Any time a team has four starters returning in four positions in the defensive backfield, it has to feel pretty good. That is, unless it has no experience backing up those four.
That's the situation with the Utah State secondary, which returns all four starters that finished the season in cornerbacks Tony Walker and Ade Jimoh and safeties Derrek Shank and Jamar Glasper.
Walker is a three-year starter, who hasn't felt he progressed the last two years (two interceptions as a freshman, one each of the last two years) and is ready for a big senior season. Two of the other three stepped up last year to fill in for injured players and played well while gaining valuable experience. Shank, who made two interceptions and 39 tackles as a true freshman, could be a star of the future.
Among the backups at cornerback are sophomores Mark Estelle and Bryan Jackson and freshmen Jerome Dennis and Andre Bala.
At safety, true freshman Steve Tate, the Deseret News Mr. Football at Skyline last year, has impressed the coaches this fall and he'll back up Shank, while senior Nathan Barber is listed as the backup to Glasper.
The Aggies will miss Brad Bohn, who set several records as the placekicker the last four seasons. He'll be replaced by junior Dane Kidman, a former Ogden High kicker who made his only field goal try in 1999. Freshman Ben Chaet will back him up.
"I feel comfortable Dane is going to step in and do a great job," said coach Mick Dennehy.
The punting chores will rest on the reliable foot of junior Steve Mullins, who came to USU as a quarterback, but settled in as the punter his freshman year. After averaging 42.3 yards that year, he came back to average 41.4 yards last year. Coincidentally, he ranked 29th in the nation both seasons.
In Emmett White, the Aggies have one of the best return men in America. As a sophomore, he ranked 10th in the NCAA in punt returns and 26th in kickoff returns and last year ranked 22nd in kickoff returns. He'll get help from Walker, who has handled 52 kickoffs and 49 punts during his three seasons.
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