For the past week, the Idaho State Journal has touched on each of Idaho State’s offensive position groups in a countdown to the start of fall camp in August. Now it’s time to check out the defense, a group that took positive steps forward in 2014 as the Bengals went 8-4. But there is still plenty to work on as ISU continues to try and rise its program from worst to first in the Big Sky Conference.

Sunday, we looked at the wide receivers, Tuesday the offensive line and now: the cornerbacks.

OUTLOOK

Coming out of spring practice, seniors Khary Livingston-Coleman and Erik Collins were starting and their immediate backups were Khalil Bell, a former BYU walk-on, and senior Tavonte Jackson.

Expect all four to battle for starting spots in the fall. And redshirt freshman Cory Hollowell, who did not participate in spring practice for reasons head coach Mike Kramer would not reveal, will push for playing time.

The Bengals may not have a shut-down corner on their roster, but they’ve got options. And there’s no question Bengal cornerbacks have the ideal arena to get better every day in practice by going against Idaho State’s legion of receivers.

CONCERNS

The Bengals want to play aggressively and apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks. By doing that, the cornerbacks are left on an island many times and expected to cover receivers one-on-one. That’s not easy, especially with some of the talented offenses ISU faces.

Last year, Eastern Washington burned Idaho State for 354 yards through the air and sophomore All-American receiver Cooper Kupp had 132 yards and three touchdowns. Idaho State beat Southern Utah by four touchdowns (56-28) but still gave up a season-high 528 yards in the air.

Not all of the blame falls on the corners, of course. But it is a group cornerbacks coach Stanley Franks and the Bengals need to have play better.

THE STAR

Erik Collins has the most experience on the field after compiling 25 tackles, three interceptions and nine passes defended a season ago. Collins, who transferred to ISU last August after playing for Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California, started five games in 2014.

He nabbed two key interceptions in Idaho State’s 31-13 win over Portland State on the road. The Bengals had five interceptions against the Vikings, a game that might have been the defense’s top performance of the season.

PLAYER ON THE RISE

Cory Hollowell had a promising start to his Bengal career as a true freshman with a great fall camp. The Corona, California, native was slated to redshirt so he could add needed bulk to his listed weight of 185 pounds. But that didn’t stop him from competing in every drill and flashing moments of high potential.

Hollowell has one unique asset other ISU cornerbacks lack — height. At 6 foot 2, he has the ability to fight tall receivers for loose balls in the air. With the Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman (6-3) anchoring one of the best secondaries in the NFL, lanky corners are valued more than ever.

But the question remains, did missing out on spring practice stunt Hollowell’s development?

BOTTOM LINE

The Bengals allowed 501.9 yards a game in conference play a season ago, the 12th-highest mark in the Big Sky. And they were dead last in pass defense, giving up 310.1 yards on average.

That’s a problem.

Keep in mind, though, Idaho State also had the No. 1 scoring offense in the league. Teams were regularly passing the ball every play to try and play catch-up with the Bengals.

Despite being torn apart for major yardage at times, Idaho State was sixth in scoring defense (29.1 points per game), No. 2 in red zone defense and forced 19 turnovers in eight conference games.

In other words, the Bengals defense bent but didn’t always break. The corners were a big part of that, and they can make an even bigger difference this season if they continue to refine, enhance and build on what they’ve already done.