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2020 Spring Football Preview - Defense
2/11/2021 10:58:00 AM | Football
DC Sanders looks to bring fast, physical defense to Stewart Stadium this season
GoRacers.com continues its exclusive previews of the 2021 Murray State spring football season with a look at the defens e and a conversation with defensive coordinator Dillon Sanders.
The Returners
The Racers secondary will return multiple starters this season. Don Parker started at strong safety as a junior all 11 games he played last year. Cortez Roberts, also a junior, will also be back for the Racers this spring. Marcis Floyd started seven games last year and played in all 12 of the team's games, recording two interceptions and five pass breakups. Tay Carothers started in nine of the 11 games he played in 2019, with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack. Alec Long, who was named to the 2019 Phil Steele Freshman All-American third team, played in 11 games with nine starts, tallying six tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Scotty Humpich notched three sacks across eight starts in 12 games, leading the team in quarterback hurries with eight.Â
Ty Terell makes the switch to defensive back this season after catching 21 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown on offense last season. Quinaz Turner will also be back after averaging 27 yards on 10 kickoff returns, while also forcing two fumbles, intercepting two passes and tallying 26 total tackles on defense last season. Terrance Corbett, who tallied 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 1 sack in 2019 returns to anchor the Racer defense this season. Eric Samuta, the 2019-2020 OVC Medal of Honor recipient will also be back after tallying 11 tackles and 1 tackle-for-loss across 12 games. Defensive lineman Kameron Petty returns after playing in nine games last season and recording 10 tackles and forcing a fumble.Â
Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Dillon SandersÂ
GR: What is your defensive philosophy for the team this year?
DS: Our defensive philosophy is to stop the run, eliminate big plays, create takeaways, and to impact the quarterback. We can do this by playing fast, physical, and aggressive, being accountable, being fundamentally sound, and playing with great effort.Â
GR: Who is returning this year and who should the fans be looking out for?
DS: There is a good group of guys coming back from the 2019 team, though only a few were primary starters on last year's team. The exciting thing about that is the fans will get to see a bunch of new names and faces that have put in the work to be successful this year. The fans will recognize the names of Scotty Humpich, Alec Long, Tay Carothers and Marcis Floyd; all of whom we expect big years from. Some returners that may be newer names for the fans to look out for are Chris Stahl, Eric Samuta, Don Parker, Quinaz Turner, and Sylvaughn Turner. We also brought in a very good group of transfers and freshmen that I know the fans will be excited to see come February 21st. Â
Â
GR: What are some positives you've seen in the team this fall and winter?
DS: One of the main things I have seen from this team and more particularly this defense that has me excited for the spring is their willingness to put in the work and to do it the right way. Â Since day one we have emphasized the power of the unit; which in simpler terms means to put the team's needs over your own needs. The guys that are still here have done that and it will show when we get to playing games this spring because there are going to be a bunch of guys that I didn't mention above that will be playing and making an impact for this team. The guys that have put the team first and have put in the time so that their work ethic and effort match their talent; those will be the guys that you will see making plays on gameday. Â
Â
GR: Are there any areas of improvement that still need work before the first game in a few weeks?
DS: The opportunity to continue to improve as a defense will always be there, but if we simply follow the standard that has been set by our defensive leaders we will be in good shape for the spring season. Â
Â
The Returners
The Racers secondary will return multiple starters this season. Don Parker started at strong safety as a junior all 11 games he played last year. Cortez Roberts, also a junior, will also be back for the Racers this spring. Marcis Floyd started seven games last year and played in all 12 of the team's games, recording two interceptions and five pass breakups. Tay Carothers started in nine of the 11 games he played in 2019, with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack. Alec Long, who was named to the 2019 Phil Steele Freshman All-American third team, played in 11 games with nine starts, tallying six tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Scotty Humpich notched three sacks across eight starts in 12 games, leading the team in quarterback hurries with eight.Â
Ty Terell makes the switch to defensive back this season after catching 21 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown on offense last season. Quinaz Turner will also be back after averaging 27 yards on 10 kickoff returns, while also forcing two fumbles, intercepting two passes and tallying 26 total tackles on defense last season. Terrance Corbett, who tallied 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 1 sack in 2019 returns to anchor the Racer defense this season. Eric Samuta, the 2019-2020 OVC Medal of Honor recipient will also be back after tallying 11 tackles and 1 tackle-for-loss across 12 games. Defensive lineman Kameron Petty returns after playing in nine games last season and recording 10 tackles and forcing a fumble.Â
Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Dillon SandersÂ
GR: What is your defensive philosophy for the team this year?
DS: Our defensive philosophy is to stop the run, eliminate big plays, create takeaways, and to impact the quarterback. We can do this by playing fast, physical, and aggressive, being accountable, being fundamentally sound, and playing with great effort.Â
GR: Who is returning this year and who should the fans be looking out for?
DS: There is a good group of guys coming back from the 2019 team, though only a few were primary starters on last year's team. The exciting thing about that is the fans will get to see a bunch of new names and faces that have put in the work to be successful this year. The fans will recognize the names of Scotty Humpich, Alec Long, Tay Carothers and Marcis Floyd; all of whom we expect big years from. Some returners that may be newer names for the fans to look out for are Chris Stahl, Eric Samuta, Don Parker, Quinaz Turner, and Sylvaughn Turner. We also brought in a very good group of transfers and freshmen that I know the fans will be excited to see come February 21st. Â
Â
GR: What are some positives you've seen in the team this fall and winter?
DS: One of the main things I have seen from this team and more particularly this defense that has me excited for the spring is their willingness to put in the work and to do it the right way. Â Since day one we have emphasized the power of the unit; which in simpler terms means to put the team's needs over your own needs. The guys that are still here have done that and it will show when we get to playing games this spring because there are going to be a bunch of guys that I didn't mention above that will be playing and making an impact for this team. The guys that have put the team first and have put in the time so that their work ethic and effort match their talent; those will be the guys that you will see making plays on gameday. Â
Â
GR: Are there any areas of improvement that still need work before the first game in a few weeks?
DS: The opportunity to continue to improve as a defense will always be there, but if we simply follow the standard that has been set by our defensive leaders we will be in good shape for the spring season. Â
Â
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