Photo by Jake McNeill: Southwest Minnesota State linebacker Thomas Mergen runs to make a stop on a run play during a preseason practice at Mattke Field on Friday morning.

MARSHALL — Last season, the Southwest Minnesota State defense was anchored by Onte Burns, a three-time All-NSIC selection and the conference’s all-time leader in solo tackles. Following his graduation in the spring, it’s time for a new group of linebackers to rise to the occasion and lead the defense.

“I think any time you lose a really good player, there’s always kind of that thought like, ‘Who’s going to step up and fill that role?'” SMSU defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Levi Bullerman said. “I told the guys this last spring, everybody’s just got to be themselves… Nobody has to try to be Onte, just be yourself.”

The linebackers will be playing an expanded role now, Bullerman said, but he expects the linebackers’ experience to prepare them for the occasion. He also said that some of the team’s defensive backs, such as Hunter Bohannon, Jalani Jefferson, Marquise Ogletree and Diego Maldonado, have also played snaps and can help from the back end.

“I’m really excited for those guys to just continue to develop. Not only as players but as leaders going forward,” Bullerman said. 

Among the players expected to step up is fifth-year linebacker Thomas Mergen. Classified as a junior due to the cancelation of the 2020 season and his redshirt 2019 season, Mergen finished second on the team last year in solo tackles and tackles for loss. He was also third in total tackles. 

Despite his stellar 2022 season, Mergen is still looking to get better and grow in 2023. He described himself as more of a downhill linebacker last year, using his speed and momentum to break plays up in the backfield before they can get started. Now he says he’s looking to improve his ability to drop back in coverage to become a more versatile player this season.

When asked about individual goals, Mergen didn’t have much of an answer. Rather, he emphasized the importance of team goals and doing what he can, whether it be as a force on gameday or as someone that can help his teammates elevate themselves in practice, to help the team win more games.

Mergen stands as a key piece, but he’s not the only veteran member of the team. Jizreel Jeudy and Evan Oetter return for their junior season while the Mustangs’ second-leading tackler, Josiah Hedensten, returns for his sophomore year. The Mustangs also added K’mari Watson, a junior transfer from Ellsworth College. Watson had 22 tackles, a pair of sacks and a pair of interceptions in his sophomore season with the Panthers.

“We’ve got high expectations for the group. They do have a lot of experience, last year going back we feel like we set the floor or set the groundwork,” Bullerman said. “They understand the expectations and how things are run… I’m really excited to go out there and perform and play at a high level.”

While the team has high expectations for this group, that doesn’t mean they aren’t still working to take things to the next level. Bullerman said he was pleased with what he saw last year from the returning group, adding that Gideon Ervasti showed promise playing on the special teams unit as a true freshman and defensive back Jordan Ellis has done well in adjusting to the role of a hybrid linebacker.

“That level of consistency has been really good, but now we’ve just got to continue to raise our level of play within that position,” Bullerman said. 

SMSU will start its season on the road at Minot State on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.