Big South DBs 2014

[bjtheflamesfan]

We conclude our look at the defense with the anti-air squads for each team, the defensive backs

Charleston Southern

Demaris Freeman 90 Tackles (45 Solo) 3.0 TFL 1 INT (2013 Big South All Conference Second Team)
Malcolm Jackson 47 Tackles (33 Solo) 2.5 TFL 1.0 Sacks 1 INT
Corbin Jackson 30 Tackles (19 Solo) 2.0 TFL 2 INT

CSU loses a very good defender from last year in Elijah Lee in the defensive backfield but they do return an all-conference performer in Freeman as well as a solid player in Malcolm Jackson who will have to take the reins in the backfield that allowed about 210 yards per game through the air (4th in the Big South). If they can get that number below 200, it will help the front 7 focus on the run, where they ranked 3rd in the conference.

Coastal Carolina

Richie Sampson 84 Tackles (65 Solo) 6.5 TFL 3.0 Sacks 1 INT (2013 Big South All Conference Second Team)
Denzel Rice 61 Tackles (49 Solo) 1.0 TFL 1 INT (2013 Big South All Conference Second Team)
Pernell Williams 61 Tackles (33 Solo) 1 INT

A very experienced squad in the backfield returns on the defensive side for the Chanticleers, led by all-conference DBs Sampson and Rice, who will no doubt be the leaders of this group who will need to tighten up a bit and improve on their 5th place standing in yards allowed per game in 2013 (239.73 Yards per game including 3 300 yard outputs: Liberty, Bethune Cookman and Montana)

Gardner-Webb

Ivan Toomer 40 Tackles (30 Solo) 2.5 TFL 1 INT
Jonathan Sherrill 14 Tackles (4 Solo)
Adam Johnson 10 Tackles (6 Solo) 0.5 TFL 0.5 Sacks 2 INT

Toomer leads a decimated group in the back for G-W, losing all-conference honoree Keon Williams along with Lonnie Johnson, Drew White to graduation as well as Brandon Swayze, Donald Buie III, Tiko Thompson, Charles Higginbotham, and Bobby Clark. There are a LOT of players who will be getting their chance to show their stuff for a team that actually led the Big South in fewest passing yards per game allowed in 2013 (174.25)

Liberty

Jacob Hagen 61 Tackles (34 Solo) 2.5 TFL 6 INT (2013 Big South All-Conference First Team)
Kenny Scott 45 Tackles (26 Solo) 0.5 TFL 3 INT
Wesley Scott 33 Tackles (20 Solo) 0.5 TFL

Hagen had an explosive 2013, leading the conference in interceptions and now finds himself of the 2014 Buck Buchanan watch list, the first Liberty Flames player to be so honored. Kenny, a local product from Appomattox High School, has steadily improved behind former Flames standouts Kevin Fogg and Walt Aikens, and now he takes over as a leader for a Flames unit that finished only 3.4 yards behind G-W in 2013.

Monmouth

Pat Gray 62 Tackles (36 Solo) 1.0 TFL 2 INT
Joe Johnson 34 Tackles (22 Solo) 1.0 TFL
Nick Carroll 3 Tackles 1 Solo

Gray leads a very young group in Long Branch, as 9 of the DBs on the 2014 roster are either freshmen or sophomores, and that group will be tested after finishing 2013 allowing just under 258 yards, while 4 of the 6 teams in the Big South last year averaged better than 200 Yards through the air.

Presbyterian

Ed Britt 69 Tackles (46 Solo) 6.0 TFL
Cory White 66 Tackles (46 Solo) 1.5 TFL
Cedric Byrd No 2013 Stats (Redshirt)

Its not often that I lead a section with a player that did not play last year, but Byrd returns after sitting out last season. He adds some much needed experience along with Britt and DaRon Dickey for a group that features 14 Freshmen or Sophomores on the roster. PC finished third in the conference in pass defense in last year, allowing just south of 200 yards per game on the season.

Rankings

Team

1. Liberty
2. CCU
3. CSU
4. Monmouth
5. PC
6. G-W

Individual

1. Jacob Hagen LU
2. Richie Sampson CCU
3. Cedric Byrd, PC
4. Demaris Freeman, CSU
5. Kenny Scott LU
6. Denzel Rice CCU
7. Ivan Toomer, GWU
8. Ed Britt PC
9. Pat Gray MU
10. Jonathan Sherrill GWU

[Stickman]

Presbyterian also has back Kevin Crawford and Shonquille Byers who played quite a bit. Although they lost Nick Newton (transferred to Middle Tennessee State) this should be a much stronger group. Overall the defense returns a high number of players in their two deep with game experience and I am looking for them to have a greater impact this season.

[bodoyle]

CCU is looking for a big season from Sampson, and hoping to have him fill the leadership role next year after Backus graduates.