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Photo by: DSPics.net
Photo by: DSPics.net
Posted: Aug 18, 2019

Football Season Preview: Defensive Backs

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team opens the 2019 season on Aug. 29 at Stony Brook. BryantBulldogs.com will preview the 2019 Bulldogs position-by-position over the next two weeks.

Defensive Backs

Returning: Tyler Allen (Hartford, Conn.), Andre Brackett (East Windsor, Conn.), Alex Claudio (Springfield, Mass.), Andrew Hopgood (Warwick, R.I.), Ronell Joseph (Rochester, N.Y.), Ricardo Martinez (Saugus, Mass.), Cameron Morenzi (Bristol, R.I.), David Onyemem (Dracut, Mass.), Dy-Jae Pearson (New York City, N.Y.), Eulogio Portugal (Rosedale, N.Y.), Philip Platania (Miller Place, N.Y.)

Newcomers: D.J. Cunningham (Haverhill, Mass.), Javis Hanks (Newark, N.J.), Michael Oppong (Worcester, Mass.)

Positions Coach: Scott Lakatos

Notes and Notables

  • Bryant returns 11 players in the defensive backfield, including four that saw considerable time.
  • The key returners are Brackett, Portugal and Onyemem. Brackett (corner) and Portugal (safety) started all 11 games last fall, while Onyemem played in all 11.
  • The trio all finished among the top 10 in tackles on the Bulldog roster last season. Portugal posted 50 tackles, Brackett made 39 stops and Onyemem had 37.
  • Portugal tied for the team lead with two interceptions and posted the longest non-kick return play when he returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown.
  • Although he didn't post an interception, Brackett led all Bryant players with seven pass breakups.
  • Brackett was also named the NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017.
  • Hanks joins the Bulldogs after spending his true freshman season at Rutgers. Hanks graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High School as the all-time leader in interceptions.  

Fun Fact

  • Pearson is also a member of the Bryant men's lacrosse team. He appeared in six games last spring, collecting three ground balls and a caused turnover.  

The Bulldogs open the 2019 season on Thursday, August 29 at Stony Brook. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Season and single-game tickets are also on sale now at www.bryantbulldogs.com/tickets.

To get all the latest information and a behind-the-scenes look at Bryant Football follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.