Camp '09 - Johnson Leads Safety Unit
8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 14, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -- GoFrogs.com continues its preview of the 2009 TCU football team with a glance at the safeties.
The position will have a new look this fall as Tejay Johnson (6-1, 212, Jr.) is the lone returning starter, and he'll be utilized in a different role.
Johnson, who placed sixth on the Frogs with 47 tackles last season, will shift from weak safety to free safety. He closed last year with six solo stops in the 17-16 Poinsettia Bowl win over Boise State.
Alex Ibiloye (6-0, 183, Jr.), a two-year letterman who has excelled on special teams, was moved from cornerback to free safety during spring drills and is No. 2 on the depth chart behind Johnson.
Johnny Fobbs (6-1, 203, So.) and Chris Scott (5-10, 185, RFr.) provide depth at the position. Fobbs played in eight games in 2008 and made his collegiate debut with two tackles in the season-opening 26-3 win at New Mexico. Scott, from Baton Rouge, La., was a redshirt in his first year on campus.
Colin Jones (6-0, 205, Jr.) and Corderra Hunter (6-2, 220, Sr.) entered the fall in first-team positions on the depth chart at strong safety and weak safety, respectively.
Jones, a standout running back during his days at Bridgeport (Texas) High School, had a sack in last year's win at New Mexico. He has also made his mark on special teams, blocking a punt which led directly to a touchdown in a 2007 victory over SMU.
Newcomer Malcolm Williams (5-11, 205, Jr.) will compete for playing time at strong safety. A Texas 5A Defensive Player of the Year at South Grand Prairie High School, Williams originally signed with Oklahoma. He was a four-star recruit after starring at Trinity Valley Community College the last two seasons. He placed second in the nation with five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Hunter is a three-year letterman who has primarily contributed on special teams. He totaled a season-best three tackles in the 31-14 victory over Stanford.
Tekerrein Cuba (6-4, 210, So.) will push Hunter for action at weak safety. Cuba made his collegiate debut with a starting assignment in last year's win at New Mexico. He totaled four tackles, including one for loss, against the Lobos. Cuba will look to battle back from an injury suffered in the final practice before the Frogs departed for San Diego and the Poinsettia Bowl.
BY THE NUMBERS:
3 - Former TCU safeties (Stephen Hodge, Dallas Cowboys; David Roach, St. Louis Rams; Marvin White, Cincinnati Bengals) active in the National Football League
11 - All-conference selections at safety under ninth-year safeties coach Chad Glasgow
12 - Interceptions by Malcolm Williams as a senior at South Grand Prairie High School
13 - Career starts by TCU safeties, all at weak safety (Tejay Johnson 12, Tekerrein Cuba 1)
2,900 - Combined yards rushing (1,800) and receiving (1,100) by Colin Jones as a senior at Bridgeport (Texas) High School
Players Mentioned
