Bowling Green State University Athletics
Spring 2021 Breakdown: Defensive Backs
April 23, 2021 | Football
Throughout the spring, BGSUFalcons.com has been breaking down each position for the 2021 BGSU football program. Today, we close out the series by taking a look at the defensive backs.
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Part 1 -Â Tight Ends
Part 2 -Â Offensive Line
Part 3 -Â Quarterbacks
Part 4 -Â Running Backs
Part 5 -Â Wide Receivers
Part 6 -Â Special Teams
Part 7 -Â Defensive Line
Part 8 - Linebackers
Bowling Green, Ohio – Eric Lewis is entering his second season as cornerbacks coach for the Falcons, and will begin his tenure as the new defensive coordinator this fall. The secondary is arguably the most-experienced unit of the Falcons' roster, particularly at safety.
Newly minted safeties and special teams coach Bob Ligashesky returns to BGSU after previously holding the special teams position with Lovie Smith and Illinois since 2018. Ligashesky previously coached special teams and linebackers at Bowling Green from 1991-1998, and served as associate head coach, among numerous other duties, in 1999.
Safeties Jordan Anderson and Sy Dabney are as sure as it gets on the back end, with both having multiple seasons still in front of them.
Anderson, at 5-feet-10 and 195 pounds, is a third-year sophomore who has started 11 games for the Falcons over the previous two seasons. Anderson started seven times as a true freshman in 2019 and four times in 2020. He was incredibly productive all over the field in 2019, and should be considered a building-block among the secondary, with potential to be an All-MAC caliber player this season.
Dabney, a redshirt junior, is 6-0, 210 pounds and in his fifth year with the program. Dabney has since recovered from an injury sustained early in his collegiate career and, after working his way up the depth chart by contributing on special teams, started four games for the Falcons last season. Dabney has only begun scratching the surface on how impactful he can be for the Falcons' defensive backfield.
Coach Lewis has been using one of his cornerback spots to work in more mature student-athletes like upperclassman Diata Burns. Burns, 6-0, 185 pounds, is a redshirt junior who clearly already understands what it takes to succeed at Bowling Green. During his first year on campus, Burns started four of a possible five games and had a season-high four tackles at Toledo, adding a tackle for loss and a pass break-up in the ever-important rivalry game.
The other side of the field this spring has been utilized to continue to work in younger student-athletes like freshmen Marcus Sheppard, 5-11, 181 pounds from Detroit Country Day High School and 5-10, 172-pound Myles Williamson from Westerville Central High School. Sheppard was a three-star recruit who chose BGSU over Kent State, among others, and Williamson chose to play for the Falcons over conference-foe Miami. Both made their collegiate debut last season, with Sheppard earning a start at Akron.
Redshirt freshman Davion Daniels and fellow freshman Trent Simms are among those competing this spring to be back-up safeties. Daniels, 5-10, 187 pounds, from Hubbard, Ohio, redshirted in 2019. Simms, who attended nearby Sylvania Northview High School, is 6-0 and 207 pounds. He is a former three-star recruit who chose the Falcons over offers from Ball State and Western Michigan, among others. Both appeared in three games last season.
Cedric Mitchell and Patrick Day are both impactful role players who each made one start last season. Mitchell, 6-1, 195 pounds, from Elkhart, Indiana, is a redshirt junior who has appeared in 25 games over the previous three seasons for the Orange and Brown. Mitched made a career-high five tackles during his start last season. Day, a 5-11, 185-pound redshirt freshman from Hilliard, Ohio, appeared in one contest before redshirting in 2019. He appeared in every game of 2020 and made six tackles, including one sack, capitalizing on his only opportunity to start.
In terms of depth, Bowling Green has done an excellent job at building for seasons to come. Deshawn Jones Jr., at 5-11 and weighing 179 pounds from Akron, Ohio, was a highly sought-after three-star recruit who chose the Falcons over offers from Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Akron, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Toledo, and Western Michigan, among others. Fellow freshman Elijah Eberhardt is a 5-10, 173-pounder from Springdale, Ohio who chose BGSU over offers from Central Michigan and Western Michigan among others as a former three-star recruit. Neither played in 2020.
Jevon Venson, 5-11, 175 pounds from Chicago, Ill. and Avi McGary, 6-2, 185 pounds from Cincinnati, Ohio are freshmen who did not play in 2020. McGary redshirted in 2019.
Jalen Burton, Willie Jones, Matt Kordas, and Julius Sims Jr. all signed in December to be on campus and a part of the team this upcoming fall for the 2021 season.
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Part 1 -Â Tight Ends
Part 2 -Â Offensive Line
Part 3 -Â Quarterbacks
Part 4 -Â Running Backs
Part 5 -Â Wide Receivers
Part 6 -Â Special Teams
Part 7 -Â Defensive Line
Part 8 - Linebackers
Bowling Green, Ohio – Eric Lewis is entering his second season as cornerbacks coach for the Falcons, and will begin his tenure as the new defensive coordinator this fall. The secondary is arguably the most-experienced unit of the Falcons' roster, particularly at safety.
Newly minted safeties and special teams coach Bob Ligashesky returns to BGSU after previously holding the special teams position with Lovie Smith and Illinois since 2018. Ligashesky previously coached special teams and linebackers at Bowling Green from 1991-1998, and served as associate head coach, among numerous other duties, in 1999.
Safeties Jordan Anderson and Sy Dabney are as sure as it gets on the back end, with both having multiple seasons still in front of them.
Anderson, at 5-feet-10 and 195 pounds, is a third-year sophomore who has started 11 games for the Falcons over the previous two seasons. Anderson started seven times as a true freshman in 2019 and four times in 2020. He was incredibly productive all over the field in 2019, and should be considered a building-block among the secondary, with potential to be an All-MAC caliber player this season.
Dabney, a redshirt junior, is 6-0, 210 pounds and in his fifth year with the program. Dabney has since recovered from an injury sustained early in his collegiate career and, after working his way up the depth chart by contributing on special teams, started four games for the Falcons last season. Dabney has only begun scratching the surface on how impactful he can be for the Falcons' defensive backfield.
Coach Lewis has been using one of his cornerback spots to work in more mature student-athletes like upperclassman Diata Burns. Burns, 6-0, 185 pounds, is a redshirt junior who clearly already understands what it takes to succeed at Bowling Green. During his first year on campus, Burns started four of a possible five games and had a season-high four tackles at Toledo, adding a tackle for loss and a pass break-up in the ever-important rivalry game.
The other side of the field this spring has been utilized to continue to work in younger student-athletes like freshmen Marcus Sheppard, 5-11, 181 pounds from Detroit Country Day High School and 5-10, 172-pound Myles Williamson from Westerville Central High School. Sheppard was a three-star recruit who chose BGSU over Kent State, among others, and Williamson chose to play for the Falcons over conference-foe Miami. Both made their collegiate debut last season, with Sheppard earning a start at Akron.
Redshirt freshman Davion Daniels and fellow freshman Trent Simms are among those competing this spring to be back-up safeties. Daniels, 5-10, 187 pounds, from Hubbard, Ohio, redshirted in 2019. Simms, who attended nearby Sylvania Northview High School, is 6-0 and 207 pounds. He is a former three-star recruit who chose the Falcons over offers from Ball State and Western Michigan, among others. Both appeared in three games last season.
Cedric Mitchell and Patrick Day are both impactful role players who each made one start last season. Mitchell, 6-1, 195 pounds, from Elkhart, Indiana, is a redshirt junior who has appeared in 25 games over the previous three seasons for the Orange and Brown. Mitched made a career-high five tackles during his start last season. Day, a 5-11, 185-pound redshirt freshman from Hilliard, Ohio, appeared in one contest before redshirting in 2019. He appeared in every game of 2020 and made six tackles, including one sack, capitalizing on his only opportunity to start.
In terms of depth, Bowling Green has done an excellent job at building for seasons to come. Deshawn Jones Jr., at 5-11 and weighing 179 pounds from Akron, Ohio, was a highly sought-after three-star recruit who chose the Falcons over offers from Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Akron, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Toledo, and Western Michigan, among others. Fellow freshman Elijah Eberhardt is a 5-10, 173-pounder from Springdale, Ohio who chose BGSU over offers from Central Michigan and Western Michigan among others as a former three-star recruit. Neither played in 2020.
Jevon Venson, 5-11, 175 pounds from Chicago, Ill. and Avi McGary, 6-2, 185 pounds from Cincinnati, Ohio are freshmen who did not play in 2020. McGary redshirted in 2019.
Jalen Burton, Willie Jones, Matt Kordas, and Julius Sims Jr. all signed in December to be on campus and a part of the team this upcoming fall for the 2021 season.
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