Aug. 18, 2005
Cornerbacks
One of the most important positions in New Mexico’s blitzing defense, experience and talent are critical at cornerback, where players often find themselves locked in man-to-man coverage without help from a deep safety. While the job can be thankless at times, New Mexico has boasted some of the top cornerback talent in the league in recent years.
Last fall was no exception with starters Brandon Payne and Gabriel Fulbright (DeSoto, Texas) earning all-Mountain West Conference honors. Payne turned in one of the best statistical seasons ever by a Lobo defensive back, leading the nation with 23 passes defended, including a school-record 17 deflections and team-leading six interceptions. Fulbright enjoyed his finest season as well, snaring five interceptions and breaking up seven passes. He also forced a fumble and recovered another that he returned 68 yards for a touchdown. Despite the loss of Payne, Long said he expects the UNM cover men to continue to be among the league’s best in 2005 with Fulbright and fellow senior Jerrell Malone (Rowlett, Texas) back to anchor the position.
A 5-10, 169-pound stick of dynamite, Fulbright has proven to be one of the premier defensive backs in the MWC over the past two years. Since moving over from safety in 2003, he has started 22 games, notched nine interceptions and broken up 13 passes while earning second team all-conference honors in back-to-back seasons. One of the top natural talents in the country on the corner, Fulbright’s unique play-making ability and fearless attitude sets him apart from bigger players he faces.
“Gabe has great quickness and anticipates where the ball in going to be really well,” Long said. “Some of it is a natural ability to make plays that some guys have and some guys don’t. Gabe has been a playmaker ever since he’s been out there.”
On the other side, the 6-1, 180-pound Malone gives the Lobos size, athletic ability and experience at corner. A converted safety like Fulbright, Malone has proven his ability on the field, starting eight games over the past two years. As New Mexico’s third corner and first man off the bench in the nickel package last year, Malone saw his role increase dramatically and his level of performance steadily improve over the final month of the season. A strong spring season has given Malone and the coaching staff great confidence in his ability to succeed in his first year as a full-time starter.
Jerrell Malone moves into a full-time role in 2005 after starting eight games over the previous two years. |
Both backups, sophomore Juamar Hall (San Angelo, Texas) and 5-10, 183-pound senior Mike Powdrell (Albuquerque, N.M.), gained a good amount of game experience in 2004 and will vie for time in the nickel package this fall. Hall (5-11, 171) appeared in 11 games on special teams and showed real promise at corner in practice, while Powdrell (5-10, 183), a converted wide receiver, played in five games and got his first taste of secondary action on game day.
“I think Jerrell and Gabe are quality corners and I think Mike Powdrell and Juamar Hall have the ability to be really good too,” Long said. “Jerell and Gabe have proven that they can play, so we’ve got a lot of experience there and we feel pretty comfortable with our corners.”
Safeties
The UNM safeties could be perhaps the deepest and strongest group on the team this year with as many as nine talented players battling for time. While the loss of second team all-MWC selection Josh Bazinet and veteran Kevin Walton leaves a bit of a leadership void, Long said he believes the group will be much improved overall.
Returning starter Charles Brown could be ready to establish himself as a consistant force in the secondary this fall. |
“Last year we had a lot of first-year players at safety who made some rookie mistakes,” he said. “We expect all of them to be much better and more experienced this season. We recruited three junior college safeties that were all here for spring practice, which makes a big difference. We also have some redshirt freshmen who we think will be really good players for us down the line and maybe even this year.”
New Mexico returns three players who saw significant game day action last year in seniors Charles Brown (Shaw, Miss.) and Ken West (Midwest City, Okla.), and sophomore Tyson Ditmore (Las Cruces, N.M.). The 6-0, 212-pound Brown enjoyed a strong Division I debut in 2004, starting eight games opposite Bazinet and finishing with 38 tackles, three tackles for loss and six pass deflections. West (5-11, 186) played in seven games before being slowed by injuries, while the 6-1, 203-pound Ditmore appeared in nine games as a true freshman.
A pair of redshirt freshmen in 6-1, 177-pound Blake Ligon (San Angelo, Texas) and 6-0, 178-pound DeAndre Wright (Clinton, Md.) will get their first crack at the starting lineup this fall after a strong spring practice campaign. All three saw significant time on the scout team last year and were active playmakers during the spring. The duo has shown signs of being impact players in the years to come and could be ready to make a name for themselves in 2005.
Tyson Ditmore is one of several young players who will be asked to play a major role on defense this year. |
The addition of junior college transfers Aleem Harris (San Bernardino, Calif.), Darvin Peterson (Mesquite, Texas) and Othellus Swift (Apopka, Fla.) has intensified the competition at safety. All three turned in impressive spring practice seasons and rapidly climbed the depth chart. The 6-3, 223-pound Harris was rated as one of the nation’s top junior college safeties last year at Chaffey College, recording 95 tackles as a sophomore. An intimidating figure in the secondary, Harris could develop into a real defensive force this fall. Peterson (5-10, 200) and Swift (5-9, 180), a sophomore, also displayed good potential at the junior college level and will contend for a place in the safety rotation as they continue to learn the defensive scheme.