Throughout fall camp, LetsGoPeay.com will take a look at each of the position groups as the Austin Peay State University football team goes through preparations for the 2020 season. After looking at the secondary as a whole last week, we focus on the nickels and their role in the defense. With consensus All-American Kordell Jackson in the fold, the unit helps dictate everything on that side of the ball; but it's more than just Jackson for Keith Scott's group.

When you have a defensive unit that features a returning All-American, an FBS transfer and an overqualified fifth-year senior, that's just an embarrassment of riches.

Welcome to the nickels room for Austin Peay. Greatness is a norm.

The nickels spot—known as STAR on the Austin Peay depth chart, a fitting name for those who run it—does a lot more than cover a slot receiver. They rush the passer, regularly using their speed to elude offensive linemen with 100 pounds on them. They drop into zone. They pick up running backs off the edge. This position has many responsibilities, meaning the athletes inhabiting it have to be able to make the correct call, all the time.

So having a consensus All-American at the No. 1 spot is just good business.

"Kordell makes my life really easy," Scott said. "He's a true student of the game, passionate, he's a self-starter and he comes ready to work every day. There's going to be people eying Kordell this year; they're going to want to get that rep against the All-American and they're going to want have the opportunity to beat him. That motivates him."

It's not fair to say that the defense as a unit goes as Kordell Jackson goes, because there's depth at his position and talent all over the defensive side of the ball. That wouldn't be a fair assessment because he is just one man, and 11 play at a time. But having said that... nobody wants to imagine what the world might have been like in 2019 without Jackson and his 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven interceptions, three break-ups and multiple fumble forced and recovered. He had three touchdowns, which feels like something we've overlooked until you take a peek at the stats, and that's as many touchdowns as UT Martin's leading receiver caught and more than Tennessee Tech's leading rusher ran for a year ago.

Some days the best offense is Kordell Jackson's defense.

But Kordell Jackson-caliber players aren't around every corner. For Scott, the challenge is not just having that caliber player for 2020 (and early 2021) but for the future as well.

"What you look for is a playmaker," Scott said, describing what he looks for out of this position. "You look for ball skills. I like to say we're three positions in one—a cover corner at some points, a safety at some points and a linebacker at the line of scrimmage sometimes. I think [Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Mark] Powell would agree, if our STAR position was very productive we probably won that game."

If Jackson has to be off the field, fear not—the Govs remain in the good hands of Koby Perry, a Troy transfer who signed with the Trojans as a three-star defensive back out of Dodge City Community College. Similar to Jackson, Perry could often be found in opposing backfields, notching 8.5 tackles for loss at Dodge City and adding an interception, a fumble forced and two recovered as a sophomore. His addition and versatility—he can also be found taking snaps at corner—give his coaches the chance to put him on the field with Jackson in certain packages and cause nightmares for opposing offenses.

Fifth-year senior Rodney Saulsberry, who has gotten looks all over the field during his time as a Gov, and will now add depth at a spot where knowledge of the scheme is a huge plus. He'll be joined by a pair of freshmen in Mikhail Prater and Luke Hayes; Prater hails from just up the road at Rossview High School, while Hayes was a standout safety at Blackman High School for former Governor linebacker Kit Hartsfield.

"Coach Powell does a tremendous job with different packages and things we do on third down to give those guys opportunities to shine," Scott said. "It gives you confidence, that if Kordell is tired or something happens, we have quality back-ups in the room. The competition has been great. I'm extremely pleased with the development of those guys."

POWELL'S PERSPECTIVE: "With a guy like Kordell, he does whatever is needed for the team. If I had to slide him into the box, he'd figure it out. I don't know if I've been around a player like him; I may never see another kid like him. When the rest of the defense sees him running to the football… if you aren't going to run with a consensus All-American, something is up with you. He is who he is for a reason."

2020 Returnees / 2019 Stats

Kordell Jackson (Sr.) / 15 games, 47 total tackles, 8.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 7 INT, 3 PBU, 2 FF, 2 FR, 3 defensive TDs, consensus All-American (AFCA, ADA, AP, HERO Sports, STATS, Walter Camp)
Rodney Saulsberry Jr. (R-Sr.) / 11 games, eight total tackles

2020 Newcomers

Luke Hayes (Fr.)
Koby Perry (R-Jr.) / Troy transfer
Mikhail Prater (Fr.)