DAVIS, Calif. - Senior Inoke Raikadroka, all 6-foot, 294 pounds of him, has been a constant at defensive tackle for UC Davis since joining the program as a true freshman in 2013. Senior Russell Reeder has consistently gone about his business throughout his career, gradually and somewhat unnoticeably emerging as one of the Aggies' leading linebackers.

Together, the two veterans helped provide stability last season for a defense that was beset by a rash of injuries and allowed 34.2 points and 448.8 yards per game. This season, they're among the more experienced linemen and linebackers on the UC Davis defense that is not only healthier but looks to get contributions from a wide swath of returners and newcomers.

"Overall, the linebackers have really done phenomenal job of adjusting to some of the new nuances and new wrinkles that we've implemented," said head coach Ron Gould. "It's going to be great to see guys healthy for a change going into the first game. That's something that hasn't happened since I've been here.

"We've got a couple of old guys on the line and we've got a lot of young guys that'll be playing for the first time," he added. "I like things that Coach (David) Braun has been doing with the defensive line. Those guys have been able to start to gel and come together. We're still not where we need to be but that's something we'll continue to work on, not just for this game, but throughout the season. Overall, I'm really pleased with them."

The first depth chart shows a trio of seniors at the three linebacker spots and two seniors and a pair of underclassmen - including a true freshman - on the defensive line. What the depth chart can't show on paper is a defensive front that is quick, pursues well and is hungry to put together a productive season.

LINEBACKERS
Reeder (6-3, 225) and Brady Stibi (6-2, 245) combined for 88 tackles last year while starting nearly every game that they were healthy. Together, they missed just three games which qualified them as two of the most dependable players on the field.

This year, they'll look to their experience to lead a linebacker corps that last year had 25 starts among its three scheduled 2016 starters for the opening game, but just one start among the three players directly behind them on the depth.

Reeder started all nine games that he played but still finished tied for third on the team with 45 tackles. He picked up a career-high nine tackles against both Northern Arizona and Southern Utah and will open the year as the weakside linebacker.

"We're just trying to continue the legacy of solid linebackers (at UC Davis)," Reeder said. "I would say that through all the years I've been here, we've had solid linebackers, regardless of everything that's occurred. I see nothing different with this group."

Stibi upped his production from just 19 tackles as a sophomore to 43 a year ago, fifth-best for the Aggies. His 26 solo stops were among the team leaders, Stibi opened the year with six tackles at FBS member Nevada and later tied his career-high with eight against Montana. He'll be in the middle for UC Davis at the start of the season.

A familiar face but not necessarily in the linebacker area is Zach Jones (6-0, 200), a hard-hitting senior who has played free safety throughout his career but now moves into a strongside linebacker role where his ability to flow to the ball and cover the pass will be a strength.

"Zach gives us a little flexibility to move him around and play a little bit of linebacker but still is fast enough to play the safety spot, so we're going to take advantage of that," said Gould. "He's a really physical young man, he understands the game from a conceptual standpoint and he plays with that edge that we like to see guys play with."

Xavier Griggs (6-1, 226, Jr.) played in all 11 games last season and started the season finale Causeway Classic at Sacramento State. He finished with 22 tackles and will be relied upon more this year while backing up Jones. Redshirt freshman Nas Anesi (6-2, 225) enjoyed an impressive spring for UC Davis and will get his first taste of action behind Reeder.

Christian Leota (6-2, 250) spent his redshirt year last season as a quarterback but moved over in the spring to the defensive side of the ball and has made the transition well enough to earn the backup spot behind Stibi.

Redshirt freshman Quincy Bennett (6-2, 240), senior Ryan Bua (6-0, 224), junior Hunter Wharton (6-3, 235), junior Matthew Slade (6-1, 237) are among a solid group of linebackers that give the Aggies depth, something that has been hard to come by in recent seasons, mainly because of health.

"The keys are going to be the details," said Bryant Haines, who is in his first year coaching the linebackers. "How clean can we make every single technique that we have? How perfect can our reads be? How perfect can our angles and our footwork be? And at the end of the day we need to make plays this year.

"This year, we're going to make plays. We're going to finish. We're going to get to the ball with the intention that we're going to finish," he added. "Our reaction time is great and it's getting better everyday. The reaction time, the angles, the foot speed that we play with and the willingness of wanting to get to the ball carrier has been through the roof. That's what I've been most pleased about."

DEFENSIVE LINE
Raikadroka played defensive tackle alongside graduated senior Kyle DeVaughn for the first three years of his Aggie career. The two were reliable on the inside in 2015, combining for 19 of a possible 22 starts, as well as 68 tackles and 8.5 TFLs.

With DeVaughn gone, Raikadroka will see a true freshman right next to him at the start of the season with 6-3, 285 Bryce Rodgers. Behind them are two more underclassmen making Raikadroka the veteran down low. The defensive end spots will open with Pettit (6-4, 260) on the left side and sophomore Anthony Baumgart (6-1, 240) on the other.

For Raikadroka, he knows he's being looked up to by the younger players.

"Whether it's in the film room or the weight room, I feel like I need to step up and take that leader role," he said. "That's just the way I am. I like to lead by example. I don't really like to go on the field and talk a lot although I like to get hyped up."

He likes to teach the younger guys, he said, by letting them see on film how physical he plays and let's that set the example. And, if need be? "When I'm mad, they'll know when I'm mad."

Rogers is scheduled to start in the trenches as a true freshman after impressing throughout fall camp. He was a Cal-Hi Sports All-State second-team pick at Menlo-Atherton High School last year. Roger's is still learning but is showing a bright future, according to Braun.

"He'a very internally competitive player who looks to get better everyday," he said. "He's a very gifted young man. He does things naturally that can't be coached that are just very instinctive and that's exciting to see. He's still got a long way to go but, philosophically speaking as a coaching staff, we just want to put him a position where he can play with a clear mind and play fast. He's going to make some mistakes along the way but so long as those mistakes are fast and physical, they're going to help him be productive."

Transfer Hunter O'Brion (6-5, 280, So.) will join redshirt freshman Jordan Franklin (6-1, 285) as the primary backups with Will Allen (6-3, 270, RFr.) among those providing depth.

Petit enters his senior campaign looking for another solid season at defensive end. He'll open the year on the left side, trying to adding to his 33 tackles from a year ago, a number that included 1.5 sacks and 2.0 TFLs.

"Zak sets the tone, he's just so physical," said Braun. "I think what we're doing schematically now fits his role. That field defensive end has to be such a physical presence for us. He continues to get better and he continues to improve his pass rush. He was really humble in his role because he knows that there's going to be times when we bump him down inside to do a little of the dirty work but he enjoys that, too."

Transfer Deandre Diggs-Ray had 3.5 sacks and 7.0 TFLs at Laney College a year ago and had six sacks over two seasons. He and redshirt freshman Roland Ocansey (6-4, 238) are slated to back up Pettit.

Baumgart played inside last season but moves to the right end position this year. He saw action in six games as a sophomore last season.

Junior Brandon Weaver (6-3, 240) enjoyed a solid sophomore season that featured a trio of sacks among his 33 tackles, a pair of quarterback-hurries and a forced fumble and a recovery. He'll join Petit as a veteran leader at the end position while Erik Holmer (6-3, 234, Jr.) also looks to contribute with redshirt freshman Brandon Jamison (6-3, 235).

"It's going to have to take more than just one guy to get after the quarterback," said Braun. "It takes all four, and those four working in unison is so vital and I think that's something that we've taken a lot of growth with in the past six months."

ast season.