Seabreeze defensive backs are talented, athletic and interchangeable

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

Seabreeze junior Eli Campbell ticks off the positions of his fellow defensive backs. Essentially, it’s the same for everyone: "He plays it all."

“Really. It’s like we all do everything,” he said.

Head coach Pat Brown believes Seabreeze's secondary is the best in the state. With four returning starters plus Division I recruit Chris Lewis shifting back to defense from wide receiver, it’s hard to argue that the Sandcrabs don’t have the potential to be one of the toughest defenses in Central Florida to throw against.

But if there is one word that best describes this talented group it is versatility.

“Our DBs are crazy,” said Lewis, who has offers from Navy, Central Michigan, Eastern Kentucky and Iowa State. “We can all do everything. We can hit, we can run, we can play the ball in the air. We’re all physical, fast and smart football players.”

“Our DBs are crazy. We can all do everything. We can hit, we can run, we can play the ball in the air. We’re all physical, fast and smart football players.”

CHRIS LEWIS

They have to be smart or they wouldn't get on the field, their coach says.

“All my (defensive backs) move around,” said Brown, who doubles as the team’s defensive coordinator. “They’ve got to know every position. But I put pressure on them. I tell them, ‘I’m not going to just throw you out there. You have to know the whole defense. And the quicker you know the whole defense the more ability I have to move you around.’ ”

Brown compares this practice to matchups in basketball. Eli Campbell might be a good matchup at cornerback one week. His older brother, Dimitri Campbell, might be a better fit the next game.

Versatility also helps the players get evaluated by college recruiters, Brown says.

“They might be playing corner here, but a college coach may want to see them at free safety, so instead of them having to guess about them playing free safety, they actually have film of them at free safety,” Brown said.

As Brown’s matchup philosophy suggests, while their positions may be interchangeable each of the players bring something unique to the table.

Here’s a closer look at the DBs:

Senior Dimitri Campbell is a ball hawk. He led Volusia and Flagler counties with six interceptions in just eight games last season. He had three of those picks plus a fumble return for a touchdown against Deltona.

“Dimitri is our best all-around athlete,” Brown said. “He’s just so dynamic when the ball’s in his hands. No matter where he’s at he's liable to go the distance.”

At 160 pounds and just under 5-foot-10, the free safety/cornerback is not on the radar of a lot of Division I teams, but he has offers from Division II Savannah State and a couple of NAIA schools.

At 5-11, 175, Eli Campbell has the size to play strong safety and the quickness to play cornerback. He had three interceptions last year, including two against Atlantic.

“Eli Campbell is the best shutdown guy you’re going to find in Central Florida as a junior cornerback with a blend of size and strength,” Brown said.

He already has an offer from Central Michigan and he’s not the last Campbell. Denali Campbell is a freshman running back for the Sandcrabs and could end up being the best of the football playing brothers, Dimitri said.

Lewis started at free safety as a sophomore. At 6-1, 193 pounds, he’s big enough to play linebacker and fast enough to cover wideouts in man coverage. He’s rangy and explosive with the ball in his hands, which is why he was a receiver last year, Brown said.
Senior Latrae Bass has offers from Stetson and a few NAIA schools. The 5-10, 160-pounder is a natural athlete and a quick study.

“Teach him one thing and it’s in his memory bank,” Brown said.

Junior Amondre Willis is the energy guy.

“He tries to stick his head in there on everything. I call him baby honey badger sometimes,” said Brown in reference to Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu.

Freshman Khamani Robinson is already one of the biggest DBs on the team at 5-11, 175 pounds and is earning playing time.

“He’s just trying to soak up all the positions he can soak up right now,” said Brown.

The key for the secondary may be how well it can support the first two levels of the defense in stopping the run, because most teams are hesitant to pass against this group, the players say. But they're not concerned.

“Against a running team we’d go to a five-man front, and I’d be in the box,” Willis said. “It doesn't matter because we’re very athletic and we can all play everything.”