2017 FB Preview: Defensive Backs
8/5/2017 11:15:00 AM | Football
The 2017 Sam Houston State Bearkat football season is nearly upon us, and leading up to the August 27 kickoff vs Richmond, Bearkat Athletics will be taking a look at this year's Sam Houston roster.
This is the second of an eight-part preview, position-by-position of this year's squad. The Kats were selected as unanimous favorites to reclaim the SLC crown and boast five preseason all-Americans on the roster.
DEFENSIVE BACKS NOTABLES
Cornerback: Darius Mouton, Jaylen Thomas, Zyon McCollum, Carlos Teal, Javon Collins
Safety: Adrian Contreras, Joshua Price, Alfonzo McMillian, Tyon Merchant, Tristin McCollum
HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State returns two starters in its stable of defensive backs from its 2016 squad, but an influx of talent – both youthful and experienced – has the Kats looking at this season's version of the secondary as one that could be one of the team's strengths.
Adrian Contreras and Alfonzo McMillian, along with Carlos Teal and Javon Collins lead the group of returners that will be joined by a group of newcomers that has the Bearkat coaching staff excited about this season's prospects.
“You are always looking to get better,” defensive coordinator Clayton Carlin said. “We struggled a bit back there last year, but I think what we are doing and the group we have should help. The additions we made, plus with Coach McGraw doing a great job coaching the corners, it's going to have an impact.”
Contreras has been a mainstay in the Bearkat secondary in each of his first two years with 28 games under his belt. In that time, he racked up better than 60 stops in each of those years while having a hand in seven turnovers. That includes five recovered fumbles, three of which came as a sophomore.
A physical and heady player, Carlin looks at Contreras as one of the best tacklers the Kats have in space, a number reflected in his 128 career stops. He played through pain near the end of the 2016 season but has picked up where he left off in fall camp.
“He was banged up the last few weeks of the season, but he toughed it out,” Carlin said. “He's such a good leader for us and looks to be right where he was at the end of last season. Adrian is a smart guy with a tremendous work ethic and high character. He's certainly someone we are counting on this year.”
Aside from Contreras, other spots among the safety ranks look to be up for grabs as the Kats approach their August 27 opener against Richmond. McMillian returns with the most experience, having seen action in 39 games entering his senior season. His numbers have gone up each season and he put together his best year as a junior, picking off a pair of passes and totaling 64 tackles from his free safety spot.
But the Kats are getting impressive showings from a trio of other names who Carlin feels like could each see time on the field this season. Joshua Price is one of those names, an intriguing safety with a year of eligibility remaining after having not played in each of the last two seasons.
Price checks in at 5-10 and 205 pounds and spent both the 2013 and 2014 seasons playing at Southern Nazarene. He joined the Kats prior to last season, but sat out the season due to transfer requirements. Still, his time in Huntsville last year and impressive camps in both the spring and fall has the Bearkat coaches optimistic that he could be a difference-maker this season.
“Josh Price has got some twitch and suddenness to him, and he's physical with the ability to turn and run,” Carlin said. “He hasn't played football in a couple of years, but he's been impressive so far. He stayed engaged and has done what he needed to do to be prepared to be a part of this year.”
The Kats could also get impact on the back level from a pair of freshmen in Tyon Merchant and Tristin McCollum. Each signed on with the Kats in the spring and have been impressive since joining the squad this summer.
Both bring athleticism and length to the secondary with each checking in above 6-0, with plenty of accolades from their prep days. Merchant was considered the top signee in the country at the FCS level by HERO Sports, while McCollum was ranked among the nation's top 150 by the same outlet.
“Both Tyon and Tristin have caught on to things quicker than I thought I would, and that's a competitive advantage that we have with being able to have them in the summer,” Carlin said. “I think they've both got a good possibility of being on the field and making an impact for us. They are both long and are twitched. They are physical and have some things that are difficult to teach.”
Sam Houston also added a slew of talent on the edges of the secondary, which will be needed after the loss of first team all-SLC cornerback Darion Flowers. Junior transfer Darius Mouton and freshman Jaylen Thomas, both from North Shore High School, have stood out early in camp while Zyon McCollum (Tristin's twin brother) and Craig Williams Jr. are right there as well.
Add in experienced guys such as Carlos Teal and Javon Collins and cornerbacks coach Gary McGraw is confident that this year's group has a chance to make a big leap forwad from a year ago.
“I think there is more focus with this group, and overall the room is more athletic” McGraw said. “When you bring in guys who are competing for starting roles and you have a high number of quality athletes, everyone has to turn it up and show up every day to compete.”
Mouton may be new to Huntsville, but he's not new to high-level football after playing in 22 games over the past two seasons at UNLV. The Houston native racked up 51 tackles and had an interception last year in 12 games for the Rebels, and now will get to showcase his skills in the Southland Conference.
According to McGraw, he has shown a natural knowledge of the game and brings a higher level of athleticism than what the Kats featured a year ago with his 5-9, 175-pound frame and speed to match.
He is one of two North Shore High School alums in the cornerback ranks for Sam Houston, along with true freshman Jaylen Thomas who has shown an edge early in camp that Bearkat coaches feel suits someone playing every down on the outside.
“Jalen plays with an attitude and edge, which is something I think we missed last year,” McGraw said. “We needed that guy who could go out there and be aggressive when he had to, but still have control on his body and techniques.”
Another freshman fighting for immediate playing time is Zyon McCollum, who was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com before signing when the Kats in February. With both Mouton and Thomas measuring in at 5-9, McCollum brings a 6-3 frame to the lineup for the Kats along with a high football IQ, according to McGraw.
“Both Jalen and Zyon are the two fastest shuttle guys we have in the secondary,” McGraw said. “Zyon has the length that every defensive back coach wants. He can run, has good lateral movement and is a smart guy who has picked up what we do very quickly.”
In addition to those three cornerbacks, the Kats also boast talented guys such as Williams, Teal and Collins. Williams helped Fresno City College to a school-record in wins a year ago, picking off a pair of passes along the way. Meanwhile, Teal and Collins have a combined 37 games played between them and bring much-needed depth and experience to the position.
