On Tuesday, the OVC-Big South Football Association released its 2025 Preseason Defensive Players to Watch with the season just over a month away 

Defensively, Tajay Passmore looks to bolster a defensive unit who combined for 19 sacks last season. Passmore finished the year with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Devon Edwards will be a mainstay at linebacker this season. Edwards had 36 tackles in just five games in 2024.

Jayden Patrick was one of the top defensive backs in the Big South-OVC. The Tulsa, Okla. led the team with nine pass break-ups and that also ranked sixth in the conference. He also ranked top five in interceptions with three, which led the team and finished the year with 34 total tackles.

On special teams, Nelson Pipes is set to return as the long snapper, and Rico Bond will look to take a big step forward after providing some big plays in the return game last season as he averaged 17.8 yards per return.