Pre-Spring Position Previews: Defensive Backs

I personally needed some clarity on each positions, so I wanted to look at pre-spring position reviews (or post-portal but went with pre-spring). Let’s go.

Graduation

S Cole Wisniewski
CB Dontae Balfour
S A.J. McCarty
STAR Luke Dillingham

Transfers Out

CB Maurion Horn SR – Oklahoma State
S Chapman Lewis SR – Utah State
CB Macho Stevenson JR – Tulane
CB Deante Lindsay SO – Abilene Christian

Returning

Cornerbacks:

CB Brice Pollock (6-0/195) SR
CB Amier Boyd (6-2/190) SR
CB Ashton Hampton (6-0/170) RSO
CB Tarrion Grant (6-2/190) JR Purdue

Safeties:

SS Brenden Jordan (6-0/205) SR
SS Peyton Morgan (6-0/180) RSO
FS Malik Esquerra (6-3/205) RSO
SS Oliver Miles III (6-2/190) RSO
S Mikal Harrison-Pilot (6-0/215) JR
S Marcus Ramon-Edwards (6-3/225) JR

Transfers In

CB Davin Martin (6-2/180) JR UTSA

Incoming Freshmen

CB S’Vioarean Martin (6-2/195) 89.56
CB Luke Hamilton (5-11/185) 85.80
CB Noah Lewis (5-9/180) 85.17
S Donovan Webb (6-0/190) 88.70
S Aaron Bradshaw (6-2/185) 86.73
S Maddox Quiller (6-0/210) 85.80

What I think:

The graduates included two starters (for the most part) and I think I’m okay with how that all worked out. Wisniewski and Balfour were solid players for Texas Tech and McCarty was sort of an option, but not used all that often.
The transfers out include 3 cornerbacks that sort of hate to lose. That’s a good amount of depth, especially Horn. As an aside, the year designation is what they will be in 2026.
There’s just 4 cornerbacks returning with actual experience. Yikes! Pollock and Boyd are just fine. I don’t know a ton about Hampton, and Grant was a Purdue transfer that I don’t think played much at all this year (he technically played 6 games).
Jordan is obviously the leader of the safety group, but the rest of that group really didn’t play very much at all. Morgan and Harrison-Pilot actually played some running back and Esquerra or Miles really didn’t play very much at all. I wish we knew more about Ramon-Edwards and what he can do. He was an absolute stud-athlete in high school and wish I knew why he can’t get on the field (other than there have just been better players and I think he was injured a lot last year).
Martin is the only transfer in from UTSA and don’t know a ton about him, but don’t think he was all-world. He was a spot player and was productive
In retrospect, this was a really big high school class for the secondary and probably needed. I would have zero expectation that any of these guys play, but if there are injuries then depth could be a factor and these guys could be needed.
Solve the strong safety issue and I think that’s something. That’s not an unreasonable request and one where there should be some player improvement. Maybe it’s Morton or Esquerra or Miles.
The depth is going to be a problem OR there’s going to be enough improvement from the redshirt sophomores and guys like Grant and Hampton or Martin will impress immediately, that everything will be just fine.