LORMAN &045; That preseason top billing comes with a price, one that Alcorn State coaches know will require some work.

But that’s what the heat of August and two-a-day workouts are for. There are significant question marks on defense as the Braves open fall camp on Monday in just helmets until two-a-day workouts start Aug. 14.

This year the Braves were picked to win the SWAC’s Eastern Division, ended the previous season with a win for only the second time since 1993 and had perhaps their best recruiting season in years &045; all which may make the heat and grueling practice a little more tolerable.

&uot;We’re going into training camp with a great deal of enthusiasm and a great deal of energy to try and finish the season at Eastern Division champs,&uot; said ASU head coach Johnny Thomas, now entering his sixth year on The Reservation. &uot;Everybody feels they can build on where we left off last year and make things happen. We’re really excited about it.&uot;

The enthusiasm will carry into the coaching staff in regards to assembling a defensive unit that’s in need of some clear-cut starters. The defensive line is probably the biggest priority coming into fall camp, but other areas on that side of the ball have coaches ready to get to work.

The Braves have just one returning starter on the line, two linebackers and two members of the secondary.

&uot;(We’re) trying to find defensive people to come in and be a contributor so we can see how we’re going to far this season defensively,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;The primary emphasis is the defensive line.&uot;

It’s the area the Braves were somewhat concerned about during the spring when they had Ross Gordon and Michael Howleit at the ends following the departures of Bryan Williams and Eric Roach at the tackles.

Howleit will not return and have the productive senior season everyone anticipated, and Gordon spent most of the season in the shadows of the other linemen last season. But the 6-3, 245 lineman may be the anchor up front and perhaps the entire defensive unit along with linebackers Dwan Wilson and Leo Nobles, two returning starters.

&uot;We’re going to address it as soon as we can,&uot; said defensive coordinator LaTraia Jones, now in his second year. &uot;We were sitting out here, and everyone was saying the same thing &045; we’re young &045; and we are. But at the same time it’s going to be up to the coaches to get them caught up as quickly as possible to understand the defense.&uot;

The loss of Howleit was a blow the coaching staff would rather take back, but it leaves the door open for sophomore Bryan Woods to possibly take over. The former Natchez High standout played some there in the spring before Howleit was declared ineligible and impressed the coaching staff some to the point of maybe doing a rotation.

But that position is not set in stone, and neither are the two tackle spots. At linebacker the third slot is up in the air, although former Jefferson County standout Tavari Hughes may be a frontrunner.

Senior Jermaine Johnson and sophomore Jayson Williams will compete for that middle linebacker spot vacant after Omega Logan’s senior season in 2003. Then there is the secondary, which lost All-American Tyrone Parsons and has just Taurian Parks back with major game experience.

&uot;We made the defense real simple this year,&uot; Jones said. &uot;When I first came in, I was told we had some veteran guys who could handle anything I put in. We had over 48 zone blitzes and coverages. Everybody is brand new, except for a couple of the linebacker. We have a little experience, but not a great deal.&uot;

Parks was a pleasant surprise last fall when he was inserted into the lineup at cornerback following Jeremy Stockdale’s ACL injury. The diminutive Parks (5-9, 170) played bigger than his size with 40 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up.

The remaining cast of defensive backs include Brandon Brown, Jeffrey Hobbs and Victor Alexandrea, all of whom saw limited duty last season.

&uot;(Parks) played great for us, and everybody else is brand new,&uot; Jones said. &uot;But at this point in time, the only thing the coaching staff can do is coach them, put them out there and let the chips fall where they may.&uot;

The coaches will also welcome a talented and sizeable freshman class to camp on Monday, a number of which will enter the depth charts on defense. The team is expecting eight linemen, five linebackers and three defensive backs into camp along with plenty of size to compete for spots on the offensive line.

&uot;We’re anticipating them showing up, and they’ve got to get a lot of reps,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;They’ve got to learn our system, and hopefully they’ll be able to contribute by the first ball game.&uot;