State senior Brylan Lanier talks spring ball and new defensive additions
Last season saw Mississippi State’s Brylan Lanier line up at numerous positions in the defensive secondary. Whether it was at safety or corner, Lanier became a steady member of the starting lineup on the Bulldogs’ defense.
Lanier finished the season with 54 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception. This spring, Lanier is still moving around some but is starting to settle in one position in the defensive backfield:
Q: How is the defense coming together so far this spring?
Lanier: We got, I think, 26 new guys. Fast and furious. You got a nice Dline, nice defensive ends, nice linebackers. We added a lot more to the back end and I feel like we will be a great defense this year.
Q: You played different positions last year. Where are you settling in this spring?
Lanier: Really, I am playing a lot of positions again. I am playing at corner just a little bit but mostly at safety and nickel.
Q: What do you feel like you bring to the defense with that versatility?
Lanier: I feel like I just bring effort and energy. I bring a lot of energy to the defense and my versatility. I am fast, can cover, I can tackle.
Q: Of the newcomers in the secondary, who has impressed you?
Lanier: JMan (Jahron Manning), Jayven Williams. We got a juco transfer named ‘Jet’ (Amarien Jefferson), who is great. We got a long corner named Dwight (Lewis). We added a lot of great pieces. We got a lot of length and speed. I feel like everybody is going to get a chance to play.
Q: How is Stonka Burnside adjusting to safety this spring?
Lanier: Stonka is amazing. Stonka is one of those guys that is just natural, like a football player. You can put him anywhere and Stonka is gonna shine.
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Q: Any particular area you are working to improve this offseason?
Lanier: Really zone drops. I spent the back end of the season playing a lot of corner and man-to-man. Now I’m back at safety so I am trying to improve my zone drops a lot.
Q: Playing so many positions, is it more of a feel thing as to where you line up in practice?
Lanier: We have meetings and right after the meeting, and the coach says ‘alright, you’re gonna safety and corner and on this one you are at safety. Wherever they put me I will play.
Q: Have you had much interaction with defensive analyst Paul Rhoads?
Lanier: Coach Rhoads, great guy. Coach Rhoads taught me a whole new stance. I got a new stance at defensive back and he’s taught me stuff I never heard before. Coach Rhoads is a great coach and I like working with him.
Q: What is different for you this spring compared to last spring?
Lanier: Just experience. Coming in, I played a lot and I almost started every game. So I want to play more of a leadership role this year. It’s been a little different but I am ready to step into that.”
