Confidence, Competition Define Kent State’s Cornerback Room Through Fall Camp
8/10/2026 7:00:00 PM | Football
KENT, Ohio — Five practices into fall camp, Kent State's cornerback room is playing with a level of comfort and confidence that coach Bart Tanski said wasn't there a year ago, when he was still getting acquainted with the group midway through his first camp.
"I think we're all just comfortable with each other," Tanski said. "Last year, I was coming in a week into camp, so from my standpoint, I was figuring out the group just as a whole, from who the players were to the scheme and everything like that. Now we've got a little continuity within the group, and I think people are playing with a little bit more confidence this year, which definitely helps."
Tanski said that confidence traces directly back to a deeper command of the defense among his returning players.
"I think it's an understanding of the playbook, which gives us the ability to play fast," Tanski said. "The faster we can play, the better we're going to be on the edge. And I think that instills the confidence that they're getting from the understanding."
No one embodies that experience more than A'tiq Muhammad, the room's most tenured corner and a player Tanski said is beginning to grow into a vocal leadership role.
"He's done a good job, he's our oldest guy in the room, he's played the most from a football standpoint," Tanski said. "He's starting to develop his voice. He's still growing himself, as a player and a leader, but as an older guy who's been through it, he can give guidance to some of the younger guys and bring them along."
Tanski also pointed to strides made by Angelo Stockstill, who logged extensive special teams snaps a year ago and is working his way into a larger defensive role this fall.
"Angelo has done a great job from last year to this year," Tanski said.
"There's a willingness with him, a tenacity with him. Sometimes a little bit out of control last year, he's worked on that this offseason and going into fall camp, and you can see a lot more control with him, which makes him play confident out there. Hoping to have a big role for him this season, but he's still got to continue to grow as a player."
With five practices in the books, Tanski said the room remains a work in progress but has already seen standout performances from a mix of returners and newcomers.
"We're still kind of figuring everybody out right now," Tanski said. "Lenox Lemon and BuddyRow are currently leading our takeaway battle within the corner room, but there's been a lot of growth. Davion Pritchard and Tyler Bivens have stepped up, and Ezekiel's been bouncing around in there, too. A lot of good movement within our corner room, and it's a lot of healthy competition that builds the best in all of us."
Looking ahead, Tanski said the group's emphasis and identity both center on tempo and ownership of one-on-one matchups.
"The biggest point of emphasis is playing fast, and the only way we can do that on defense is understanding our job, understanding responsibilities, and knowing what the offense is going to give us," Tanski said. "From our identity, it's got to be a mindset thing. We want to be able to be put on an island out there. We play nine-on-nine football, and we cover the star receivers and lock them down. We're getting to that confidence, continuing to build it. Going against our offense and our receivers is only helping us and making us better. But we want to have that mindset in that cornerback room."
Muhammad, entering the season as the group's veteran anchor, said the added experience comes with a personal standard he's holding himself to.
"As far as the secondary goes, I feel like I have to play my role and set myself to a different standard than most of the DBs in the group, not only because of my responsibility, but my responsibility to the team," Muhammad said.
Muhammad said his offseason work centered on the details of covering receivers one-on-one.
"My patience and man coverage, getting my eyes where they need to be, getting my reads, and making sure my game's at the tip-top," Muhammad said.
He described a room that has built strong chemistry off the field as much as on it.
"We're a lively group, man, it's a tight-knit brotherhood," Muhammad said. "Everybody knows everybody, we hang out with each other, we train together. There's no oddball in the group. We're a tight-knit unit."
Through camp, Muhammad said newcomer BuddyRow Garrer has stood out most among his position group.
"I would say BuddyRow, he's been putting in a lot of work," Muhammad said. "You can definitely see the change in his game, and he's increased his stock as a player."
For Stockstill, entering his second year at Kent State, fall camp represents a long-awaited chance to establish himself on defense after last season was built primarily around special teams.
"I would say I'm very excited just to get this going," Stockstill said. "I feel like I waited a long time for this opportunity, and I feel like I'm ready this year to set myself apart on this defense and really stand out and get my name out there for my teammates."
Stockstill said his approach to the offseason shifted toward eliminating the mental mistakes that limited him a year ago.
"My preparation has changed a lot, just knowing everything, knowing what's going on on the field, knowing the defense, tuning up the little mistakes that I made last year and making sure that I don't make those same mistakes again," Stockstill said.
He credited the daily competition in the room, particularly against Muhammad, for pushing his development.
"The cornerback room is extremely competitive. Every day we all fly around, we make plays," Stockstill said. "The person I say that pushes me the most is the guy across from me, Muhammad. He keeps me going, he makes sure I'm on point with everything, and I do the same."
Stockstill also pointed to Pitt transfer Davion Pritchard as a newcomer who has caught his eye early in camp.
"DP, Davion Pritchard, he's stood out being new coming in," Stockstill said. "For the most part, he's been doing everything he's supposed to be doing."
Like his coach and teammate, Stockstill described the group's identity in terms of speed and physicality.
"I would say our identity is just playing fast, being violent, and going to attack the ball," Stockstill said. "As we say, when we break it down, that's our ball."
Cornerback Room Breakdown
Returners: A'tiq Muhammad (R-Sr.), Angelo Stockstill (R-Jr.), Tyler Bivens (R-Sr.), Ezekiel Castex (R-Fr.), BuddyRow Garrer (R-Fr.)
Newcomers: TeJuan Barbour (Fr.), Davion Pritchard (R-So.), Lenox Lemon (Fr.)
The Golden Flashes open the 2026 season on the road at South Carolina, on September 5, at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Season tickets for the 2026 season are available now at KSUtix.com.
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