Date: 8/20
Position: Defensive backs
Position Coach: Travis Pearson

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Akeem Appleton (Jr.);  Terrell Brigham (Sr., 12 GP, 65 total tackles, 0.5 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 fumble recovery, 1 FF);  Roman Buchanan (So., 12 GP, 35 total tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBU);  Antonio Carter (Jr., 12 GP, 28 total tackles, 5 PBU);  Devon Earl (So., 8 GP, 5 total tackles);  Qudarius Ford (Sr., 12 GP, 76 total tackles, 0.5 TFL, 2 INT, 6 PBU, 1 blocked kick);  Steven Fuller (Sr., 10 GP, 7 total tackles);  Montell Garner (Sr., 12 GP, 60 total tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU, 1 QB hurry, 1 fumble recovery);  Anthony Harris (Sr.);  E.J. May (Jr., 12 GP, 21 total tackles, 1 PBU)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Charles Harris (8 GP, 6 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery);  Alonzo Long (4 GP, 3 total tackles);  Darrius Morrow (5 GP, 1 total tackle);  Tyrell Pearson (7 GP, 13 total tackles, 2 INT, 1 PBU);  Charles Watson (11 GP, 47 total tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 FF)

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Malcolm Buggs (Fr., Opelika [Ala.] HS);  Quinton Dent (Jr., Laney [Calif.] CC);  Marcus Jackson (So., Winton Woods [Ohio] HS);  Sam Jallah (R-Fr., Wekiva [Fla.] HS);  Antonio London (R-Fr., Pelham [Ala.] HS);  Darian Mills (Fr., Winter Haven [Fla.] HS);  Jeremy Reaves (Fr., Pensacola Catholic [Fla.] HS);  Margo Reed (Jr., LeFlore [Ala.] HS);  Nigel Green (Jr., Mississippi Gulf Coast CC);  Chris Wilkerson (Fr., Bessemer City [Ala.] HS);  Terrance Slaughter (Sr., Savannah [Ga.] State);  Mike Dumas (So., Island Coast [Fla.] HS);  Raymone Wiggins (Jr., Memphis)

Miscellaneous Notes
-Ford was voted second-team preseason all-Sun Belt Conference by the league's coaches, and earned third-team all-SBC honors at cornerback from Phil Steele Publications and Athlon Sports. He is the leading returning tackler for the Jaguar defense after finishing second on the team with 76 total tackles last year.

-Garner was named second-team preseason all-SBC by Phil Steele Publications and Athlon Sports at cornerback. He led the Jags with three interceptions in 2013, which tied for sixth in the SBC.

-Carter's pressure off the edge caused Tulane quarterback Nick Montana's pass to be intercepted by Maleki Harris on a Green Wave two-point conversion attempt to tie the game in the final minutes of the Jaguars' 41-39 win in New Orleans last year.

-Two returning letterwinners made position changes from the secondary. DeMarrion Buford-Hughes switched to the offensive side of the ball and is expected to contribute at tight end this season, while Steven Fuller moved from safety to inside linebacker.

-Pearson left USA as the career leader in interceptions with six.

-The Jaguar secondary recorded three interceptions in the final two games last season. The last interception and USA touchdown of 2013 came on Ford's pick-six just before halftime of the Jags' 30-8 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in the season finale.

Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson
-On how his experience as a safety has benefitted the secondary:  "I try to go by the philosophy 'each one, teach one'. I want to take the things I learned as a safety when I was a player, and try to translate it to my guys as a coach. You never want to take your guys through things you haven't been through yourself. I always want to get their feel for it, but it's been great. I can share some things with them, and those guys have embraced that."

-On the defense:  "I like them to be reactive. I want them to be able to know what is going on and where they are going before the ball is snapped, and then get there in a hurry."

-On safeties Terrell Brigham and Roman Buchanan:  "Those are two intelligent young men who understand this defense. They have played in it a full year, and they understand every check. That intelligence is invaluable."

-On cornerbacks Qudarius Ford and Montell Garner:  "Those guys understand the passing game – how to read the routes and break on the ball. They are not going to bust on me, and we all know mental errors are going to get you beat. I feel comfortable with those guys that they aren't going to make any errors back there."

-On his expectations of the secondary:  "They need to understand their role and assignment, and where they fit into the scheme of this defense. The defense itself is going to work it out. I'm not going to ask one guy to be a great player; I'm asking 11 to be great at all times. If they just learn to play inside the scheme, then everyone is going to be fine."

Qudarius Ford
-On the experience in the secondary:  "We have a lot of experience, and I feel like we will be able to play with anybody this year. We learned a lot from last season, and we have continued to jell together from spring practice through camp."

-On playing for defensive coordinator Travis Pearson:  "He has simplified the calls. We still have the same scheme, but it's just simpler and it allows us to play faster."

-On the defense's identity:  "We just want to play fast and physical for the entire game."

-On what he needs to contribute to the defense:  "I just need to bring energy each and every game, and be a leader out there."

Roman Buchanan
-On playing for defensive coordinator Travis Pearson:  "He has simplified things a lot, so playing fast is of even greater emphasis this year. We are a lot more disciplined. He holds us accountable for every little thing. (Terrell) Brigham and I are held more responsible for the twos and threes. We're in much better shape as far as conditioning is concerned. He's preparing us for the up-tempo offenses, but it's a different intensity."

-On gaining experience as a freshman:  "Last year I had to pick up information so quickly, and sometimes it was a little overwhelming. But learning from that, as fast as I had to adapt, nothing surprises me this year. Nothing catches me off-guard. I am ready for situations and I know the fits better. I can play a lot faster and make a lot of different plays. Last year was such a great experience for me, but it was hard. It was definitely overwhelming at times with classes and the newness of everything, and (former defensive coordinator) Coach (Kevin) Sherrer had to help me. But this year my role has changed so much on the defense. I went from a no-nothing kid last year to now one of the leaders of the defense. Last year forced me to grow up and come out of my shell."

-On the defense's identity:  "We have always relied on speed, so that is always going to be one of our things. But I want us to be relentless and gang-tackle. I want us to be a sound defense with no holes that doesn't give up big plays. We want all 11 guys to the ball on every tackle."

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