Jeremy Pernell: Nebraska’s Defensive Secondary Stocked With Experience

Spring competition was heated even though five starters return

Eighth in a series breaking down Nebraska's 2023 post-spring roster by position. | HuskerMax discussion

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Quinton Newsome

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Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Malcolm Hartzog

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Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Marquez Buford

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Nebraska Athletics via Twitter

Javier Morton

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Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Myles Farmer

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Nebraska Athletics photo

Isaac Gifford

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Nebraska Athletics photo

Barry Collier

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© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Javin Wright

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Nebraska Athletics photo

Tommi Hill

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DeShon Singleton

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© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Omar Brown

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One of the concerns about the 3-3-5 defense, at least from fans, is its ability to stop the run. With its reputation as a run-first league with massive O-linemen, it's hard to believe, but 13 out of 14 Big Ten schools used 11 personnel more than any other last season. In layman's terms, that's one running back, one tight end and three receivers. Versatility in the backend will be important.

Luckily, the strength of Nebraska's defense in 2023 will be the secondary. Including the nickel position, Nebraska returns all five of its starters from last season. Coach Evan Cooper still made sure to add several players to the room, signing five defensive backs and bringing in a key addition from the transfer portal.

The competition was heated this spring. Even with Tyreke Johnson leaving the program prior to the start of practices, the Huskers had 20 scholarship defensive backs on campus.

Expectedly, there was some attrition after spring concluded. Senior Braxton Clark was a key reserve under the previous staff, but with one season of eligibility, wanted to look for more playing time. Junior Noa Pola-Gates was a top recruit in the 2019 class but never made his mark in Lincoln. Redshirt freshman Jalil Martin was someone the previous staff was excited about. He impressed coaches Travis Fisher and Erik Chinander during a Friday Night Lights camp. He saw time at receiver and defensive back this spring but will look for an opportunity elsewhere.

The best thing about the 3-3-5 is its adaptability. It's essentially a nickel defense with the versatility to play with various fronts, depending on the strength of the roster. The looks are unorthodox and often confuse the QB and O-line because it's difficult to identify match-ups and diagnose where the pressure is coming from.

One of the things I like most about the 3-3-5 are the extra bodies roaming the middle of the field. The majority of offenses today like to attack with short crossing routes, and this defense will muddy that area up. I also like how the extra defensive back on the field helps with overall team speed.

Nebraska should have one of the better cornerback duos in the conference. Senior Quinton Newsome has started 24 consecutive games and is a future NFL draft pick. His counterpart will be Malcolm Hartzog, who started eight games as a true freshman last season. Hartzog did some cross-training this spring, spending time at safety as well. Perhaps he has a future at a different spot in this scheme?

Despite both starters returning, the safety position is far from settled heading into fall camp. Marques Buford Jr. is someone the previous staff absolutely loved. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious knee injury late in the year against Wisconsin and missed spring as he continues rehab. Will he be cleared to practice this summer? He still has a redshirt season available if he isn't completely healthy this fall.

Myles Farmer has played in 32 games in his career with 16 starts. He split reps this spring with the first team defense, but was playing with the 2s during the Red-White game.

He was joined by Javier Morton, a one-time Alabama commit who ended up at Garden City Community College after learning he wouldn't qualify. Morton played eight games last fall, mostly on special teams, but seems to have made a move under this staff.

The first-team safeties in the spring game were Isaac Gifford and Corey Collier. The junior Gifford is another guy the previous staff really liked. He played extensively last season, starting eight games at nickel and two at safety.

The sophomore Collier comes over from Florida, where he was a 2021 five-star recruit and played in the All-American Bowl. Collier played sparingly during his two seasons in Gainesville as he struggled to learn two separate defenses in ensuing seasons after a coaching change. Another setback has been getting his body physically ready for the rigors of big-time college football.

Much like the Jack linebacker position, the Rover spot in the secondary is vital in this defense. In simplest terms, the Rover is defensive coordinator Tony White's version of the nickelback. I liken it's importance to that of the Peso position in former coach Bo Pelini's matchup zone defense. The Rover will be used as a Swiss Army Knife. He'll be coming into the box in run support, blitzing from various spots and being a traditional drop-back safety in coverage. In this defense, a lot of times the Rover is the eraser. Linebackers will attack gaps and sell out to stop the run. The safeties will clean up the leaks.

Several guys have gotten looks at this spot: Javin Wright, Gage Stenger and DeShon Singleton. Isaac Gifford has also seen a lot of reps at Rover. Myles Farmer and Koby Bretz are two more guys with the skillset to play the position.

But for me, the guy I think could really thrive here is Omar Brown. The senior transferred to Nebraska last offseason from Northern Iowa after being one of the best DBs in the FCS. Many, including myself, had high hopes for him last season. That didn't materialize as Brown was relegated to primarily special teams duties. Was it an issue with coaches or a scheme fit?

Brown sustained a back injury in the seventh game of the 2021 season that kept him out the remainder of the year. The injury lingered into his first spring in Lincoln and may have set him back. Regardless, he had a very good spring this year and was with the first-team defense for the Red-White game.

There are so many guys in this room who could contribute. Junior Tommi Hill was a big portal addition from Arizona State last year. He started the first four games of the season at cornerback before then-coach Mickey Joseph moved him to receiver after early struggles. He was with the second-team defense in the spring game. Can he be the No. 3 corner this fall? Many probably remember the praise heaped on him last summer by coach Travis Fisher. Hill was suspended by Matt Rhule to start spring but earned his way back onto the team.

True freshmen cornerbacks Dwight Bootle II and Syncere Safeeullah enrolled early and showed flashes this spring. They'll be joined this summer by classmates Ethan Nation and D'Andre Barnes. Also arriving later this month will be freshman safety Rahmir Stewart. Let the competition begin.

Looking ahead, this staff will continue to look for defensive backs to transform this room. With this many scholarship players, there will certainly be more attrition after the season when players get a better idea of their place in the pecking order and their fit in the scheme.

The staff has a 2023 commitment from Altair (Tex.) Rice Consolidated athlete Roger Gradney. He could play wide receiver as well, but I think his best position is at safety.

Despite the coaching change, the top guy on the board is still probably Mario Buford, the younger brother of Marques. He was offered by the previous staff in January 2021 and has been a priority ever since. The competition for the four-star cornerback out of DeSoto, Texas, is heated. His leader right now is Michigan State, with Penn State, Oregon, Arkansas, Washington and Colorado also battling the Huskers for him.

Other top targets include Caleb Benning (Omaha Westside), Peyton Morgan (Pflugerville, TX) and William Nettles (Dallas, TX).