Kari Gibb/MDN Minot State senior defensive Roman Pickens (48) intercepts the ball while working against redshirt freshman wide receiver Eli Singleton in passing game drills for defending end zone routes.

The defensive backfield for any football team is broken into subcategories that include cornerbacks, free safeties, strong safeties and even nickel-backs. These players tend to be the fastest players on the field and have an uncanny ability to move, change direction, accelerate and do all the physical actions while keeping their eyes on the offensive backfield to track what the quarterback is doing and where the football is going once a play is being executed.

Also, in the defensive backfield, cornerbacks tend to be the players farthest from the quarterback and are usually the fastest players on the field. Strong safeties tend to be a mix of a cornerback (fast and athletic) and a linebacker (hard hitting and aggressive). Free safeties are the last line of defense and are the second fastest players on the field and have the best ability to track a football in the air and hopefully intercept the ball.

“We have some very talented players in the defensive backfield,” said MSU head football coach Ian Shields .

MSU tallied six interceptions in the 2023 season and hope to improve on that total in the fall.

“After being the top rated passing defense last year, we have the goal to be even better with a true focus on taking the ball away,” said Shields. “We want to improve on creating turnovers.”

While the linenacking room is the deepest in talent for the MSU football team, the team leaders are in the defensive back room.

“[Isaiah] Bigby is the best leader a coach could ask for,” said Shields. “Not just for the defense, but for the whole team. He does things right all the time – and I have been around some very consistent and solid leaders in my years of coaching at places like West Point with the Army cadets. He is up there with the best of them.”

Through his junior season, Bigby has 156 solo and 82 assisted tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six interceptions in 38 games. Bigby also has two sacks, one forced fumble with two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, and he returned an interception for a touchdown.

Bigby is joined by current junior Carson Chrisman who has played in 22 games with 59 solo and 29 assisted tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. Joining the defensive backs are seniors Roman Picken and Deshawn Carter, junior Will Dampier, redshirt freshman Myzel Williams, redshirt sophomore Tyrique Williams, sophomore Brayan Augustine, redshirt sophomore Cody Raetzman, redshirt sophomore Beto Ledezma, sophomore Deuce Carr, redshirt freshman Marquise Hill and redshirt freshman Justus Williams.

“We have had some of the defensive backs recovering from injuries between last year and in spring ball,” said Shields, “We are excited to get healthy and welcome newcomers to the team this fall as well.”

A good example of a top tier safety is Ronnie Lott. Lott played for the University of Southern California (USC) from 1977 to 1980. He was selected in the first round (8th overall) of the 1981 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers and played at 6-foot, 203-pounds. Lott played free safety and switched to the strong safety position in 1985. He had the tip of his left pinky finger amputated after the 1985 season when it was crushed while tackling running back Timmy Newsome, and a bone graft surgery would not have allowed him to start the 1986 season.

In 14 National Football League (NFL) seasons, Lott recorded 8.5 sacks and 63 interceptions, which he returned for 730 yards and five touchdowns. He recovered 17 fumbles, returned them for 43 yards, and gained 113 yards on kickoff returns. Lott also played in 20 postseason games, recording nine interceptions, 89 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns.

A prime example of a cornerback is Darrell Green, who is credited with being the fastest player in NFL history. Green attended and played college football and ran track at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville). His time in the 100 meters was 10.08, 20.50 in the 200 meters and 45.90 in the 400 meters. He is the four-time winner of the NFL’s Fastest Man competition, and the only undefeated multiple winner in NFL history. Green is rumored to have the fastest recorded 40 yard dash time of 4.09, which he is said to have run consistently in Washington’s 1986 training camp. Green played at 5-foot, 9-inches and 185 pounds.

His NFL records include:

Most consecutive seasons with an interception (19).

Most seasons with at least one touch (receptions, rushes, returns) (20); tied with Jerry Rice.

Oldest player with a more-than-35-yard gain (lateral on punt return), (42 years, 327 days).

Oldest player with an interception return for a touchdown in overtime, (35 years, 249 days).

Oldest player with an interception (41 years, 304 days).

Oldest player with a more-than-80-yard interception return (37 years, 309 days).

Oldest player with a non-offensive touchdown in overtime, (35 years, 249 days).

Oldest NFL defensive back (42 years old).

2nd Oldest player to return an interception for a touchdown (37 years, 309 days) (Albert Lewis is the oldest: 38 years, 26 days).

Most games played by a defensive player (295).

This closes out the deeper look at the defense from the spring ball sessions. The next series of previews resulting from the spring football sessions will be focused on the offensive units, to include the offensive line, the running backs with wide receivers and the quarterbacks. There will also be a review of the special teams and kicking game, as well as an in depth look at the off-season strength and conditioning program.