TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The U.S. Lawns Fall Football Camp continues as Indiana State football prepares for the upcoming September 1 kickoff against North Alabama.
 
The Sycamores will be breaking down the team throughout the fall camp toward the opener in Terre Haute with position-by-position group previews, as well as opponent previews. In today's edition, we take a look at the defensive backfield.
 
From the Coordinator
You like to have those guys back there that just love to play. With the way college football is spreading it out today and making you play in space, you want to see a secondary that is flying around and meets the ball with not one, but two, three, four guys that are there to make a play. The defensive backs provide a tremendous amount of juice and energy when they fly around back there. – Defensive Coordinator Brad Wilson on the defensive backs
 
Positional Breakdown
Projected Starters: Payton Edwards, Ethan Hoover, Rylan Cole, Johnathan Edwards, Maddix Blackwell
 
Returners: JP Osafo (injured), Kaleal Davis, Omar Jackson, Cornelius Doe, Cam Thornton, Ray Vollmer, Teely Rhyne
 
Additions/Newcomers: Jordan Jenkins, Tony Roberts, Evan Reff, Bilhal Kone, Caleb VanHooser, Micah Hauser, Malik Chatman, Amon Walker, Seth Mills
 
Things to Watch
Edwards Time to Shine
Johnathan Edwards made the most of his starting debut in the 2021 season with a trio of tackles and a pass breakup on the road at Northwestern. From there, the St. Louis, Mo. native could not be kept off the field finishing the year with six starts, while lining up in all 11 games in his true freshman year.
 
Edwards returns as the veteran of the group and is expected to be one of the leaders in the Sycamores defensive backfield that features nine newcomers and 17 underclassmen. The true sophomore recorded 32 tackles and seven pass breakups in 2021. Highlighting his first season in the Blue & White included a season-high eight tackles against Western Illinois, while posting five tackles and three pass breakups against Youngstown State. He added at least four tackles in four different games, while posting at least one pass breakup in five contests.
 
Ball-Hawking Personality
On the outside looking in, the Indiana State defensive backs bring plenty of personality and swag to the field. None is bigger than sophomore safety Rylan Cole as the McCordsville, Ind. native is back to reprise his starting role in the defensive backfield.
 
Cole started the final four games of the 2021 season, while playing seven games. He highlighted his season with an eight-tackle game against Youngstown State, while adding a forced fumble and pass breakups against Illinois State. He added his first collegiate sack against Missouri State and was consistently around the ball throughout the year.
 
Cole, as featured earlier in camp in a Mic'd Up segment, is a vocal leader and magnetic personality that continues to improve heading into his second season in the Blue & White. His ability to make plays in coverage, while adding a blitzing dimension to the Sycamores, is something that will be utilized throughout the upcoming year.
 
Hoover Cleaning Up
Consistently great. Nose for the ball. Finisher on the field. Those are all terms that could describe Ethan Hoover as the redshirt sophomore returns as the most experienced defensive player on the field in 2021. The Fort Wayne, Ind. native drew starts in the final 10 games in his redshirt freshman season, while seeing the field in all 11 contests.
 
Hoover finished among the Sycamore tackling leaders in 2021 with 48 stops, while adding an interception in ISU's win over Youngstown State. He is expected to helm one of the strongest units in the MVFC and be one of the best stoppers in the league after posting at least five tackles in six different games. These games were highlighted by a season-high eight tackles against Western Illinois, while adding seven stops against Southern Illinois.
 
Numbers Watch

• 17 – Indiana State's defensive backfield will be one of the youngest position groups on the team with 17 underclassmen currently on the 2022 roster. The Sycamores defensive backfield currently features one senior (Cornelius Doe) and three juniors (JP Osafo, Payton Edwards, and Malik Chatmon), with Edwards and Chatman both transferring in this year. It's a young, but battle-tested group that will take the field this season with three starters returning from last year's squad.
• 10 – Johnathan Edwards is one of the top returning defensive backs in the MVFC in 2022. The sophomore finished second on the Indiana State roster with seven passes defended to sit among the conference leaders. Overall, ISU returns 10 passes defended from its defensive backs led by Edwards (7), while Ethan Hoover (1), Rylan Cole (1), and JP Osafo (1) also picked up deflections last year.
• 42 – Turnovers are the name of the game, and the Sycamores are one year off sitting 42nd in the FCS in turnovers gained in 2021. Indiana State recorded 18 turnovers last season and posted a +0.36 turnover margin last year and are expected to be among the top teams in the nation once again this year.
• 228.73 – Indiana State's defensive backs helped pace one of the top pass defenses in the NCAA this past season as the Sycamores allowed just 228.73 passing yards per game. ISU allowed less than 210 passing yards in five games last season, including surrendering just 66 yards through the air against Northwestern.

Positional Group Interviews












2022 Indiana State Football Season Tickets On Sale
For more information on Indiana State 2022 football tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing Austin Bishop by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Austin.Bishop@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu.
 
Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking HERE. Fans will also have the option to get their season tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
 
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