By Annie Dunbar

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UK football’s defensive secondary has been at the bottom of the SEC totem pole in recent years.

And the Cats return most of their starters from last year’s defensive backfield. However, with new faces and more experience, a much-improved secondary may be on the horizon.

After the 2013 season, the UK coaching staff has made the secondary a focal point for improvement throughout the offseason. Between UK’s spring football game and media day in mid-August, defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot thought the secondary had improved.

“Most improvement since the spring, I think we’re better in the secondary,” Eliot said. “That comes with experience. I think that comes with just more reps as well.”

UK returns its entire group of cornerbacks from 2013, including junior Fred Tiller and senior Nate Willis. Tiller played in all 12 games last season with 11 starts and finished with 49 tackles. Willis, who is the only senior among the corners, transferred from Arizona Western College in 2013. He played in nine games last season with seven starts, posting 35 tackles.

The Cats will also rely on junior cornerback Cody Quinn and redshirt sophomore J.D. Harmon as the team’s first-team cornerbacks on the opening week depth chart. Quinn posted 27 tackles in 2013. Harmon redshirted his sophomore season but shined his freshman year, earning a starting spot by the end of the season, playing in all 12 games in 2012, leading the team in interceptions with two.

“He looks good,” Eliot said about Harmon. “He’s got great size for a corner. He’s got great change of direction, good speed. It’s great to have him back out there this season. He’s got a bright future.”

The safety position has also been a concern for head coach Mark Stoops.

“Two spots a year ago that I didn’t feel like we played very well, the linebacker position and free safety,” Stoops said.

However, all of the coaches agree that there is one guy who has made an impression.

Offensive coordinator Neal Brown said JUCO transfer A.J. Stamps really stood out in practice.

Stamps graduated from East Mississippi Community College in December, where he played cornerback. After enrolling at UK in January, he was moved to safety in the spring and has made numerous big plays in practice.

“A.J. Stamps comes in right away, and he’s been here since the spring, but he’s a guy that you haven’t seen play yet in a game besides the spring game,” Stoops said. “He’s a guy that helps fill a big void right there because I just love the way he’s playing. So that helps us right there.”

Even with the addition of Stamps, the weight of the secondary lies on the shoulders of senior safety Ashley Lowery. Lowery is a two-year starter at safety who is expected to be ready to perform after sitting out the spring while recovering from a shoulder injury.

“Ashley is a senior,” Eliot said. “He’s got to be a leader. A lot of those qualities we got from Avery (Williamson) last year, he has to have those in the secondary. On top of that, his play has got to be very, very good. That safety position is critical in our defense, so he has to communicate, he’s got to get guys lined up, and then he has to make plays.”

Sophomore Blake McClain, senior Eric Dixon and freshman Kendall Randolph will play the nickelback position.

“It’s a very unique position,” Stoops said. “It’s not easy. You’ve got to have instincts and unique ability.”

Even though the Cats are banking on the secondary’s improvement, Stoops isn’t feeling the pressure.

“Pressure is all self-induced,” Stoops said. “All coaches, I think, will tell you the same thing. We expect a lot of ourselves and of our teams and a lot of that pressure is just on you and what you expect of your team and your coaches and all that.”