Fresno State Athletics
Second to None
9/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 28, 2001
By Rachel Azevedo, Fresno State Media Relations
If ever there was a year for Fresno State's defensive backs to shine, this is it. Coming off a supremely successful 2000 season, the defense will be powered by four players that have, among other things, experience and talent going for them.
The Bulldogs will start two seniors at safety - Vernon Fox and Anthony Limbrick - and two seniors at cornerback - Tierre Sams and Devon Banks.
They are leaders. Fox, a strong safety, noted his leadership role prior to the season, stating, "You've got to be a vocal leader as well as a leader by example. I feel that not only as a safety, but as a senior with three years of playing experience, I've got to be able to communicate with the guys on the field and get things going."
Yet another positive in their corner is secondary coach J.D. Williams. A former Bulldog and NFL player, Williams is in his second season coaching the defensive backs. As a professional football player, Williams was selected to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1990 and played in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills. In his first season with Fresno State he led a commanding secondary, with the four positions combining to average 20.3 tackles per game.
And one more thing: They're good.
At strong safety, Fox is a 2000 first-team All-WAC recipient who finished fourth on the team in tackles. Last year he had eight tackles for loss and four sacks. He has played in every game since his freshman year, starting 25 consecutive games dating back to the season opener of his sophomore season.
Playing free safety, Limbrick has had his share of heartache. Last year, his senior season, he suffered a broken thumb against Ohio State in the season opener. His injury required surgery, and for him to watch the rest of the season from the sidelines. He redshirted and now returns to reclaim his position, expertly filled last year by Banks and sophomore Bryce McGill. As a junior, Limbrick was a first-team All-WAC selection and finished fifth on the team in tackles with 78.
Cornerbacks Sams and Banks have shown their speed and precision on the field. Sams is one of the fastest players on the team, boasting a 40-yard dash time of 4.34. He led the team last year in passes broken up with five. Banks had a career high of 14 tackles against UCLA last year, finishing up the season with 62 tackles.
The defensive backs work together to completely dominate any opposing team's offense. Coach Williams explains their preparation technique as going full out all the time. "On the practice field we put them in situations they're going to face in a game. We do everything at full speed, whether it be drills, mental preparation or tackles."
A team leader at strong safety, Fox thinks a focused mentality is as important, if not more important, than the physical capabilities of a defensive back, especially at safety.
"The safeties are the quarterback of the defense," Fox said. "We have to regulate the calls, check the formations when they come out and communicate between ourselves and the entire defense."
With plenty of time on his hands last year while sitting out the season, Limbrick has mastered the mental aspect of his position at free safety.
"I sat and watched my teammates, Vernon Fox and Devon Banks, play and I knew where I wanted to step my game up to," said Limbrick. "Watching my team go to battle without me was one of the hardest times of my life. I feel like I'm a part of this defense and this defense is a part of me."
Fox celebrates Limbrick's return to the field as his partner once again this season. "It's great having Anthony back now," said Fox. "I played two seasons ago with him the entire year and into the spring leading into last year. Having to see him go the entire year and missing him, that was definitely different. Now it's back to normal, the way I'm used to seeing things. Being able to look over at him and communicate with him, we have a tight bond."
While it's true the bonds are tight, so is the competition at safety. Limbrick and Fox have a number of players pushing them to their max. Williams knows the talent pool is deep and feels that there are four great safeties on the team. As does Fox.
"There's a lot of competition," said Fox. We've got a lot of good safeties, which is a good thing. In the past we haven't had a bunch of guys that can step in and play just as well as the starter."
Cornerbacks Sams and Banks likely feel the same pressure, only the pressure they feel comes from the other team. Going up against some of the best receivers in the nation would seem like a daunting task to most, but Sams and Banks take it all in stride. They both feel that practicing against Fresno State's receivers is the best preparation they could possibly get.
"Not to take anything away from the other receivers out there, but we have a great core of receivers here, and going against them everyday makes it easier to go out against the other teams," said Banks.
Fresno State's secondary is jam packed with players that have experience, leadership and knowledge of the game. And was it mentioned they're good?
