Breaking it Down - Cornerback

Here we go again with the secondary break down, we have looked at safety and defensive backs already, both are interchangeable and many will take different roles, some will even play corner or nickel. This segment though is dedicated to the true corners on the rosters, the guys that line up on the outside one on one with wide receivers and match them step for step down the field. So, no more waiting, let's look at our corners.

First we have George Baker, the 5'll" sophomore. He did not play much last year on defense but did play on special teams, totaling 9 tackles for the year. Most likely will be in the same role next year unless he proves himself in spring practice but the depth in front of him will put him in a reserve role again.

Next is Tyson Butler, the 5'll" junior and starter from last season. Butler was a solid corner with good speed, getting one interception last season but missed the final 5 games of the season with injuries. Butler is a good corner, good speed and high football IQ out there but he needs to stay healthy. Many think you can pencil him in as starter but with new comers like Terrence Mitchell lurking to start, Butler might have a reserve role unless he can stay healthy and produce. Hopefully he will be healthy and continue to grow as a shut down corner he showed he could become last year.

Next, Ricardo Dixon, 5'11" freshmen that red shirted last season. Ranked the 13th best corner in the 2009 draft class in the state, the 3 star recruit is a play maker waiting to emerge. He has 4.4 speed (40 yard dash) and is a physical hitter. He is a highly recruited player, getting offers from Tennessee to FSU and USF was able to snag him and bring him into the mix. Not sure if he will be a starter this year but will play either as a reserve or special teams because of his speed and raw ability. Many are excited to see what he is capable of and should push the starters every day for their job.

Last but not least is Quenton Washington, 5'10" junior who had 29 tackles and two fumbles recoveries on the year. He is like Butler, a solid defender and the most consistent from last year. He earned the starting job and should retain it this year barring something bizarre happens. He is a good player and should improve greatly with the experience from last year and the bowl game.

So there you have it, the corners that are on the 2010 roster. Many will play this year in the new defense that Holtz is putting into play along with new coaches, good bye Tresey. It should be a good, solid defense. Everyone on this roster has tremendous speed and athletic ability that could make this a great unit, but youth and injuries could catch up to them, let's hope not.