By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Dobson will be the leader of Georgia Southerns defense in 2015.

Georgia Southerns defense got lost amidst last seasons offensive storm. While Matt Breida and Kevin Ellison were leading the nations number one rushing attack, Matt Dobson and the rest of the Eagles defense flew under the radar, despite being the top scoring defense in the Sun Belt.

GSU returns seven starters from last seasons top 30 nationally ranked defense. Edwin Jackson, the teams leading tackler in 2014, cant be replaced by any one guy, but a slew of young three-star defensive backs will do their best to fill the void in that 4-2-5 scheme.

Matt Dobson will be the leader of Georgia Southerns defense in 2015. Not only was he arguably the most consistent player on the 2014 squad, but also made the two most memorable plays of the season. His 102 yard pick six against Texas State proved to be the winning score and he helped clinch the outright Sun Belt title against ULM with his pass breakup on the final play of the season.

Dobsons efforts landed him on the second All-Sun Belt team. He was joined by two other returning starters, Antwione Williams and Jay Ellison, both of whom were honorable mention all-conference.

The Eagles defense returns four of their five leading tacklers from 2014 and all of their top five leaders in tackles for a loss. 92% of the sack production from last season will be back. Their interception leader is coming back and if their six incoming three-star recruits pan out, they will be even deeper and more athletic in the secondary.

Georgia Southern is returning a ton of talent at the offensive skill positions and that prolific rushing attack will likely continue to steal the headlines, but if the Eagles want to repeat as Sun Belt champs, its the defense that will be the key. They have their work cut out for them with Appalachian State bringing back 20 of its starters from last season. Im sure Dobson and company will something to say about that, though.