Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Andrew Mascharka
Digging Into the Defensive Backs on Day 12 of Camp
8/15/2017 5:01:00 PM | Football
EMU's secondary will be deep and experienced in 2017
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Training camp for the Eastern Michigan University football team rolled on with opportunity 12 at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 15. Today also marks the final look at the defense, with deep and experienced defensive backs.
With defensive coordinator Neal Neathery's 4-2-5 system, the defensive back unit gets a lot of action as a whole, with two corner back slots, as well as three safety spots, including DOG, FREE, and ROVER. At each position, EMU will have players with starting experience, including three seniors. With so much depth, defensive back coaches Fred Reed and Todd Frakes will have their work cut out for them in 2017.
A trio of seniors will lead the unit in 2017, with Ikie Calderon (Neptune, N.J.-Neptune (College of the Desert)), Anthony Brown (Iowa City, Iowa-West (Iowa Western C.C.)), and Juan Giraldo (Gilbert, Ariz.-Mesquite (Mesa C.C.)) all entering their third year in the program. Calderon notched 63 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2016, earning him the team's defensive Hammer Award, while Giraldo notched 37 stops himself, and was disruptive in the passing game, breaking up four passes while forcing two fumbles. Meanwhile, Brown returns after missing all of last season with an injury. In his debut season in 2015, he finished third on the team with 66 tackles while totaling five breakups.
Another three multi-year veterans also will log significant minutes this season in juniors Ross Williams (Southfield, Mich.-Groves) and Justin Moody (Richmond, Va.-Monacan), as well as redshirt sophomore Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater). Williams emerged at cornerback last season in his third year with the program, earning three starts and recording his first career interception against No. 20 Western Michigan, Oct. 22. Moody, meanwhile, broke through as a Pro Football Focus Second Team All-American on special teams after notching 50 tackles overall, while also spending time on the return units. Hoying saw his first taste of action last season after battling back from injury his freshman season, and played in all 13 games, making 25 tackles.
Last year's crop of "true freshman" defensive backs all return for year two as sophomores Jalen Phelps (Marietta, Ga.-Hillgrove), Kevin McGill (Waldorf, Md.-Westlake), and Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) look to build upon promising first-year campaigns. Calhoun, a preseason Fourth Team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports, was EMU's Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2016 after he started all 13 games, finishing third with 77 tackles, and tying the team lead with three interceptions. Phelps and McGill both made spot starts in the secondary, with four and six respectively, while appearing in all 13 contests. Phelps tallied 27 tackles and four pass deflections, while McGill had 35 stops and three breakups.
With all of the talent returning this season, extra reps may be hard to come by from the rest of the unit. A mix of true freshmen and returning redshirts will all battle it out in practice to try and earn time on the field in the regular season.
For updates on the EMU football team, be sure to follow @EMUFB on Twitter with the hashtag #FR4REAL.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single-game tickets went on sale Monday, Aug. 7. Season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Training camp for the Eastern Michigan University football team rolled on with opportunity 12 at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 15. Today also marks the final look at the defense, with deep and experienced defensive backs.
With defensive coordinator Neal Neathery's 4-2-5 system, the defensive back unit gets a lot of action as a whole, with two corner back slots, as well as three safety spots, including DOG, FREE, and ROVER. At each position, EMU will have players with starting experience, including three seniors. With so much depth, defensive back coaches Fred Reed and Todd Frakes will have their work cut out for them in 2017.
A trio of seniors will lead the unit in 2017, with Ikie Calderon (Neptune, N.J.-Neptune (College of the Desert)), Anthony Brown (Iowa City, Iowa-West (Iowa Western C.C.)), and Juan Giraldo (Gilbert, Ariz.-Mesquite (Mesa C.C.)) all entering their third year in the program. Calderon notched 63 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2016, earning him the team's defensive Hammer Award, while Giraldo notched 37 stops himself, and was disruptive in the passing game, breaking up four passes while forcing two fumbles. Meanwhile, Brown returns after missing all of last season with an injury. In his debut season in 2015, he finished third on the team with 66 tackles while totaling five breakups.
Another three multi-year veterans also will log significant minutes this season in juniors Ross Williams (Southfield, Mich.-Groves) and Justin Moody (Richmond, Va.-Monacan), as well as redshirt sophomore Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater). Williams emerged at cornerback last season in his third year with the program, earning three starts and recording his first career interception against No. 20 Western Michigan, Oct. 22. Moody, meanwhile, broke through as a Pro Football Focus Second Team All-American on special teams after notching 50 tackles overall, while also spending time on the return units. Hoying saw his first taste of action last season after battling back from injury his freshman season, and played in all 13 games, making 25 tackles.
Last year's crop of "true freshman" defensive backs all return for year two as sophomores Jalen Phelps (Marietta, Ga.-Hillgrove), Kevin McGill (Waldorf, Md.-Westlake), and Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) look to build upon promising first-year campaigns. Calhoun, a preseason Fourth Team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports, was EMU's Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2016 after he started all 13 games, finishing third with 77 tackles, and tying the team lead with three interceptions. Phelps and McGill both made spot starts in the secondary, with four and six respectively, while appearing in all 13 contests. Phelps tallied 27 tackles and four pass deflections, while McGill had 35 stops and three breakups.
With all of the talent returning this season, extra reps may be hard to come by from the rest of the unit. A mix of true freshmen and returning redshirts will all battle it out in practice to try and earn time on the field in the regular season.
For updates on the EMU football team, be sure to follow @EMUFB on Twitter with the hashtag #FR4REAL.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single-game tickets went on sale Monday, Aug. 7. Season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
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