Tulsa Safety and Nickel Safety Update
8/17/2019 8:06:00 PM | Football
A LOOK AT THE SAFETY AND NICKEL SAFETY POSITIONS...
TULSA, Okla. –– The strong safety, free safety and nickel safety positions for the Golden Hurricane return a total of seven lettermen to the three spots in 2019.
"I think those guys are playing extremely well right now. They're communicating well and understanding where they fit into coverage, and how the opposition will try to attack them," said Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery.
Manny Bunch, a returning starter to the secondary, holds down the strong safety position, while fellow senior Brandon Johnson appears to have locked down the starting spot at free safety at this point.
Bunch was third on the team in tackles with 80 and had 5 pass break-ups in 2018, while Johnson, who transferred to Tulsa from Tyler Junior College, totaled nine tackles in 12 games playing in the secondary and special teams.
"Manny is playing at strong safety and Brandon is the starting free safety right now. They've been pretty steady for us," said safety coach Carlton Buckels. "Manny is the leader of the group, while Brandon is improving every day in his leadership skills and his play on the field as a starter."
Bunch is backed up by red-shirt freshman Kendarin Ray and sophomore Marcus Mays. Newcomer Lamar Mullins, who comes to Tulsa from Butler Community College, red-shirt freshman walk-on Jett Hendrix and another JC transfer Mike Garrett, Jr., are pushing at the free safety spot.
"We definitely have some depth. We have guys that are working in pretty well at the safety spots. Marcus Mays has game experience and Kendarin Ray is another guy who has been really steady this camp. He's done a good job in coverage and also coming up against the run and being very physical," said Buckels.
"Jett Hendrix is a guy who has done really well. He works hard, very physical and can run. Mike Garrett gives us some depth and brings some good cover skills to the group."
"Lamar Mullins can play strong or free safety. He's very physical and is really getting better in his coverage skills. Right now, he's trying to get healthy from a foot injury. He's not 100-percent yet, but he's definitely close to it but he's doing a great job," added Buckels.
With Tulsa's transition to the 3-3-5 scheme a year ago, the nickel safety position has certainly been a key part of the defensive scheme.
"Nickel safety is really a high safety," said nickel safeties coach Luke Olson. "He's a guy that should be able to play any position on the back-end, whether it's corner or safety. He's really more of a DB-type body. I think our guys have done well this camp."
Returning starter Bryson Powers started 7 games last year and ended the season with 63 tackles and 4 pass breakups. TieNeal Martin was in the starting lineup in 3 contests and totaled 28 stops, while Cristian Williams started one of his 2 games played before an injury sidelined him for the season. He was in the starting lineup at Texas and ended the game with 11 tackles.
"Bryson, TieNeal, Daiquian and Cristian –– all have a little bit of experience. D-Jack is the only guy that hasn't been at nickel safety in a game. Cristian played two games last year before his injury. TieNeal gave us some good reps and Bryson did a real good job understanding the position and knowing where he needed to be to make plays" said Olson.
"That's been our challenge to those guys during camp – be in position to make plays and know your job and where you're supposed to be. I think they've all stepped up and taken that challenge," added Olson.
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