CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – One of the best cover men in the Football Championship Subdivision, Lawrence Johnson is back for his sixth year in Southeast Missouri's secondary.
 
Johnson was named to four different All-America teams this preseason, including Athlon Sports, HERO Sports, Phil Steele and Stats Perform. He is on the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award Watch List and among the Big South-OVC Football Association Preseason Players to Watch.
 
A native of St. Louis, Johnson was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and landed a spot on three All-America teams in 2022. He finished the year ranked second on the team in tackles with 86 stops. Johnson led the Redhawks with 10 tackles for loss and tied for first on the team with four sacks in 12 starts at strong safety.
 
With 218 career tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss, Johnson always creates havoc and is looking to finish his lengthy college career with a bang.
 
"Lawrence has been here a long time and is the heart and soul of our secondary," said Ray Smith, who is in his seventh year as SEMO's Defensive Pass Game Coordinator. "He brings a lot of passion to the game and everyone feeds off that. 
 
Johnson's decorated career has included a pair of OVC Championships and three NCAA Playoff appearances, and he wants to end it with one more ring.
 
Ty Leonard, a Second-Team All-OVC pick, is SEMO's other returning starter. Leonard started 11 games at cornerback, where he rated fourth on the team with 50 tackles a year ago. He added one interception and three pass breakups, his only interception which came in the FCS Playoffs at Montana.
 
"This is Ty's third year as a starter. He anchors the backend of our secondary and we look for him to have a big season as well," said Smith.
 
Sophomores Henry Pickens III and Eric Ivory, Jr. are projected to start at cornerback and free safety, repectively. Pickens III and Ivory, Jr. were both active in SEMO's defense during their first college season in 2022. 
 
Pickens III played in nine games and made one start, tallying eight tackles, a sack and one forced fumble along the way. Ivory, Jr. saw action in all 12 contests and made two starts as a true freshman. He ranked sixth on the team with 44 tackles and had one pick.
 
"Last year, Henry was in a smaller role, but was ready to step in," commented Smith. "He had a tremendous offseason and will play a bigger role this season."
 
"Eric picks up things naturally and is a playmaker," continued Smith. "He is primed to take that next step." 
 
Returnees Dony'e Taylor, Joedrick Lewis and Aquarius Winston, along with newcomer Zi'kef Johnson are also on the depth chart.
 
Taylor, a native of Cape Girardeau, participated in seven games and made two starts at cornerback last season. He notched 12 tackles and one pass breakup.
 
"Dony'e is a smart player who has really matured. He is very steady for us," commented Smith. 
 
Lewis, a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College, tied for ninth on the team with 31 tackles in 11 games and two starts.
 
"Joedrick is our swiss army knife. He's so competitive in everything he does and has excellent ball skills. I'm really excited with what's ahead for him," added Smith.
 
Winston redshirted as a true freshman, while Johnson enters his first Division I season after transferring from Independence Community College.
 
Also returning from the 2022 squad are JaQori Williams and Antonio Taylor, who each played nine contests a year ago. 
 
Demarkus Brown, Chris Matlock, Khalani Riddick, Camani Cobbs, Jaleel Chambliss, DJ Delmore and Amare Townsend are SEMO's other defensive backs.
 
"Overall, I'm excited about this entire group," said Smith. "Our freshmen are very athletic and talented, which will complement the experience we have coming back nicely. The best coverage is a pass rush and we want our numbers in sacks and interceptions to double this season. We want to be the best coverage unit and have the pieces in place to achieve that."
 
Helping Smith with the defensive backs is first-year coach Jo Jackson. Jackson previously oversaw the cornerbacks at Presbyterian College. As a player, he was a two-year starter and defensive captain at Orange Coast Junior College before ending his career with stops at Florida Tech and Presbyterian.
 
"Jo is a great addition to our staff," said Smith. "He has expertise both as a player and a coach. He is wise, mature and relates to our guys well. Jo shares the same belief and philosophies, and it's been a seamless transition."