gary Goff’s program for the 2023 season looking to bring the Cowboys back to a state of prominence in the Southland Conference.
When you look at the defensive side, there are plenty of questions to answer.
Let’s start with the defensive line.
Earnest Grayson III
Grayson appeared in 10 games during Goff’s first season in Lake Charles. He finished the 2022 season with 39 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. The 6’3″, 254-pound junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma will be a key part of the Cowboys’ defense in 2023 with the experience he has at the DE spot.
Grayson Mays
Mays is the only other returner on the defensive line with playing experience at McNeese. Last season, he finished with just four tackles in nine games, but had a pick-six the season before. He stands at 6’2″ and 244 pounds with a long frame and will provide valuable leadership and experience to a new group.
Trey Winters
The story behind Winters is rather interesting.
Winters stand at an astonishing 6’7” and 344 pounds. He played offensive linemen at Iowa Western and Iowa before getting injured and transferring. When he got to McNeese, Goff moved him to the defensive line to play nose tackles. In a scrimmage during spring camp, Winters had two sacks. Now, Winters feels like a project piece for the defensive line, but one with such tremendous potential.
Others to Watch
Isaiah Jackson is a defensive line transfer from the College of the Sequoias that the coaching staff is very high on. He’s a sophomore with a 6’1″ frame and weights 280 pounds. Also, Dominic Bolden is another sophomore transfer from Navarro College that is due to make an impact for the defensive line up front. McNeese runs an interesting 5-2-4 format so they will be the best guys up front.