Linebacker Devon Edwards will be back to lead the Lindenwood defense for the 2025 college football season. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

Following up with announcing its Offensive Players to Watch List on Tuesday, the Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Football Association released its 2025 Defensive Players to Watch List on Wednesday.

Five Lindenwood players were named on the list, led by redshirt senior linebacker Devon Edwards, who had his 2024 season cut short due to injury.

This year though, Edwards is back. He’s healthy. And he’s expected to lead a Lindenwood defense many consider among the best in the conference heading into training camp.

Last year, the 6-foot-1, 227-pounder from Longmont, Colo., made 36 tackles (19 solo) in just five games, and was on pace to lead the entire OVC-Big South in solo stops before his injury.

DE Tajay Passmore will lead the Lindenwood defensive line this fall. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

Joining Edwards on the list is fellow redshirt senior Tajay Passmore, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound defensive end from Queens, N.Y., who transferred to Lindenwood in 2023 after playing at Wagner University.

Last year, Passmore was one of Lindenwood’s top reserves on the defensive line and finished the year with 17 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 quarterback sacks.

Junior defensive back Jayden Patrick is one of the top-rated DBs in the OVC-Big South. Last year, the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder from Tulsa, Okla., made 34 tackles and led the Lions with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Punt return specialist Rico Bond, who was also listed on the 2025 Offensive Players to Watch List at receiver, was on Defensive List, as was long snapper Nelson Pipes.

Bond averaged 17.8 yards per return last season, including an explosive 78-yard return in Lindenwood’s record-breaking win over St. Thomas.

2025 PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

DEFENSIVE LINE
David Portu (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Drake Van Hyfte (R-Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Antonio O’Berry (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Tajay Passmore (Sr.), Lindenwood
Nasim Cairo (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Hudson Tucker (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Peyton Bradford (Grad.), Western Illinois

LINEBACKER
Steve Zayachkowsky (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Phoenix Porter (R-Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jackson Marshall (R-Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Devon Edwards (Sr.), Lindenwood
McCoy Casey (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Sammy Taylor (R-So.), Tennessee State
Aaron Swafford (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Tah Mac Bright Banda (Sr.), UT Martin
Christian Pierce (Grad.), Western Illinois

DEFENSIVE BACK
Champ Brantley (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Tienne Fridge (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Wendall McClain (R-Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Jayden Patrick (Sr.), Lindenwood
Justus Johnson (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Camani Cobbs (R-So.), Tennessee State
Tim Coutras (Grad.), Tennessee Tech
JaMichael McGoy Jr. (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Willie Jones (Sr.), Western Illinois

PUNTER
Gilbert Brown (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Mason Miller (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Mark Shenouda (R-So.), Tennessee State
Spencer Ashby (So.), Tennessee Tech
Jaren Van Winkle (R-Sr.), UT Martin

KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Anthony Lowe (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Tremel Jones (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Avery Knight (R-Fr.), Western Illinois

PUNT RETURN SPECIALIST
Jamil Bishop (R-Sr.), Charleston Southern
Anthony Lowe (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Cooper Willman (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Rico Bond (R-Fr.), Lindenwood
Tremel Jones (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Demari Davis (Sr.), Western Illinois

LONG SNAPPER
Noah Summers (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Brett Galletti (R-Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Nelson Pipes (Sr.), Lindenwood
Judd Cunningham (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Ben Bergfeld (Jr.), Western Illinois

2025 LINDENWOOD LIONS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	At	Opponent	Location	TV
August 28, 2025 (Thursday)	Away	St. Thomas	St. Paul, Minn.
September 6, 2025 (Saturday)	Away	Appalachian State	Boone, N.C.
September 13, 2025 (Saturday)	Away	Charleston Southern	Charleston, S.C.
September 20, 2025 (Saturday)	Home	Stony Brook	Hunter Stadium
September 27, 2025 (Saturday)	Away	Miami (OH)	Oxford, Ohio
October 4, 2025 (Saturday)	Home	Tennessee-Martin	Hunter Stadium
October 18, 2025 (Saturday)	Home	Tennessee Tech	Hunter Stadium
October 25, 2025 (Saturday)	Home	Gardner-Webb	Hunter Stadium
November 1, 2025 (Saturday)	Away	Tennessee State	Nashville, Tenn.
November 8, 2025 (Saturday)	Away	Western Illinois	Macomb, Ill.
November 15, 2025 (Saturday)	Home	Eastern Illinois	Hunter Stadium
November 22, 2025 (Saturday)	Away	Southeast Missouri State	Cape Girardeau, Mo.