Paul Bouis

Football 8/7/2026 4:21:00 PM

VMI Fall Camp Report: The Secondary

LEXINGTON, Va. - Throughout fall camp, VMI Athletics will do a Q&A session with the offensive and defensive position groups in addition to special teams.

Today's report is on the defensive secondary and how they are preparing for the Idaho State season opener just three weeks away.

First-year Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Jared Backus and Defensive Backs Coach Parrish Gaines provide their thoughts on Fall Camp. Defensive back Robert Powell and safeties Nic Land and Anthony Allen also gives their insight on how camp is progressing.

1. How would you assess how Fall Camp is going so far for the secondary?

Coach Backus: We're progressing every day and trying to build some depth. We've got some young players that we're trying to bring along. When you're a true freshman, it's a lot coming in. Everything is new scheme-wise and the techniques and fundamentals are new. We're bringing guys like Amari Harmon and Keegan Guyton along. That's going well and they're working extremely hard. The upperclassmen are doing a great job and we're building depth by improving each day. I'm happy with their attitude and the way they come to work. We're building depth and finding guys who are game-ready. We're trying to get them in the 'can-do' category. We're not where we need to be but we're finding the 4-5 guys in the secondary who can get in there and make plays.

Coach Gaines: I think camp has gone well so far. The guys are competing, communicating, and getting better every day. We've made some good progress, but we still have a lot of work to do. The biggest thing for us is continuing to build consistency with our effort and attention to detail.

VMI Secondary - Fall Camp 2026 - August 6, 2026

2. What type of defense do we use?
Coach Backus: It's a Multiple 3-4 defense. We'll play an add front, stem and move that front, then primarily a zone coverage behind it. This allows the guys to keep their vision on the quarterback and break on the ball. That fits our personnel at this point and time. We're going to give different looks in our secondary and in our cover shells. That makes us a multiple defense. We'll change the structure and what we call bogeys on the back end or the coverage shell that we show offensive coordinators and quarterbacks. We hope that there's an element of surprise. The most important thing we do defensively is disrupting the ball. We put a premium on that. Rips, picks, bats, strips and creating turnovers. It's all about fanatical effort. We've got a ways to go but we're teaching that to the players.

Coach Gaines: We're a multiple defense that prides itself on being aggressive, physical, and making it extremely difficult for the offense to know exactly what we're doing pre-snap. For the secondary, that means our guys have to communicate well and play with disciplined eyes and technique.

3. Are the DBs and safeties adjusting well to the new system and understanding the play calls?
Coach Backus: Yes, we are. We've had a lot of time on task and we installed everything in the winter. We tried not to give them too much. As a coaching staff we tried to figure out how much is enough and how much is too much. We're going day-by-day with that. We've been able to stay on track with our installations. They're handling it very well. We're not trying to do too much but just enough to where they get enough time on task and they do it so many times that they can't get it wrong. There's always a fine line because you have to be prepared. We want to give them so much time on task that they don't even have to think about it. Everything is new, but I'm happy with the way it's gone so far. Their attitude is great. They don't flinch with whatever we challenge them with.

Coach Gaines: Yes, we've seen a lot of improvement since Spring Camp. In the spring, a lot of their focus was on learning the terminology and getting comfortable in the system. Now, they're communicating better, recognizing formations faster, and playing faster. We're still working toward being more consistent, but the improvement from the spring to now has been very encouraging.

4. What does it mean to have experienced players like Land, Wilborne, Allen, and Powell leading the secondary? Have any players stood out so far in camp?
Coach Backus: Nic is an excellent communicator. Tony and EJ have great playing experience. EJ was a little banged up in the spring but he's had a great camp and is getting better every day. Jordan Tolson is much improved from this spring. He's young and is getting better every day from where he was to where he is now. We'll see where he is by the end of camp. We're going to make some really big strides here in the next week. We have some upperclassmen who are young and we see them growing every day and from practice to practice. Keegan Guyton and Amari Harmon are doing a good job. They're young but they are making progress.

Coach Gaines: Having experienced players is huge for us. They understand the attention to detail that college football requires and help set the standard for how we prepare and compete every day. They also help the younger players get more comfortable and understand what is expected of them.

They have all shown leadership during camp. We've also had some younger guys make plays and show that they can help us. Addox Sanders, Keegan Guyton, Avan Fortner, and Amari Harmon have all shown some good things during camp. They're still learning, but they've competed, made plays, and shown that they have the ability to help us in the future. Right now, we're still evaluating the entire group and looking for the players who can be consistent every day.

5. Where does the secondary need to improve the most before the season opener at Idaho State?
Coach Backus: Communication. We need to get more comfortable playing with each other since we're the quarterbacks on defense so they have to be great communicators. They have a lot of job descriptions in our defense. They play deep zones, second-level zones, they blitz, they play different coverages. There are new concepts that they have to learn. We're getting better in those areas but not where we need to be. I'm cautiously optimistic that over the next week or so we're going to be in pretty good shape.

Coach Gaines: I would say the biggest thing is consistency. We have to eliminate mental mistakes, and finish plays when we're in position. In the back end, one mistake can turn into an explosive play, so everyone has to understand their job and trust the guys around him. At the end of the day, we want to be a group that plays fast, tackles well, and makes the offense earn everything.

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The Players' Plug: Robert Powell, Nic Land and Anthony Allen

How is camp going so far in general for the secondary?

Powell: Camp has been very hard but we are learning and getting better.
Land: Camp for the secondary has been amazing. We've grown a lot of chemistry between each other throughout the years and that has allowed us to communicate efficiently and always be on the same page. Still lots of work to get done and we can always improve in other areas.
Allen: Camp has gone very well for the secondary, and we have a great competitive group of guys that help push each other every day. Communication has been through the roof, and on top of that we've gotten much closer which has helped build strong chemistry on the back end. Our coaches have done a great job preparing and coaching us hard, and as a secondary, we go out and execute to stack days and make plays on the ball. That's the mindset we have as a secondary and as a unit, continuous progress, stacking days and being better than the day before.

Are you getting more comfortable with the schemes and play calls on defense?

Powell: Yes, I'm very comfortable with what we are running. Our coaches break it down well.
Land: Absolutely, the new defense allows us to play faster and swarm the ball as a whole unit. The calls are tailored to our talents and have been working smoothly.
Allen: Absolutely. From the practices and film sessions with coaches, I am getting very comfortable with the schemes and play calls on defense. I'm at a point now where not only do I know the secondary's assignments but also understanding everyone's job. Things have slowed down a lot compared to when we first started in January, and with the new coaching staff they have helped me play faster when we're out on the field.

How has camp been different this season learning a new defense compared to your prior three seasons?

Powell: There is a lot of attention to detail regarding our schemes and placement of people on the field. Our coaches make sure there is little chances for mistakes to be made.
Land: Camp this season has been filled with a lot more energy and positivity. We've all been grinding day in and day out since mid-June so camp has been an extension of the work we've been putting in. The entire secondary was confident in our new defense before camp even started so we've just been perfecting our techniques and playing faster each day.
Allen: It has been an adjustment going from the same scheme and terminology for the past two seasons, but it's been exciting. The older guys have now gone through the entire defense in cycles, so we are very familiar with the schemes and terminology. Now as an older guy bringing the young guys along and getting everyone on the same page has been a point of emphasis. This is something that I feel has progressed throughout camp, compared to when the staff first got here. With the new defense we had to learn things all over again, and as a unit, we've looked at this as an opportunity to get us to where we want to be rather than a change or challenge.

Do you enjoy playing for Coach Gaines and Coach Backus? How are they helping you develop?

Powell: I enjoy playing for Coach Gaines and Coach Backus because they allow me to learn while also pushing me to the best of my ability. They are both helping me develop mentally and physically on the field.
Land: Coach Gaines and Coach Backus have been amazing so far. They are great coaches who actually show us specific techniques and make sure that there is no gray area in our call learning. I personally feel like a completely different player under their coaching and the same can be said from all the DBs.
Allen: I do enjoy playing for Coach Backus as the safeties coach, but I feel that Coach Gaines - as well as the entire defensive staff - have done a great job in every aspect when it comes to coaching and developing us as players and young men. Coach Backus brings energy that is very contagious and so do all the defensive coaches, and I couldn't be more excited to play for him and the new staff. Coach Backus has a saying, "Life Coach first, Football Coach second." With him being my position coach, this has helped in forming my relationship with not only him, but also the entire staff.

As a veteran, how are you helping the rats and younger guys learn the defense and adjusting to life at VMI?

Powell: I try and help them see things from my point of view and walk them through what I am thinking. As for on the hill, it's always a grind.
Land: This year as veterans we've focused on leading the rats by example. We need to be the guys staying late, putting in work, and flying around so that the younger guys can see us and follow us. So far this is the best I've seen a rat class understand the culture and put in the extra work to play hard and fast.
Allen: We have all been in their shoes before and we know what it feels like. Everything is all new to them, learning the new defense, adjusting to the VMI ways, and competing at this level all at one time is challenging and not easy. But the older guys and I have done a great job encouraging them to ask questions, about football and VMI, which helps them get comfortable and feel prepared, rather than being discouraged by the task at hand. From lunch talks, locker room talks and team meetings designed to educate them on VMI life, I feel this has helped them to better understand how VMI works. And simply being the same guy every day, showing up, working hard, and getting 1% better every day. Coach Ingram has a saying, "Do Right," and this has really stuck with me and been one of my personal goals day in and day out. And when the young guys see the older guys do it, they follow along which helps not only our defense but also our football team.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Anthony Allen: DB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#0 Nic Land: S; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#11 Robert Powell: DB; 5' 9"; Junior

#15 Jordan Tolson: DB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#13 Addox Sanders: CB; 6' 2"; Freshman

#16 Keegan Guyton: S; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#19 Avan Fortner: CB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#23 Amari Harmon: DB; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Anthony Allen
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DB

#0 Nic Land
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: S

#11 Robert Powell
: 5' 9"; Junior
: DB

#15 Jordan Tolson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: DB

#13 Addox Sanders
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: CB

#16 Keegan Guyton
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: S

#19 Avan Fortner
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: CB

#23 Amari Harmon
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: DB

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Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned