Football | Veteran lineman Zayin West enthused by changes Kent State's making on defense
Excitement oozed from the pores of Zayin West as he reflected on the Kent State football team’s April 16 Spring Game held inside the KSU Field House.
A Golden Flashes defense that’s struggled to stop opponents on any sort of a consistent basis since West first joined the program in 2017 had just hung tough against an offense that’s been ranked among the nation’s elite the past three years, proving that progress is being made on ‘the other side of the ball’ at Kent State.
“Things went pretty well,” said West with a confident smile. “We started off a little slow, but then the energy got up, we played as unit, and we had good energy throughout the rest of the practice. We finished well. The defense overall, we’ve been getting in our playbook, learning the system, making sure we’ve got the exact details and are getting the fundamentals right. It’s a new system, but we’re not going to make excuses. We still want to play fast and physical, with toughness, respect, discipline and effort.”
A critical change was made at the top last January, when Jeremiah Johnson was named the Flashes’ defensive coordinator following a long and highly successful stint at FCS power Northern Iowa. But the ability of veterans like West to first grasp, then help implement the new concepts and philosophies will ultimately determine Kent State’s defensive fate in 2022.
West, for one, welcomes the challenge.
“Personally, it’s more of a leadership role this season - being more vocal, more consistent, bringing it and improving every day,” said West. “Bringing others along, that’s the biggest thing for me. I can't do it all by myself. Right now we’re still learning, understanding why we’re doing certain things so we can all play fast and play as a unit. You learn your job, and once you know that you go take over a different position so we can all play faster.”
Zayin West was groomed to be a leader on Kent State football team
West has played a pivotal role on Kent State’s defense since head coach Sean Lewis took over the program in 2018. The former Manchester (Va.) High School standout played in every game from 2018-20. He bounced back from a two-game suspension to start the 2021 season to finish the campaign with a single-digit number, awarded only to the true elite leaders of the squad.
“[West] has been here since the beginning [of the Lewis era]. He's grown and developed with us,” said Lewis. “I've really appreciated the strides that he’s taken as a young man. We’re asking him to be a little bit more of a vocal leader now that he’s a veteran, and one of our single-digit guys that we really lean into. When you get that single digit, you have no choice but to play elite-level football every single time you go out. We’re looking for him to do that consistently.
“I think him and the boys up front are very excited about the changes that we’ve made.”
What exactly is different about the Kent State defense under Johnson?
“He’s going to allow them to play pretty loose, pretty aggressive, and be very disruptive up front,” said Lewis. “I think across the board the defensive side has been reenergized, reinvigorated. They’ve really rallied around the new leadership, and really establishing an identity that they can be proud of.”
West didn’t even try to contain his excitement when asked about his role in Johnson’s defense.
“Right now they have me outside, inside, basically just causing havoc, violence, getting vertical,” he beamed. “Not too much thinking anymore, just playing football and having fun.”
Johnson has enjoyed getting to know West.
“He’s an unbelievable kid,” said Johnson. “[Football] is really important to him. We've got probably more game experience in that [defensive lineman] room than in any other room we have, and we’ve leaned on those guys quite a bit. [West] in particular has done a nice job learning what we’re doing and executing with technique consistently.”
Zayin West of Kent State football is a energetic leader
Defense hasn’t brought much joy to Kent State’s players or fans recently. While the offense’s tempo and productivity has garnered national attention over the past three years, the defense has coughed up 229 yards rushing and 35 points per game during that same stretch.
Johnson has been a breath of fresh air thus far for Flashes defenders, restoring confidence in a group that’s been beaten up both mentally and physically.
“I love him honestly,” said West of Johnson. “I love his energy and how he’s a players’ coach. He’s in the locker room every day jacking us up, telling us not to have a good day but a great day. He’s going to change everything that we do throughout the week. He's pushing us to be more vocal. He doesn't want it to be a coaches [motivating] players thing, he wants it to be a players [motivating] players thing. It means more when it comes from your brother.”
Kent State’s defense is loaded with proven performers. Thirteen players who finished last season with 10 or more tackles return. West, who produced 57 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles in 2021, leads a veteran defensive front that features seven former lettermen.
The Flashes’ defense has ambitious goals for 2022. But leaders like West are making sure everyone stays grounded and focused on the moment.
“We haven’t done anything yet, so we have a lot to prove — just go out there each and every day and try to get better,” said West. “Right now we’re building that brotherhood, the understanding of why we’re in certain fits, how everybody fits into the defense, how everybody’s a part of the run and the pass game and how it all works together. We need to keep putting in the work to understand the defense at each level, and know our assignments inside and out.”
Position update: Offense
Quarterback
Junior Collin Schlee has taken over as Kent State’s starting quarterback after serving as the backup the past two years. Junior Griffin Brewster is currently the second-string quarterback, followed by sophomore Pat McQuaide (Solon High School) and true freshman Devin Kargman.
Sophomore Gage Michael, recruited as a quarterback, has been moved to safety.
"We’ve got four kids in the quarterback room that I feel really good about,” said Lewis. “I feel like we’re in a great spot there.”
Offensive line
The Flashes are still searching for starting tackles, but junior Marcellus Marshall seems to be on the verge of claiming one of those spots after performing well in spring practices.
“I thought Marshall did a real nice job throughout the spring,” said Lewis. “[Returning starters] Jack Bailey [junior guard] and Sam Allan [grad student center] were awesome.”
Kent State added two Power Five transfer offensive linemen from nearby high schools in juniors Kevin Toth (Rutgers, Hudson High School) and Nolan Rumler (Michigan, Hoban High School). Toth battled an injury during the spring, while Rumler is still learning the system according to Lewis.
"It's probably unfair to say anything about where [Rumler] is at right now because of how fast we play and how fast you need to process,” said Lewis. “He's spinning a little bit right now, but that’s the way it is for everyone the first time they feel the installation here. I'm really excited for him to get the foundation from this spring, and the growth that I know he’s going to have because of the way he works.”
Running back
When asked about specific positions that stood out during camp, Lewis mentioned a loaded running back room that features 2021 standouts Marquez Cooper (junior) and Xavier Williams (grad student) along with junior Bryan Bradford.
“I was pleased with what our running backs did this spring. It's a pretty talented room,” said Lewis. “The continued development of [Cooper]. Bradford has done a great job reshaping his body, and is a savvy football player. [True freshman Gavin] Garcia came in and did a really nice job. [Williams] had a surgery after last season that kept him out of spring ball, but it was almost like having Coach X out there this spring, which was awesome.”
Camp standouts
When asked about individual players that caught his eye during camp, Lewis mentioned defensive linemen CJ West (junior) and Sekou Diaby (grad student), and grad student linebackers Kesean Gamble and Juan Wallace.
Diaby and Gamble both missed all of last season due to injuries.
“We’ve been very measured with what we’ve done with them to make sure we’re not doing too much, too soon with the way they’re tracking back to play,” said Lewis. “They had a chance to get some live work in the latter half of spring ball, and they’ve flashed.”
Grad student Antwaine Richardson returns at safety after suffering a season-ending injury in the second game of last year.
“We were very smart with him this spring and really limited his live work,” said Lewis, “but he’s progressing and on a great track to be able to make an impact this fall.”
On scholarship
Sophomore kicker Andrew Glass and senior defensive lineman Saivon Taylor-Davis, both major contributors as walk-ons last season, were rewarded with scholarships this spring.
“Both of those guys bet on themselves and earned those (scholarship) opportunities,” said Lewis.
Next
After the spring semester ends on May 3, the Flashes will head to their respective homes for a couple of weeks before returning to campus for the start of summer classes on May 19.
The 2022 season opener at Washington is set for Saturday, Sept. 3.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Zayin West brings experience, energy to Kent State's defensive front
