2022 Indiana Football Positional Preview: Defensive Backs
/
Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by Matt Smith
The Hoosier Huddle position preview continues with the defensive backs room. The defensive backs are one of the most experienced rooms for Tom Allen’s Hoosiers. With Tiawan Mullen, Noah Pierre, Jaylin Williams and others returning to the Hoosiers, the safety net of the defense will look to be one of the strongest position groups for the Hoosiers. Mullen was hurt for most of last season following a great 2020 campaign. The DBs will look to recreate the turnover success this season as the Hoosiers bounce back from a 2021 season that was not what the Hoosiers were expecting.
The Starters
Noah Pierre
Pierre is a player that made his name for himself following many injuries to the Hoosiers secondary. During his first two seasons for the Hoosiers, he was mostly on special teams and didn’t receive any playing time in the secondary. However, last season with injuries to Tiawan Mullen as well as Devon Matthews, Tom Allen looked to Pierre to step up in big spots. The biggest play of his career was his interception in the endzone against Michigan State. Pierre made a huge play and shifted the momentum in the Hoosiers’ favor. Following that game, Pierre received a lot of press. Going into this season Pierre will look to start at the Husky position, and pick up where he left off last season.
Jaylim Williams
Williams was an honorable mention all-big ten player during his senior season last year. He was also awarded the Corby Davis Memorial award during the offseason for the Hoosiers. He is the active team leader in interceptions with 6. Last season, he had 41 tackles as well as 11 pass break ups. Williams will look to be a key piece of the defense this season, as part of a veteran secondary. He was fourth in the Big Ten in pass breakups. Williams is a very talented player and was one of the more healthy players in the secondary last season. Williams will look to continue his success this season and anchor the defense.
Devon Matthews
Last season’s most outstanding defensive player award winner returns to the Hoosiers defense this season. Matthews was a force on defense last season when he was healthy. As the starting safety for the Hoosiers, he is the anchor on the defense. He totaled 55 tackles, one sack, one interception, and four pass break-ups. Matthews’ nickname is “Monster,” and that is what Allen will look for him to be during this season.
Bryant Fitzgerald
Fitzgerland is one of the DBs that have been with the Hoosiers for a long time. He graduated last spring with a degree in Media and has come back for his sixth season with the Hoosiers. He is another one of those players who was able to stay healthy for most of the season for the Hoosiers. This season, Fitzgerald will look to provide a lot of veteran leadership for the defense, on a team that has a big mix of veteran and younger presence.
Tiawan Mullen
One of the biggest names in the Big Ten is Tiawan Mullen, he has been a stud for the hoosiers defense, especially in 2020. During his 2020 season, Mullen was an All-American, and an all Big-Ten first team player. However, last season Mullen struggled with injuries and was only able to appear in seven games and was only able to start in four of them. Mullen began 2021 being on multiple award watchlists, but was unable to live up to expectations due to his battle with injuries. Mullen decided to come back this season and play for the Hoosiers and it was a huge addition to the Hoosiers as they look to bounce back this season. Mullen will also look to bounce back himself to what he was during the 2020 season.
Reserves
Now that we have talked about the starters, let’s take a look at the other players that will be getting some playing time this season.
Jordan Grier
Grier saw very minimal playing time last season in the secondary, but was able to play in six games on special teams. As a sophomore, he will look to have more playing time this season and fill in the spots if injuries become a problem.
Brylan Lanier
Lanier was a big transfer recruit that came over from Alabama following his first season where he redshirted. Lanier is a very talented player who will look to continue to develop this season on a new team.
James Monds III
Mond is a very talented true freshman on the Hoosier roster that has impressed many coaches and media members during his fall camp. It is unclear how much playing time Mond will be able to get, but he was listed second on the depth chart in the fall and will look to play a role in different spots as well as special teams.
Josh Sanginetti
Sanguinetti filled in for Devon Matthews last season, but was also a player that was struggling with the injury bug and was only able to start in two games, but did make an appearance in eight games. He tallied 17 tackles as well. Sanguinetti will look to provide some veteran leadership and is another player that will look to play in different spots on the defense.
Bryson Bonds
Bonds redshirted his sophomore season, but made a few appearances during the 2020 season including the Penn State game. Bonds will come into this season looking for a bigger role on the Hoosiers defense.
Jonathan Haynes
Haynes is a long tenured college football player who came over from a junior college before his junior season. He is now in his second year as a graduate player. He has seen small amounts of playing time during his tenure with the Hoosiers. Haynes will enter the season looking to step up on the defensive side of the ball and be placed into different areas.
Lem Watley-Neely
Watley-Neely redshirted his sophomore season and hasn’t seen much playing time on the Hoosiers roster. He will be another player that will look to fill a role on special teams and fill in if there are injuries.
Trevell Mullen
Mullen is the brother of Tiawan and is a freshman this season. Trevell will most likely not see much playing time this season. He will look to help out on the scout team and develop during his freshman campaign.
Christopher Keys
Keys hasn’t seen much playing time during his tenure with the Hoosiers due to a season ending leg injury. Keys will look to remain healthy this season and develop into a strong player in the secondary for the Hoosiers.
Phillip Dunnam
Dunnam is a true freshman this season, and was the number 40 safety according to ESPN. Dunnam will be another one of those players who will look to develop on the scout team.
Louis Moore
Moore went to a small college before transferring over to Indiana. Moore will be an interesting piece to watch throughout the season.
Jamari Sharpe
Sharpe is a young player in this unit and will look to learn and grow over his first year. He will look to learn under the upperclassmen who have been here for a while and develop his craft.
Liam Zaccheo
Zaccheo is a walk-on on the program who red-shirted last season. Zaccheo will most likely not see any playing time, but will be a key piece on the scout team.
Mitchell Evans
Another depth piece for the Hoosiers and a true freshman.
Connor Hole
Hole is another walk-on at the program who will look to provide help during practices.
Nicholas Grieser
Grieser is another player that walked onto the program and will look to provide some help with the scout team throughout the season.
Drew Pearce
Pearce joined the Hoosiers as a preferred walk-on during the middle of the season last year. He didn’t see much playing time but was a very talented high school prospect that will look to add depth to the Hoosiers secondary this season.
Patrick Finley
Finley is another walk-on in the position room who will be a huge key with the scout team throughout the season.
Overview
The Hoosiers secondary has a wide range of experience. There are some key freshmen who will look to develop this season such as Trevell Mullen and James Mond III. However, Taiwan Mullen, Jaylin Williams, and Devon Matthews will look to bounce back from a forgettable season in 2021. The secondary for the Hoosiers should be one of their strongest as they bring back most of their starters from week one last season. Mullen and Williams are both all Big-Ten talents. Mullen was an All-American and will look to lead this group as they continue to make turnovers and have some growing pains.