On Wednesday, the Ohio Valley Conference announced its Defensive Players to Watch ahead of the 2026 football season, which included Andrew Zook, Jacob Waller, and Carter Johnson from the Lions.

Zook will be an anchor on the defensive line. In 2025, he made 19 tackles, including a season-high five against Tennessee Tech. The Yorkville, Ill. native started all 12 games and had 1.5 stops for loss and broke up a pass.

Waller was a one-time Defensive Player of the Week selection after compiling 17 tackles in a win over Charleston Southern. He finished with 89 stops on the year, which ranked seventh in the conference and was a top 10 Lindenwood single-season mark. 59 of those tackles were solo and that led the Association. He also compiled 8.5 tackles for loss, tops on the team.

Johnson burst onto the scene late last year and compiled 14 tackles across 11 games. He was named conference Freshman of the Week for his efforts against SEMO where he had four tackles and one interception.

Christopher Bennett Jr. also earned a Player to Watch nod as a return specialist. Bennett made a big impact on special teams during the season, being named Freshman of the Week after his performance at Tennessee State where he totaled 114 all-purpose yards (69 KO, 45 PR). On the year, Bennett averaged 22.9 yards per kick return, which ranked fourth in the conference, and 10.7 yards per punt return which ranked second.

Season tickets and three-game mini plans for the 2026 Lindenwood football season are on sale now and available for purchase at lindenwoodlions.com/tickets. By becoming a season ticket holder, you'll unlock a host of exciting benefits designed to enhance your game day experience and show our appreciation for your unwavering support.