WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University football team has officially ended its preseason camp and begun preparing for its season opener at Davidson on August 31. As the 2019 season quickly approaches, GUHoyas.com will take an in-depth look at each of the team's position groups, with this edition featuring the defensive backs.
The Hoyas have a couple of returning upperclassmen at cornerback who appeared in all 11 games last season. Senior
Jalen Goldwire (Plantation, Fla. / Western) and junior
Cameron Deen (Fort Washington, Md. / Oxon Hill) each played in every game in 2018 and finished with 26 and 25 tackles, respectively. Goldwire tied for the team high with 10 pass breakups while Deen had one of Georgetown's league-high 20 interception. Junior
Jonathan Honore (St. Louis, Mo. / Timberland) and senior
Ryan White-Boyd (Wilton Manors, Fla. / South Plantation) will both look for increased roles this year after primarily seeing time on special teams last season. Honore got into all 11 games and finished with six tackles, while White-Boyd registered one tackles in five contest. Sophomore
Micah McNeil (Olney, Md. / Our Lady of Good Counsel) is also positioned to make an impact in his second year on the Hilltop.
"There is a lot of experience in the cornerbacks' room," said Georgetown Head Coach
Rob Sgarlata, who works with the team's cornerbacks. "Jalen has played a ton of football in his career here and Cameron is probably one of the better athletes in the entire conference. Ryan has done a great job of battling back from some injuries. He came back in great shape, and had a great preseason camp for us. There are some talented younger guys who are on their way up as Jonathan and Micah are really pushing those upperclassmen for playing time. It's been a competitive camp and I'm excited to see how they progress once we get into the games."
Georgetown also has a pair of freshmen in
Jonathan Higgins (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / University School) and Daeshawn Mathews-Wayne (Tacoma, Wash. / Lakes) who will provide additional depth at cornerback while making an immediate impact on special teams.
"We were really fortunate to sign the two freshmen in Daeshawn and Jonathan," Sgarlata said. "I think that they are getting their feet wet with the defense and understanding what is going on. They are both very good man-to-man players which is something we were looking for in recruiting. I think you will see them start to make an impact through special teams."
At the safety position, the Hoyas return a pair of starters in senior
Leon Agee (Laurel, Miss. / Robert S. Alexander) and
Ahmad Wilson (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway) who put up big numbers in the secondary last season. Agee ranked sixth on the team with 44 tackles and was second on the squad with three interceptions while adding four additional pass breakups. Wilson, an All-Patriot League Preseason selection, finished with 33 total tackles and added two interceptions and five pass breakups. Juniors
Dawson Hawkins (Sugar Land, Texas / George Ranch) and
Roemello Walton (Miami, Fla. / Miami Norland) appeared in 11 and nine games, respectively, in 2018 and finished with six tackles apiece. Sophomore
Delano Salgado (Laveen Village, Ariz. / Mountain Pointe) got into all 11 games, mostly on special teams, and registered a pair of tackles, while classmate
Zaire Webb (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) should play a big role in his second season.
"Leon has really progressed through camp and is looking sharp, right where we need him to be," said assistant coach
Trey Henderson, who works with the safeties. "Ahmad is also doing a nice job as we are moving him around a bit at a few different positions, but mentally he is doing a good job out there as far as making calls and getting guys lined up. Roemello has started to come along, playing more of a spur position for us and has done everything we have asked of him. His length and athleticism helps us out a lot. Dawson, Zaire and Delano are all working extremely hard and I think they have gotten better from practice one of preseason camp to now. They are really coming along and will provide excellent depth and be key components for us in the fall."
The Hoyas will have plenty of depth at the safety position with four freshmen battling for playing time. Newcomers
Jovone Campbell (Silver Spring, Md. / Bullis School),
Noah Carr (Venice, Fla. / Venice),
Khalil Saunders (Elmhurst, Ill. / Immaculate Conception) and
Jack Tishman (Wellesley, Mass. / Wellesley / Loomis Chaffee) will all look to make an immediate impact both in the secondary and on special teams.
"All four of them are eager to learn," Henderson said. "Jack has had an injury so we haven't been able to see as much of him as we would have liked. Jovone, Khalil and Noah have hit the ground running and being here over the summer has really helped them out. They are freshmen, but experienced freshmen because they were able to arrive in July and workout with the team this summer."
Georgetown will travel to Davidson on Aug. 31 for the season opener before hosting Marist in the home opener on Sept. 7. Tickets for GU's five home games in 2019 are now on sale. To purchase tickets, and for more information, please visit WeAreGeorgetown.com/football.
