One of the keys to being successful in the SEC is being able to stop the big play, and this is any area Kentucky has struggled in years past. The defensive backs have been able to shut down receivers for nearly an entire game, only to allow a 20+ yard reception at a crucial point. With the graduation of star Trevard Lindley and the recent announcement that senior Paul Warford was ineligible, it will be up to a young defensive backfield to step up and contain the opposing receivers.
Defensive Backs
The Cover Corners:
#24 – Randall Burden – JR – 6’0 / 175 – LaGrange. GA
It’s tough to take over for a long-term starter as the top corner on a team, but Burden will try to be the guy that makes fans forget about Trevard Lindley. He has the swagger and short memory you look for in your defensive backs and he’ll probably be lined up against the top receiver for the offense. He has good height for a corner and has the speed to play against the top guys in the SEC. His experience and leadership will be needed in a position group that should have a couple of true freshman seeing the field.
#15 – Martavius Neloms – SO – 6’1 / 184 – Memphis, TN
When he signed with Kentucky in 2009, Neloms was an unheralded recruit out of Memphis that sported offers from only Arkansas State and Southern Miss. Then the staff raised some eyebrows when they announced that he would forgo a redshirt season and play as a true freshman. He managed to work his way up the depth chart and finally found himself in a starting role by the time the South Carolina game rolled around. He’s accomplished quite a bit for a guy that never played football until he was a junior in high school. Now with Warford out, it’s time for him to step up and solidify himself as a starter. He has great speed, and being 6’1 will help him go toe to toe with the taller SEC receivers.
The Safties:
#21 – Winston Guy – JR – 6’1 / 215 – Lexington, KY
It’s hard to read anything about Guy without seeing his habit of missing tackles being brought up. If he can wrap up while still bringing the power he does, he could be an absolute force at safety. He’ll be the most experienced player in the defensive backfield after playing as a freshman and then starting as a sophomore, and he’ll need to be one of the leaders of the defense while they attempt to move on after loosing several key players from last years’ team.
#41 – Mychal Bailey – JR – 6’0 / 185 – LaGrange, GA
After spending a couple of years in junior college, Bailey has finally arrived in Lexington to suit up for the Wildcats. He brings a reputation as a big time hitter to the secondary and will hope to fill a strong safety position that was a weak link on the defense last year, seeing multiple players start last year. Bailey has blistering speed and is tough enough that some websites listed him as a linebacker prospect despite him being only 185 pounds. He’ll have to play well this year though, because his reputation has preceded him to Lexington and fans are expecting a lot from him immediately.
The Supporting Cast:
#35 – Cartier Rice – SO – 5’10 / 182 – Duncan, SC
There’s a chance that Rice could work his way into the starting rotation ahead of Neloms, but he is probably better suited to cover the shorter players manning the slot receiver position as a nickel back. He has the speed to run with almost every receiver in the SEC and showed during spring that he also has a knack for picking off stray passes. He should play quite a bit on special teams and might even return a kick or two at some point this season.
#6 – Taiedo Smith – JR – 6’0 / 188 – Dunnellon, FL
The guy who might have the best chance of having a breakout season is Smith. He’ll probably be on the field more often than not because he’s the ideal nickel back. He’s big enough and strong enough to step up and support the run, but he’s fast enough to cover a receiver one-on-one. He’s listed as a safety, but defensive back or athlete might be a better description of where he fits on the roster. He still has a chance to beat out Bailey for one of the starting safety jobs.
#33 – Josh Gibbs – JR – 5’10 / 210 – Long Beach, CA
Another junior college defensive back, Gibbs was able to enroll in January and participate in spring practices. He’ll be competing with several players for the second starting job at safety and he’s right in the mix of things at this point. He’s not the fastest guy in the team, but he always seemed to be in the right position to make a play during the spring.
#17 – Jarvis Walker– FR – 6’1 / 208 – Marrero, LA
Walker came to Kentucky as a guy that could play safety or could also possibly bulk up into an outside linebacker. So far he’s stuck at safety and he was able to show off how talented he is this past spring. He’s still in the mix for one of the starting jobs at safety, but figures to spend most of the season making big hits on special teams.
#28 – Dakotah Tyler – FR – 5’11 / 207 – Indianapolis, IN
One of the biggest surprises on signing day this year was Joker announcing that Tyler had approached the staff wanting to be moved to the defensive backfield. One of the biggest surprises of spring practice was Tyler being able to compete immediately despite not playing the safety position for over a year. Tyler is probably a year or two from contending for a starting job, but he should see the field a lot with all the teams employing four and five receiver sets. He will certainly be a member of the special teams units and he is also a guy that could return kicks at some point.
#14 – Anthony Mosley – JR – 6’0 / 169 – Ellenwood, GA
Every unit has a guy that is pretty tough to figure out and Mosley is that guy for the defensive backs. After moving over from the receivers last year, Mosley has the speed, height, and hands to be an excellent corner, but things just haven’t clicked for him yet. He looked great at times during the spring, and he’ll need to show he has what it takes to play corner in the SEC because the staff is recruiting one elite cornerback prospect after another.
#1 – Jerell Priester– FR – 5’9 / 170 – Ulmer, SC
As one of the top recruits of the 2010 class, Priester has a great shot at seeing a lot of playing time this fall. He’s an athlete in every sense of the word and could see time on offense, defense, and on special teams as a returner. He’s expected to be a major factor at cornerback in the future and could be one of the top players off of the bench if a starter is injured.
#34 – Dale Trimble – FR – 5’10 / 175 – Gadsden,
AL
After becoming eligible to play this year by the skin of his teeth, Trimble will have to play catch up quickly if he hopes to contribute this season. He is one of the higher rated recruits in the 2010 class and fills a position of need for the Cats. With Warford being ruled ineligible, the need for him to play as a true freshman is higher, but he could end up redshirting as well.
#38 – Eric Simmons – FR – 6’0 / 180 – Atlanta, GA
Simmons was rated all over the pace as a prep player and ESPN even had him listed as one of the top 25 players nationally at cornerback. He has the size to move over to safety if need be, but he will probably at least start out as a corner where he can use his 4.38 speed to run with the opposition’s receivers. There’s an outside chance he plays this year, but a redshirt season would benefit him as he has only been playing football for two years.
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