2020 Texas A&M Football Position Breakdown: Defensive Backs
Apr 28, 2020 | Football
Returning Starters: Elijah Blades, Myles Jones, Leon O’Neal Jr., Demani Richardson
Starters Lost: Charles Oliver
Lettermen Returning: Keldrick Carper, Clifford Chattman, Travon Fuller, Devin Morris, Derrick Tucker, Brian Williams, Erick Young
Newcomers: Brian George, Antonio Johnson Jr., Jaylon Jones, Josh Moten
The defensive backfield returns a bulk of veterans from a season ago. Corners Myles Jones and Elijah Blades are back for the Aggies in 2020, as the unit lost senior Charles Oliver, who made eight starts at nickel last season and led the defense with 15 pass breakups. Jones did not miss a start last season, playing in all 13 games. He racked up 29 tackles and finished second on the team with six breakups. Blades, in his first year at A&M after transferring from Arizona Western Community College, battled injury throughout the season, but started six of the seven games he played in. Blades made 19 tackles and snuck inside for 1.5 sacks, while breaking up three passes in his debut.
Demani Richardson made an immediate impact at the safety position. As a true freshman in 2019, he led all defensive backs and was third on the team with 71 tackles on the season, starting 11 of the 12 games he played in. Richardson was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after his impressive debut. Leon O’Neal Jr., earned the starting job as a sophomore and was out on the field first in 10 of the team’s 13 games. O’Neal tallied 41 takedowns in his second season of action.
Rising Senior Keldrick Carper, one of the team’s four captains last season, was fourth on the team with 51 tackles, playing in 12 of the team’s 13 games. Clifford Chattman added depth in the backfield last season, playing in all 13 games. He made 28 tackles and was tied for third on the team with four breakups. Devin Morris saw his first action as an Aggie as a sophomore last season. He played in 11 games, earning more time on the field after making an impact in the win at Ole Miss. He finished the year with 11 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
A&M added four defensive back in its 2020 signing class, three early enrollees in Antonio Johnson Jr., Jaylon Jones and Josh Moten. Johnson was a four-start recruit out of East St. Louis High School. The Army All-American tallied 98 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Jones, a four-star prospect out of Steele High School, was named an Under Armour All-American as well as the District Defensive MVP. As a senior, he tallied 34 tackles, four interceptions and broke up five passes. Moten, a four-star recruit according to Rivals and ESPN, played at National Christian Academy. The Waldorf, Maryland, native was targeted 16 times in his senior season, breaking up eight of those passes and tallying four interceptions. Brian George will round out the new group of DB’s, joining the Aggies as a JUCO transfer from Highland Community College. He was named a JUCO Second Team All-American and was rated as one of the top five JUCO players in the nation last season.
