Why the secondary is Jackson State football's strongest unit entering 2024 season

Jackson State football had one of the strongest defensive back groups in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2023.  Four Tigers had at least two interceptions as the “No Fly Zone” led the SWAC with 17 interceptions.

At the end of last season, what did the JSU secondary garner in recognition from the conference for their hard work? Zilch. Zip. Zero. Not even Jaheem Hazel, the SWAC leader in interceptions with four, was selected to the postseason All-SWAC team.

As Jackson State prepares for its 2024 season opener against Louisiana Monroe on Aug. 29 (6 p.m. ESPN+), it appears its strongest position again will be its secondary, with three starters returning from last year’s team: preseason All-SWAC selection Esaias Guthrie , Ke’Vric Wiggins Jr. and BJ Washington . Washington had three interceptions in 2023 and Wiggins two, and Guthrie led the secondary and finished third on the team with 52 total tackles.

“We just preach on our side that good is not good enough,” Guthrie said at SWAC Media Day. “Coming off of last season when our DB group led the nation in picks in the FCS, and we were No. 2 nationally. To come back and only have one guy on it. Good is not good enough, and that is how we are taking it.”

Jackson State football coach T.C. Taylor looks to improve on a 7-4 record in his second season. He must replace Hazel, Tim Steward and John Huggins, who accounted for nine of the team's 17 interceptions.

Taylor has recruited a mix of high schoolers for the future and players who have seen action in Division I games or been on a D-I roster. The emphasis will be to improve after finishing fourth in the SWAC in pass defense at 187.4 yards per game and giving up 16 touchdown passes in 2023.

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Here are the JSU defensive backs, according to the football website:

Jackson State football's returning defensive backs

• Emahd Dabney, a senior who played in five games and had two tackles in 2023

• Frankie Dunn Jr., a redshirt junior who played in one game in 2023

• Tavarious Easley-Jones, a senior who played in four games and had three tackles in 2023

• Guthrie, a graduate senior who played in 11 games and had 52 total tackles in 2023

• Eric Hughes, a redshirt freshman

• Joe Perkins, a redshirt junior who played in two games and had two tackles in 2023

• Anthony Petty, a senior who played in 10 games and had 17 total tackles in 2023

• Nireek Sharpe, a freshman who played in two games in 2023

• Washington, a sophomore who played in eight games and had three interceptions

• Wiggins, a senior who played in nine games and had two interceptions in 2023

Transfers

• Day Day Bright, a senior from Portland State

• Micah Cherry, a redshirt junior from Toledo

• Josh Higgins, a graduate senior from Weber State;

• Robert McDaniel, a graduate senior from Alcorn State.

• Cameron Smith, a redshirt junior from Eastern Michigan.

• Saddiq Thompson, a junior from Jones College.

Incoming freshmen

• KJ Chisholm from Whale Branch (S.C.) High School

• Brandon Mitchell from Middle College High in Memphis.

J.T. Keith is the HBCU sports editor for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at JKeith@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @JTKEITH1.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why the secondary is Jackson State football's strongest unit entering 2024 season