San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Anderson expects Cougars’ defense to leap into elite
HOUSTON — Deontay Anderson made quite a leap when he announced his intention to play football at Ole Miss. His landing at Houston wasn’t quite that eventful, even though the Cougars were ecstatic upon his arrival.
Rated the No. 1 safety in the nation by ESPN out of Manvel, Anderson made national news when he announced his original college choice while skydiving.
In a video tweeted by Bleacher Report in 2016, upon completing his jump, the four-star recruit revealed a shirt under his jumpsuit. It read: Hotty Toddy, referring to Ole Miss.
As far as commitments go, that is one of the best.
Anderson’s stay at Ole Miss didn’t last long. Before last season, he transferred to Houston, where he started all 13 games at safety as a sophomore.
“I didn’t have the year I expected to have,” Anderson said. “It went pretty well. This year, I think I’ll have a great year.”
Anderson finished fourth on the team with 72 tackles, making his Houston debut with eight tackles and one pass breakup in a 4527 win at Rice. In a 41-26 victory against Tulsa, Anderson had an interception, forced a fumble, broke up two pass and collected five tackles.
At Ole Miss, Anderson was named 2016 Freshman All-Southeastern Conference second team. In 2017, the Rebels coaches redshirted Anderson.
“Sitting out the year before last year, last year I was just trying to get my feet under me,” said Anderson, an Under Armour AllAmerica selection out of high school.
This year will be different for Anderson and the Cougars’ defense under new coach Dana Holgorsen. Seven defensive backs among the 17 transfers were brought in to shore up a defense that was one of the nation’s worst a year ago. Out of 129 FBS programs, UH finished 126th in total defense, 118th in points allowed and 115th in rushing defense.
New defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen and co-defensive coordinator Doug Belk are installing new packages and instilling a more aggressive approach.
“For defense, this is way better, we’re more aggressive, everybody playing versatile positions,” Anderson said. “Coach Belk, coach Z (cornerbacks coach Zac Etheridge), coach (Blake Gideon), do a great job. Not just with safeties but with all of us corners and nickels.”
In addition to serving as special teams coordinator, Gideon assists with the nickel package in the Cougars’ 4-2-5 alignment. Players will play multiple positions in multiple sets. Gervarrius Owens, for example, has moved from safety to cornerback. But he plays safety, nickel and corner.
“If you’re a DB, you got to be able to run, you got to be able to hit,” said Belk, who joined Holgorsen after two seasons as West Virginia’s cornerbacks coach and who spent two years as a graduate assistant at Alabama.
Going against Houston’s revamped defense in practice, running back Patrick Carr likes what he has seen.
“The defense, from last year to now, is a big difference because they bring it every day,” Carr said. “I like the competition that they bring.”
From a coaching standpoint, Belk is making a huge difference, and the players appreciate his experience. Belk, who also coaches the safeties, will throw everything at opposing offenses with multiple looks.
“I love coach Belk,” Anderson said. “He teaches well, he shows me what I can be. I’ve never had a coach like that.”