The MSU secondary faced its share of adversity last season.
Senior cornerback Cedric Henry was made academically ineligible two weeks before the season-opener, and roughly two months later, senior cornerback DeMario Suggs and then-freshman free safety Jason Harmon broke their ankles in practice on consecutive days.
Their injuries healed. Their bonds formed - tightening an already close-knit group.
Harmon, the youngest of the Spartans starting in the secondary this season, said after his season-ending ankle injury his family, coaches and teammates supported him by offering their words of encouragement.
“From that point, I knew I had a family and they really do care about you,” he said. “It brought me a lot closer to everybody as a teammate and as a player.”
Harmon, Suggs and Henry have yet to be tested this season, as Rice’s option attack didn’t challenge the trio through the air last weekend. In week one, the Eastern Michigan squad didn’t challenge the Spartan defense, as it only put up a touchdown.
However, when challenged this season, the strength of the Spartans secondary starts with the three senior cornerbacks’ experience - 97 games and 32 career starts among them.
Suggs can relate to Harmon’s past pains and was happy to get back on the field after a 10-month layoff.
“It hurt to see those guys out there playing and knowing I couldn’t play,” he said. “It’s great to have all of us back in there. I’m glad I can play with (those guys). I love seeing Jason out there again.”
Off the field, the Spartans don’t stray far from football. A typical Monday night during football season consists of watching the NFL.
Other nights it might be playing football video games - NCAA Football 2003 and Madden NFL 2003.
“A new game comes out and everybody wants to be the best,” senior safety Thomas Wright said. “As a football player, you don’t have too much free time.
“By the time you get out of practice you have study hall, you have homework to do, you have to eat and then by the time you get through doing all of that we only have two or three hours left to stay up.
“After them two or three hours of playing the game you’re tired.”
Two games into this season, the MSU secondary has remained intact. But everyone knows nothing is guaranteed.
“We talk about that all the time,” Suggs said. “We try to get the young guys to see that they are one play away from playing in the game.”
Last season, a jigsaw puzzle secondary ranked 14th nationally in pass defense. With a full complement of bodies, the Spartans expect to improve to No. 1. They’re also ranked 14th after their first two games this year.
“Every secondary wants to be the best in the nation,” senior cornerback Broderick Nelson said. “You can’t talk about it. You have to go out there and practice and perform each and every game.
“We have some goals. We don’t talk about them a lot but we understand what we have to do.”
Spartan defensive secondary coach Troy Douglas said one goal this season is to avoid last season’s adversity.
“I’m just praying they stay healthy,” Douglas said.
Suggs said by mixing up the secondary, the Spartans might avoid a repeat of last season.
“We’ve been planning on playing together for awhile,” Suggs said. “I’ll take a series, Cedric will take a series and Broderick will take a series.
“That way it’ll keep us fresh in the rotation.”
Nelson said that makes everyone better, too.
“Everybody in our secondary wants to play,” Nelson said. “You never know who will be starting. It’s good there’s competition because it keeps everybody on their feet.”
And Henry said the corners can play physical coverage because of the confidence they have in the safeties.
“That makes you able to play more aggressive when you know you have somebody that you know has got your back,” he said. “If you miss a step or a beat, they’re going to cover it up and make it look smooth.
“That’s very important because without that then you’re going to be on edge. That makes it more comfortable for the DBs to just relax and play the game.”
Together, Harmon and Wright have formed a prolific pair in two games this season. Wright has been helping Harmon adjust to playing safety.
“I’m a little bit surprised but I knew he was a hard worker from the beginning,” Wright said. “I knew he was going to be back. He came back with a fire.”
Wright leads the team with 16 tackles, while Harmon is second with 15 tackles. Both said they prefer to make a big hit on an opposing player, however, in the game against Rice, they came away with an interception apiece.
Wright’s interception was the first of the season for the Spartan defense. Harmon’s pick was the first of his career.
“I’m feeling real good,” Harmon said about his interception. “Hopefully, I’ll go out there this week and get some more. Maybe two or three. That was just a start.”
Harmon and all of the other defensive backs will certainly get more opportunities this weekend against California. Rice only attempted 11 passes.
Suggs said the secondary has played well as a unit so far this season, however, he knows more challenges are ahead.
“We really didn’t get tested the first two games,” he said. “They have three talented receivers. And I think we are really going to be tested this game.”
Romando J. Dixson can be reached dixsonro@msu.edu.
