Pioneer Position Previews: D-Line
As the 2026 football season approaches, the Warren County Way will be breaking down the Pioneer roster position-by-position. We’ll take a closer look at the quarterbacks, running backs/B-backs, wide receivers/tight ends, offensive line, secondary, defensive line, linebackers and special teams before Warren County kicks off the season at DeKalb County.
Brent Carden photo - Canaan Curtis showed he can be a disruptive force on the DL last year for the Pioneers.
Defensive Line
Sometimes the best work a defensive lineman does ends with somebody else's name being called over the loudspeaker. That's something the Pioneers will gladly accept this fall.
Warren County enters the season believing its defensive line can be one of the strengths of the defense, led by a veteran trio of Camron Holder, Ethan Holder and Canaan Curtis. All three bring experience and length to the front, and coach Eric Belew believes they have embraced the technique being taught by defensive line coach Dre Litaker.
“We feel like those guys are as good of a front as any of our opponents will see this year,” said Belew.
Camron Holder has been the most disruptive of the bunch during the preseason, continuing to emerge as a potential impact player after primarily being viewed as a tight end entering last season. His brother Ethan is coming off a strong junior campaign and has continued developing into one of Warren County's most physical players on both sides of the ball.
Curtis completes the veteran trio and brings even more size to a front Warren County will ask to do plenty of dirty work.
There is depth developing behind them too.
Enrique Hernandez has been making life difficult for Warren County's veteran offensive line in practice and has played his way into what Belew expects will be significant snaps this fall. David Franco is another name in the rotation, with Belew praising the pride he has taken in applying the coaching he's received from Coach Lit.
The challenge for all of them is understanding that being disruptive doesn't always mean charging into the backfield.
Warren County plays an odd front and puts a premium on establishing what the coaches call the “Heel Line.” The Pioneers don't want their linemen racing too far upfield and creating new running lanes, nor can they allow blockers to drive them backward and push the line of scrimmage into the linebackers.
The sweet spot is holding the point of attack, absorbing blocks and allowing the guys behind them to attack.
“In our odd front, a great Friday night is when our DL is holding up double teams and creating opportunities for the linebackers to have a ‘free fit’ on a ball carrier,” said Belew. “Their motor is what will create tackles for loss on the DL. We ask our DL to be very selfless in the run game. They have answered that challenge so far.”
It may mean fewer opportunities to chase individual numbers.
Warren County will happily make that trade if the result is a defense that's difficult to move.
3-2-1 Breakdown - Three Questions
Can Camron Holder become the next game wrecker?
Xavier Simmons filled that role last season, giving Warren County somebody capable of blowing up a play before it ever developed. He parlayed it into a college scholarship to Tusculum, leaving the Pioneers in search of the next playmaker on the front.
Holder has been the most disruptive defensive lineman during the preseason and now gets his chance to become that guy.
He doesn't need to replicate Simmons. If Holder can consistently turn his motor into sacks and tackles-for-loss when opportunities arise, the Pioneers will have a playmaker offenses have to account for up front.
Has Hernandez forced his way into a major role?
One way to get noticed is to become a nuisance against a veteran offensive line every afternoon. Hernandez has done exactly that.
Warren County already trusts its top three, but Hernandez's emergence - sparked by being a fiery competitor in scout reps - could allow the Pioneers to rotate more frequently without sacrificing much at the point of attack. If his work in practice carries into Friday nights, the defensive line could quickly become four deep.
Can the Pioneers eliminate the easy yards?
Big plays get attention, but this group may ultimately be judged by all the boring two-yard runs it forces. Coach Belew and his defensive staff are always focused on staying disciplined, not get washed backward in the laps of the linebackers and avoiding creating escape lanes by getting too far upfield.
If Warren County consistently wins those battles, opponents are going to spend a lot more time facing second-and-8 than second-and-4.
Two Observations
Practice battles should make both lines better
Hernandez becoming a “real nuisance” against Warren County's starting offensive line is exactly what Belew should want to see. The Pioneers believe their offensive front can be a major strength and if the defensive line can consistently challenge that group, everybody benefits.
Warren County shouldn't have to wait until Friday nights to find out what it's like to get punched in the mouth.
Don't judge this group by the stat sheet
There will be nights when a Pioneer defensive lineman plays extremely well and finishes with very little individual production.
That's life in an odd front.
The highlights will come, but he Pioneers just can't start chasing them at the expense of doing the job that makes the defense work. Being heroes in the film room instead of the broadcast may be the main goal for the defensive line for the Pioneers.
One Simmons Says Prediction
Nothing flashy this time - just a simple stat that likely be the barometer to winning or losing most Friday nights. My bet: The Pioneers will hold at least five opponents under 150 rushing yards this season. And they’ll win every game that they do.
That won't all belong to the defensive line, but it'll start there. If the Pioneers own the Heel Line and keep their linebackers clean, running directly at Warren County could become a long night's work.
