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In the FCS Huddle: Top 10 FCS defensive backs

Sixth of an eight-part series featuring the best Football Championship Subdivision players at various positions.

By Craig Haley, FCS Executive Director

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The accolades and awards will be there for Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson this year. An NFL career awaits him next year.

But the success of the team matters most on the tradition-rich University of Montana football program. After the Grizzlies' FCS-record 17-year run of national playoff appearances ended last season, that has been even more of a rallying cry this offseason.

And "Tru," as Johnson often goes by, has his significant individual achievements on the backburner.

"Going to the national championship (game) my freshman and sophomore years, I'm on top of cloud nine," he remembered about Montana's superb 2008 and '09 squads. "My junior campaign, not even to make the playoffs, that was heartbreaking. That hurt the most. Me and my teammates are starving, trying to get back to the top."

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Good article.

Asa Jackson is the most dominant player at his position that I have seen play at Cal Poly outside of Ramses Barden. I cant say I have seen all of the guys on this list but if there is a DB in FCS better than Jackson they must be absolutely amazing.

I am also pretty sure his 40 time was a bit better than 4.40.....

I cant wait for that Montana Cal Poly game in week two of the upcoming season; we will so both guys in teh same game....Cal Poly will be returning from their game at San Diego State and Montana will be coming home from Tennessee. That has to be one of the games of the week

I have a feeling Matt Johnson is going to shatter the INT record at EWU this year.

CPAlum wrote:Asa Jackson is the most dominant player at his position that I have seen play at Cal Poly outside of Ramses Barden. I cant say I have seen all of the guys on this list but if there is a DB in FCS better than Jackson they must be absolutely amazing.

I am also pretty sure his 40 time was a bit better than 4.40.....

I cant wait for that Montana Cal Poly game in week two of the upcoming season; we will so both guys in teh same game....Cal Poly will be returning from their game at San Diego State and Montana will be coming home from Tennessee. That has to be one of the games of the week

I would guess 4.40-4.45 is exactly right on him. He's pretty fast but not blazing fast. If he runs a 4.3 40 he plays more like a 4.4 guy, which is plenty good.

In regard to better DBs I will say this is a good class of corners. I would probably say Asa is the 4th or 5th best corner I saw on tape returning.

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So who else do you have better than Asa? Just curious

I thought Trumaine Jonhson was one of the best CBs I've seen in the Big Sky (ever) last year. Matt Johnson at Eastern is really good also, but I think it is easier to recruit safeties to the FCS than it is CBs. The same logic applies to why I'm more impressed by great DTs over great DEs at this level.

Deshawn Shead for Portland State Vikings moves from corner to SS this year is somebody to watch for. He wasn't as consistent as Trumaine Johnson but definitely made his presence felt on the football field.

CPAlum wrote:http://www.asajackson.com/change-in-the ... /#more-115

So who else do you have better than Asa? Just curious

Johnson, Steed, Webb, Scott, and Caldwell. I think Jackson is right thee with Scott and Caldwell though.

Hey SCFBF, do you think Matt Johnson has a shot at the NFL? He's got good size and playmaking ability, and he's pretty fast, just don't know if he's fast enough for the NFL.

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:Hey SCFBF, do you think Matt Johnson has a shot at the NFL? He's got good size and playmaking ability, and he's pretty fast, just don't know if he's fast enough for the NFL.

Honestly. I don't think so. There are only 3 players I saw in the playoffs that I really thought have a NFL future and one of them was taken in the 4th round last month.

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:Hey SCFBF, do you think Matt Johnson has a shot at the NFL? He's got good size and playmaking ability, and he's pretty fast, just don't know if he's fast enough for the NFL.

Honestly. I don't think so. There are only 3 players I saw in the playoffs that I really thought have a NFL future and one of them was taken in the 4th round last month.

Gotcha. Size or speed holding him back?

VMI: Byron Allen, R-Sr., SS, 5'11", 197 lbs. Will be trouble for opposition offenses.

what absolute CRAP!!

no NDSU MWILL?? aka, marcus williams??

dude had a pick 6 in playoff game vs EWU and was a force all year as a freshman in a shutdown corner mode.

what a JoKE that top 10 is.

Cooper Taylor, Richmond, S, Jr., 6-5, 220

Can already tell you that there are probably no ODU DB's no where close to this list. Our secondary SUCKS.

ODUalum11 wrote:Can already tell you that there are probably no ODU DB's no where close to this list. Our secondary SUCKS.

Not Cowart. That dude is legit.

I love how JMU likely has the best secondary (2 Cbs and 3 Safeties start, btw), but has no one on here. Oh well, JMU is getting no love from any of these preseason top 10s and I could care less. I have a feeling quite a few will be on the season-ending lists, that's for sure.

One guy to watch out for is Liberty's Walt Aikens. R-So CB Transfer from Illinois. Earned All-Big Ten Freshman in 09. He's been in some great battles with Chris Summers in practice and hopefully he can translate that onto the field this year.

CAA Flagship wrote:

ODUalum11 wrote:Can already tell you that there are probably no ODU DB's no where close to this list. Our secondary SUCKS.

Not Cowart. That dude is legit.

True, I hope Morant can step up this year as a sophomore.

NDSU's MWILL ALL American...

North Dakota State cornerback Marcus Williams & DJ were picks on the 2011 Consensus Draft Services preseason Football Championship Subdivision All-America team.