Four questions for 2018: Part One – Can Ja’Marcus Ingram become the quarterback of the defense?
Editors Note: This is the first segment in a four-part series detailing the questions that must be answered for Utah State in the 2018 football season.
- Can Ja’Marcus Ingram become the quarterback of the defense?
There will be times this season when Utah State’s defense will not be able to stop an opponent’s offense. It will probably happen against Michigan State, but even later contests versus UNLV and Boise State immediately jump out as possible problems for the Aggie defense. In these situations, the unit will need a leader to step up, make a play, and calm everyone down. Last year, that role was filled by both Jalen Davis and Dallin Leavitt. This year, with both graduated and fighting for spots on NFL rosters, the mantle of defensive leader is going to fall largely on the shoulders of sophomore safety Ja’Marcus Ingram.
Ingram played admirably last season as a cornerback, totaling five pass deflections and one interception. An offseason move to safety gives Ingram a chance to be involved in much more of the game, but it also requires Ingram to learn much more of the defensive scheme and become much more of a leader on the team.
“The position is new. I have to know the defense,” said Ingram after USU’s fall scrimmage. “As I made the transition (from cornerback to safety), I had to learn a lot more defense… Corner is just corner. At safety, you have to know the whole defense. I made big strides these past couple weeks as far as learning the defense, and learning the scheme that we’re trying to do and how we want to attack offenses.”
Ingram’s ability to adapt to the new position and make impact plays could prove vital to Utah State’s chances at a special season this year. The Aggies finished tied for 30th in the nation with a +5 turnover margin a season ago, with the defense accumulating 29 takeaways. Leavitt and Davis alone accounted for 10 of those takeaways.
“(Leavitt and Davis) are two really good players. I don’t know if you’ll ever replace them… but I think Ingram can play those spots,” said Wells.
Ingram’s versatility after playing as a starting cornerback last season could also factor into his ability to come up with big plays this season for the Aggies.
“I think Ingram can play corner or safety,” said Wells. “At the same time that’s a little hard to do, but I think he can play both.”
With almost the entire front seven returning from last season, the Aggie defense has a chance to make a vast improvement as a unit. That improvement hinges a lot on the secondary being able to fill the holes left by Leavitt and Davis. Their biggest chance to do so resides with Ja’Marcus Ingram.