WASHINGTON – With the Georgetown University football team slated to open its 2022 season in less than two weeks at Marist on September 3, GUHoyas.com will take an in-depth look at each position with this edition featuring the team's defensive backs and safeties.

"It's been trial and error in our guys learning my style and me learning their style," new Assistant Coach Jameson Zacharias said. "I have a great group of guys that listen well and may make one mistake but work harder to avoid making the same mistake twice. A big thing about football is geometry and time and what's the best angle I can take to cut down my time. Precision is most important in our position and if you are supposed to take a 45 degree angle, don't take a 47."

This year's secondary has "very little separation between all of our guys, which is a good problem to have as a coach."

Jovone Campbell and David Ealey III are expected to bring similar tenacity for the Hoyas in 2022 after a solid 2021 campaign. Campbell is coming off a career year with a pair of breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and 62 total tackles, three of which were for a loss of 14 yards. Ealey III added a pass breakup and 52 tackles with two going for a loss of six yards. 

"The perception of defensive backs is to cover and have speed, but there are so many other aspects like tackling and getting off of blocks, which takes a lot of physicality," Zacharias added. "I want our guys to be physical and be noticed around the league as such."

Georgetown will have a solid core of well-rounded returners in seniors Noah Carr and Khalil Saunders, juniors Preston Murray and Sherman Steptoe II and sophomores Rashon Adams Jr., Kenneth Borders, Diandre Harris and Kamren Watkins-Hunter.

In addition to the returners, the Hoyas brought in several talented newcomers. Transfers Jamal Marshall, Cameron Nash and Kolubah Pewee Jr. enter their first year on the Hilltop after spending time with Abilene Christian, Army West Point and the University of Maine, respectively. Newcomers Alpha Barry, Wedner Cadet, Jaden Dugger, Graham Felgar and Tyler Smith will also look to make an impact on the Hoyas in their first collegiate season.

Defensive Backs/Safeties Highlights

• Saunders and Adams Jr. put forth solid 2021 campaigns, each appearing in all 10 games and combining for 57 tackles and five pass breakups.
• Borders, Murray, Steptoe II and Watkins-Hunter all saw action last season, managing 16 appearances combined and will see significant action in the 2022 campaign.
• Carr and Harris appeared in a combined 14 games on the Hilltop, looking to provide added depth for the Hoyas.
• Barry earned First Team All-Independent School League (ISL) and All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) honors after compiling three interceptions and 12 pass breakups on defense and 700 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns on offense.
• Cadet brings size and length to the Hoyas after earning First Team All-NEPSAC and Defensive All-League honors while with Deerfield Academy.
• Dugger also brings size and length to the Hilltop, looking to continue his success after a pair of all-conference selections at Penn Hills.
• Felgar enters his first year after an all-state 2021 season at Meridian with 74 tackles, 10 for losses, to go along with three interceptions, five forced fumbles and a pair of defensive scores.
• Marshall makes his way to the District following a year at Abilene Christian and a successful high school career alongside teammate Tyler Knoop at Fort Worth Christian, earning a pair of first team all-district honors (DB), a second team all-state selection (DB/WR) and one honorable mention (DB).
• Nash spent two years with Army West Point before coming to the Hilltop and brings a tenacious attitude and intelligent mind to the gridiron.
• Pewee Jr. spent one season with the University of Maine after earning all-state and all-city honors while at Tottenville High School.
• Smith will make the transition to defensive back after a solid high school career at the Landon School as a wide receiver, earning offensive MVP and an All-Met Honorable Mention.