Football | August 19, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Two NCAA Statistical Champions. That's what Western Michigan had in its secondary in 2014 when Ronald Zamort and Donald Celiscar tied each other for the NCAA Statistical Championship in passes defended with 1.6 per game.

Last season Darius Phillips, who made the switch to cornerback from wide receiver, placed sixth in the country with 1.6 passes defended per game, including five total interceptions. Zamort, who was a senior last year, was right behind Phillips, finishing 14^th in the nation was 1.5 passes defended per game.

Zamort has gone on to earn a spot on the Arizona Cardinals roster in the NFL, while Celiscar was signed by the Indianapolis Colts following 2014. Phillips, who is entering his junior season, hopes to follow in his predecessors' shoes by becoming the next great corner in the Bronco secondary.

"I feel like the transition got easier as the year went on," Phillips said. "As you go on, you watch film and you get to critique your craft. The coaches I've had and Ronald Zamort who is playing for the Arizona Cardinals, he helped me and mentor me along the way."

To play cornerback at an elite level there are many facets of the game one much excel at. One of the obvious attributes is speed to keep up with the deep balls and staying in front of the receivers. According to secondary coach, Ed Pinkham, there is an even more important attribute which all the great corners at WMU have had along with those younger players who are on the roster.

"When you play defensive back one of the most important ingredients is you can run," Pinkham said. "We've got a number of guys who have very good speed. The second thing that makes corners especially productive is having quick twitch, or the ability to change direction. Certainly Darius Phillips and Sam Beal have that and Obbie Jackson is quick as well."

In addition to leading the country two years ago, Zamort is also the all-time career leader in passes defended with 51, 10 more than the next closest player, Demarcus Millner of Alabama. Celiscar is tied for ninth all-time on that list with 31 while another former Bronco secondary member, Rontavious Atkins is also inside the top-100 with 24 career passes defended to rank 83^rd.

"You've got to start with guys with great speed," Pinkham said. "But we've been really fortunate that Celiscar and Zamort are as quick twitch as I've ever been around. When you combine great speed with somebody who can change direction, you've got an opportunity to be pretty good and Darius Phillips is following right in their footsteps."