Colquitt County ’ s Landen Thomas ( 18 ) is the No . 1-ranked tight end in the country and has committed to play at Florida State . He has 83 receptions , including 16 for touchdowns , in his career .
tor Jeremy Rowell said . “ But there will be no fear factor .”
Amari Wilson will return to play one of the end positions after leading the team with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks as a sophomore in 2022 .
“ He is a really good football player ,” defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said . “ He just keeps growing . And he is gaining more knowledge and not just about playing defensive line .”
But with Tyshon Reed Jr . moving from end to outside linebacker , the Packers have two holes to fill on the line .
Expected to be on the front with Wilson are seniors Javaris Parrish and Ky-von Rivers .
Juniors Jartavious Flounoy and Chris King also will be in the rotation .
Reed , son of former Packers allstate defensive end Tyshon Reed , blossomed last year when he recorded 10 sacks and 14 quarterback hurries . He has committed to play his college football at Duke .
The other three linebacker positions also will be manned by non-returning starters .
The Packers must fill the hole created by the graduation of Kamal Bonner , who left in December to join the North Carolina State football team .
“ Losing Kamal was big because he kind of ran the show for us at that level ,” Rowell said .
Senior K . J . Solomon has moved into the starting role at one of the inside positions . Johnny Clay , a former defensive lineman , is expected to hold down the other inside slot .
Jerron Blakley , who played inside linebacker last year , has moved outside .
Nick Pace , who led the team in tackles last season as an inside linebacker , has moved to safety .
He led the team with 162 tackles and also had 10 tackles for loss .
“ His skill set fits playing back there ,” Rowell said . “ He can run , he can transition and he can catch the ball .
“ At the next level , he ’ ll be a safety / nickel guy .
Senior Will Madison is expected to hold down the other safety position .
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