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Loaded Defensive Backfield Welcomes Return Of Khamal Brown For 2014 Season
September 10, 2014 | Football
VIDEO PREVIEW SERIES LINKS: Offensive Line l Receivers/Tight Ends l Quarterbacks/Running Backs l Defensive Line l Linebackers l Defensive Backs
WRITTEN PREVIEW SERIES LINKS: Offensive Line l Receivers/Tight Ends l Quarterbacks/Running Backs l Defensive Line l Linebackers l Defensive Backs
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This wasn't a group that necessarily needed an influx of experience. You always want to see younger guys get better, but you don't expect to see a major contributor suddenly return to a group that only lost one starter from the previous season.
Welcome back, Khamal Brown.
With two All-Ivy starters, the Ivy League's second-ranked player in tackles for loss and one of the league's top freshmen from 2013 all returning, this group looked pretty set for the season. Now it adds a player who was a key contibutor at cornerback almost immediately his freshman season.
In the sixth part of the Princeton Football preview series, we look at the defensive backfield, which could be one of the most important groups for any Ivy team this season.
WHO'S BACK?
Anthony Gaffney made more tackles, pass breakups and interceptions as a freshman than he did as a sophomore last season. In some cases, that speaks to player decline. In the case of Gaffney, a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection, it speaks to the highest level of respect from opposing coaches.
Simply put, teams simply didn't throw at Gaffney much last season.
One of the best defensive players in the league, Gaffney earned a pair of preseason All-America honors entering his junior year. He should be set at one side of the field, though there is plenty of competition on the other. Classmate John Hill was the starter last season, and he led the Tigers with nine breakups. Hill should see plenty of time, though he could move around more than he did last season.
Junior Khamal Brown has 14 games of starting experience in his background, but he suffered a rupture of an arteriovenous malformation and required immediate, life-saving surgery about 23 months ago. Brown has been fully cleared and is competing to return to the starting lineup; this is more than just a feel-good story, as Brown had 72 tackles in 14 games as a starter before his medical condition. He's tall, athletic and itching to get back on the field.
Junior Matt Arends started the final six games of his freshman season at cornerback, but he moved to his more natural safety position last year and thrived. An All-Ivy honoree, Arends had 61 tackles and six breakups during the season, and he provides back-line stability against both the run and pass games. He is also one of the fiery leaders of the group.
Sophomore Dorian Williams had the single-biggest impact of any freshman last season. Though he wasn't listed as a starter, his role as the nickel cornerback in a pass-heavy Ivy League put him on the field for the majority of the defensive snaps. He had 43 tackles, three breakups and a pair of sacks, and he looks even more comfortable this season. Williams could move back to the safety position this season.
WHO'S GONE?
Williams' potential move to safety could happen because of the graduation of All-Ivy senior co-captain Phillip Bhaya, who was one of the team leaders in tackles (65), breakups (six) and interceptions (three). His play was crucial to the defensive success on the field, but his leadership may have mattered even more. He was the rock for a young backfield, and that leadership will need to be replaced by somebody in the group.
WHO COULD ALSO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Senior Jakobi Johnson was a key reserve at cornerback last season, and he has made a strong push at playing time this year. If Hill moves to the nickel cornerback position, Johnson could either start or be the first cornerback in the rotation to start the season. Sophomore James Gales has also looked good in the preseason, and he could become an option as the season progresses.
Two players to watch at the safety positions are juniors Max Lescano and Andrew Frisby. Neither have significant game experience, but they have been in the defensive system long enough to have earned trust from the coaching staff.
A FEW NUMBERS TO KNOW …
50 • The number of games that current Princeton players (Gaffney, 20; Brown, 14; Hill, 10; Arends 6) have started at either of the two outside cornerback positions in their Princeton careers.
43 • Tackles made by Dorian Williams last season. Only one freshman in the Ivy League (Yale's Foyesade Oluokun) had more.
701 • Days between Khamal Brown underwent emergency head surgery and when he will potentially return to the field at San Diego. In a time when feel-good stories seem to be lacking, this one will be especially fun to watch.