MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/20/06)-- Horan breaks down the defensive secondary: “We have to fill three spots and will need to see a lot of players in scrimmage-type situations. Only time will tell how it will shake out and who will step up.”

Horan understands that this will be the toughest spot to fill on the defensive side of the ball. Gone are all-conference players Eric Svobodny and Tanner Radermacher and Ben Aakre who earned all-conference honorable mention honors and led the team in interceptions with five.

Lost with their departure are 17 of the team’s 18 interceptions last year. Only senior free safety Dave Moll (prounounced maul) remains. Moll had the lone returning interception and will need to find three amigos to help from opposing teams being able to feast on the inexperienced backs. Moll’s tenacity and mauling hits will be a perfect example for whichever three new starters line up.

As training camp opens, the frontrunners to be given a chance to prove what they can do are juniors Wes Johson and Orea Wright and sophomores Levi DeVries and Tom Flynn. Johnson is the only one of the four who has had significant playing time and has steadily improved his cover skills throughout last season and in the spring. Wright missed all of last season after injuring his knee in one of the first practices of the season. A year of rehabilitation has him right back to the point of last year where he was one of the top players on the depth chart entering the year. DeVries makes the move from wide receiver. His speed and athletic ability give Horan comfort in knowing that great athletes often make the best defensive backs. Flynn is the least known member of the four but like DeVries, has tremendous athletic ability and will only continue to improve as the season goes along. Flynn used his athletic ability to finish second in the javelin at last year’s MIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship Meet.

Several other players are on the radar for the Cobber defensive coaching staff as they try to put together the right combination of speed, athleticism and experience.