Football | September 01, 2021

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 2021 season. The position previews continue with a group littered with talent, playmaking ability, athleticism and a knack for being named a consensus All-American.

It is safe to assume that no offense schemes specifically against the nickelback more than those who line up against the Governors' embarrassment of riches at the interior defensive back position.

The Govs' nickels are led by two-time consensus All-American and one of the most decorated student-athletes in program history, Kordell Jackson. Throughout his five years in Clarksville, Jackson has revolutionized the nickelback position by being a consistent menace in the passing game as well as a force in an offense's backfield.

In 2019, Jackson picked off opposing team's quarterbacks a conference-best seven times en route to being the Govs first consensus All-American since Jay Bailey in 2002. As a senior, the Birmingham, Ala. native did not see the ball thrown his way often, but still punished the opposition by wreaking havoc in the backfield, tallying an Ohio Valley Conference-leading 10.5 tackles for loss. Following last season's performance, Jackson became the first Gov to be named a consensus All-American multiple times.

"The next thing for him is combining his past two seasons and expecting to be the guy that is going to come up with the big play when it matters the most," said defensive coordinator Chris Kappas. "We are expecting him to be able to cover their best receiver and shut him down and for him to get in the backfield and get sacks. It is going to be a game-by-game thing of what we ask him to do.

"When you go into a game against an opponent you ask, 'what do they do best and how are we going to stop that and make them do something else other than what their best is?' If their best is throwing the ball to a slot receiver, then we are going to put Kordell on that guy. If their best is running the football, we are going to find a way to get him in the backfield and go make tackles. If they struggle against blitzes, we are going to get him on the edge and get him to the quarterback too. We try to disguise him a lot, move him around and keep people guessing.  That is the basis of our defense. We want to be the aggressor and keep the offense on their toes."

The nickelback position is anything but a one-man band, however. When Jackson comes off for a rare breather, the Govs can send in another proven veteran in Koby Perry. Perry transferred to APSU from Troy a season ago and was a persistent force for the Govs with 36 tackles, three for loss and two pass breakups during his first season in Clarksville.

While having a pair of proven veterans on the field is a blessing in itself, the tandem's leadership towards the group's younger talent has been unparalleled.

"Kordell took Koby under his wing right away when he got here," Kappas said. "Now Koby takes some of the load off Kordell and shares that with the young guys and shows them how to work. Kordell and Koby are both vocal guys. They lead verbally, but ultimately, if you come out and watch practice, they are two of the hardest working guys every day and that shows up in the games. It's priceless for the young guys to see and say, 'oh, that's how a practice is supposed to look.'

"They are the guys in here taking the most notes in meetings and watching the most film. They are an extension of a coach on the field in terms of doing things the right way and going at the tempo we need to go at, but also verbalizing and showing guys what to do."

Mikhail Prater and Luke Hayes also return from a season ago. Prater, a local product from Rossview High School, played in eight of nine games last season. Hayes saw action on special teams over the final three games of the conference season.

"Since my time here in the spring, Mikhail Prater and Luke Hayes both fit the same mold," Kappas said. "They are scrappy guys that have that instinct. They have good quickness. They can blitz. Luke is undersized, but he is probably one of the toughest players on our team. Mikhail is a guy that is always going to put himself in a great position to be successful on a play even if he is outmatched physically.

"Those guys have really learned a lot from the way Kordell and Koby play the game with their savviness. They have a sense of that too. Both of those guys have really taken a step from the spring to now in learning the defense."

Freshman Brodie Williams rounds out the position. Williams, a three-star recruit according to 247sports.com from Jonesboro, Arkansas, joins his brother Tre who is a linebacker for the Govs.

"From top to bottom, they are what people would term as football players," said Kappas on his nickelbacks. "They are savvy, they can anticipate plays. When they are not right—whether they are out of position or take the wrong gap— they figure out a way to make it right. They all have outstanding agility. The biggest thing would be instinct. That is the commonality of that position of those type of players. We've got a good group."

2021 Returners / 2020 Stats

Kordell Jackson (Gr.) / 9 games, 55 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 6 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 blocked kick, consensus All-American (HERO Sports, Athlon Sports, AFCA, STATS, AP, Phil Steele Spring)

Koby Perry (Gr.) / 9 games, 36 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 2 PD, 1 FR

Mikhail Prater (R-So.) / 8 games

Luke Hayes (So.) / 3 games

Newcomers

Brodie Williams (Fr.)