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PROVO — Jernaro Gilford was part of one of the better cornerback rooms in BYU football history, but wouldn't hesitate before trading what he was part of as a player for what he's now coaching.
Gilford played for the Cougars from 1999-03, and along with standouts like Brian Gray, Brandon Heaney and Heshimu Robertson, formed a relatively solid position group, with Gilford still considered one of the best to ever play the position in Provo.
Gilford entered the coaching ranks at BYU in 2016 and has since worked ardently to form what could prove to be the deepest and most talented cornerback rooms currently.
When asked to compare the cornerback group he played with to what he's now coaching, Gilford strongly asserted the latter gets the nod.
"It's not even close," Gilford said. "The top guys (are similar), but as far as the depth from top to bottom? It's not even close. This is probably the best corner group from top to bottom ever, in my honest opinion."
It's good enough that BYU has based its defensive formation with three cornerbacks on just about every occasion, even after losing the services of standout starters Eddie Heckard and Kamden Garrett, both of whom played out their eligibility last season.
Led by returning starter Jakob Robinson and Weber State transfer Marque Collins, Gilford's group is proving capable and one of the strongest position groups on the entire team.
"It's the most competitive, fast, athletic, (high) IQ as far as football goes," Gilford said. "That's a combination of coach (Jay) Hill coming and teaching the guys so much, and I'm so thankful to have him here because he's done a lot for those guys."
Hill came to BYU last season as its defensive coordinator and brought with him both Heckard and Garrett from Weber State, both of whom contributed significantly to the depth of talent Gilford was already building up.
Leading the way
Through three games, senior cornerback Jakob Robinson has been employed almost exclusively at the slot corner position where his experience and playmaking ability is best employed. Coaches are able to move Robinson inside due to trusting the two outside corner positions where Collins and sophomore cornerback Evan Johnson have seen primary reps.
Robinson is a known commodity given his vast playing experience and already proven ability, all of which has played big for BYU's overall defensive success through three games played. A lot of experience has also come with the addition of Collins to the ranks, whose impact Gilford compares with what Heckard brought to the defense last season.
"Marque is a guy who is a ballhawk, not afraid to tackle," Gilford said. "(He's) a guy who can come in and just show the young guys how it is done. It is a pleasure to have a guy like Marque here. To pair him with Jakob, to have those two seniors is huge for me, because it is an extension of us coaches here on the field."
Young guns
The emergence of Johnson as a starter at one cornerback position may have come as a bit of surprise to some fans, but not to Gilford. The 6-foot, 180 pound speedster is noted by most as the fastest player on the team, considering his reported 10.41 100-meter time, but he's proven to be much more than that.
The Monterey, California, native hauled down his first career interception during last week's 34-14 win over Wyoming, topping off what has been some standout play so far this season.
"He's been two years coming," Gilford said. "He's a guy who loves to work and get better. He comes out before practice and after practice, learns how to watch film, and he's around guys who can teach him a lot. … He's just soaking it all in and starting to get confident with technique and athletic abilities."
But Johnson isn't the only speedster in Gilford's group. Far from it.
Players like junior Mory Bamba and sophomore Marcus McKenzie can certainly compete with Johnson in regards to flat out speed, with others such as freshmen Jonathan Kabeya and Therrian Alexander not far behind.
As for Bamba, he spent most of the fall practice session with the first-team defense before incurring a leg injury during the team's final scrimmage. But the 6-foot-3, 195 pound junior college transfer is expected back this week against Kansas State, adding even more quality depth to what has formed into one of the deepest on the entire team.
"He came back today and showed he can have a full practice. ... It will be fun to see him get some reps," Gilford said Tuesday.
Not satisfied
Following Tuesday's practice, Gilford's group of cornerbacks were some of the last players to leave the field — and for good reason. Despite their standout play collectively, Gilford felt there were enough plays being missed to warrant some extra practice time.
"We could have had seven more interceptions," Gilford said of last week's win over Wyoming. "We were just talking about the plays we should have made — potential things that could have changed the game, kept points off the scoreboard. So we're never satisfied and we have to keep on working. … We have to make the plays when they're presented."
Making plays when presented will now be at a premium as BYU embarks on Big 12 play, beginning with Kansas State this weekend. Sure, Gilford's group has acquitted itself nicely through three games played, but bigger tests are on tap with the need for continued improvements of the utmost importance.
But given the apparent athleticism and depth at the cornerback position, coupled with the stated confidence by both Gilford and Hill, it's hard not to be optimistic regarding BYU's current cornerback room, in general.
