Mike Bloomgren saw flashes of what he described as “momentary greatness” from the Owls’ defense during the spring game, a good jumping-off point for a unit that six times last year allowed more than 40 points a game and was rocked to its core by the death of one of its team leaders this spring.

Defensive end Blain Padgett, 21, died suddenly in early March, and his defensive brethren said they tried to carry his memory with them every day during spring practice.

“We’re trying to honor him in everything that we do,” said rush linebacker/defensive end Graysen Schantz, who returns this year for a rare sixth year of eligibility after an injury-plagued career.

The Owls spent the spring adjusting to the base 3-4 defense installed by coordinator Brian Smith, who spent two years at Michigan after nine years in the NFL with the Eagles and Jets. Bloomgren said the Owls will frequently play five defensive backs against pass-oriented Conference USA teams and “blitz from everywhere” on third down.

Bloomgren stresses ball control, which may ease the load on the defense as it adjusts to its new scheme.

Texas high schools typically don’t turn out big run-stuffers up front as much as they used to, but Bloomgren thinks he has a good one in 300-pound Zach Abercrumbia, who was a spring standout along with tackle Roe Wilkins and Schantz.

“This defense is more about getting to the ball as opposed to the gaps,” Abercrumbia said. “You still have to control your gap, but the ball is the issue. It doesn’t help if you control your gap but the ballcarrier is taking off down the field.”

Rice will sorely miss linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee, whose 120 tackles last year was more than double that of the next most productive defender. Dylan Silcox showed improvement this spring, and Bloomgren is high on Martin Nwakamma, who moves over from safety.

Sophomore Anthony Ekpe should start on the strong side entering fall camp, but this is an area where four incoming freshmen, the most likely candidate being Antonio Montero, could see more playing time.

The secondary is young, too, but Bloomgren likes safety Jorian Clark covering slot receivers and George Nyakwol’s range at free safety. Returning starter Justin Bickham was limited during the spring, so juniors D’Angelo Ellis and Brandon Douglas-Dotson got a lot of spring work at corner.