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ULM Spring Football Spotlight: Safeties

ULM Spring Football Spotlight: Safeties

Football Apr 14
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
MONROE, La. – ULM safeties were in on it too this spring. 

The overall quest to generate more turnovers in 2019 is a major focus for this layer of ULM's defense, and their daily grind included plenty of ways to acquire the ball. 

"We're constantly doing ball drills," senior weak safety Nick Ingram said. "Making sure we have our eyes in the right place and going in to make the play."

Safeties coach Bakari Guice said players are well schooled on the differences the turnover ratio can make in winning a game. 

"If you look at the stats from maybe three years ago, if you were plus-three in takeaways, you probably had about a 90-percent chance of winning that game," Guice said. "Also, if you score on defense, there's almost a 100-percent chance of winning.
 
"We try to show those guys the statistics to give them something to strive for. If we can get that ball to the offense, we can score in bunches when we're really clicking. If we can get them the ball as much as we can, it increases our opportunity to win the game. That's why we preach it as much as we do." 

Led by junior weak safety Austin Hawley, the safety crew had a hand in both spring game takeaways. Hawley stripped loose a fumble recovered by sophomore free safety Jabari Johnson and also picked off a pass in the end zone.  

"We're trying to be more physical, more than last year, to create those turnovers." junior free safety Tyler Glass said. "If the offense can't score, they can't win. We're trying to be more physical, so everybody can know that we're coming."

Glass was expected to play a big role last season as a junior college transfer but was injured in the opener against Southeastern. 

"I think we're a little deeper back there with Glass coming back," ULM head coach Matt Viator said. "Austin Hawley has played a lot of football. Nick Ingram too. When you look at those guys, plus the younger kids like a Kevin Jones, we're getting good reps. We're hoping we can stay healthy, and we have better numbers going into the season than we have in the past."

After making just six tackles in four games, Glass is back and making his presence felt.  

"I'm trying to make up for lost time, but mostly, I'm trying to get everybody on the same page," Glass said. "I want everybody in the room competing, so the next person won't think they can come to practice and be lazy. Everybody can compete every day."

"He stuck around and helped me out to keep the guys accountable," Guice said. "He's definitely one of our hard hitters and he's trying to be physical. You'll see him often times coming to finish up plays and tackles from the free safety spot."

Johnson, who became a starter at weak safety as a freshman out of Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish High School, made 51 tackles with one interception, one sack and two pass break-ups in 10 games. Johnson began the spring cross training at buck safety, missed some spring ball with injury, but came back in time to record two solo tackles and snag the fumble recovery in the spring game.  

"Very competitive guy and physical," Guice said. "Right now, he's trying to take it all in. He's done well. We've got a ways to go, but he's made some good strides."

Veterans Hawley and Ingram are competing at weak safety. Ingram recorded 33 tackles with 3.5 for losses. 

"Nick has been real consistent and is trying to take charge of the defense and the secondary," Guice said. "Being a senior, this is his last go-round. He's trying to be that vocal leader for us."
        
Hawley spent much of his time at free safety last year, where he made 50 tackles with two pass break-ups. 

"He's playing weak safety, which is a different role for him," Guice said. "We played him a lot at free last year. He's making strides with it, and I'm impressed with how well he's done taking on that new role." 

Junior college addition Keilos Swinney has earned praise from Viator throughout the spring for his work adapting to the buck position. When Johnson was out, Swinney saw a lot of snaps, which accelerated his learning curve. 

"He's picked this thing up a lot quicker than a lot of people do," Viator said. "He came out and really studied it and got some really good reps this spring. He seems to have a really good football IQ to pick it up as fast as he did." 

Junior Logan Latin is in the buck safety rotation, after making 14 tackles in 10 games. 

"He's one of our consistent guys," Guice said. "You can depend on Logan to be where he's supposed to be. He often times takes a leadership role and gets guys lined up. He's one of the sharp guys."

Red-shirt freshman Kevin Jones is adapting to defense after being an offensive star at Madison Parish High School in Tallulah, La. 

"Kevin played quarterback in high school and defensive back is a different position," Guice said. "He had a major adjustment to make coming over to the defensive side of the ball. As the quarterback, he was accustomed to having the ball in his hands on every offensive snap. But Kevin has definitely made a jump from where he was in the fall. He's getting better and learning the defense. We're trying to get him to be consistent." 
        
Bobby Bell, a walk-on from Evangel Christian, also has worked his way into the mix behind Glass at free safety. 

"Bobby Bell has shown flashes and made a strong push to find a spot on the field," Guice said. "He competes every day and plays hard. He's a physical guy."

This is the second season coaching ULM safeties for Guice, who played high school football at Wossman High School in Monroe before a college career at Grambling State. 

"You can't ask for a better situation, being in our hometown coaching for the home team," Guice said. "That's been a good process for me and the wife settling in. Coaching the guys, I have fun with them. They look at me as not being too far removed, even though I think it's been a while, they still kind of relate to me and I relate to them."


This positional spotlight is part of a continuing spring series you can find at ULMWarhawks.com. 
 
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