The safety position has been an interesting one for the Terps defense in recent years. Sean Davis and Anthony Nixon started most of the year and both were among the team leaders in tackles. Now with A.J. Hendy returning to the program, the Terps will have a guy who is stronger in coverage to help the cornerbacks and linebackers with the pass defense.
The playmaking ability of Davis will need to be replaced at safety, but defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski has a pair of experienced leaders at the position who are up to the task. The cause for concern is the lack of depth behind the starters. The players at safety behind Nixon and Hendy have minimal game experience (mostly on special teams) and almost no game experience at safety. With the injury past surrounding the program, this is a position that cannot afford to suffer a loss.
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A.J. Hendy, S Senior
2013: 1 interception, 3 passes deflected, 2 passes broken up, 32 tackles, and 1 tackle for loss
2012: 4 tackles
2011: 1 interception, 2 passes deflected, 30 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 fumble recovery
Hendy missed the 2014 season for the Terps following a suspension for violating the university’s student code of conduct. Now returning for his senior campaign, Hendy will be apart of a senior duo at safety with multiple seasons of starting experience. Hendy brings three seasons of game experience to Dudzinski’s new defense.
Hendy’s career-game came against West Virginia where he had an interception returned for a touchdown. He also recovered a pair of fumbles against the Mountaineers. The performance earned him a helmet sticker on ESPN’s College Football Live and ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors. As a freshman, Hendy recorded 13 tackles in a loss to Notre Dame.
In a year when the front seven for the Terps is young and inexperienced, it will be important for the safety unit and the rest of the secondary to bring a veteran presence to the defense. After missing a season of game action, it will be intriguing to see how quickly Hendy can get back to game speed. Hendy’s strength on defense is providing help coverage to the cornerback, but without Davis at the position, he will be relied on to replace a lot of tackles.
Anthony Nixon, S Senior
2014: 1 interception, 4 passes deflected, 62 tackles, .5 sack, and .5 tackle for loss
2013: 60 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack
2012: 1 interception, 4 passes deflected, and 41 tackles
At the other safety position, Nixon will be the guy who contributes to the tackle column and will likely continue his trend of increases totals in the category. Nixon has a nose for finding the ball carrier and making plays in the secondary. His 62 tackles in 2014 ranked fifth on the team and he his season season with be his third starting at safety for the Terps.
Nixon had arguably his best game of the 2014 season in the Fosters Farm Bowl against Stanford where he had a team-high eight tackles and a pass break up. His career-high in tackles came during his sophomore season against Virginia, a game where he recorded 12 tackles. Against Boston College the same season, he made Maryland football history as he became the first player to score a defensive extra point after he returned a blocked PAT 98 yards.
In his senior season, Nixon should finish as one of the team leaders in tackles on the defense. He’ll be relied on to carry a lot of the load to aid the youthful front seven. He is the type of player for Dudzinski’s defense that can make a game-changing play that propels the Terps to a win. His nose for finding the ball carrier and recording tackles will be something that will be needed for the Terps defense to be successful in 2015.
Rounding out the Depth Chart
Denzel Conyers, S Junior
Josh Woods, S Sophomore
J.T. Ventura, S Sophomore
Elvis Dennah, S Sophomore
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Q&A with Zack and Chris
Q: Losing A.J. Hendy last season was a big blow to the defense. What does he bring to this defense that it needed a year ago?
Garman: He brings an additional coverage guy in the secondary and at safety. Nixon and Davis racked up a lot of tackles for the defense, both ranking in the top five for the team and Hendy can provide more support in the pass defense. He’s a playmaker in the pass defense, making things happen by creating turnovers and helping put points on the board . The majority of the plays made in the secondary for pass defense came from Will Likely and now Hendy back there should help create more turnovers.
Kiesel: The biggest thing that getting Hendy back does is that it allows the coaching staff to move Sean Davis to cornerback. It was going to be tough to find playing time for both Hendy and Davis at strong safety, so now the team is able to have both of them on the field at the same time. Hendy is a very versatile player, which Edsall historically likes from his safeties. He is solid in coverage, and was the team’s dime-back in 2013. He has good ball-skills, and can make some nice plays in the secondary. He’s also strong enough to take on running backs and tight ends. As a senior, he has the experience necessary to take on Dudzinski’s new 4-3 scheme, which may call for more safety help closer to the line of scrimmage now that there are only 3 linebackers to utilize.
Q: Anthony Nixon has started games in all three seasons with the Terps, how have you seen him improve through the years and do you see him taking another step this season?
Garman: I do see Nixon taking another step this year and ending the season as a leader in tackles for the defense. It will be interesting to see how the scheme for the safeties changes under a new coordinator, but I think we’ll see Nixon increase his tackle total for a fourth straight season and see improvement in his coverage ability. He’s not a player that typically jumps of the screen when watching the team play, but he get the job done. I expect some of that to change this season and see him make a few big plays for the defense.
Kiesel: Nixon is one of the most underrated players on this team, and has been for some time. He’s been the team’s starting free safety since 2013, and has always been very solid. You don’t hear much about him because he simply does his job. He doesn’t force many interceptions, but is solid enough in coverage that quarterbacks hesitate before throwing deep on him. I’d like to see him get a little better at forcing those turnovers. If he can add that aspect to his game in his senior year, the Terps’ defensive backfield would get even better.
Q: Moving Sean Davis to cornerback took away some of the depth at safety with little experience behind the starters, do you see any possibility that Davis moves back to safety this season?
Garman: The transition of Davis to cornerback started last season, so I think it will be tough for him to be moved back to safety if the need opens up. However, given the lack of depth at safety and a little more experience behind the starting cornerbacks, I think it’s possible a move could be made. The lack of depth is very concerning for the Terps’ defense and if an injury occurs for Hendy or Nixon, the best solution in my book is to slide Davis back and move up another cornerback. They should try out the backups, especially if Davis is playing well at cornerback, but it would be best for the defense to have the experience back at safety.
Chris Garman attended Mount St. Mary’s University where he studied in Communications. He is a native of Steelton, Pa. and has covered Maryland Men’s Basketball and Football for PressBox since 2012. Chris previously covered High School Football for The Patriot News in Harrisburg, Pa. He can be reached by email at: crgarman103@gmail.com.