One of W&M's most talented and experienced returning units is defensive line coach Keenan Carter's group. Led by senior captain all-conference standout Davin Dzidzienyo and Ty Gordon, who earned freshman All-America honors last season after transferring from Syracuse, the Tribe's defensive front should be among the nation's best lines this season. The talented group also boasts a pair of standouts with significant starting experience in Gerald Williams and Gent Veizi, while the roster is loaded with additional players who could earn significant reps and make a positive impact.
 
Davin Dzidzienyo • Senior • 6-4, 305
• Team captain and NFL prospect
• All-CAA standout last season after finishing the year with 50 tackles, 2 sacks, 5.5 TFL, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and two pass breakups
• Preseason All-CAA selection
• Expected to lineup outside this season
• Powerful player and excels against the run
• Combines great size with ability to play with finesse when rushing the passer
• Plays with a great motor
• Resilient leader and possesses outstanding work ethic
• Worked tremendously hard during the offseason, which should lead to even greater production this season
• CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll
 
Ty Gordon • Sophomore • 6-2, 285
• Freshman All-America selection by Stats Perform, Phil Steele and FCS Football Central last season after transferring from Syracuse
• Ranked second on the team in sacks (5.5) and TFL (6); also recorded an interception
• Expected to lineup on the outside
• Very motivated player who has demonstrated production
• Extremely athletic lineman with great pass rush ability
• Excels beating offensive linemen off the ball and making plays in the backfield
 
Gerald Williams • Junior • 6-2, 300
• Starting nose tackle last season who finished the year with 19 tackles and 2 TFL
• Tremendously strong and explosive
• Very talented lineman who has potential to earn all-conference honors
• Plays with a great motor
• Excels in both the running and passing games, but especially effective against the run
 
Gent Veizi • Junior • 6-2, 300
• Talented nose tackle who appeared in 22 games with six starts the past two seasons
• Totaled 32 tackles in 2024
• Added significant strength during the offseason
• Strong, powerful lineman
• Instinctive player who possesses good movement traits
• One of team's fastest defensive linemen
 
Breyden Byrd • Sophomore • 6-4, 270
• Saw action in 10 games last season and recorded a sack
• Good versatility and can line up inside or outside and is expected to play at both spots
• Added significant strength during the offseason
• Very athletic lineman
• Uses his hands well
• CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll
 
Justin Krueger • Redshirt Freshman • 6-4, 250
• Redshirted last season after appearing in four games as a true freshman
• Finished the season with five tackles and a TFL in the limited action
• Expected to contribute this season and can play inside or outside
• One of the team's best technicians
• Uses his hands well and plays with great leverage
• CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll
 
Brady Echols • Redshirt Freshman • 6-2, 290
• Walk-on who has tremendous potential at nose tackle
• Redshirted as a freshman last season after appearing in four games
• One of the team's most improved players during the spring and dominated at times
• Significantly improved both strength and speed during the offseason
• Possesses great power and size
• Hard worker who learns quickly 
• Also a thrower on the W&M track & field team  
• CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll
 
Nathaniel McDonald • Redshirt Freshman • 6-4, 245
• Redshirted after appearing in three games last season
• Possesses great speed and power as a pass rusher on the outside, especially in nickel packages
• Extremely fast and explosive and shown the potential to be a dominant force
• Outstanding size and a good athlete with a high vertical
 
Joey Svoboda • Junior • 6-5, 290
• Hard-working veteran who has consistently improved
• Strong, powerful player
• Excels against the run
• Combines good size and speed
• Good versatility and can play either inside or outside
• Could also contribute on special teams
• CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll
 
Cameryn Heath • Redshirt Freshman • 6-0, 285
• Redshirted last season as a freshman
• Will compete for reps inside
• Smart, hard worker who has a good understanding of the defense
• Plays with a good motor
• Shown consistent improvement
• CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll

 W&M enters the 2025 campaign having posted four consecutive winning seasons, marking the first time the program has accomplished the feat in the last 25 years.
 
The Tribe opens its season at Furman on Aug. 30, while it will host Maine for its home opener on Sept. 6.

Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are available at TribeAthletics.com.

Learn more about the enhanced fan experience at Zable Stadium for the 2025 season, including security improvements, pre-game areas, shuttle service, the new Kids Zone, fan experience upgrades, and more at TribeAthletics.com. 

Be sure to follow the Tribe through the team's social media accounts @WMTribeFootball on X, Instagram and Facebook.