Position Previews: Defensive Backs

It’s time we start breaking down each position as the season will be here in about 2 months. I don’t have any inside information, so these are mainly guesses on my part and if you take anything away from this, it’s the opportunity for a discussion.

Possible Starters:

Cornerback
Brice Pollock (6-0/195) Sr-1L
Amier Boyd (6-2/190) Sr-1L

This seems pretty darn solid. Pollock is nearly an All-American candidate, breaking up 8 passes, picking off 5, to go along with 48 tackles and 4 tackles for a loss. Boyd was sidetracked early in the year with a wreckless driving situation, but we haven’t heard a peep since then and he ended up with 2 picks, 7 passes broken up, 27 tackles and 2 for a loss.

Field safety
Peyton Morgan (6-0/190) So-1L
Oliver Miles III (6-2/190) So-1L

Boundary safety
Brenden Jordan (6-0/205) Sr-3L

I’m pretty sure this is a real battle and depending on the day, one is doing great and then the other guy does well the next day. I think they simply aren’t ready to announce who will start and I’m okay with that. My guess is that they’ll probably both see time, probably a relatively equal amount. Jordan is maybe the leader of the defense, 59 tackles last year, but it was Wisniewski that sort of led the way with 78 tackles, 6 for a loss, as well as 6 passes broken up. Morgan and Miles will have to do quite a bit to make up for what Wisniewski did and I think that I’m a bit concerned about that production defensively. Regardless, we’ve known that one of these safety spots might be an issue so I think it will be likely that a lot of people will be watching.

Likely Back-Ups:

Cornerback
Davin Martin (6-2/180) Jr-Tr
Tarrion Grant (6-2/190) So-RS
Ashton Hampton (6-0/175) So-1L
Noah Lewis (5-10/180) Fr-HS
S’Vioarean Martin (6-2/1950 Fr-HS
Luke Hamilton (5-11/180) Fr-HS

With two seniors this sort of sets up nicely with Martin, Grant, and Hampton being the names mostly thought of as being next in line. It’s good to have 3 freshmen be waiting in the wings and learning the system. Don’t forget that Martin was at UTSA last year while Grant transferred from Purdue the prior offseason and doesn’t have a ton of stats just yet.

Field safety
Aaron Bradshaw (6-3/195) Fr-HS
Braylan McDonald (6-0/195) Fr-RS

Boundary safety
Malik Esquerra (6-3/210) So-1L
Mikal Harrison-Pilot (6-0/205) Jr-1L
Maddox Quiller (6-0/205) Fr-HS

Given Jordan’s flexibility, we probably should not be all that worried about the two freshmen at field safety. If things go to pot, my guess is that the players with the most seniority will see playing time. Esquerra was baptised a bit last year and he’s probably ready to see more playing time. Harrison-Pilot was at running back last year, he’s probably just getting back into the swing of things while Quiller, like Bradshaw and McDonald are probably hoping to get the call on special teams.