Camp Notebook #6: Defensive Backs

Richmond's secondary will rely largely on its four seasoned starters heading into the 2024 season. In 2023, the group led the Spiders to a No. 8 ranking in takeaways with 23 and were at the top of the FCS in defensive touchdowns with five.

Captain Jabril Hayes finds himself rolling with the first stringers at free safety for the first time during August's training camp. Hayes had a breakthrough season in 2023 where he played in 12 games, recording 23 tackles including 19 solo and a pair of pass breakups. He led the team lead in interceptions with three and recorded his first career pick six on a 48-yard return at North Carolina A&T. Hayes played plenty at free safety last season while backing up Aaron Banks, but the job will be his this year as his leadership and 2023 accolades landed him a full-time starter role. Hayes' big season in 2023 concluded with him being named First Team All-CAA special teams and Fifth Team All-CAA by Phil Steele— the first all-conference awards of his career.

Tying Hayes with a team-leading three interceptions last season was D'Angelo Stocker, who will start at corner. Stocker played in all 13 games last season as a redshirt freshman and has quickly moved into veteran status among Richmond's secondary unit. He made eight starts and finished fourth on the team with 51.0 tackles. Not afraid to come down on opposing offenses, Stocker's 51.0 stops included 4.0 for loss (-9). He added four pass breakups and one of his three picks on the year came during Richmond's FCS Playoffs First Round win over North Carolina A&T.

On the other side the field of Stocker is fellow corner Trae Tomlinson. Tomlinson has been a force since he arrived on campus, playing in all but one possible game of his career so far. Before the 2023 season, Tomlinson moved from safety to corner and started each game last season where he logged 47 tackles including 38 on his own. He came up with 3.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and recorded his first career interception in the Homecoming win against Campbell, returning it 43 yards.

The elder of the defensive backs, strong safety Bryson Parker, has appeared in 36 of 37 possible games during his career at Richmond. Last season, Parker started eight games and recorded 38 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception, with the pick and two of the four pass breakups coming in the FCS Second Round game at UAlbany. A vocal leader on the field and in the locker room, Parker has spent camp preparing the younger players around him.

Of those younger players is his backup, redshirt freshman Matthew Traynor. Traynor saw action in four regular season games, followed by two playoff games to maintain redshirt status in 2023 where he recorded five tackles. A standout on special teams as a true freshman, his defining play of the season came when he blocked a fourth quarter point after attempt at Stony Brook to help the Spiders pull off a 20-19 CAA-opening win in the pouring rain.

Redshirt freshman CJ Fraser saw action in four games last season and finds himself backing up Stocker during camp, while true freshmen Lee Bruner IV, Kyree Richardson and Amir Haskett have shown promise as playmakers for years to come. Redshirt senior Chance Graves provides much needed depth for the unit, while redshirt freshman Brendan Laughlin, true freshman Kenyez Mungro, and true freshman Harrison Wood, who recently switched from linebacker to safety, will vie for their first collegiate experience this fall.

2024 Richmond Defensive Backs:

Safeties:
#4 Bryson Parker (Jr., 5-10, 188)
#7 Matthew Traynor (R-Fr., 6-1, 170)
#19 Lee Bruner IV (Fr., 6-1, 170)
#21 Jabril Hayes (R-Jr., 5-11, 170)
#23 Amir Haskett (Fr., 6-0, 195)
#42 Brendan Laughlin (So., 5-10, 165)
#51 Harrison Wood (Fr., 6-0, 200)

Cornerbacks:
#13 Kyree Richardson (Fr., 5-9, 175)
#15 D'Angelo Stocker (R-So., 5-10, 165)
#20 Trae Tomlinson (Jr., 5-10, 175)
#29 CJ Fraser (R-Fr., 6-0, 180)
#37 Chance Graves (R-Sr., 6-1, 185)
#39 Kenyez Mungro (Fr., 6-2, 180)

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Players Mentioned

Aaron Banks

Lee Bruner IV

CJ Fraser

Chance Graves

Amir Haskett

Jabril Hayes

Brendan Laughlin

Kenyez Mungro

Bryson Parker

Kyree Richardson

D'Angelo Stocker

Trae Tomlinson

Matthew Traynor

Harrison Wood

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