Hawks counting on experience in secondary

Head Coach Mike Turk on the second day of preseason camp: "This was our last day in just shorts and helmets and we were able to get some things done today. We are still teaching and installing on both sides of the ball and I'm happy with what we have accomplished during the first couple of days. But Friday is when it really gets cranked up. That's when we get to put some pads on and begin to play some real football."

Position Spotlight – Defensive Backs

Projected Starters: Safeties – Anthony Wood (Sr.) and Demetrius Brown (Sr.), Cornerbacks – Demetrius Beverly (Sr.) and Jarrett White (Jr.)

A Closer Look: Wood, Brown, Beverly and White return to anchor the secondary. The four combined for 167 tackles, 5 ½ tackles for loss, six interceptions, 16 passes broken up, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season.

Wood, who is entering his fourth season as a starter, earned second-team All-Conference honors last season. He led the Hawks with three interceptions and five passes broken up and was tied for fifth on the team with 50 tackles.

Beverly, a first-team All-Conference selection last season finished with 26 tackles, four passes broken up and a forced fumble. Brown, a second-team All-Conference pick, was third on the team with 59 tackles last season. He also had three passes broken up, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. Rounding out the starting unit, White recorded 32 tackles, an interception, and four passes broken up in 2016.

Turk on the starting unit: "All four of those are guys are proven guys who have played for us and helped us win games. That is one of the positions where things are pretty settled, at least as far as the first group is concerned."

Others to watch: CB Austin Adams (Sr.), S Gentry Allen (Sr.)

Turk on depth in the secondary: "We have a couple of other guys, in Austin Adams and Gentry Allen, who have played and helped us win games. We really have three cornerbacks and three safeties right now who are experienced players. That is a plus. This is a group we feel like we can depend on.

"We also have several younger guys who are showing potential and look like they could be players for us. With the number of seniors we have, there is more experience here than at most positions. But we still need these young guys to gain experience and develop."

Next Practice: The Hawks return to the field at 9 a.m. on Friday for the first practice in shoulder pads and helmets. Practices are open to the public.