Gilbert Frierson: Coaches have been pushing us, players working together to make sure we get job done
Gilbert Frierson is the Miami Hurricanes’ man on the move. As the STAR, he can line up pretty much anywhere on the field, from covering the slot to blitzing to helping out in the back end.
The STAR’s role in Kevin Steele’s defense is multiple, and Frierson and his fellow players at that spot can help confuse opposing quarterbacks.
Frierson’s progress so far?
“It’s kind of the same in many different ways,” Frierson said about the STAR position. “It’s a couple of tweaks and different techniques in certain areas and certain things and it’s coming along well. All the guys work together, we help each other in practice and the coaches, they’re pushing us. They stand on top of us never letting us get too comfortable.”
Also working at STAR: Tyrique Stevenson (who also has primary CB responsibilities), Te’Cory Couch (also works at corner), Jaden Harris (true freshman) and Jalen Harrell (previously played safety).
There might not just be one starter at the spot, mind you.
“We’re just pushing every day and learning,” Frierson said. “I’m learning from the guys around me. The young guy Jaden, TC, a couple guys that play the STAR position, we all get together and we learn with each other how we can use each others technique to work in the system.”
Frierson ended 2021 starting three games and had 41 tackles, 3.5 for losses, and a sack. He graded out at 56.9 overall per Pro Football Focus, with a subpar 49.7 tackling grade.
Frierson knows he needs better results, and says he’s up to the challenge.
With less than a week until the Hurricanes’ season opener at Hard Rock Stadium, Frierson – who is entering his fifth season – offered some advice to the younger defensive backs headed into their first game.
“What I just tell them is just think about when you was a kid,” he said. “You just wanted to play football, nothing else really mattered. You just wanted to go out there and play. And always remember where you come from. I always tell them to go back to your training, when you get out there you’re kind of nervous, you might think you need to do more than you have to, but if you just do your job and do everything right, it’s all going to come in place for you.”
