Zak Yassine didn’t resemble a Southern football player during practice Tuesday.

When the redshirt senior defensive tackle lifted his helmet, he briefly looked like a player-coach instead.

He stuck out his arm and placed it on the chest of a teammate as he demonstrated proper technique during a drill with his fellow linemen. These moments aren't uncommon and are more necessary now than last season.

Senior defensive end Ckelby Givens , who led the FCS with 27½ tackles for loss last season, is the only consistent starter back on the defensive line. Of Southern’s 10 defensive tackles and seven defensive ends, nine are upperclassmen. Among the veterans, four are junior-college transfers who’ve been learning Southern’s system and culture along with the freshmen.

This is a different scena

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