Plenty of colorful descriptors or analogies could be invoked to describe the William & Mary defensive duo of end Nate Lynn and linebacker John Pius — like, say, a heavyweight fighter following a jaw-rattling hook with a knee-buckling cross. 

Credit Lynn for unintentionally inspiring a most fitting parallel for the tandem. The defensive end and co-captain of the reigning Coastal Athletic Association co-champion Tribe invoked the sweet science when describing William & Mary's approach in a breakout 2022 campaign. 

"A lot of times when we talk about going into games, we talk about it with a boxer's mindset," Lynn said. "Taking those punches, and having the mental fortitude to punch back and not lay down on that field, and know that regardless of scoreboard, we've always got a chance." 

Having a one-two punch the caliber of Lynn and Pius leading the defense helps the Tribe's chances, too. There may not be a more dangerous combination in college football this season. 

Lynn enjoyed a breakout 2021 season with 12 sacks — fifth most in the Football Championship Subdivision — over 10 games. The 1.2-per game average was third-best among FCS players, behind only Florida A&M's Isaiah Land and Jackson State's James Houston. 

I was already up before they caught on #1ofNone👁‍🗨 pic.twitter.com/zi42NF5YTE

— Nate Lynn (@natelynn99) December 3, 2021

Both Land and Houston are now in the NFL; Land with the Dallas Cowboys, and Houston now a Detroit Lions teammate of William & Mary offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal. 

Last season marked the coming-out of Pius, whose 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss were both fourth in the nation. All told, Pius' production earned him 1st Team All-American recognition, runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award, and ahead of 2023, has him slated as the Coastal Athletic Association Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 

No surprise here 😤#CAAFB Preseason Defensive POY ➡️ @john_pius8 #GoTribe pic.twitter.com/IzWfHz4iiW

— William & Mary Tribe Football (@WMTribeFootball) July 25, 2023

Having a pair of pass-rushers who can potentially lead the FCS leaves opposing offenses deciding between guarding against the straight right while being prone to the proverbial body shot. And for the Tribe, it can make for some fun sort of sparring. 

"It's a race to the quarterback," Lynn said. "[Pius] will look at me and come to the sideline and be like, 'Man, I beat you there.' The next time, I'll try to beat him there."

Their friendly competition is the evolution of a dynamic that began when Pius was a recruit coming out of Yorktown High School in Arlington. Lynn hosted the then-prospect Pius during the latter's official visit to William & Mary. 

The two now can be counted as part of each other's corner team — an impressive all-around group for the Tribe, as Lynn detailed. 

"Having pass-rush minds in the building: Keenan Carter, great coach, my d-line coach all four years, love of him to death; [outside linebackers coach] Darryl Blackstock, and [head coach] Mike London, he's a d-line coach in his own right, he's got some trick up his sleeve," Lynn said. "So have all that around me — and [Pius] as well, it's a great energy." 

"Me and him are always sending each other pass-rush videos," Pius explained. "Whether it's new moves or just trying to break down film of a move we like and trying to introduce that into our bag." 

Sticking and moving, always looking to maintain an edge; that's how Lynn and Pius plan to bolster a defense with big aspirations. 

"Bigger picture right now," Pius said, "is a national championship. We feel like we can make a run and play at a championship level...Everybody's behind that, understands that's the mentality we have to have as a championship team and keep it that way [through] the season." 

Repeating atop the CAA is top priority, but like any main-event fighter, the Tribe embrace the opportunity of collecting titles. That means taking their performance to a national championship pace, and defense can take the lead. 

William & Mary was good on defense in 2022, holding opponents to 22.5 points per game. That ranked 31st nationally. 

Combined with the nation's 23rd-most prolific offense, the Tribe won with balance on both sides of the ball. 

But of the just six teams to outrank William & Mary in both categories, two — North Dakota State and South Dakota State — played for the national championship. Both ranked in the top 10 of scoring defense at season's end. 

Making a run at the top of the subdivision will take everything a Lynn and Pius-led defense has and then some. Boasting a bevy of veteran playmakers helps. 

"The team looks good," Lynn said. "It's a lot of veteran guys out there, and I feel like you really feel that veteran presence on defense."  

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And, indeed, William & Mary features four preseason 1st Team All-CAA honorees, with defensive backs Ryan Poole and Jalen Jones joining Lynn and Pius. Poole has also garnered preseason All-American recognition alongside the Tribe's pass-rush standouts. 

Last year's past production and this summer's expectations don't carry much weight once this season's bell rings, though. 

"I have to prove myself again, why I feel like I'm a top player in this conference and in the nation," Pius said.  

In continuously refining his move set, Pius said he takes to studying the best linebackers at all levels. Among his inspirations are Von Miller, the three-time 1st Team All-Pro, and Maxx Crosby. 

Fittingly enough, the Las Vegas Raiders standout Crosby also reflects the "boxer's mindset" Lynn described, getting a tattoo depicting Muhammad Ali among other. 

Limitless. Be Legendary. 🦅🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/Z2mlRqJxMF

— 🦅MaddMaxx🦅 (@CrosbyMaxx) June 18, 2023

"Maxx Crosby's one of my favorite young players," Pius said. "Coming out of college [from Eastern Michigan], he was around my size. Seeing him perform and produce as well as he's doing right now is good to see." 

At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, Pius combines solid size with explosiveness. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Lynn is an equally big handful — figuratively and literally — for opposing blockers. 

Focus on protecting against one, and the other will land a haymaker. And if it's not one of them, Pius said, the attention opponents have to pay each "opens things up for the rest of the defense." 

With the full William & Mary arsenal flying, it'll be lights out for plenty of the Tribe's competition in 2023.