Brawnski Towns doesn’t pay much attention to the year that is listed next to a player on the roster. Instead, Alabama A&M’s long-time defensive coordinator and secondary coach, pays more mind to what is being done on the field.
That’s why he’s not concerned with his young secondary, which includes junior Derrick Harris at right cornerback, redshirt sophomore A.J. Clark at left cornerback and sophomore Jamel Morris at free safety. Harris, who started some as a freshman, was a full-time starter last season, while Clark was a part-time starter. Morris played in seven games a year ago as a true freshman.
“They’re young, but they’re ready,” Towns said. “All three of them have played and Harris and Clark have starting experience. Morris had a good spring and he knows what I want out of the free safety position.
“All three of them have improved and they’ve really meshed as a group.”
Harris, a 5-foot-11, 171-pounder, finished eighth on the team last season with 34 tackles and also had four pass breakups. Clark, a converted quarterback, had 27 tackles, one interception and one pass breakup in nine games, while Morris, who has been hampered by a back injury, had four tackles and two pass breakups.
While the trio was happy with their play last season, they’re expecting to make an even bigger impact this season.
“We all got experience last year and that’s how you get better,” said Clark, who has tremendous size at 6-2 and 185 pounds. “We made some plays last year, but we want to make more plays this year to impact the game. That’s what we’ve got to do as a unit.”
Harris has been solid in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, but Clark has a chance to be special, Towns said. read more…
