Boone, N.C. – In a 3-4 defense, it all starts in the middle. Fifth-year defensive line coach Mark Ivey has high expectations for the guys in the trenches when Appalachian State opens the 2016 season and a big reason for that optimism is the Mountaineers' depth at nose guard.

App State opens the season on Thursday night at Tennessee in Knoxville. Kickoff is at 7:36. The SEC Network has the coverage.

The Mountaineers' defensive line has some big shoes to fill with the departure of Ronald Blair, who was on the field in the first five minutes for the 49ers in the first two possessions of Saturday's preseason game with Green Bay.

Ivey also lost his two-year starter at nose, Tyson Fernandez, to the offensive side of the ball as fall camp began, but a big reason for that change was development of sophomore Myquon Stout and senior Darian Small at nose.

Stout, after playing spot time as a freshman, will make his first career start on Thursday night in Neyland Stadium. Ivey says he's done nothing but improve over the last six months and he'll be counted on to anchor the middle of the App defense.

“Myquon has established himself as the starter,” Ivey said. “He had a great spring. Sometimes you have a great spring and stop improving, but Myquon has only improved and has become a dominant player in camp.”

Small will play plenty of snaps as Ivey tries to benefit from his depth. “Being big and strong is fine at nose, but you have to quick and agile as well,” Ivey noted. “Darian's footwork has improved so much it's hard to believe how much quicker and more athletic he has made himself.”

Fernandez could move over at any time, if needed. He's started 20 games at nose the last two seasons, but will be a big factor on the offensive line this season, at least to open the year.

Typically undersized, Ivey wants to horde speed and depth at defensive end so he has fresh, quick options left in the fourth quarter.

“We know that we're always going to be smaller than the guys we're going against,” Ivey said of defensive ends. “Most offensive guards we go against are well over 300 pounds. We want quickness, speed, technique, and to rotate snaps so we're not exhausted at the end of the game and can still play fast.”

App State will go with as much as a five-man rotation. Senior Nate Norwood and Caleb Fuller will be the first two defensive ends in the game on either side of the nose.

Norwood started 10 games at end last season. He was second among defensive linemen with 38 tackles and was fourth on the Mountaineers' defense with 6.5 tackles for loss. Fuller played in all 13 games last season, notching two sacks in the win at Idaho.

“Norwood is a two-year starter and has been fantastic in camp, he's done nothing as a player to lose his spot,” Ivey added. “Caleb is so technically sound and coachable, he's gong to have a very effective season.

Senior Dezmin Reed and sophomore Okon Godwin are a pair of converted linebackers who have moved down to put a hand in the ground and found a home on the defensive line. Both will see plenty of snaps this season.

“(Reed) a ferocious pass rusher and will get after it; a quick-twitch guy,” Ivey said. “To me, Okon was the MVP of spring football,” Ivey raved. “He had a great spring. Separation among the top four is small.”

Senior Antonious Sims will be the fifth end in the rotation for Ivey when he returns from nursing an injury. Freshman Devin Papenheim (6'6, 260) will eventually see more snaps, but is still developing.

“We'll be at full strength when Sims returns,” Ivey add. Papenheim is going to be a big time performer for us in the future, he just needs a little more time to learn.”

-AppState-