New defensive starters up for the challenge

As a football player, you never know when your number will be called.

   Whether it is because of injury, fatigue or suspension, there is always a chance that you will be called upon to help your team win. D.J. Wingate and Ahmed Shakoor are being asked to do just that.

   As the starting defensive backs going into the first game of the season against Ohio State, Wingate and Shakoor are determined to be successful now that the opportunity has arrived.

   "This hasn't changed my attitude at all," Wingate said. "I've always looked at myself as a starter. Any given play you can be a starter in the secondary. I'm always ready to play."

   DeQuan Bembry and T.J. Drakeford were the expected starters in the defensive backfield coming into the 2010 season, but both were dismissed from the team after multiple acts of misconduct off the field, which left the door open for Wingate and Shakoor.

   "We practice hard every single day," Wingate said. "We come out here and we work hard and we let coaches be coaches and we let the players be players. We listen to what the coaches say and we feel like if we follow what they say, nothing can stop us."

   Although he wasn't projected as a starter for the upcoming season, Shakoor gained experience as a starter when he started 10 games for the Herd last season.

   "I have very high expectations for myself," Shakoor said. "There is always pressure on you as a corner. I have to take one play at a time and focus on doing my job. We are going to be lockdown corners this year."

   Every team has a collective goal of winning games. It can also be said that players have individual goals they set for themselves each season so they can track their improvement. Last season Shakoor and Wingate combined for zero interceptions. That is a number they plan on changing this year.

   "My number one personal goal is to get interceptions," Shakoor said. "As far as last year, I didn't get any interceptions so that is what I am focused on this year for myself."

   Shakoor said he has been watching highlight films of NFL corner Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets.

   "Every night I watch Darrelle Revis and the other best corners in the league to try and improve my game," Shakoor said. "I want to be All-Conference first team this year, with the ultimate goal of being an All-American."

   Those lofty goals are difficult to attain, but not impossible. The recognition that comes with being successful comes as a result of a group effort.

   "We are a family here, a true family," Wingate said. "It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. It matters what the Marshall University Thundering Herd thinks. All we have is each other and that is all we need."

   Troy Hemingway can be contacted at hemingway@marshall.edu.