2026 Position Preview: New Faces Reshape Coastal's Defensive Front
8/26/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Coastal Carolina's defensive front will have a much different look in 2026, with 12 newcomers joining four returners in a 16-man group split evenly between defensive end and defensive tackle. While much of the room is new to Conway, the Chanticleers added considerable experience and production through the transfer portal.
Redshirt senior Ibrahim Diawara leads the returning group after appearing in all 13 games last season. The Philadelphia, Pa., native recorded 16 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks while adding two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Diawara produced one of his best performances at App State, finishing with a career-high four tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack. His production earned him a spot on Phil Steele's Preseason All-Sun Belt Fourth Team entering 2026.
Coastal added proven production on the edge with Samford transfer Donovan Grayson and Missouri State transfer Mitchell Toney. Grayson earned First Team All-Southern Conference honors in 2025 after totaling 43 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He enters his first season in Conway as a Pro Football Network Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team selection. Toney appeared in all 13 games for Missouri State last season, recording 23 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while earning Sports Info Solutions All-Conference USA honors.
Chandavian Bradley adds Power Four experience after appearing in 11 games at Oklahoma State last season. The former four-star prospect began his career at Tennessee before earning honorable mention All-KJCCC honors at Hutchinson Community College. Returning defensive ends Obinna Onwuka and Sam Ross provide additional depth, while freshmen Aiden Parker and Jordan Stevens begin their first seasons with the Chanticleers.
The interior of the defensive line underwent an even larger transformation, with seven newcomers joining redshirt sophomore Shaikh Thompson.
DJ Wesolak brings familiarity with head coach Ryan Beard and defensive coordinator L.D. Scott after starting 11 games at Missouri State in 2025. Wesolak recorded 38 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, including a career-high three sacks against UTEP.
The Chanticleers also added a pair of experienced interior linemen in Nolan Korzeniowski and Cam Williams. Korzeniowski earned All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention honors in each of the past two seasons at Drake, totaling 61 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks during that span. Williams recorded 75 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss over the past two seasons at Clark Atlanta.
Missouri State transfers Ahmad Poole and Dezmond Barnes add more familiarity with the defensive system. Poole appeared in all 13 games with five starts last season, finishing with 28 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, while Barnes earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors as a true freshman.
Xzavier Booker joins the room after recording 32 tackles and two sacks at Alabama A&M last season, earning Third Team All-SWAC recognition from Phil Steele. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound junior has also earned Pro Football Network Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team honors entering his first season with the Chanticleers. Reggie Jean rounds out the group of newcomers at defensive tackle after appearing in all 12 games at Northern Illinois in 2025 and recording 10 tackles and a sack.
Redshirt senior Ibrahim Diawara leads the returning group after appearing in all 13 games last season. The Philadelphia, Pa., native recorded 16 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks while adding two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Diawara produced one of his best performances at App State, finishing with a career-high four tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack. His production earned him a spot on Phil Steele's Preseason All-Sun Belt Fourth Team entering 2026.
Coastal added proven production on the edge with Samford transfer Donovan Grayson and Missouri State transfer Mitchell Toney. Grayson earned First Team All-Southern Conference honors in 2025 after totaling 43 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He enters his first season in Conway as a Pro Football Network Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team selection. Toney appeared in all 13 games for Missouri State last season, recording 23 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while earning Sports Info Solutions All-Conference USA honors.
Chandavian Bradley adds Power Four experience after appearing in 11 games at Oklahoma State last season. The former four-star prospect began his career at Tennessee before earning honorable mention All-KJCCC honors at Hutchinson Community College. Returning defensive ends Obinna Onwuka and Sam Ross provide additional depth, while freshmen Aiden Parker and Jordan Stevens begin their first seasons with the Chanticleers.
The interior of the defensive line underwent an even larger transformation, with seven newcomers joining redshirt sophomore Shaikh Thompson.
DJ Wesolak brings familiarity with head coach Ryan Beard and defensive coordinator L.D. Scott after starting 11 games at Missouri State in 2025. Wesolak recorded 38 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, including a career-high three sacks against UTEP.
The Chanticleers also added a pair of experienced interior linemen in Nolan Korzeniowski and Cam Williams. Korzeniowski earned All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention honors in each of the past two seasons at Drake, totaling 61 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks during that span. Williams recorded 75 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss over the past two seasons at Clark Atlanta.
Missouri State transfers Ahmad Poole and Dezmond Barnes add more familiarity with the defensive system. Poole appeared in all 13 games with five starts last season, finishing with 28 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, while Barnes earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors as a true freshman.
Xzavier Booker joins the room after recording 32 tackles and two sacks at Alabama A&M last season, earning Third Team All-SWAC recognition from Phil Steele. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound junior has also earned Pro Football Network Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team honors entering his first season with the Chanticleers. Reggie Jean rounds out the group of newcomers at defensive tackle after appearing in all 12 games at Northern Illinois in 2025 and recording 10 tackles and a sack.
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