While some positions are in flux for Northern Arizona as the season approaches, there's little doubt that the secondary will be among the best in the Big Sky this season. With a lineup that includes two of the top defensive backs in the Football Championship Subdivision -- Lucky Dozier and Anders Battle -- the Lumberjacks seem to have all the pieces in place to have another strong season in the secondary.
“I think we’ve got very good depth this year,” said safeties coach David Reeves. “Over the last few years, coach (Andy) Thompson has really emphasized going out and getting the best quality kid we can and to make sure that we have at least two solid guys at each position.
"We have about six to seven guys that we can roll out at safety right now. We not only feel good about that fact but very comfortable.”
Dozier, a preseason All-American, headlines the unit after having a spectacular first season with the Lumberjacks. As a junior, he started all 11 games, ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 57 and tied for the Big Sky lead with four interceptions.
In addition to Dozier, NAU brings back safeties and All-Big Sky honorees Mike Dosen and Blair Wishom. Dosen tallied 31 tackles and had a 59-yard interception return, while Wishom ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 56 and had three interceptions.
“Three of our safeties coming back have won all-conference awards,” said Reeves. “This is a testament to the hard work that they put in every day. The newcomers know what they have to do to get playing time. For new guys to come in, they have to realize as quickly as possible what the standard is. The veterans set the standard every day. They take it upon themselves to make sure that the new guys are doing things the proper way. As a coach, this is great to see.”
Also competing for playing time at safety will be seniors Anthony Hughes and Jake Johnston, juniors Robert Watson and Shawn Sharkey, redshirt freshman Devon McPeek and true freshmen Jonathan Lyles and Ronnie Manning.
At cornerback, Battle returns with preseason All-America honors of his own. The senior led NAU last season with 64 tackles and had six pass breakups and a 26-yard interception return while starting all 11 games. He had a career-high 14 tackles against UC Davis, tied for the fifth-highest single-game total in school history.
“Anders Battle is our leader,” said cornerbacks coach Charles Huff. “He is a tremendous worker and a great competitor. His exceptional speed comes from being a former track and field athlete, and we are expecting big things from him this year.”
Battle, sophomore Michael Alford and juniors Randy Hale and Blake Bailey will be the regulars at corner. The experience that the four players bring to the field makes it unlikely that they'll be overtaken in the rotation, but there are a few younger players who are giving it a run.
“Although this unit is extremely talented, we do have a good group of young guys in Delvin Batiste and Mo White,” Huff said. “They are two really good freshmen, but they will have to challenge the veterans for playing time.”
While Battle is a senior this year and the unit's leader, the good news for NAU is that he is the only player in his final year of eligibility, and the talent is in place for the secondary to continue at its high level of performance going forward.
“This group of guys wants to be the best secondary unit in the Big Sky, as well as lead the league in every defensive category,” said Huff. “They’re quick, experienced and coachable. This may be the best secondary unit NAU has had in quite some time.”
