VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Larry Slade
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2024 season. This feature breaks down the back line of the Eagles' defense with help from co-DC Larry Slade.
The Carson-Newman defensive backfield is arguably the most veteran of positions on the Eagles' roster. Between D2Football.Com Elite 100 member Major Williams, preseason All-SAC corner Kendall Williams, Champ Baker, Jackson Ward and Jet Jones, the Eagles return a combined 74 starts in the defensive backfield.
The two Williamses and Jones all started all 11 games last year for the Eagles.
For Slade, Major and Kendall (unrelated) have earned every accolade that has come their way.
"Those guys are phenomenal," Slade said. "They are great people who are also athletically talented. The thing you get from those guys is great leadership and they lead by example. Watch them practice and demonstrate what toughness and effort are. This thing about them being preseason all-conference, I can absolutely understand it."
Carson-Newman's third-leading tackler in 2023, Major Williams did things no other defensive back has done in the history of the football program. Williams made 53 tackles on the year, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage. He is the first defensive back in the history of the Carson-Newman football program with double-digit tackles for loss in a single season. He also had two sacks, both against Erskine (Oct. 14) to become the first defensive back with two sacks in a game as well.
On the other hand, Kendall Williams started all 11 games at corner for Carson-Newman in his red-shirt sophomore season. He finished fifth on the team in tackles with 50 for the year. He made 34 solo stops. Williams had eight pass breakups and picked off a pass against UVA Wise (Nov. 4). Williams tallied a 13-tackle day against Lenoir-Rhyne (Sep. 23) - besting his previous career high of 11. Of those 13 tackles, 10 were solo stops.
Jet Jones stepped into the starting role at safety opposite Major and turned in a 50-tackle season. He finished sixth on the team in tackles with his half century, 29 of which were solo stops. He had 1.5 tackles for loss and a team-best two interceptions. Jones registered three pass break ups and a had a forced fumble and fumble recovery as well.
"Jet is an old veteran now," Slade said. "He's smart and consistent and just a great young man. Champ Baker and Jackson Ward are really good too. We have no issues with putting out five quality defensive backs."
Ward started four games and appeared in 10 contests in his red-shirt junior season. Warder turned in 26 tackles, 22 of which were solo stops. He had 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break up. Ward's most productive game came against Tusculum (Oct. 7) when he registered a career-best eight tackles. He also forced two fumbles against the Pioneers.
Baker played in all 11 games as a defensive back for C-N, with seven starts at corner. Baker tallied 30 tackles on the year, 1.5 tackles for loss and had six pass breakups. Baker had five-tackle days against both Lenoir-Rhyne (Sep. 23) and Mars Hill (Oct. 21). He broke up a career-high three passes against Tusculum (Oct. 7).
"We have some young guys who we are excited about," Slade said. "The future of the secondary is there. We have some young guys and some transfers. We hope to see big things out of Florida State transfer Jaden Floyd."
Slade touted Floyd, Mahki Shaw, Jerron Blakely and Dajaun Thornton as players who need to develop behind the returning 74 combined starts of C-N's returning defensive backfield.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Friday with a glimpse of the receivers with help from Edgar Weiser
