Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Camp Position Breakdown: Defensive Backs
8/15/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A big jump in turnover margin was thanks in large part to Middle Tennessee's defensive back corps in 2018.
The Blue Raiders went from 11 turnovers forced in 2017 to 24 last year, including 16 interceptions.
They'll try to continue that trend in 2019, and with plenty of veterans making their presence felt alongside some talented newcomers begging for playing time, don't bet against the DBs.
"We're just continuing to build," senior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "We just want to be mobile and be able to help [defensive coordinator Scott] Shafer out in any way we can."
The Blue Raiders will have to find replacements for some turnover machines from 2018, most notably Wesley Bush, who finished tied for third on MT's all-time single-season interceptions list with six, ranked third in the nation. Cornerbacks Cordell Hudson, OJ Johnson and Darryl Randolph, who combined for four picks last season, are also gone.
Luckily, plenty is back for Middle Tennessee, led by safeties Reed Blankenship and Moffatt. The duo led the team in tackles the last two seasons, Moffatt recording 101 in 2017 and Blankenship 107 last year to go with four interceptions. Redshirt sophomore Kylan Stribling, who only played in seven games in 2018 because of injury, has also impressed at safety in camp, along with senior Kendricks Gladney and redshirt freshman Decorian Patterson.
A battle for playing time at cornerback and nickel corner is ongoing between a handful of players, including 2018 freshman standout Greg Grate, redshirt junior Justin Brown, redshirt freshman Teldrick Ross, redshirt senior Desmond Anderson, redshirt senior Chris Stamps and redshirt sophomore Raheme Fuller.
Newcomers are also pushing for increased time, including freshmen Quincy Riley, Marcus Lafrance and Marvae Myers-Glover.
Needless to say, the depth should be a strength for Middle Tennessee's defensive backfield this season, and it's creating a lot of competition a few weeks into camp.
"We have a young group that's getting better every day," first-year cornerbacks coach Kenneth Gilstrap said. "It's about time someone sticks out, but the good thing is they push each other. They know we're only as strong as our weakest link."
Here are the defensive backs on the roster:
Safety
Jovante Moffatt, 6-0, 210, R-Sr.
• Played in 4 games in 2018 while recovering from shoulder surgery; took a redshirt
• Led team in 2017 with 101 tackles; Honorable Mention All-C-USA
• Union City, Tennessee native (Union City High School)
Reed Blankenship, 6-1, 196, Jr.
• Led team in 2018 with 107 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 4 INTs, 100-yard INT return for a TD
• First Team All-C-USA in 2018; Preseason All-C-USA in 2019
• Named to Bednarik and Jim Thorpe award watch lists
• Athens, Alabama native
Kylan Stribling, 5-11, 198, R-Jr.
• Played in 7 games in 2018 with 2 starts; missed rest of season due to injury
• Team's sophomore academic award winner in 2018
• Thompson's Station, Tennessee native (Independence High School)
Kendricks Gladney, 6-0, 206, Sr.
• Played in 12 games in 2018 with 2 starts; transferred from ASA College
• Capitol Heights, Maryland native
Decorian Patterson, 6-0, 185, R-Fr.
• Played in 4 games and took a redshirt in 2018
• Earned team's most improved safety award in spring
• Ocala, Florida native
Kyle Kee, 6-1, 195, R-Fr.
• Redshirted in 2018
• Naples, Florida native
Siante Bellanfant, 6-0, 190, R-Jr.
• Played as a freshman at College of the Canyons, sophomore at San Bernandino Valley College
• Shared team lead with 4 INTs with 6 pass breakups in 2018
• Nashville native (LaVergne High School)
Cornerback
Justin Brown, 6-0, 184, R-Jr.
• Played in 8 games in 2018
• Earned team's grinder award for cornerbacks in the spring
• Birmingham, Alabama native
Gregory Grate, 5-11, 186, So.
• Played in 13 games with 2 starts in 2018
• 25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT (97-yard pick 6) in 2018
• Miami native
Teldrick Ross, 5-11, 188, R-Fr.
• Played in 4 games and took a redshirt in 2018
• Macon, Georgia native
Desmond Anderson, 5-10, 176, R-Sr.
• Moved from running back to cornerback in spring of 2018; played in 4 games
• Earned team's most improved cornerback award in the spring
• Pacolet, South Carolina native
Chris Stamps, 6-1, 187, R-Sr.
• Played in all 14 games in 2018; transferred from NW Mississippi Junior College
• Former Mississippi State recruit
• Vicksburg, Mississippi native
Raheme Fuller, 6-3, 204, R-So.
• Played in 11 games in 2018
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native
Kamau Farrell-Burke, 6-3, 187, R-Sr.
• Played in all 14 games in 2018, mostly on special teams
• Transferred from Arizona Western College in 2017
• Toronto, Canada native
Marvae Myers-Glover, 6-0, 177, Fr.
• Had a 99-yard pick 6 in 2018 at Oak Ridge High School (FL)
• West Orlando, Florida native
Marcus Lafrance, 6-2, 185, Fr.
• Rated a 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• North Lauderdale, Florida native
Darius McClendon, 6-2, 181, Fr.
• All-state, all-county and all-academic honors in 2018
• Boynton Beach, Florida native
Quincy Riley, 6-0, 177, Fr.
• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• 5 INTs in 2018; also won state 4A titles in track and field in the 100 and 200 meters
• Columbia, South Carolina native
Jalen Jackson, 6-2, 173, Fr.
• 40 tackles, 2 INTs in 2018 at Bloomingdale High School
• Tampa, Florida native
The Blue Raiders went from 11 turnovers forced in 2017 to 24 last year, including 16 interceptions.
They'll try to continue that trend in 2019, and with plenty of veterans making their presence felt alongside some talented newcomers begging for playing time, don't bet against the DBs.
"We're just continuing to build," senior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "We just want to be mobile and be able to help [defensive coordinator Scott] Shafer out in any way we can."
The Blue Raiders will have to find replacements for some turnover machines from 2018, most notably Wesley Bush, who finished tied for third on MT's all-time single-season interceptions list with six, ranked third in the nation. Cornerbacks Cordell Hudson, OJ Johnson and Darryl Randolph, who combined for four picks last season, are also gone.
Luckily, plenty is back for Middle Tennessee, led by safeties Reed Blankenship and Moffatt. The duo led the team in tackles the last two seasons, Moffatt recording 101 in 2017 and Blankenship 107 last year to go with four interceptions. Redshirt sophomore Kylan Stribling, who only played in seven games in 2018 because of injury, has also impressed at safety in camp, along with senior Kendricks Gladney and redshirt freshman Decorian Patterson.
A battle for playing time at cornerback and nickel corner is ongoing between a handful of players, including 2018 freshman standout Greg Grate, redshirt junior Justin Brown, redshirt freshman Teldrick Ross, redshirt senior Desmond Anderson, redshirt senior Chris Stamps and redshirt sophomore Raheme Fuller.
Newcomers are also pushing for increased time, including freshmen Quincy Riley, Marcus Lafrance and Marvae Myers-Glover.
Needless to say, the depth should be a strength for Middle Tennessee's defensive backfield this season, and it's creating a lot of competition a few weeks into camp.
"We have a young group that's getting better every day," first-year cornerbacks coach Kenneth Gilstrap said. "It's about time someone sticks out, but the good thing is they push each other. They know we're only as strong as our weakest link."
Here are the defensive backs on the roster:
Safety
Jovante Moffatt, 6-0, 210, R-Sr.
• Played in 4 games in 2018 while recovering from shoulder surgery; took a redshirt
• Led team in 2017 with 101 tackles; Honorable Mention All-C-USA
• Union City, Tennessee native (Union City High School)
Reed Blankenship, 6-1, 196, Jr.
• Led team in 2018 with 107 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 4 INTs, 100-yard INT return for a TD
• First Team All-C-USA in 2018; Preseason All-C-USA in 2019
• Named to Bednarik and Jim Thorpe award watch lists
• Athens, Alabama native
Kylan Stribling, 5-11, 198, R-Jr.
• Played in 7 games in 2018 with 2 starts; missed rest of season due to injury
• Team's sophomore academic award winner in 2018
• Thompson's Station, Tennessee native (Independence High School)
Kendricks Gladney, 6-0, 206, Sr.
• Played in 12 games in 2018 with 2 starts; transferred from ASA College
• Capitol Heights, Maryland native
Decorian Patterson, 6-0, 185, R-Fr.
• Played in 4 games and took a redshirt in 2018
• Earned team's most improved safety award in spring
• Ocala, Florida native
Kyle Kee, 6-1, 195, R-Fr.
• Redshirted in 2018
• Naples, Florida native
Siante Bellanfant, 6-0, 190, R-Jr.
• Played as a freshman at College of the Canyons, sophomore at San Bernandino Valley College
• Shared team lead with 4 INTs with 6 pass breakups in 2018
• Nashville native (LaVergne High School)
Cornerback
Justin Brown, 6-0, 184, R-Jr.
• Played in 8 games in 2018
• Earned team's grinder award for cornerbacks in the spring
• Birmingham, Alabama native
Gregory Grate, 5-11, 186, So.
• Played in 13 games with 2 starts in 2018
• 25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT (97-yard pick 6) in 2018
• Miami native
Teldrick Ross, 5-11, 188, R-Fr.
• Played in 4 games and took a redshirt in 2018
• Macon, Georgia native
Desmond Anderson, 5-10, 176, R-Sr.
• Moved from running back to cornerback in spring of 2018; played in 4 games
• Earned team's most improved cornerback award in the spring
• Pacolet, South Carolina native
Chris Stamps, 6-1, 187, R-Sr.
• Played in all 14 games in 2018; transferred from NW Mississippi Junior College
• Former Mississippi State recruit
• Vicksburg, Mississippi native
Raheme Fuller, 6-3, 204, R-So.
• Played in 11 games in 2018
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native
Kamau Farrell-Burke, 6-3, 187, R-Sr.
• Played in all 14 games in 2018, mostly on special teams
• Transferred from Arizona Western College in 2017
• Toronto, Canada native
Marvae Myers-Glover, 6-0, 177, Fr.
• Had a 99-yard pick 6 in 2018 at Oak Ridge High School (FL)
• West Orlando, Florida native
Marcus Lafrance, 6-2, 185, Fr.
• Rated a 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• North Lauderdale, Florida native
Darius McClendon, 6-2, 181, Fr.
• All-state, all-county and all-academic honors in 2018
• Boynton Beach, Florida native
Quincy Riley, 6-0, 177, Fr.
• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• 5 INTs in 2018; also won state 4A titles in track and field in the 100 and 200 meters
• Columbia, South Carolina native
Jalen Jackson, 6-2, 173, Fr.
• 40 tackles, 2 INTs in 2018 at Bloomingdale High School
• Tampa, Florida native
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