Junior cornerback Jaquon Sheppard. Sheppard is having a great camp already as we have seen him go head to head with guys like Alec Pierce, Michael Young, Jordan Jones, Tyler Scott, Jadon Thompson and has made it very fun to watch. Sheppard is a six-foot-two cornerback with long arms and very quick speed. He reminds me of a guy like Darrick Forrest, he also has a high motor and loves to just get after it and go play after play. Expect Sheppard to see some action for the Bearcats this year and keep an eye on him because he’s proving day in and out at camp that he can take on anyone.
Junior slot cornerback Taj Ward has seen a lot of playing time during his time as a Bearcat. He played a lot last season in spots mainly against Georgia. He’s a very quality corner that plays well when called upon. Don’t be shocked if you see Ward playing in key drives to give the Bearcats fresh legs, he’s been nothing but solid during his time.
Freshman safety Armorion Smith has been getting a lot of run next to Dingle at the safety position with the two’s and when he is out there he doesn’t look like a freshman. After losing Forrest and Wiggins to the NFL, his development is key for the Bearcats safety depth and during camp it looks like him and Dingle will be quality players if called upon which is a great thing for this unit.
Overall, this Bearcats defense is going to be good for a long time I will say that. The secondary has a load of talent behind guys like Sauce, Hicks, Bush, Harris, Cook, Bumphis, Dingle, Sheppard and more. Guys like Sammy Anderson a former four star Top 300 ESPN prospect is also off to a fantastic camp and you can see why he is so highly rated. This Bearcats secondary will be great for a long time and they not only have a chance to be better than the 2020 defense, but have the ability to be a Top 5 defense in the country if they keep this up. This is a little deeper look into the Bearcats scary good defense ahead of the 2021 season as well as the depth they have building within the secondary. Here’s a breakdown of some players to keep an eye on in the secondary as well as super senior Coby Bryant, and Preseason All-American selection Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.
