Emporia State returns two of three starters on the defensive line that ranked second in the MIAA in team tackles for loss and fourth in sacks. Both of them have earned All-MIAA honors each of the last two years. However the rest of the unit is fairly young with only four juniors and seniors listed among the 17 defensive linemen on the roster
Rylan Miller was a Third-Team All-MIAA selection last season after being named Honorable Mention All-MIAA as a sophomore. He was third in the MIAA in tackles for loss and 15th in sacks last season
