Central Michigan University Athletics
Spring Practice: Previewing the Secondary
4/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan opened the fourth week of spring practice on Tuesday with its ninth workout of the spring season. Heavy rain forced the Chippewas to practice inside for just the second time this spring.
Following practice, cmuchippewas.com caught up with assistant coach Kirby Cannon to discuss the Chippewas' secondary.
"I've been blessed with a great group of young men who soak up everything I say," Cannon said. "It's a nice blend of veterans and young guys who are just breaking in. Their energy level is always nice because they know it is their turn, and that makes for some good practices. I really feel good that we can make all the plays that we need to make."
The secondary was one of the areas hardest hit by graduation, as corners Josh Gordy and Kirkston Edwards and safety Eric Fraser all have departed. Each was a four-year letterman. Strong safety Dannie Bolden is the only regular starter from 2009 who returns in 2010.
Four other players with a combined 10 career starts also return. One of those is Vince Agnew, a three-year letterman who played in all 14 games and started a pair of games at corner in 2009. Candidates to line up opposite Agnew include sophomores D.J. Scott, Lorenzo White and LaVarus Williams. Williams has one career start: at Purdue in 2008, a game in which he made nine tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble just days before suffering a season ending knee injury during practice.
The safety positions will be manned by some combination of Bolden, senior Bobby Seay Jr., junior John Carr and sophomore Jahleel Addae.
Seay started a pair of games last season, including the GMAC Bowl in place of the injured Eric Fraser. His 60 tackles last season rank third among CMU's returning players. Both Carr and Addae saw significant playing time on special teams in 2009.
Junior Gary Jackson provides valuable depth in the secondary. Also in the mix for playing time after redshirting in 2009 are Leron Eaddy, Jason Johnson and Evan Ray.
Click on the CMU Sports Zone video below to hear more from Cannon and Agnew.
Following practice, cmuchippewas.com caught up with assistant coach Kirby Cannon to discuss the Chippewas' secondary.
"I've been blessed with a great group of young men who soak up everything I say," Cannon said. "It's a nice blend of veterans and young guys who are just breaking in. Their energy level is always nice because they know it is their turn, and that makes for some good practices. I really feel good that we can make all the plays that we need to make."
The secondary was one of the areas hardest hit by graduation, as corners Josh Gordy and Kirkston Edwards and safety Eric Fraser all have departed. Each was a four-year letterman. Strong safety Dannie Bolden is the only regular starter from 2009 who returns in 2010.
Four other players with a combined 10 career starts also return. One of those is Vince Agnew, a three-year letterman who played in all 14 games and started a pair of games at corner in 2009. Candidates to line up opposite Agnew include sophomores D.J. Scott, Lorenzo White and LaVarus Williams. Williams has one career start: at Purdue in 2008, a game in which he made nine tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble just days before suffering a season ending knee injury during practice.
The safety positions will be manned by some combination of Bolden, senior Bobby Seay Jr., junior John Carr and sophomore Jahleel Addae.
Seay started a pair of games last season, including the GMAC Bowl in place of the injured Eric Fraser. His 60 tackles last season rank third among CMU's returning players. Both Carr and Addae saw significant playing time on special teams in 2009.
Junior Gary Jackson provides valuable depth in the secondary. Also in the mix for playing time after redshirting in 2009 are Leron Eaddy, Jason Johnson and Evan Ray.
Click on the CMU Sports Zone video below to hear more from Cannon and Agnew.
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