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This is the next to last position by position breakdown but the last one for the defense. Next week its all about the specialists, but this week we give some love to the "top fuel dragsters" of the defense...the DBs

Charleston Southern

Chris Kuzdale- 64 total tackles 3 INT (led team) All Big South First Team
Fred Godfrey- 67 total tackles 1 INT
Charles James- 13 total tackles 2 INT
Jacques Bazile- 50 total tackles 1 INT

Coastal Carolina

Josh Norman 43 total tackles 8 INT (led Big South) All Big South First Team
Dominique Davenport- 56 total tackles 3 INT
Keon Cunningham- 22 total tackles 1 INT
Derrick Frasier- 44 total tackles 1 INT

Gardner-Webb

Bryce Nixon- 53 total tackles 2 INT
Jermaine Grandison- 39 total tackles 1 INT
Chris James- 28 total tackles 2 INT
Keron Phelps- 25 total tackles

Liberty

Kajuan Lee- 37 total tackles 5 INT All Big South First Team
Brent Vinson- 32 total tackles
Donald Manns- 18 total tackles 1 INT
Larry Claiborne- 39 total tackles 1 INT

Presbyterian

Damon Lawrence- 37 total tackles 2 INT
Justin Bethel- 79 total tackles All Big South Second Team
Brian Wilson- 35 total tackles
Antarius Terrell- 20 total tackles

Stony Brook

Arin West- 80 total tackles 3 INT (tied for team lead) All Big South First Team
Dominick Reyes- 49 total tackles
Dayton Guillory- 9 total tackles
Corey Stringer- 7 total tackles

VMI

Byron Allen- 93 total tackles All Big South Second Team
Juan Thrasher- 62 total tackles 1 INT
Michael Johnson- 32 total tackles 1 INT
Trae Watkins- 39 total tackles

Here is how I rank the DBs in conference:
(Note: these rankings are my opinion and my opinion only and should not be construed as being the opinion of this website or any publication)

1. Coastal Carolina
2. Charleston Southern
3. Liberty
4. VMI
5. Gardner-Webb
6. Stony Brook
7. Presbyterian

1. Arin West, Stony Brook
2. Chris Kuzdale, Charleston Southern
3. Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina
4. Kajuan Lee, Liberty
5. Byron Allen, VMI
6. Justin Bethel, Presbyterian
7. Bryce Nixon, Gardner-Webb
8. Dominique Davenport, Coastal Carolina
9. Charles James, Charleston Southern
10. Larry Claiborne, Liberty

GWU's Cedric McGowan who was an All-Big South Selection in 2007 and 2008 and pre-season All-American Candidate going in to 2009 before red-shirting should return to finish his career as a R-Sr. McGowan, a two year starter 07-08 who compiled 94 tackles and 8 int's in tbose two seasons should return to the starting line-up along with Bryce Nixon, Keron Phelps and Chris James with Grandison likely playing the nickel. You add McGowan back in and I see how GWU moves up in the ranking to 3rd and no worse than 4th. With no stats from the 09 season it's easy to see how he was overlooked in the DB analysis by bjtheflamesfan. Otherwise, good work.

Thanks for the compliment EagleDawg...I was going off 2009 stats so that is why McGowan was not listed in your group of 4.

On a side note...Im surprised I havent heard much from the CCU fans other than the first couple of postings.

bjtheflamesfan wrote:This is the next to last position by position breakdown but the last one for the defense. Next week its all about the specialists, but this week we give some love to the "top fuel dragsters" of the defense...the DBs

VMI

Byron Allen (played both CB and SS in '09)- 93 total tackles All Big South Second Team
Juan Thrasher (CB)- 62 total tackles 1 INT
Michael Johnson (FS)- 32 total tackles 1 INT
Trae Watkins (SS)- 39 total tackles

Also, in the Spring, Coach Woods moved slotback Michael Rainey-Wiles (5'9, 174, Sr.), to CB, and won one starting position in the secondary (Allen will be at SS, most likely). Greg Walker (5'9, 168, Jr.) adds depth at CB. Incoming freshman Miguel Marshall (5'10, 190, prepped at FUMA) has a great shot to make the two-deep, as does incoming freshman Michael Smith (5'9, 168), who also had great HS numbers as a kick returner.

There are a lot of DBs in the south.

DBs was probably the hardest position to go through because you only had maybe 5 or 6 DBs on each squad who contributed heavily and in some cases (like G-W and PC) where many of the returning DBs didnt even have any interceptions. PC I think could be in for a long haul. they only had four INTs TOTAL last year and they got gashed on more than a few occasions through the air. Gardner-Webb does have McGowan coming back (as EagleDawg mentioned) which should certainly help, and VMI is shifting a few guys around as a result of their offensive change so itll be interesting to see how Rainey-Wiles does having earned himself a spot on the field as a CB. the Keydets didnt pick off a ton of passes last year either but you dont want your DBs being the ones getting most of your stops either

SBU has two FBS transfers - one from Rutgers (formerly ranked the #1 CB in New Jersey), and one from Utah State. Both are cornerbacks. Add in West and I doubt we're only better than Presby here.

If they are as good as advertised I will certainly agree with you on that point Redwyn...FBS transfers are pretty much a crap shoot. they could turn out to be all conference moneymakers for a squad or they could turn out to be total duds. we shall see how good these guys are once the pads are on and the lights are up.

free bump to draw a little more discussion from Big South fans before I post the final part (covering special teams) on Wednesday