During the 2013 season the Hornets defense was one of the top-ranked defenses in the SWAC and one of the top rushing defenses not only in the SWAC but in NCAA FCS Division. One of the areas the defensive staff has looked at is how to make the pass defense a little stronger than it was last year. There are plenty of young returners that gained a lot of experience last season and the staff recruited several talented first year players, so the pass defense should be a little stronger and deeper than last season.
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Najee Bright led the Hornets and was tied for third in the SWAC last year with four interceptions. This season he has moved to his more natural position at corner. Senior
Marcus Berg missed all of last season with an injury and his return will bolster the defensive backs as well.
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Ka'Ra Stewart,
Meryles Gilbert,
Therron Presley, Dinote Ponder,
Ed Murray,
Bradley Street,
Trey Jenkins,
Barry Johnson and
Ja'Quez Bowser all either started at some point or picked up a lot of playing time during the 2013 season.
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The staff brought in talented newcomers like
Delwyn Torbert,
Darius Holmes,
Davian Brantley,
Shakym Peters,
Kenyan Davis,
Kadeem Murray and
Kurron Ramsey to bolster the depth at both the corner and safety positions.
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Defensive Coordinator
Kevin Ramsey is also the defensive backs coach and he as liked what he has seen leading into the Hornets' opener at Sam Houston State.
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"Right now we have a good mixture," Ramsey said. "We were able to move (Najee) Bright to corner and he has been adjusting there very well. He is a physical player and he is long and has always been one of our better cover guys."
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"Ka'Ra (Stewart) is going to start and athletically we just have to get him on the field. His best is yet to come. (Bradley) Street picked up a lot of experience last year and he is going to play nickel for us and
Trey Jenkins played as a true freshman and he is going to play safety."
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"The younger guys like
Kenyan Davis is really coming along and we have (Meryles) Gilbert and (Therron) T.J. Pressley, (Dionte) Ponder and the young guy (Darius) Holmes who has been good and he will be out there playing for us. Our young guys as a whole have really been coming around for us. Most of them were around for the summer and they have good football I.Q. and those guys are going to be fine."
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It will not take long for the Hornets defensive backs to get tested as the Bearkats of Sam Houston State completed 31 of its 52 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns in their season opener at top-ranked Eastern Washington.
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