The defensive back competition has been an everyday evaluation in the preseason as new faces have looked to make their respective marks on a group trying to bounce back from a rough 2015 season. Chad Adams, however, is an anomaly on this unit.

Adams is a junior who started just two games last year but has more Division I game experience in the secondary than almost anyone competing for playing time there. Adams appeared in every game as a true freshman in 2014 and appeared in 12 games last year, including starts versus Washington and in the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl. He finished his sophomore season with 21 tackles, including 17 solo and one for a loss, and a pass break-up.

Now an upperclassman, he is competing for the Bandit (strong) safety spot with junior defensive back J’Marcus Rhodes while redshirt senior Laiu Moeakiola remains out with a hamstring injury.

“Chad’s had a great camp,” head coach Todd Graham said. “Chad is very, very steady. He’s responded very well.”

Interestingly enough, Graham coached at Allen High School in Texas, which is where Adams attended.

“Coach Graham is a coach that’s hard on you, but also at the same time he’s a loving coach, especially with everybody in the room,” Adams said. “He’s going to be hard on you, but at the same time you got to know that he’s coaching you and that he cares and wants everybody to be successful.”

Although there was a period where ASU’s staff and players reviewed last year to analyze last year’s secondary’s performance, that time is long gone.

Adams said the defensive backs unit seems to be coming along well and clicking this fall, ready to put last year behind.

“I feel like we’ve transitioned a lot (from last year),” Adams stated. “A lot of guys got experience last year, we’ve also got some new guys — Robbie Robinson, Chase Lucas — they’re looking real good. I’m excited to see what we’re going to look like this year.”

This is a new secondary with different talent and a first-year coach in TJ Rushing, which is why they have dubbed themselves the “Dark Side,” a name Adams said sophomore corner Kareem Orr coined.

Adams said it is not a bad boy name but is symbolic of the group’s transition.

“We just wanted to have something fresh and new for the group,” he said.

Rushing appears to be making an early impact as many of his players have mentioned the experience he has brought along with him from his playing days as an Indianapolis Colt.

“He’s been in the NFL, he’s been successful,” he said. “He’s telling us what they look for on game day, what they look for on the field and just the small things. Technique, tendencies, and looking at the different type of receiver.

“We’re a lot more technically sound. I feel like that’s one thing Coach Rushing has brought to us.”

Adams said he has already noticed improvements with his footwork and where his eyes are when he is in coverage.

Another staff member he has built a solid relationship with is Jarred Holley, a former safety at the University of Pittsburgh who now works with ASU’s defensive backs.

Holley is like another set of eyes out there, Adams said.

“That’s my guy,” he said. “He’s a graduate assistant but he’s more so like a position coach to us. He’s with us in the film room, on the field, he’s telling us, ‘I see this, I see that.’”

There seemed to be a bit of speculation as to whether the defensive coverages would be more conservative in 2016 to help minimize the big plays that hurt the defense last year.

Adams, who naturally was not going to say much about the scheme, somewhat denied an increase in conservativeness.

“I wouldn’t say more conservative,” he said. “We’re always going to be us.”

ASU’s defense — one known for taking risks and forcing the issue in the Graham era — forced 21 turnovers last year, intercepting 15 passes and recovering six fumbles.

Adams said he has noticed the defense forcing a large amount of takeaways in practice this fall, and noted he expects this year’s unit to force more turnovers than it did last season.

It also ties into the “relentless effort” motto the defense is embracing.

“(We will force turnovers) especially in the activity we have in defensive line wrecking the ball, secondary picking balls off, linebackers punching at the ball,” Adams said. “More so an emphasis than in past years.”

And as the season opener against NAU fast approaches, the defensive back competition will continue progressing in hopes of finding the group that can help revive the secondary. The junior feels this process will only improve the level of play for him and his teammates.

“Competition breeds excellence, that’s what we’re trying to build,” Adams said. “Everybody rise up and push everybody to get better.”