2017 Frontier Conference Football Preview: Defensive Backs

Whether an offense is airing it out, or running all over the field, defensive backs are a team’s last line of defense. And in the Frontier Conference, as is the case all across NAIA football, defensive backs need to be able to cover both.

The Frontier has plenty of standout defensive backs coming back for the 2017 season.

At Montana State University-Northern, the secondary has been young over the last several years, and it will likely be again this season, as Northern graduated its two starting safeties in Logan Sprouse and Garret Jerricoff. The Lights had a lot of young players working toward filling those roles this past spring, but no doubt, MSU-N’s secondary will be filled with players in new roles this season.

That won’t be the case at Southern Oregon however. While the Raiders are known for their high-flying offense, they also return one of the most experienced defensive units in the Frontier — and that includes the secondary. While the Raiders did lose star DB Julius Rucker, they return All-Conference performer Keegan Lawrence (5-11, 195), who had 68 tackles and two interceptions last season. Corner A.J. Cooper also returns after picking off three passes a year ago, while safety Oshay Dunmore is back at after missing last season with an injury.

SOU is perhaps the most loaded team in the secondary, but Montana Tech, despite losing an All-American safety in Gunnar Kayser, has talent too. The Orediggers’ secondary is led by returning All-Conference performer Andre Brown (5-10, 180). Brown finished 2016 with 58 tackles and two picks, but he’s best known for literally shutting down half the field. Safety Will Davey should also have a big impact on the Tech secondary this season.

Perhaps no team has a more productive DB returning than College of Idaho. Fifth-year senior Nate Moore (5-9, 185) is already an NAIA All-American and a two-time All-Frontier standout. Moore has registered 224 stops in his time at C of I, and has nine interceptions for his career. He’s also been one of the leading tacklers in the Frontier in each of the last three seasons, and he’s the catalyst for what is always a very sound C of I pass defense.

And there are plenty of other good ones to watch out for in the secondary this coming season. Carroll College’s Tucker Johnson (6-1, 200) is back after leading the Fighting Saints with 78 tackles last season. UM-Western’s Zach Janis (5-10, 190) had 44 tackles and four of the Bulldog’s 19 interceptions last year. RMC returns safety Keenan Fagen, who had 34 tackles a year ago, while Eastern Oregon’s Justin Hughes (5-10, 181) will be a difference maker for the Mounties after recording a whopping 99 tackles and picking off two of EOU’s league-high 23 interceptions a season ago.

Editor's Note: This is the sixth installment in the Havre Daily News' annual preview of the upcoming Frontier Conference football season. For a look at the top running backs and special team's players in the conference, see Monday's HDN.