As is the case nearly every year, CMU is tasked with replacing a slew of veteran starters across the roster. In 2022, the defensive backfield is no exception.

The Chippewas are only returning two defensive backs who started more than one game last season, cornerbacks Donte Kent and Rolliann Sturkey. The former started in 12 of the team's 13 contests last season as a freshman, while the latter found his way into the starting lineup last season following an injury to Dishon McNary - the starter at the time - in CMU’s win against Florida International.

Sturkey, a senior from Oak Park, Illinois, has the most experience in the defensive backs’ room with 44 appearances and nine starts — coming in the final nine games last season. Sturkey’s leadership may prove crucial to a position group boasting such little experience.

“Sturk is a guy that’s got a lot of experience for us,” said defensive coordinator Rob Akey. “One thing I’ll say about him is how he’s done in the summertime. We brought in some new DBs. Three or four new faces that came from junior college (and elsewhere), and (Sturkey) is in the meeting room teaching the defense to them.”

Kent seems to have found a new competitive edge on the practice field. After a solid campaign in the condensed 2020 season as a true freshman and an even more impressive follow-up in the 2021 season, expectations are high. But Kent draws motivation from his older brother, Ronald, who transferred to CMU this April after a successful career at Western Carolina.

“They’re both good players," Akey said of the Kent brothers. "They’re competitive, they’re prideful. When you got a little sibling competitiveness. You know, they started way back, long before we even got to meet those guys, So i think that helps carry it over, and then the way they’ve both come on, I think it’s been a cool deal. They’re both solid gold guys.

“Ronald coming in here, he fit right in with everybody off the bat. And Donte is a proven player for us, he’s done a good job, he’s got good leadership ability.”

Akey also noted that Donte has the versatility to play some nickel cornerback if need be.

Ronald will be looking to carve out a role for himself alongside Donte but will have to compete with a number of other bodies looking to do the same. Among them are a pair of junior college transfers in freshman Marcus Badgett and sophomore Lavario Wiley, along with freshman Jarvarius Sims.

Another transfer, Jayden Davis, has made an impression since his arrival in Mount Pleasant. Coming from Contra Costa Community College, Davis could potentially see reps at either corner or safety.

In addition to the transfers, redshirt freshman Elijah Rikard will look to expand his role after appearing in three contests last season.

In the backend at safety, sophomore Trey Jones is the only returning player with any starts to his name, as he made his first career start in the Sun Bowl last season. But Jones, who backed up a group of rock-solid veterans last season in Gage Kreski, Alonzo McCoy, and Devonni Reed, appears to have prepared himself for this opportunity.

“Coming in last year, I had a role to play,” Jones said. “Of course, I didn’t start until the bowl game, so coming in and filling in where I needed to throughout the season when (McCoy), (Kreski) and (Reed) would get a little gassed, so I had to go in for a drive or two throughout the game. It really helped me get ready, mature, and prepare to sit down and know that I had to watch film, focus, and remind myself to do the little things the right way leading up to and throughout the games.”

Jones's role has quickly shifted from backup to leader in the safety room, and Akey has been impressed thus far with his transition from last year.

“He got his first start in the Sun Bowl, and that was a guy that grew his role as he went about things over the course of a season,” said Akey. “(Jones) did a great job approaching spring ball in terms of being a leader. He’s having a great camp and I like that.”

Some other guys vying for safety roles in this revamped defensive backfield include converted running back DJ Stepney, who could also see time as the nickel cornerback, and redshirt freshmen Caleb Spann and Nahree Biggins. Akey seemed to issue the pair a challenge.

“Those two guys got some opportunity in the spring,” Akey said. “Now what can they do in the course of this camp? Can they find themselves on the field?”

One more name to keep an eye on moving forward is true freshman Ed Conoran, whom Akey mentioned keeps showing up during camp, noting “We’ll find out what kind of role he might be able to grow himself into."