2019 Indiana Football Positional Preview: Defensive Backs

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle) with assistance from Andrew Walker

One of the deeper position groups in the past couple of seasons for the Indiana Hoosiers has been the defensive secondary. Despite losing safety Jonathan Crawford to the NFL, that group is as deep and talent-laden as ever as IU returns a number of key difference-makers and adds in more talent to bolster the depth. We will divide this preview into two different sections: safeties and corners. The Husky position, manned by returning leader Marcelino Ball, is a hybrid but we will include those players with the safeties. Keep in mind, IU is going to play a lot of players in the secondary and the term “starter” should be taken with a grain of salt.

Safeties/Husky

-Marcelino Ball – 6’0”/223 pounds – Redshirt Junior

Despite an uneven 2018, the Hoosiers top player at the Husky position was top five on the team in nearly every defensive category and he was first in tackles for loss. Ball is a physical presence that is very good against the run and at bringing down players in space. His pass coverage was a bit suspect at times in 2018 but he has clearly been working that in the offseason as the redshirt junior from Georgia has been outstanding throughout camp. He’s the biggest player in the group by roughly 20 pounds and it is noticeable on the field. Ball will be a fixture and a leader for the secondary.

-Jamar Johnson – 6’1”/198 pounds – Sophomore

Cam Jones is likely to get a lot of snaps at Husky as IU attempts to get as much talent as possible on the field. However, Jones is technically listed as a linebacker (and he’ll play a lot there as well) so he gets left out of this article and leaves Jamar Johnson as the backup Husky. Johnson, a sophomore from Florida, played in ten games as a freshman and was primarily a safety. He had an interception at Rutgers and is an athletic and long player that is more of a traditional pass defender than the physical Ball.

-Bryant Fitzgerald – 6’0”/213 pounds – Redshirt Sophomore

After being forced to sit out the 2017 season, Fitzgerald was ready to contribute in 2018. The Avon, IN native was a standout contributor at safety with three interceptions, two forced fumbles and six total takeaways. Fitzgerald is an athletic and physical safety with terrific instincts and it seems likely to he’ll be starting at safety for the Hoosiers.

-Juwan Burgess – 6’1”/196 pounds – Redshirt Sophomore

A native of Florida, Burgess redshirted the 2017 season and then appeared in all 12 games as a safety in 2018. He had 25 tackles with one fumble recovery and one pass breakup. Burgess is more of a free safety than the more physical and bigger Fitzgerald and he’ll see plenty of snaps in 2019 as a key part of the rotation.

-Josh Sanguinetti – 6’1”/173 pounds – Freshman

A late addition to the 2019 recruiting class, Sanguinetti brings a heap of athleticism and really good ball skills as he set the record at this school with 24 interceptions in his career. ESPN rated him as a four-star prospect and his ability on highlight films was obvious. He is a bit slight and lanky for a Big Ten safety but that can be remedied by Dave Ballou and the IU Strength program. The defensive backfield is so deep that I would expect the Florida native to play four games and redshirt but if his talent is too much to keep off the field, it would not be shocking to see him as a part of the rotation.

-Devon Matthews – 6’2”/200 pounds – Sophomore

The player with best nickname on the roster, Devon “Monster” Matthews appeared headed for a standout freshman campaign before a shoulder injury slowed his progress. He still ended up playing in 10 games with 20 tackles. Matthews is a physical force that was unable to show what he is really capable of because of his injury last season. He is going to be one of the top four safeties for the Hoosiers and I think he could end up starting next to Fitzgerald.

-Khalil Bryant – 5’10”/205 pounds – Senior

Somewhat of a forgotten man in the secondary, Bryant is one of the few veterans at safety. He started nine games last season at safety, making 38 tackles and garnering his first career interception. He has appeared in 33 games as a Hoosier and is a solid rotational piece at safety. I think he slots behind Fitzgerald, Matthews and Burgess but Bryant has impressed at camp and will certainly get playing time.

-Jordan Jusevitch – 6’1”/204 pounds – Redshirt Freshman

Jusevitch was a hard hitting defensive back for Lowell High School in Indiana and his production at that level cannot be ignored. He redshirted in 2018 and has impressed some in camp but safety is a deep position and it is difficult to see him cracking into the rotation for more than spot duty.

-Tiawan Mullen – 5’10”/175 – Freshman

The lightning-quick four-star prospect from Florida enters a crowded position but when you are as talented as Mullen is, the expectations are high. I would not expect him to start early on but he is going to play extended snaps for at least four games and he impresses and proves he is ready, which I expect to happen, Mullen will be a part of the rotation all season.

-Reece Taylor – 5’11/183 pounds – Sophomore

After a season spent performing split duty as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back, Reece Taylor is moving exclusively to defensive back. He played in all 12 games in 2018 but was not used to the level many were hoping for. Taylor is a terrific athlete and a very smart football player that has adapted quickly to corner and the skillset it requires. Taylor was having a great fall camp but an injury has kept him from participating in some activities. He’s hopeful to be ready for week one and he will be in the rotation for the Hoosiers.

-Larry Tracy III – 5’11”/175 pounds – Freshman

The true freshman from Indianapolis (Decatur Central) is a good prospect that IU landed over Iowa and several other good programs. Defensive back is a deep position and it would be a surprise to see Tracy do more than play for four games and then redshirt.

-Andre Brown Jr. – 6’0”/202 pounds – Fifth-year Senior

The most veteran player in the secondary, Andre Brown Jr. has started 29 of his 32 career games. Originally from Georgia, Brown had a strong year in 2018 and has continued to excel throughout fall camp. While many forget about him, he finds a way to keep making plays and avoid getting passed up by the younger players being brought in. I would anticipate Brown beginning the season as one of the starting cornerbacks for IU.

-Raheem Layne – 6’1”/198 pounds – Junior

The biggest cornerback on the IU roster, Raheem Layne is a junior from Florida. He made seven starts in 2018 and played in all 12 games after being named IU’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2017. He was fourth on the team in tackles last season and had three pass break-ups. Layne’s size makes him a valuable player against some of the bigger targets the Hoosiers will see this season and he will definitely be a part of the rotation.

-Noah Pierre – 5’11”/182 pounds – Redshirt Freshman

After committing to the Hoosiers on National Signing Day as a member of the 2018 recruiting class, Noah Pierre redshirted the 2018 season, making just one appearance. He has been described by observers watching practice as “a missile” that is very fast and very physical. Pierre could end up being a safety or a cornerback but we are placing him at cornerback until proven otherwise. I would slot him behind Taylor, Brown, Layne, Mullen, Jaylin Williams and A’Shon Riggins but there is definitely a chance to work his way up.

-Jaylin Williams – 6’0”/179 pounds – Sophomore

A 2017 first-team all-state player in Tennessee, Jaylin Williams arrived at Indiana as a hyped recruit with lots of potential. He began to change that potential to reality in 2018, playing in all 12 games as a freshman and making 22 tackles. He had a critical interception against Maryland and had five tackles at Rutgers. This is a player to keep an eye on for a potential breakthrough as he might go from contributor to regular starter.

-A’Shon Riggins – 6’0”/187 pounds – Senior

Another of the few true veterans in the secondary, A’Shon Riggins has a had a solid career for Indiana. He appeared 11 times at cornerback and started five times, notching three pass breakups and 20 tackles. Riggins is not a star or an All-Big Ten performer but I do expect him to be in the rotation as he wraps up his career.

Joseph Daniels Jr., Dekaleb Thomas, Jeremy Boyd and Samuel Slusher are all walk-ons that could find time on special teams but will more than likely be contributing as valuable members of the scout team.

The secondary is one of IU’s deepest position groups and there is talent at every level. The big questions for this group: can they prevent the big play better than they did in 2018 and can they continue to take the ball away from their opponent at a high-rate? If so, this group could be Indiana’s best secondary in several years.