Get Physical: Ex-Spartan has settled in at cornerback

With an eye out for bigger, taller and more physical players who are fast enough to play cornerback, defensive coordinator John Wiley of Appalachian State caught a glimpse of Ed Gainey.

He liked what he saw.

Gainey played mostly safety at Mount Tabor High School, but he had some show time at cornerback in the 2007 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

The Mountaineers signed the physical Gainey (5-11, 190) and Dominique McDuffie, a 6-2, 200-pound receiver-turned-defensive back from Chattanooga, Tenn.

In 2007, the Mountaineers had 5-7, 155-pound Jerome Touchstone as a starter at cornerback. But they kept the focus on size again this year and signed Demetrius McCray (6-0, 175), Troy Sanders (6-0, 180) and Justin Wray (6-1, 205). All are considered big enough to play safety and potentially fast enough to play cornerback.

"That's what we saw in Ed Gainey," Wiley said. "He and Dominique were the first two to fit that mold."

It was McDuffie who stepped in and won a starting spot last season as a freshman. Gainey, although hampered by an ankle sprain shortly after the start of preseason camp, didn't go unnoticed.

"Thinking back, I remember how insistent he was to keep coming out hobbling through practice," Wiley said of Gainey. "He could have taken a couple of days off but didn't. And he was still making some plays. I remember thinking then, ‘There's something to this kid.' "

McDuffie started the first three games at right cornerback but then tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee and was sidelined for the rest of the season.

It didn't take long for Gainey to emerge. He was still learning to play corner but got on-the-job experience by starting the final 10 games.

"To come out as a freshman and start and make a lot of plays, he did a good job," said teammate Cortez Gilbert, an All-Southern Conference cornerback. "He didn't miss much. He's really worked hard, and he's improved."

Gainey finished last season as one of two freshman starters for the Apps, along with defensive end Lanston Tanyi. Gainey finished with 51 tackles and nine pass breakups.

"There was a lot of stuff thrown at me, but I had to just go with it," Gainey said. "I wasn't as comfortable with all the coverages as I am now, but I feel like I was up to the challenge. I guess it all paid off. I feel real comfortable going into this year and, physically, I feel a lot faster and a lot stronger.

"I've got a season under my belt. I learned a lot last season and hopefully I'll build on that."

What did he learn most?

"To play every play," Gainey said. "You can't lose focus for any one play.

"The thing I want to work on this year is to be more consistent, doing things like coming off the break playing my receiver instead of looking for the ball. That's different from being a safety, where I could just watch the quarterback and watch the ball."

Wiley said that Gainey brings a physical element to the position and is visibly more comfortable.

"He's obviously more confident," Wiley said. "He knows what he's doing. Now we're working on little things, refining his game and taking it to the next level."

And with Gainey established at cornerback, McDuffie, back from his knee injury, will move to nickel back, although he is battling an assortment of injuries, including a strained hamstring.

Wiley said he's hoping that McDuffie will be healthy enough and learn the nickel position quickly "because he has a lot of talent."

Moving McDuffie, who will compete with junior Jared Reine and freshman Wray for starting time at nickel, could be a key position switch. So could moving Quavian Lewis from defensive end to bandit linebacker to try to fill the void left by graduated Pierre Banks.

Gainey said he's glad he's settling in at cornerback.

"I feel like I earned my position since they're going to keep me there," he said. "Dominique is one of my close friends, and I want us out there on the same side. That will make me feel better that he's out there, too."

Gainey said he welcomes the challenge of playing alongside Gilbert, who had 17 pass breakups and two interceptions last season as a junior.

"I learned a lot from him last year," Gainey said. "He pretty much got me prepared for every game. He had a great season. Hopefully we both will this year."

■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.