Murray State University Athletics
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
Photo by: Morgan Harding
Spring Football: The Secondary
4/13/2015 2:41:00 PM | Football
As Murray State football ends its second week of practice, the focus is now turns to the secondary. The corner backs are coached this season by Eddie Hicks, who joined MSU after a successful stint at Cal, while the safeties ate under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Chris Boone, came to Murray State from Samford.
"I think the guys are doing a great job of being a group right now," said Hicks. "They understand the brotherhood at our position. Everybody is doing a pretty good job of trying to lead each other and getting the job done. It's been pretty good from all my guys on the back end."
Senior defensive back Shawn Samuels-Connell, a transfer from Marshall, played who in eleven games last season and recorded 51 tackles. Â As he enters his final season in pads, he knows he never has to worry about the effort this team gives.
"Everybody is stepping up," Samuels-Connell stated. "We are all competing and making each other work for their job, it isn't just handed to us. I feel like everybody has a great awareness of what's going on around them, o it puts them in the best spot to make a play."
When asked about the transition of the players and coaches to the new personnel in the MSU coaching staff, Hicks was pleased with how sooth everything has gone.
"The personalities are starting to come out. A couple of guys were quiet at first but they are starting to come around. I try to come out here and have fun with them and let them see my personality," Hicks included. "When they make plays, you can see me running right behind them. I had one of the guys say 'you know coach, you're running all over the place' and I said 'yeah, you make a play and I'll be running right there behind you.' So when they see that you're excited about their plays, they will be excited to go out there and make the plays."
Since arriving in January, Boone has been impressed with not only the quality, but quantity of his defensive unit, especially in regards to the safeties.
"We've got a lot of depth," Boone said. "We're really two-deep back there, so naturally there is competition. For the most part we have seniors who have played in a lot of ball games and we're going to rely on them a lot to lead us and take us through. That does not apply exclusively to the secondary either, the entire defense has a lot of seniors we're going to use their experience."
Having multiple seniors at the defensive back positions, puts the Racers in a strong position they progress towards the season. This is not only a positive in terms of the numbers of bodies available, but the amount of leadership a senior and veteran laden defense can provide is immeasurable.
"The main focus is to compete, play-by-play, day-by-day," Boone added. "Every job has its own special set of challenges from Ohio State to Murray State. The main objective, however, is these players now know what is expected of them. Because at the end of the day these young men are out her getting an education and moving forward in the game of life, not just on the football field."
Â
"I think the guys are doing a great job of being a group right now," said Hicks. "They understand the brotherhood at our position. Everybody is doing a pretty good job of trying to lead each other and getting the job done. It's been pretty good from all my guys on the back end."
Senior defensive back Shawn Samuels-Connell, a transfer from Marshall, played who in eleven games last season and recorded 51 tackles. Â As he enters his final season in pads, he knows he never has to worry about the effort this team gives.
"Everybody is stepping up," Samuels-Connell stated. "We are all competing and making each other work for their job, it isn't just handed to us. I feel like everybody has a great awareness of what's going on around them, o it puts them in the best spot to make a play."
When asked about the transition of the players and coaches to the new personnel in the MSU coaching staff, Hicks was pleased with how sooth everything has gone.
"The personalities are starting to come out. A couple of guys were quiet at first but they are starting to come around. I try to come out here and have fun with them and let them see my personality," Hicks included. "When they make plays, you can see me running right behind them. I had one of the guys say 'you know coach, you're running all over the place' and I said 'yeah, you make a play and I'll be running right there behind you.' So when they see that you're excited about their plays, they will be excited to go out there and make the plays."
Since arriving in January, Boone has been impressed with not only the quality, but quantity of his defensive unit, especially in regards to the safeties.
"We've got a lot of depth," Boone said. "We're really two-deep back there, so naturally there is competition. For the most part we have seniors who have played in a lot of ball games and we're going to rely on them a lot to lead us and take us through. That does not apply exclusively to the secondary either, the entire defense has a lot of seniors we're going to use their experience."
Having multiple seniors at the defensive back positions, puts the Racers in a strong position they progress towards the season. This is not only a positive in terms of the numbers of bodies available, but the amount of leadership a senior and veteran laden defense can provide is immeasurable.
"The main focus is to compete, play-by-play, day-by-day," Boone added. "Every job has its own special set of challenges from Ohio State to Murray State. The main objective, however, is these players now know what is expected of them. Because at the end of the day these young men are out her getting an education and moving forward in the game of life, not just on the football field."
Â
Indiana State VS Murray State | MVC Baseball Tournament | Game Highlights
Friday, May 22
Evansville VS Murray State | Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Saturday, February 28
Head Coach Rechelle Turner | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
Thomas & Pena | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
