Breaking Down the Frogs: The Safeties
8/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2003
Gary Patterson: "At the strong safety position, someone has to replace Jared Smitherman. Flander Malone, Kenny Lewis and Brandon Williams will have to be able to fit that bill. I feel comfortable with the free and weak safety positions with Jeremy Modkins and Marvin Godbolt as the starters going into the fall, but we have to add depth. I have great hopes for Elvis Gallegos and Chris Peoples stepping up and giving us quality minutes."
The safety position is what separates the Horned Frog defense from most around the country. With their 4-2-5 scheme, the Frogs employ three safeties on the field at all times. Underrated strong safety Jared Smitherman and free safety Kenneth Hilliard have moved on, leaving a couple key holes to fill. Strides were made in the spring to solidify those two positions, but it remains an area of concern entering the fall.
Weak safety Marvin Godbolt is the shining star of the group. Godbolt, a junior, has made 20 career starts, second on the squad behind only John Glud. A playmaker and a leader, the former Freshman all-American is a post-season honors candidate. Sophomore Jeremy Modkins moves from the weak to the free safety position to fill the hole vacated by Hilliard. Modkins, a brother of former TCU running back Curtis Modkins, has a big upside.
The lone senior safety, Brandon Williams, projects as the probable starter at the strong safety position, but that position will be hotly contested in the fall with sophomores Ken Lewis and Flander Malone pushing for playing time.
Junior Chris Peoples and redshirt freshman Elvis Gallegos will battle for more playing time in the secondary as well and are expected to contribute on special teams. Peoples, who was a NCAA qualifier in the high jump, is very athletics, while Gallegos is coming off a strong spring performance. Junior Kenny Boyd made the transition from the offensive backfield to the safety position in the spring.
David Roach was the lone safety signee in the spring, but may get some company in the fall as players find what may be a better position fit for them in the college ranks.
