Heading into last fall, the secondary was considered a real strength of the Cowboys.

Deep and talented the group even had experience for a McNeese State program that was filled with youth. However, injuries and other departures cut into that depth quickly. Soon the Cowboys were starting guys they had hoped to slowly work into playing time were forced into action.

One of those was true freshman Crajaun Bennett from Iowa High School.

“Crajaun stands out as one of those guys,” said head coach Gary Goff. “He had to play last year and he wasn’t ready. We had to throw him into the fire.”

Bennett, who made an interception last season, learned the hard way, giving up a touchdown to Southeastern Louisiana in the early going. However, he responded and turned heads the rest of the season. Now he is back competing for a job.

“He had a really good spring and summer,” Goff said of the sophomore cornerback. “He is in there battling for a starting job with a lot of guys we brought in this year.”

Another defensive back who Goff said made an impression as a freshman last fall was Javon Davis. He broke up two passes and forced a fumble while collecting tackles while playing in 10 of the Cowboys’ 11 games.

That earned him a second-team all-Southland Conference preseason selection this summer.

Five other lettermen return with Thomas Miles tops in the group after picking off a pair of passes last year. That group includes Jaylen Jackson and Johnquai Lewis. The two were suspended from the team last season but stayed with the program and in school.

“I’m all for giving second chances when they are earned,” Goff said.

Jackson came with the coach from Valdosta State and is a senior. Lewis, a transfer from Kansas, is a junior.

The Cowboys also picked up five transfers, three of them coming from Mississippi junior colleges. Juniors Jadden Matthews and Jamori Evans were teammates last season at East Mississippi Community College. They are joined by sophomore Levi Wyatt from Mississippi Gulf Coast.

“We really struggled last year in the secondary with all the injuries,” Goff said. “We knew we had to get more talent back there. We also knew we wanted to get players who had played. We were able to do that.”

McNeese didn’t just pick up junior college help. The Cowboys also signed Boogsie Silvera, a freshman who was at Charleston Southern in 2022.

“Getting the new players has led to some great competition back there,” Goff said. “We have some great battles going on at safety and cornerback.

“I think we have a much better group there this year.”

In one season Goff and his staff may have turned what was perceived as a weakness into a strong part of the defense.

A season ago McNeese picked off nine passes with six of those coming from guys who graduated. Getting turnovers is something Goff said he hopes the Cowboys can do a better job of this season.

“We need to create more opportunities for our offense,” Goff said. “Getting extra possessions is what the game is about now.”

A strong secondary might be the answer for the Cowboys in that area.