Position Breakdown: Secondary

As fall camp rolls along, Herdnation.com will spend the next few days breaking down the different position groups and biggest storylines heading into the 2016 season.

We continue today by looking at the Secondary.

Key Losses: Keith Baxter, Taj Letman, Tiquan Lang, Corey Tindal, Antavis Rowe, Chris Williams-Hall, Antonio Howard, T.J. Griffin

Key Returning Reserves: (RS-JR) CB Rodney Allen, (RS-JR) CB Michael Johnson, (RS-JR) D’Andre Wilson, (RS-SR) CB Cody Carter, (JR) Safety Kendall Gant, (SR) Safety Corey Neely

Newcomers: (RS-FR) CB Tramell Carey, (RS-SR) CB Terry Richardson, (FR) CB Jaylon McClain-Sapp, (FR) CB Chris Jackson, (JR) CB Dontrell Johnson, (FR) CB Jestin Morrow, (JR) Safety C.J. Reavis, (FR) Safety Jeremiah Maddox, (FR) Safety Brandon Drayton, (RS-FR) Safety George Davis

It’s no secret that the ability to pressure the quarterback like defensive coordinator Chuck Heater likes to do, is predicated on how well a team can play man-to-man coverage in the secondary. Head Coach Doc Holliday has said time and time again that, “our secondary is built from the outside in” and for that reason the 2016 edition of the “No Fly Zone” secondary is a concern for Herd fans. Gone from the 2015 secondary are a career 557 tackles, 67 pass break-ups, and 14 interceptions. Enter 2016, as many as seven or eight newcomers could see playing time throughout the season. We’ll take a look at those newcomers as well as what was left in the cupboard following 2015.

After coming to Marshall originally as a highly regarded wide receiver, Allen made the transition to the defensive side of the during the 2014 season and it’s paying huge dividends now. Allen is the most experienced corner back on Marshall’s roster and will heavily relied upon to become Heater’s next “shutdown” corner. Playing in all 13 games during the 2015 season, Allen finished with 30 tackles, three pass break-ups, and a team leading three interceptions. At 5 foot – 11 inches and 185 pounds, Allen possesses more than enough size to play with the physicality Heater demands. Allen will likely play the boundary corner position and take on most of the one-on-one situations with the amount of youth behind him. After three pass break-ups in Marshall’s recent scrimmage, there’s plenty of optimism from the staff surrounding Allen. Let’s hope their optimism translates to production during 2016.

Consider Marshall University C.J. Reavis’ next chance at big time college football. Following a cameo in Netflix’s “Last Chance U”, Reavis enrolled at Marshall last December and has been playing his way into a starting position ever since. Before his time at Eastern Mississippi Community College, Reavis was in line to start for Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech Hokies. Luckily enough for Holliday and company that didn’t happen and now Reavis has a chance to be the biggest impact newcomer on the roster. Versatile enough to play on the edge or in the back of the secondary, Reavis’ abilities are one that Heater will surely take advantage of. At 6 foot – 1 inch and 210 pounds, Reavis will provide a physical presence in the secondary opposing receivers will have to keep in mind when crossing over the middle of the field. In the attempt to get the “best 11” on the field, Reavis may also see time at the nickel. One thing is for sure, Reavis is ready for his next chance.

For those of you too young or too old, “NKOTB” is an acronym for “New Kids on the Block.” After the departures of starters Keith Baxter, Tiquan Lang, Corey Tindal, Antavis Rowe, and Taj Letman, Holliday and his staff went out and secured commitments from eight players in the 2016 Class. Add those eight new members to the two non-qualifiers already on campus and Heater will have a total of 10 new defensive backs at his disposal. Obviously, a few of those 10 will likely red-shirt, but I’m guessing the top seven or eight will see time this fall.

I’ve already mentioned Reavis as a potential impact player, but true freshman Chris Jackson is right on his heels. Jackson came to Marshall last December as an early enrollee and made his presence known for the first spring practice last April. Jackson possesses a level of confidence that I don’t think I’ve seen from any freshman during Holliday’s time at Marshall. Without looking at a roster, you’d never know the kid was a year removed from high school. He’ll be the game one starter opposite of Rodney Allen and I don’t expect him to lose that title leading into game number two. Another player that will see the field pretty quickly is graduate transfer Terry Richardson. Richardson came to Marshall via Michigan after seeing little playing time in the maize and blue. Richardson looks like he’ll open the season as Marshall’s starting nickel-back and occasionally slide outside to spell Allen.

The player that’s made the biggest splash this pre-season in my opinion has been red-shirt freshman Tramell Carey. Carey, a virtual unknown leading up to National Signing Day, committed to Marshall in the spring of 2015. After sitting out the 2015 season as a non-qualifier, Carey has made the most out of his first chance. Carey, like Jackson, plays with a certain moxie you often don’t see from younger players. Carey will likely spell his freshman counterpart Jackson at the field corner.

My 2016 Bold Prediction

Chris Jackson will be named to the C-USA All-Conference Team. He’ll also be named to the 2nd Team Freshman All-American Team. He’s just been that good in his short time in Huntington.