Darryl McBride, defensive line coach for Kari Gibb/MDN, discusses hand technique with MSU’s defensive linemen during practice.

Aside from the quarterback room at Minot State University (MSU), the defensive line room has been a mystery this spring. That mystery has landed right in the lap of Darryl McBride, the Beavers’ defensive line coach.

Coach McBride joined the Minot State football team in the spring of 2023 and will serve as the football facilities coordinator and video coordinator in addition to being the defensive line coach. McBride graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2012 with a degree in sociology.

McBride will need that degree to synchronize his group of 16 strangers as a unit for the Beavers. The team has only three players who were part of the 2023 season and only one of those who played.

Sophomore Josh Will is a key cornerstone on the defensive line. Will, a 2022 graduate of Bishop Ryan University, played in five games last year. As a student-athlete at MSU, he was named to the President’s List every semester and played baseball and basketball as a Lion prior to arriving at MSU.

Two redshirt freshmen began their time at MSU last season but did not play. John Dillion of Lodi, California and Blake Thompson of Green Cove Springs, Florida bring experience from the program and are needed by McBride and Will to help the new players integrate into the group.

The football experience of three transfer athletes will be used.

Junior Julian Kameristy of Long Grove, Illinois, spent three seasons at Indiana after his career but did not play in a game. He was named to the Hoosiers’ President’s List. His team won the national championship at IMG in high school in 2021 and he also played lacrosse. Kemeristy transferred to Murray State in the spring of 2024 before moving to Minot.

Junior Gabe Johnson of Bothell, Washington, played 11 games in two seasons at FCS Division I Eastern Washington, totaling 18 tackles (11 solo, 7 assists), including 3 for loss, and defended a pass. As a senior at Bothell High School, he was named to the All-State team, where he recorded 9 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He transferred to Washington State in 2023 but did not play.

Junior Beau Shields of Wesier, Idaho, played 16 games over two seasons at Eastern Oregon as a fullback and defensive lineman. In the fall of 2021, he was a redshirt defensive lineman at Southern Arkansas. And yes, his name is “Shields” and he is the son of Ian Shields, the Beavers’ head coach.

Of the 16 defensive linemen, seven are complete newbies. Giovanni Livingston of Medford, Oregon, Evan Hartt of Everett, Oregon, Kion Thomas of Las Vegas, Nevada, Garvin Alcenat of Davenport, Florida, Aaron Ivankovich of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Logan Rouse of Alea, Hawaii and Elijah Napihaa of Covington, Washington will be fed a barrage of drills, skills and knowledge by McBride, Will and the others to get them ready to play as quickly as possible.

The two rooms with the biggest questions are the quarterbacks and defensive linemen. With seven days left until the countdown, we’ll have the answers soon.