Spring football preview: Cornerbacks
Missouri will open its third spring under Barry Odom next month. Over the next two weeks, we preview spring ball position by position. Today, it's the cornerbacks.
SPRING FOOTBALL 2018: Cornerbacks
The Starters: Following multiple offseason departures due to transfer and graduation, Missouri’s defense enters the spring with several question marks at cornerback. One of last season’s starters, Logan Cheadle, graduated. Jerod Alton, who contributed a season ago, recently announced that he plans to transfer. Even DeMarkus Acy, who was starting at corner by the end of last season, is not a sure thing to line up across from opposing wide receivers this season. Due to attrition at safety, there has been speculation that Acy will transition back to the position at which he was originally recruited. Regardless of whether Acy does switch to safety, sophomore Adam Sparks seems most likely to begin the spring atop the depth chart. Sparks appeared in all 13 games a season ago and totaled 33 total tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions. Assuming Acy moves out of the position group, the starting spot opposite Sparks will be wide open. Redshirt sophomore Christian Holmes, who looked to be in line for significant playing time last fall before he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out all season, will likely be the Tigers’ top option. Redshirt freshman Terry Petry, a 2017 signee out of the Houston area, could compete for the spot as well.
The Backups: Behind Sparks, Acy and Petry, Missouri doesn’t have a ton of depth at corner. Junior Finis Stribling IV has largely played special teams to this point in his career, but he could be asked to contribute at corner in his final season of eligibility. Then there is newcomer Tyrone Collins. Collins was one of three defensive backs that Missouri signed in its 2018 recruiting class, and he enrolled in January, so he will participate in spring ball. Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Ryan Walters recently described Collins as competitive and driven after a rough upbringing. With a strong spring, Collins could put himself in position to skip a redshirt year and contribute as a true freshman.
Potential Storylines: What position will Acy play? If he moves to safety, will Holmes be able to get up to speed quickly enough to serve as a reliable starter? By the way, those two questions may not be answered in that order. Whether the coaching staff decides to transition Acy to safety may very well depend upon if Holmes, or any other corner, can exhibit the ability to take over his starting post.
Spring Prediction: Acy will indeed move to safety and Holmes will start across from Sparks. Collins will work his way into regular playing time as the team’s top nickelback.
Help on the Way: Two more defensive backs have signed with Missouri but are yet to make it to campus. Three-star Texas prospect Chris Mills appears more likely of the two to play at corner. Mills has shown elite speed on the track — his personal-best time of 21.04 in the 200 meters prompted Missouri to offer him the opportunity to compete with its track team as well as play football — and Walters said he envisions Mills not taking long to become college-ready. The other newcomer will be Jarvis Ware, who played cornerback in high school but seems more likely to begin his college career as a safety.
MORE SPRING PREVIEWS
Coming tomorrow: Safeties