Jag Football Preview 2025 – Defense
Today, we’ll be taking a look at the 2025 Defense for the Northridge Jaguars. While the Jags saw the departure of their two top tacklers of the 2025 season in CJ Stinson and Jayden Cleveland, they return more starters that the offensive side of the ball. That alone should give the Jags a bit of leverage early in the season, since there is already a familiarity among the defensive starters.
“You can never replace a Jayden Cleveland or CJ Stinson, but you can get guys who are on that level. And I think we’ve got that with our two inside linebackers, Miller Arendale and Zaylan Hutchins. Our outside linebacker, Ford Cole is one of the best we’ve had,” said Coach John Copeland, who is in his third year as the Jags’ defensive coordinator. “We’ve got guys, especially in our first eleven, who can really, really play. After that we’ve got others who can really, really play.” Copeland noted Tyson Herndon and Julian Crenshaw among those to keep and eye on.
As stated, the Jags lost their top two tacklers and another two Top-10 tacklers, McKinley Brownlee and Jakobe Wright. However, they return seven of their Top-11 tacklers (those with 20 or more total tackles). Seniors Miller Arendale, Zaylan Hutchins and Ford Cole followed in slots three through five for the 2024 season. Another three seniors, Kaideyn Rice, Brylon Tubbs and Amani Knox were also in that Top-11. Not far behind were Cruz Lee and Grayson Cannon, two more seniors. Totaling that up, eight of the Top-10 tacklers returning for 2025 are seniors. Of note, Brylon Tubbs returns to full-time defensive backfield duties, after spending several games last year as the starting running back on the offensive side of the ball. Cannon also led the team with two interceptions last season.
Lee and Rice have received a good bit of attention in camps over the summer. On a team that totaled five sacks last year, Lee led the way with two of those with 16 yards lost. Rice commands attention due to his physical presence at 6’3″ and 330lbs., with Lee being a long and lean 6’5″ and 220lbs.
Copeland looks to lean on several of his seniors as leaders on the field, mentioning Arendale, Amani Knox, Lee and Cole. Copeland said that Cole is not as verbal, but leads by example. “We’ve got a great senior group of guys. Any time you have a top-heavy senior group, then you’re going to have leadership all over the field.”
In his third year as coordinator, Copeland is more comfortable that the players have absorbed the defensive philosophy, making it easier to rely on their instincts a little more. “The guys have been in this system for three years now and now we can just coach football, not X’s and O’s,” Copeland said about where the defense is in their development and understanding of the defensive philosophy.
For a successful campaign in arguably one of the toughest regions in the state, Copeland said “It’s going to come down to preparation. Everybody has to buy into each game plan, not just watching a little film and go home and forget about it. We’re going to have to be able to get out of Friday night’s and play lights out, every game. And the way to do that is great preparation.”
“We’ve got such a great group of guys. When you get to the point (where you don’t have to coach X’s and O’s), you are way ahead of the game. It’s going to come down to ‘Do we believe’ we can play with these guys (the teams that have traditionally been trouble for the Jags). Do we believe we can win those games,” Copeland said in response to where he feels his defense is at this point.
Defensively, head coach Ryan Lolley noted the number of players the Jags will have back this season and that will help the Jags be successful. “They have to keep working on proper alignment, doing the little things and being physical.”
Lolley will be looking for leadership from Arendale and Knox. “They run our defense. We’ll go as they go. They get everybody aligned. When they are in there, you can tell it and when they aren’t, you can tell it.”
Lolley noted the challenge of playing in AHSAA Class 6A Region 4. With the likes of perineal playoff contenders McAdory and Hueytown, the Jags can’t relax. “The good thing about our region is that it’s almost like being in the playoffs every week. There’s not a lot of motivation that has to be done, getting up for a game,” Lolley said. “We’re working with our guys to be the best version of themselves, which creates the opportunity for our team to be the best version of itself. When we do that, we feel like we can play with anybody.”
The Jags will open the 2025 season on Friday, Aug. 22 at home against Calera.