2008---UMass' Defensive Secondary

Let's start looking at UMass' unit positions for 2008. It may give us a clue as to what UMass is trying to recruit this year. Remember, I have no special inside knowledge. This is just my take on what the status of the UMass Defensive Secondary for '08.

Freshman are green.
Sophomores are orange
Juniors are blue
Senior are red

I'm working out of the UMass depth chart for the Hofstra game. Teams are only allowed to dress 60 players for the playoffs, so the depth chart for the playoffs may have been different. Note that the class of the player is for fall of 2008 not their current status.

According to the last regular season depth chart:

CB --- Courtney Robinson Senior
--- Reshaude Goodwin Red Shirt Sophomore

SS --- Michael Meggett Red Shirt Senior
--- Spencer Ridenhour Red Shirt Senior

FS --- Jeromy Miles Junior
--- Brian Ellis Red Shirt Senior

CB --- Sean Smalls Senior
--- Corey Davis Red Shirt Junior

Other DBs on the roster are Shane Viveiros, Keiron Brown, Sam Besong, Eric Dickson and James Carven.

Both Smalls and Miles have been listed as pro prospects (use the search blog feature and use their names and Draft Daddy). Robinson and Meggett are also excellent players. This is a strong unit and returns all the two deep for 2008.

Of the DBs not listed in the two-deep, Eric Dickson appeared in nine games in '07 and Besong played in five. Keiron Brown played in eleven games. Besong is a safety. I get the feeling that Brown is high on Reshaude Goodwin who played in twelve games in 2007. He looks to be a starter when a slot opens.

Corey Davis played in all 13 games in 2007 and should contend for a starting spot in the future. Ellis played in 11 games and will see lots of time in various packages next year.

Spencer Riddenhour played in 12 games and supplied two of the three biggest hits I saw this year. He likely will see increased playing time next year.

Recruiting needs: I don't see any pressing need for a BCS or JUCO transfer for this year. However, five of the listed two-deep will be seniors in '08, so there will be lots of jobs open in 2009.

Coach Brown loves defensive backs and loves defensive packages, so I expect several recruits when the commit list comes out.