The Nevada Sagebrush

Junior cornerback Isaiah Frey, right, is one of only two returning starters in the Nevada secondary. After two seasons of seeing significant playing time, Frey said he was ready to take on a leadership role in the Wolf Pack defensive backfield. Casey Durkin/Nevada Sagebrush

Among the Nevada defense’s many criticisms last season, it was the defensive backs who got the worst of it. And for junior cornerback Isaiah Frey, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now in his second year as a starter for the Wolf Pack, Frey will look to lead the secondary to respectability after Nevada gave up the second-most pass yards per game in the nation.

Last season he recorded a career-high 27 tackles to go along with one interception and one forced fumble. Now Frey is charged with leading a group that was anything but great last season — a role he relishes and said is ready for.

“I enjoy it,” Frey said. “I’d rather it be me than anyone else.”

During the offseason, Frey said he did strength training to become faster and stronger.

Frey is expected to start at cornerback along with Doyle Miller; however, after them, the rest of Nevada’s cornerbacks lack experience. Now it’s up to Frey to help bring them up to speed.

“After these last two (seasons), I saw how other people led the team through the fire and trouble we had,” Frey said. “Now, it’s my turn.”

In any given practice, Frey is seen giving the younger cornerbacks tips and helping them progress, including sophomores Khalid Wooten and Thaddeus Brown.

The pair will likely see significant playing time with a possibility of competing for a starting job if Miller or Frey struggle early in the season.

While it’s likely teams will test the secondary early in the season, Frey said the group is focused.

Although he is helping to teach other members of the secondary, Frey isn’t ready to give up his starting spot. Defensive coordinator, Andy Buh said one thing separates Frey from most other players, something that can give him the edge during the game.

“Isaiah is a competitor,” Buh said. “You have to be an ultimate competitor to play the cornerback position and that’s what he is. He wants to beat you in just about anything, whether it’s chess, tying your shoe or football.”

With Frey serving as a cornerstone for the secondary, he will be looked to by head coach Chris Ault to be an example of Nevada’s new defense.

“We have to limit the big plays this season,” Ault said.

Frey will be called upon to cover the opponents’ best receivers and hold them at bay, no easy task; given he will face receivers like Hawaii’s Greg Salas this season.

After coming off a season where many people pointed to the secondary as the team’s main weakness, the cornerbacks hope to change that perception.

“We’re a lot more focused,” Frey said. “The defense relies on defending the pass and we’re ready to step it up.”

While it remains to be seen whether the secondary is improved or not, Frey will be the one ready to lead the unit into the season.

Nevada’s secondary gave up 297.8 passing yards per game in 2009.

Cornerback Isaiah Frey recorded a career-high 27 tackles last season. He also had one interception.

Frey is one of two returning starters in the secondary this season.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at leggen@nevadasagebrush.com.

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