Camp Countdown: Defensive Backs
Tom Kakert | Editor
All American Desmond King leads the Iowa secondary
USA Today Sports
Every football team looks to have a shutdown cornerback and experience at the position. The Hawkeyes have both of those qualities in the tandem of Thorpe Award winner and All American Desmond King and senior Greg Mabin.
Overall the Iowa secondary will certainly be a strength on the defensive side of the ball with second year starter Miles Taylor at strong safety and first year starter Brandon Snyder at free safety.
One of the question marks with this group will probably be depth. With several defections in the defensive backfield after the season, the numbers have become somewhat limited and there’s a very good chance that we see one or more true freshmen getting a chance to play in either nickel or dime coverage situations.
TWO DEEPS
CB: Desmond King (SR), Josh Jackson (SO)
CB: Greg Mabin (SR), Michael Ojemudia (RFR)
SS: Miles Taylor (JR), Anthony Gair (SR)
FS: Brandon Snyder (SO), Jake Gervase (SO)
THE RUNDOWN
This position group could be pretty good, but how good will depend on the continued development of Taylor and Snyder at the safety position. Taylor played well in his first year as a starter, but there were times when he would get sucked in on running plays and he will have to improve in that area this season. Snyder has always been a player that the Iowa coaches have been very high on since he arrived on campus. He was a scout team standout and turned heads there. Last season he saw action primarily on special teams. Now he moves up to the bigger stage as a starter. I expect that there will be a few bumps in the road for the former walk-on who was placed on scholarship this summer, but he has the potential to be a very good player.
Iowa is fortunate to have an experienced backup at safety in Anthony Gair, who has played well when given an opportunity. He could probably play either safety position in a pinch. Also in the mix is sophomore Jake Gervase, who is a walk-on to the Iowa program that the coaches really like quite a bit.
At cornerback, what else needs to be said about Desmond King. He was the best defensive back in the country last season and he is looking to get his name on the wall of fame at Kinnick Stadium, which is reserved for two time All Americans. He will have a great shot at putting his name up on that wall, which would be an amazing honor. King gives Iowa a true shutdown corner that basically allows the Iowa defense to not worry too much about his side of the field if they are in any sort of man coverage. Mabin is probably a bit underrated and undervalued on the other side. If not for King, I think Mabin might be getting a bit more pub. He’s not as skilled and doesn’t have King’s instincts, but he’s a very good athlete and he’s going to get tested a lot again this year as opposing teams stay away from King.
It’s hard not to like what we have seen from Josh Jackson. The corner turned receiver turned back to corner came on very strong late in the year and he’s Iowa’s nickel back this season. He’s also a likely starter if either King or Mabin were to miss time. Ojemudia is a very interesting player. Coming in, some thought he might end up outgrowing defensive back and potentially he could turn into a linebacker. But, he’s found a home at corner and he looked pretty good in the spring.
NEW FACES
Plenty of new faces coming in this fall at defensive back and given the graduations coming at corner, Phil Parker will probably play at least two true freshmen to get them ready to contribute next year. Most of the action will be on special teams, but experience on the field is experience on the field. One player who has already departed is Lance Billings, who left after two weeks of workouts this summer. Keep an eye on Manny Rugamba for sure. He’s very skilled and athletic. Amani Hooker at safety and Cedric Boswell are also both going to get a long look in camp.
BEST CASE
If King can have anything close to a season like he had last year, then Iowa will be on their way. Taylor and Snyder are going to be very important players to watch and if they can do their part and play well at safety, then Iowa is on their way to another very good season in the defensive backfield.
WORST CASE
As always, this one seems to start with health. Iowa does have some depth and talent, but right now I don’t think they could go beyond missing one starter at corner or safety before it would really start to show up on the field. Mabin is coming off surgery after the season. He's healthy, but what if that surfaces again? Also, what if King takes a step back and the safeties struggle? Jordan Lomax was a key player in the secondary and his leadership and solid play is a void that has to be filled.
Tom Kakert | Editor
All American Desmond King leads the Iowa secondary
USA Today Sports
Every football team looks to have a shutdown cornerback and experience at the position. The Hawkeyes have both of those qualities in the tandem of Thorpe Award winner and All American Desmond King and senior Greg Mabin.
Overall the Iowa secondary will certainly be a strength on the defensive side of the ball with second year starter Miles Taylor at strong safety and first year starter Brandon Snyder at free safety.
One of the question marks with this group will probably be depth. With several defections in the defensive backfield after the season, the numbers have become somewhat limited and there’s a very good chance that we see one or more true freshmen getting a chance to play in either nickel or dime coverage situations.
TWO DEEPS
CB: Desmond King (SR), Josh Jackson (SO)
CB: Greg Mabin (SR), Michael Ojemudia (RFR)
SS: Miles Taylor (JR), Anthony Gair (SR)
FS: Brandon Snyder (SO), Jake Gervase (SO)
THE RUNDOWN
This position group could be pretty good, but how good will depend on the continued development of Taylor and Snyder at the safety position. Taylor played well in his first year as a starter, but there were times when he would get sucked in on running plays and he will have to improve in that area this season. Snyder has always been a player that the Iowa coaches have been very high on since he arrived on campus. He was a scout team standout and turned heads there. Last season he saw action primarily on special teams. Now he moves up to the bigger stage as a starter. I expect that there will be a few bumps in the road for the former walk-on who was placed on scholarship this summer, but he has the potential to be a very good player.
Iowa is fortunate to have an experienced backup at safety in Anthony Gair, who has played well when given an opportunity. He could probably play either safety position in a pinch. Also in the mix is sophomore Jake Gervase, who is a walk-on to the Iowa program that the coaches really like quite a bit.
At cornerback, what else needs to be said about Desmond King. He was the best defensive back in the country last season and he is looking to get his name on the wall of fame at Kinnick Stadium, which is reserved for two time All Americans. He will have a great shot at putting his name up on that wall, which would be an amazing honor. King gives Iowa a true shutdown corner that basically allows the Iowa defense to not worry too much about his side of the field if they are in any sort of man coverage. Mabin is probably a bit underrated and undervalued on the other side. If not for King, I think Mabin might be getting a bit more pub. He’s not as skilled and doesn’t have King’s instincts, but he’s a very good athlete and he’s going to get tested a lot again this year as opposing teams stay away from King.
It’s hard not to like what we have seen from Josh Jackson. The corner turned receiver turned back to corner came on very strong late in the year and he’s Iowa’s nickel back this season. He’s also a likely starter if either King or Mabin were to miss time. Ojemudia is a very interesting player. Coming in, some thought he might end up outgrowing defensive back and potentially he could turn into a linebacker. But, he’s found a home at corner and he looked pretty good in the spring.
NEW FACES
Plenty of new faces coming in this fall at defensive back and given the graduations coming at corner, Phil Parker will probably play at least two true freshmen to get them ready to contribute next year. Most of the action will be on special teams, but experience on the field is experience on the field. One player who has already departed is Lance Billings, who left after two weeks of workouts this summer. Keep an eye on Manny Rugamba for sure. He’s very skilled and athletic. Amani Hooker at safety and Cedric Boswell are also both going to get a long look in camp.
BEST CASE
If King can have anything close to a season like he had last year, then Iowa will be on their way. Taylor and Snyder are going to be very important players to watch and if they can do their part and play well at safety, then Iowa is on their way to another very good season in the defensive backfield.
WORST CASE
As always, this one seems to start with health. Iowa does have some depth and talent, but right now I don’t think they could go beyond missing one starter at corner or safety before it would really start to show up on the field. Mabin is coming off surgery after the season. He's healthy, but what if that surfaces again? Also, what if King takes a step back and the safeties struggle? Jordan Lomax was a key player in the secondary and his leadership and solid play is a void that has to be filled.
