HELENA, Mont. -- Often the strength of Fighting Saints football for so long is next up in CarrollAthletics.com's preseason preview leading up to Week 1 against Montana Western. 

This installment will highlight the defense. 

Carroll College returns seven starters from a defensive unit that finished 2018 with the best total defense in the Frontier Conference, allowing 324 total yards per game. 

"I think that's where we have the most experience coming back," Saints football coach Troy Purcell said. "It's a pretty dang explosive group. We have the most depth here and the most talent. The defensive backs, there's a lot of talent there, but the depth is short." 

Up front on the defensive line, the Saints return David Petersen, Cole Greff and Payton Sexe, Out of that group, only Greff missed a game last season.

"They have to control gaps," Purcell said. "They have to maintain the line of scrimmage. We have to get some pressure on the quarterback with our defensive ends and our interior. They have to maintain and dominate the front." 

Petersen led that group with 34 total tackles a season ago. Greff was close behind with 27 total tackles. 

Other familiar faces include Garrett Kocab, who appeared in eight games and recorded 14 tackles and three sacks, Alex Hurlbut, who played in four games and registered six tackles. 

Craig Kein also will be in the mix on the edge of the defense. Last season he recorded 30 tackles and three sacks. 

Other linemen that should be in the rotation early on are Seamus Tully and Zach Hanser. 

The linebacking corps looks to be led by junior Nate McGree, senior Chase Bowen and senior Dylan Kresge. 

Kresge saw action in seven games and recorded 15 tackles. 

Bowen led the defense in total tackles with 92, while McGree was fourth on the team with 52. 

The position group should be a point of strength for the Saints. 

"McGree is one of the best athletes, if not the best athlete, on this team overall," Purcell said. 

Tyler Matteucci, Tom Robitaille and Colin Sassano also should be in the rotation. 

In the secondary, the Saints return Isazah King for his senior season and have a wealth of experience and leadership in the back. 

King brings the most polished resume, having been a starter every season he's suited up for the Saints. Last season, he was No. 47 in the NAIA in passes defended per game with one per contest.

The Saints will look to King, Parker Stenerson, Zach Spiroff, Paul Wilson and Cyle Watts to handle the cornerback position. 

At safety, the Saints will call on Brain FauntLeRoy and Matt Kvech, as well as Dawson Zebarth and Rex Irby. 

FauntLeRoy recorded 16 tackles a season ago, while Kvech was close behind with nine. 

Irby, in six games, recorded 15 tackles. 

"The big leaders on our team are Brian FauntLeRoy and Matt Kvech," Purcell said. "They have experience. I expect them to be very vocal and get the secondary where they need to be."