2020 Season Recap: Players Who Had A Breakthrough Season On Defense

College football player’s careers take different paths. Some arrive on campus and become instant stars while others take a more winding path into the spotlight. Every year new players finally breakthrough and reach stardom. Here is a look at the defensive players that enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2020.

Jaelen Phillips – Miami

Phillips was a five star recruit when he committed to UCLA in the 2017 class. Injuries derailed his career at UCLA and Phillips actually retired from football. He returned to the game and transferred to Miami but had to sit out the 2019 season due to transfer rules. Phillips was expected to be a star coming out of high school but no one knew what to expect after the injuries and time off.

In 2020, Phillips made up for lost time and wreaked havoc on the ACC. He recorded at least half a tackle for loss in every game he played in, except the Virginia game. Phillips got better as the year went forward and hit his stride in November. In a three game stretch against NC State, Virginia Tech and Duke he recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Phillips’ technique and play improved over the course of the season and he made his lone season playing for the Canes a memorable one.

For the season, Phillips totaled 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 3 pass breakups and an interception in 10 games. He teamed with Quincy Roche to give Miami a lethal tandem at the defensive end position and helped Miami recover from a disappointing 2019 season. Phillips proved he still has all the tools to be an elite defensive linemen and made his return to the football field a triumph.

Phillips began 2020 as an unknown who was once a highly thought of recruit, but proved during the season that he was ready to unlock that potential. He has catapulted himself into consideration in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Phillips was one of the biggest success stories of the 2020 season.

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Zion Tupuola-Fetui – Washington

Zion Tupuola-Fetui came to Washington from Hawaii as a three star recruit in the 2018 class. Tupuola-Fetui played sparingly over his first two seasons for the Huskies. He recorded 10 tackles in two seasons and did not make a major impact in those two years. He did continue to get stronger and develop his game, and the dedication to getting better paid off this year.

The physically imposing edge rusher started the season strong for the Huskies. Washington played just four games in 2020 due to the abbreviated Pac 12 schedule and Covid issues impacting several of the team’s games, but Tupuola-Fetui made those four games count. He had multiple sacks in the first three games of the season and quickly showed he would be a terror as a pass rusher for Washington going forward.

For the season, Tupuola-Fetui recorded 13 tackles with 7 sacks and 3 fumbles forced in the four games his team played. He led the Pac 12 in sacks despite the fact that he only played in four games while other players played as many as seven. Tupuola-Fetui is an excellent example of a player that took full advantage of the limited opportunity he got in 2020.

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Daviyon Nixon – Iowa

Daviyon Nixon arrived at Iowa in the 2018 class as a junior college recruit. He redshirted his first season then made 5.5 tackles for loss during the 2019 season. Though Nixon was beginning to contribute he was not thought of as one of the top defensive tackles in the Big Ten coming into the season. In 2020 he would announce himself to the college football world.

Nixon didn’t take long to get started this season, he was ready to play when the Big Ten said go and recorded 18 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a fumble forced in his first two game this year. Iowa lost both by a combined five points, but it was obvious they had a talented defensive tackle that the rest of the conference would have to account for.

Nixon made one of the more memorable plays of the season against Penn State in November. Late in the game he recognized a flat pass to the running back was coming and drifted into the passing lane. Nixon reached up with his left hand and brought the ball in for the interception and then rumbled downfield. He outran the offensive lineman and evaded the quarterback with a cutback and scored on a 71 yard return.

For the season, Nixon tallied 45 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, a fumble forced and that one interception he returned for a touchdown. Nixon led the Big Ten in tackles for loss and finished tied for second in sacks. Nixon emerged as a star for the Hawkeyes and will now attempt to make a name for himself in the NFL.

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Eli Huggins – Kansas State

Huggins arrived at Kansas State as a three star recruit in the 2017 recruiting class. In his first three seasons with the program he made six tackles and had 1 tackle for loss. Coming into the 2020 season, Huggins had yet to make his mark on the Wildcats program. He did just that and made himself a valuable part of the Kansas State defensive line this year.

Huggins was a first year starter in 2020 and was a reliable presence in the middle of the defense. He did miss the Oklahoma game but played the other nine games and did a good job of being disruptive on the interior. Huggins was credited with at least half a tackle for loss in six of those nine games this year. Huggins’ job is to eat blockers at the point of attack and he did a good job of freeing up the linebackers to make plays for the Wildcats.

Huggins went from being an unknown to being a trustworthy contributor. In nine games he made 22 tackles with 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 3 more QB Hurries. Huggins will be counted on to be a leader on the defensive line in 2020 for the Wildcats’ defense.

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Leo Chenal – Wisconsin

Chenal was a three star recruit in the 2019 class and saw playing time as a true freshman. He made 20 tackles in 11 games in 2019 and was a primary backup for the Badgers. Wisconsin lost two talented linebackers and there was an opportunity for Chenal to step up and become a key contributor for the defense. He took full advantage of that opportunity and had a big year for Wisconsin in 2020.

Chenal added good weight over his first two years in the program, but has maintained his athleticism throughout the process. He is able to play between the tackles, be effective on blitzes and also help his team in coverage. Chenal’s impact grew as the season went on and he was making big plays regularly by the end of the year.

In Wisconsin’s rivalry game against Minnesota, Chenal had his best game of the season. He was virtually unblockable and made several plays in the Minnesota backfield. For the game, Chenal had 13 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, a pass breakup and a fumble forced. The game against the Gophers was the regular season finale and was the most complete game he played all season.

In seven games during the 2020 season, Chenal accounted for 46 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble forced, 1 pass breakup and 7 QB hurries. He improved with experience as the season progressed and showed that he will be one to watch in the future. Chenal’s sophomore season was a breakthrough season, but he appears to be headed toward bigger things in 2021.

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Jalen Pitre – Baylor

Jalen Pitre has been at Baylor since 2017 and though he played quite a bit as a freshman, his playing time decreased in 2018 and 2019. Pitre made 11 and 12 tackles in those two years and did not have a major role on the defense. With Dave Aranda’s arrival at Baylor, Pitre has blossomed into an impact player for the Bears.

Pitre played the hybrid linebacker/defensive back spot for Baylor and blossomed in that role. In the second game of the season against West Virginia he made 11 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, letting the Big 12 know he would be a key player in 2020. Pitre didn’t slow down and recorded at least half a tackle for loss in all but one game this season.

Jalen Pitre became a star for the Bears in 2020. In nine games, he had 60 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. He was able to be disruptive in the backfield but also covered well in the defensive backfield. Pitre went from being a forgotten man on the defense to one of it’s most impactful players and should be a star in the Big 12 in 2021.

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Tre Norwood – Oklahoma

Norwood has been a contributor in the Oklahoma secondary since the 2017 season,but missed the 2019 season with an injury. Though he saw plenty of playing time in 2017 and 2018 Norwood only made one interception over those two seasons. He bounced back from his injury and made plenty of big plays in 2020 for the Sooners.

Norwood was the nickel-back for Oklahoma during the 2020 season and he made several big plays from that spot. Norwood became a bit of a ball hawk as the season progressed and made all five of his interceptions in the last six games of the season. He intercepted two passes against Texas Tech in a 62 – 28 win, then intercepted one pass in each of the final three games of the season against Baylor, Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game, and Florida in the Cotton Bowl.

Norwood’s big play ability helped spark a major turnaround on the defensive side of the ball for the Sooners. After allowing over 30 points per game in three of the first four games of the season, the Sooners did not allow 30 points again all season. Norwood made 23 tackles and also had 5 interceptions and 2 pass breakups in 2020. He made a big impact in Norman this year and decided to move onto the NFL after his strong season.

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Shakur Brown – Michigan State

Shakur Brown was recruited as an athlete in Michigan State’s 2017 recruiting class. He redshirted in 2017 and saw minimal playing time in 2018. Though his role grew some in 2019, Brown was not a major contributor during his first three years with the program. In Mel Tucker’s first season as head coach, Brown found his way in the Spartan’s secondary and became a leader for the unit.

Brown intercepted two passes in his first three years at Michigan State, he would easily pass that number in a shortened 2020 season. Despite only playing seven games in 2020, Brown intercepted five passes, including two games with two interceptions a piece against Indiana and Northwestern. He was the only player on Michigan State to intercept a pass in 2020.

Brown has become a star in the secondary for the Spartans. He was one of the players that took advantage of the opportunity to have what looked like a lost season and put himself in position to be an NFL draft pick. Brown tallied 25 tackles, 5 interceptions and 4 pass breakups in just seven games during the 2020 season, proving he is ready to take his game to the next level.

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Tiawan Mullen – Indiana

Tiawan Mullen is in his second year with Indiana. He was a highly touted three star recruit from Florida but there were concerns about his size. Mullen played as a true freshman and showed that many of those concerns were unfounded. He did not record an interception but had several pass breakups and appeared to be on his way to becoming one of the best in the conference.

In 2020, Mullen took his game to the next level and proved he has the skills to be a star at cornerback. Mullen made plays in the backfield, on the edge and downfield in coverage. Against Rutgers he recorded 2.5 sacks, against Michigan State he intercepted 2 passes. He had multiple pass breakups against Michigan and Wisconsin. It seemed like every week Mullen found a different way to make an impact for the Hoosiers.

Indiana continued it’s upward trajectory in 2020 and Mullen’s play in the secondary only furthered that cause. He collected 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 3 interceptions and a fumble forced in 8 games during the 2020 season. Mullen will be a leader on an Indiana team that is hungry to continue climbing in 2021.

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Brandon Joseph – Northwestern

Brandon Joseph redshirted as a true freshman in 2019, he played in the maximum four games allowed and made 4 tackles. Joseph was a three star recruit and was a complete unknown coming into the 2020 season. As soon as the games started in the Big Ten that changed quickly.

Joseph began making big plays in 2020. He intercepted two passes in the second game of the season against Iowa, helping Northwestern hold on for a 21 – 20 win over the Hawkeyes. The next week he made a big interception in the end zone against Nebraska that helped the Wildcats hold on for a 21 – 13 win. He again intercepted 2 passes against Wisconsin a couple weeks later as the defense led the Wildcats to a 17 – 7 win.

In the Big Ten Championship Game, Joseph made yet another jaw dropping interception. He was matched up one on one with Garrett Wilson and leaped to make a one handed interception on a Justin Fields pass in the endzone. The big play was just another example of how well Joseph played in his first year as a starter.

For the season, Joseph made 52 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 pass breakups and 6 interceptions in 9 games. Those six interceptions were tied for the most in the country, though the player Joseph was tied with played 13 games in 2020. Joseph had a breakthrough season, but he is still a young player who should continue to get better for the Wildcats going forward.

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Bralen Trahan – Louisiana

Bralen Trahan has seen playing time in the secondary since the 2017 season. He played sparingly in 2017 and 2018 and then saw his role increase in 2019. Over those three seasons he intercepted four passes and made 47 tackles. Despite a slightly shorter 2020 season, Trahan would surpass or tie almost all of his career defensive stats.

Trahan thrived as a starting safety for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was a key contributor for a defense that allowed more than 30 points just twice in 11 games this season. Louisiana allowed just 22 points per game and Trahan was instrumental in the secondary. The junior was a key part of the pass defense, making big plays throughout the year and earning All Conference honors along the way.

During the 2020 season, Trahan totaled 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 9 pass breakups and 4 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He finished fourth in the country with 13 total passes defended for the year. Trahan will be one of the leaders on an experienced and talented 2021 defense that could help the program reach new heights in 2021.

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