UAB 2023 position preview: Safety

Despite taking some critical losses in the offseason, the secondary for the UAB football team should develop into a formidable unit once more.
The Blazers return 10 total starters from last season – five on offense and four on defense – and return a trio of seniors to help lead and develop a core of underclassmen.
UAB lost the talent of legendary backfield duo Will Boler and Grayson Cash to graduation, both of whom were two of the last three members of the 2017 return team, and star safety Jaylen Key entered the transfer portal following spring practice and landed with Nick Saban at Alabama.
Departed: Will Boler, Grayson Cash, Jaylen Key (Alabama)
Returning starter(s): Keondre Swoopes, Sr
Other returning players: Damien Miller, Sr* -- Damon Miller, Sr -- Skyler Trawick, Fr* -- Keon Handley, So* -- Jason Riles, So* -- Ike Rowell, Fr* -- AJ Brown, Fr* -- Carl Fauntroy, Fr* -- Kyle Gould, Fr*
Spring/Summer arrivals: Chris Bracy, Fr -- Kyle McKinney, Fr
2023 position preview: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | OLB | LB | CB | S | ST
Outlook: The Blazers lost two key members of the secondary to graduation, Will Boler and Grayson Cash, and all seemed fine until breakout defensive back Jaylen Key entered the transfer portal post-spring and ended up down the road in Tuscaloosa. However, not all is lost with three seniors with extensive experience against some of the top passing offenses in the nation.
Keondre Swoopes has been a mainstay in the lineup the past three seasons at the Star position -- racking up 123 tackles (3.5 for loss), 15 pass breakups and four interceptions -- and is an integral part of a secondary that has controlled the airways during his time on the Southside.
The Miller twins, Damon and Damien, have each missed a season due to injury but are back together for their final season and could earn the starting role for the backend safeties. The former missed the 2022 regular season, returning for the Bahamas Bowl, and has 47 tackles (3 for loss), six pass breakups and a pick in his career. Meanwhile, (Damien) Miller missed his sophomore year in 2020 but made his return to play in 18 games the past two seasons and collect 38 tackles (1.5 for loss) and four forced fumbles.
Keon Handley made the switch from cornerback last season and made an appearance in four games while sliding up the tow-deep behind Cash and (Damien) Miller. Ike Rowell was a consistent contributor on special teams last season and drew praise from the coaching staff for his performance in spring practice. He earned reps on both the first and second units and is expected to play a crucial role in the backend.
AJ Brown did not see any action on the field last year but worked his way into the two-deep behind Swoopes by the season’s end. Carl Fauntroy was a valuable pickup for the previous coaching staff but the talented Spanish Fort native missed all of last year while rehabbing an injury suffered during his senior season.
Along with Brown and Fauntroy, UAB has a room that includes redshirt sophomore Jason Riles and redshirt freshmen Skyler Trawick and Kyle Gould. The only additions in the offseason were signee Chris Bracy, a 3-star prospect out of Mobile, and walk-on Kyle McKinney.
Battle to WATCH: With Key’s departure, his spot at strong safety is up for grabs between (Damon) Miller -- coming off an injury year -- and a myriad of underclassmen. Miller will see plenty of reps, regardless of who is named the official starter, and that’ll open up opportunities for Rowell and his fellow redshirt freshmen.
Keep an Eye on: Rowell. The redshirt freshmen collected five tackles in 11 games last season, primarily on special teams, but rocketed up the depth chart during the spring and was seen running with both the first and second teams. Rowell was a consecutive ASWA first-team selection at Fyffe and named Class 3A Back of the Year while helping lead the program to an incredible 45-0 record and three straight state titles.
Projected depth chart:
(STAR) Keondre Swoopes, Sr
AJ Brown, Fr*
(SS) Damon Miller, Sr
Ike Rowell, Fr*
Carl Fauntroy, Fr*
(FS) Damien Miller, Sr*
Keon Handley, So*
Chris Bracy, Fr