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Princeton University Athletics
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Video Series #3: Experienced Defensive Backfield Ready For Redemption
September 03, 2015 | Football
PRESEASON VIDEO PREVIEW SERIES: Defensive Line l Linebackers l Defensive Backs
Throughout the preseason, GoPrincetonTigers.com will be doing its annual video preview series, going position-by-position through the team as it gets closer to its Sept. 19 season opener at Lafayette.
There is no shortage of returning experience in the Princeton defensive backfield this season. There is also no shortage of motivation from those returners to fix some of the issues that hampered the group in 2014.
Princeton returns all four starters from its defensive backfield last season, though the decision to move Matt Arends to linebacker has opened a spot, and that could go to somebody who earned his own starting spot during his freshman season. Two players, Anthony Gaffney and Dorian Williams, earned All-Ivy League honors last season, while John Hill proved himself to be one of the most reliable, aggressive corners in the league.
Individually, it was good. But as a unit, there were just too many moments of miscommunication, and those often resulted in explosive plays and/or six points.
The individuals should all be better after a driven spring, but the early signs this preseasons are positive for the unit. The communication has been far more crisp, and the addition of Khamal Brown at the safety spot could make this a far tougher team to throw deep on.
Top Returners
Anthony Gaffney • All-Ivy Honorable Mention, 4 BrUp, 3 INT, 25 tackles
Dorian Williams • 2nd-Team All-Ivy, 76 tackles, 6 BrUp
John Hill • 42 tackles, 6 BrUp
Names To Remember
Khamal Brown, Nick Fekula, Andrew Frisby, James Gales, Max Lescano, Durelle Napier, Markus Phox, Chris Smith
Freshmen Who Could Impact
Benjamin Ellis, Ben Novello, Trent Schneider, Eli Stern, Brett Stewart
Gaffney has been a starting cornerback since Day 1 of the 2012 season, and he has more than 80 tackles and eight interceptions in his All-Ivy career. A two-time first-team selection, he came into the 2015 preseason in the best shape of his career. At his best, he can be as impactful as any defensive player in the Ivy League.
Opposite Gaffney is Hill, a feisty competitor who gets challenged often for two reasons: (1) at 5-9, he often gives up several inches to opposing receivers and (2) teams shy away from Gaffney's side. What Hill lacks in height, he more than makes up for in both speed and aggression.
Gales and Phox should provide quality depth at the outside cornerback positions. Williams, one of the bright spots of the 2014 season, can shift between safety and the nickel corner position when needed, as he has succeeded at both. Williams led all returning players with 76 tackles, and he added a team-high six breakups. In his second year at safety, he has developed a strong rapport with the two corners.
Arends' move likely opens the other safety spot to Brown, who is looking to cap his dramatic journey through Princeton with an Ivy League title. Brown was a freshman starter at cornerback and seemed on pace for an All-Ivy season in 2012, but he suffered a rupture of an arteriovenous malformation and requiring immediate, life-saving brain surgery. He sat out the 2013 season and returned to play both corner and safety last season. Fully healthy and having shaken off the rust after missing 16 games, he could solidify the back line of the pass defense.
With the plethora of returning quarterbacks in the Ivy League, the coaching staff knows that it could see several three- and four-receiver sets. If Williams moves to more nickel corner spots, Princeton has experience in the likes of Lescano, Frisby and Smith to move into the safety positions, while both Fekula and Napier have had strong starts to their preseasons.