SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University football is coming off one of its most successful seasons in program history in 2015. The Vikings finished 9-3 and made the program's fourth NCAA Playoff appearance. Augustana also earned a share of the NSIC South Division Championship with a 6-1 record in divisional play.
 
Fourth-year head coach Jerry Olszewski welcomed 108 players to fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 11. Olszewski returns 56 letterwinners, including 10 starters on offense and six on defense from last year's team that became just the second team in school history to win nine or more games.
 
The Vikings ended the season ranked in the top 25 of the American Football Coaches' Association and D2football.com national polls. Augustana enters the 2016 season ranked 25th in the AFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll.
 
As fall camp continues to push on, GoAugie.com will take a closer look at the team's position groups. The second installment features the defensive line.
 
The Vikings return three starters on the defensive line, led by team captain and All-NSIC First Team performer Bryson Hamilton at the end position. Hamilton has played in 34 career games, making 23 starts over the last two seasons. He enters his senior campaign with 110 career tackles (12.5 for loss) and 3.0 sacks. Last season, Hamilton ranked sixth on the team with 58 total tackles to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Hamilton was disruptive at the line breaking up three passes while recovering one fumble and forcing another.
 
Junior Zach Richter emerged as a regular on the front four last season, appearing in all 12 games and making 11 starts at the other defensive end position. Richter finished the year with 26 tackles (11 solo), one sack and one fumble recovery.
 
Zac Johnson appeared in 11 of 12 games at defensive end in 2015 and recorded 22 tackles (14 solo) while ranking third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss. Johnson also picked up 2.5 sacks and broke up one pass while recorded at least one tackle in 10 of 11 games played.
 
Sophomore Joey Newman registered 16 tackles in 2015 appearing in 11 of 12 games. Newman recorded half of a quarterback sack and had a season-high four tackles against SMSU on Oct. 13.
 
Dalton Frahm and Jake Wargo split the starting duties at nose guard last season for the Vikings. Frahm started five straight games to start the season and played in 11 of 12 games, making 18 tackles (five solo). Wargo started seven straight games to end the season and played in 10 of 12 on the year. He recorded 15 tackles (five solo) and recorded one interception.
 
The Vikings will have to replace an All-American at defensive tackle with the graduation of Jamal Samaha. Samaha recorded 34 tackles his senior season in 2015 to go along with a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss and a single season record eight sacks. Augustana will benefit from veterans Cole Salm and Lance Briard who both played in 11 games in the middle of the defensive line last season. Salm recorded 14 tackles and two sacks and Briard finished the year with 11 tackles (seven solo) and a forced fumble.
 
Also returning on the interior defensive line are juniors Collin Holt, Joe Schiller and Mitch Gade who have both seen action over the last two seasons. Holt registered 10 tackles (five solo) and one sack last season. Schiller played in four games as a true freshman in 2013 making four tackles before sitting out the 2014 season as a redshirt. Schiller recorded two sacks in four games in 2015. Gade has played in 10 career games for the Vikings and has recorded four tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Nate Sackett saw action in three games in 2015 and finished with two tackles and a half a quarterback sack.  
 
Jordan Meyer and Jake Denn, both tight ends last season, have made the transition to the defensive line in 2016. Meyer and Denn spent the spring season on the defensive side of the ball. Denn, Joe Kayl, Vasiliy Stefanyuk and Ryan Kretzschmar earned their redshirts in 2015.
 
Joining the defensive line in 2016 are true freshmen Drew Russell, Logan Swanson, Nick Smith Jr., Elijah Zoucha and Mason Kohlbeck.
 
Friday's installment of the position breakdown preview will include the running backs.