Upcoming Event: Football versus Southeast Missouri on September 5, 2026 at Noon
Iowa State University Athletics
Spring Breakdown: The Defensive Backs
04.03.2015 | Football
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State started spring practice on March 3. Cyclones.com will break down each position heading into the spring game on April 11. Today we take a look at the defensive backs.
The Defensive Backs
SYNOPSIS
The secondary ranks as one of ISU's deepest and most experienced positions in 2015, returning six players with a combined 52 career starts.
The two cornerstones of ISU's defensive backfield return in second-team All-Big 12 (AP) corner Nigel Tribune (5-11, 188, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American safety Kamari Cotton-Moya (6-1, 194, So.#, Bakersfield, Calif.).
Tribune, who was named to ESPN's Big 12 All-Underclassman team, was fifth on the team in tackles in 2014 with 64 while starting 11 games. He recorded three interceptions to rank 11th in the Big 12 and ranked sixth nationally with 13 pass breakups.
Cotton-Moya was outstanding as a rookie, leading the team in tackles (77) while earning freshman All-America honors by the FWAA. He also had 2.0 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups.
At cornerback, ISU will also return a senior with starting experience in Sam E. Richardson (5-8, 189, Sr.#, League City, Texas).
Richardson has started 16 games in his career, including 10 games last season where he posted 58 tackles and six pass breakups. Richardson led the Cyclones in interceptions last season with four, ranking third in the Big 12 and 32nd nationally.
Look for Brian Peavy (5-9, 184, Fr.#, Houston, Texas), who is coming off his redshirt freshman season, to battle for playing time at cornerback in 2015.
Helping Cotton-Moya at safety will be seniors Darian Cotton (5-11, 200, Sr.#, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) and Qujuan Floyd (6-0, 202, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.). Cotton registered 27 tackles in 12 games and two starts in 2014, while Floyd tallied one start and 33 tackles in his first season as a Cyclone.
ISU's depth at safety will be bolstered by the return of Kamari Syrie (5-10, 200, So.#, Hurst, Texas) and the addition of mid-year enrollee Jomal Wiltz (5-10, 174, Jr., Galena Park, Texas), redshirt freshman De'Monte Ruth (5-9, 163, Fr.#, Dallas, Texas), redshirt freshman Vic Holmes (5-11, 197, Fr.#, LaPorte, Texas) and freshman Mike Johnson (5-11, 182, Fr., Clearwater, Fla.).
RHOADS ON THE DEFENSIVE BACKS
“Our secondary, if there's a position of strength, or at least experience on our defensive football team, it would be right here. Nigel Tribune comes back as a third-year starter at corner to be flanked by senior Sam Richardson, who has over 15 career starts. I think freshman Brian Peavy will be right there competing. De'Monte Ruth also comes off his redshirt campaign and has excessive speed and athleticism. Jomal Wiltz, a newcomer from Trinity Valley C.C., is also a guy that we're going to try at corner, but he can also play at nickel, as well as at safety spots. At the safety spots, Darian Cotton and Kamari Cotton-Moya return as starters on our football team. I think Qujuan Floyd will be right in the mix with those two and we may juggle who plays what spot as we go through the spring. Kamari Syrie and Vic Holmes also will be competing there and Mike Johnson, a high school senior a year ago who grey-shirted and joined us in January, also will be there competing at the safety position.”
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballDB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballJaylen Raynor 4_25_26 interview
Saturday, April 25
Zaimir Hawk 4_25_26 interview
Saturday, April 25
Tyler Roehl 2_25_26 interview
Saturday, April 25
Jesse Bobbit 4_25_26 interview
Saturday, April 25
