Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/140903
defensive backs player biographies Position Coach Kerry Cooks started his Notre Dame coaching career as the outside linebackers mentor in 2010, and has been in charge of the Irish cornerbacks since 2011. Cooks added co-defensive coordinator duties prior to the 2012 season, and he will continue to serve in that role while tutoring the Irish cover men. The Irish pass defense has improved ever year under Cooks. In 2011, Notre Dame moved up 17 spots nationally in the passing efficiency rankings (59th, 129.63 rating) and 16 slots in pass defense (38th, 205.8 yards allowed a game). Last year, the Irish finished 16th in passing efficiency defense (111.36 rating), tied for 20th in interceptions (16) and 25th in pass defense (199.8 yards allowed per game). They also ranked among the nation's top 20 for fewest passing yards per completion (second, 9.95), fewest touchdown passes (tied for 6th, 11), fewest passing yards per attempt (13th, 5.98) and interception percentage (24th, 3.69). Those impressive numbers were recorded despite the presence of only four scholarship cornerbacks at the start of the 2012 season, or after projected starter Lo Wood ruptured his Achilles tendon midway through the August training camp. Prior to arriving in South Bend, Cooks served as a defensive backs coach at Wisconsin for four seasons (2006‑09) and developed three All-Big Ten first-teamers. In his first season at Wisconsin, Cooks helped the Badgers lead the country in pass efficiency defense (84.19 rating) and rank second with 138.3 passing yards allowed per game — an improvement over the previous year by more than 100 yards per game. Before coaching at Wisconsin, Cooks spent a year at another Big Ten school, tutoring the Minnesota defensive backs in 2005. The Golden Gophers ranked second in the Big Ten that season, allowing opponents to complete only 55.3 percent of their passes. Cooks also spent a year at Western Illinois as the defensive backs and assistant special teams coach in 2004. His first collegiate coaching job came as a graduate assistant in 2003 at Kansas State. Prior to helping Kansas State to a Big 12 title and a national ranking of No. 6 in total defense, Cooks assisted with his alma mater, Nimitz (Texas) High School. Cooks was a two-year starter at strong safety for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1994-97. He served as a team captain during his senior campaign before being selected in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Bob Elliott, a coaching veteran of 34 years, enters his second year at Notre Dame after a successful debut as the safeties coach. The longtime mentor has spent 30 seasons on the defensive side of the ball, primarily as a secondary coach and coordinator. He spent a total of 11 seasons as the defensive coordinator at San Diego State, Kansas State, Iowa and Ball State. Last season, Elliott helped the Irish defense rank among the nation's best. Both of Notre Dame's starting safeties, including first-time starter Matthias Farley, ranked among the team's top eight tacklers in 2012. All told, Irish safeties combined for 126 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery. Before taking his post at Notre Dame, Elliott coached the Iowa State secondary from 2010-11. The Cyclones' improved from 84th in pass efficiency defense the year before his arrival to 46th, and their ranking in pass defense also jumped 29 spots from 2009 through 2011. Before his third two-year stint coaching at Iowa State, Elliott served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at San Diego State from 2006-08. He added the duties of inside linebackers coach in 2008 and worked in the Aztecs' athletic department in 2009. He mentored the secondary and was the defensive coordinator from 2002-05 at Kansas State and helped the Wildcats to a 31-19 record, including four wins over nationally ranked opponents. The school's lone Big 12 championship and only BCS bowl appearance in program history came with Elliott on staff. Elliott worked his first two-year tenure at Iowa State from 2000-01, and served as the associate head coach, secondary coach and special teams coordinator. He held a variety of positions at Iowa from 1987-99, including two stints in the athletic department, and coached under Hawkeyes legend Hayden Fry on the football staff. He mentored the secondary from 1987-94, before serving as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach from 1996-97. He then added associate head coach duties in 1998. His only time instructing offense came from 1983-86, when he coached North Carolina's wide receivers and tight ends. From 1981-82, he served as the Iowa State secondary coach, and he was the Ball State secondary coach from 1978-79 before adding the title of defensive coordinator in 1980. He also served as the secondary coach at Kent State in 1977 and was an Iowa graduate assistant in 1976. Elliott played defensive back at Iowa from 1972-75. Returning Players Josh At kinson • CB Jr. • Livermore, Calif. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 197 Career Highlights: Has appeared in 21 games and made seven tackles … Saw action in all 13 games during the 2012 campaign and recorded five unassisted tackles … Played in seven games and tallied two special teams stops in 2011. Prep: Played running back and defensive back at Granada High … Rushed for 218 yards and three scores as a senior … Also made 20 tackles and broke up 11 passes … Selected for the Team USA vs. The World Game … Regarded as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. Personal: Born Nov. 29, 1992 … Father is former All-Pro defensive back George Atkinson Jr., who helped the Oakland Raiders win Super Bowl XI … Twin brother of Irish running back George Atkinson III … Enrolled in College of Arts and Letters. Chris Badg er • S So. • Provo, Utah Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 197 Career H ighlights: Did not see game action in 2012 … Enrolled in January 2010 before heading out on a two-year Mormon mission to Ecuador. Prep: A three-year starter who helped Timpview High School go 37-2 and win three straight 4A state titles in his three seasons … Named first-team all-state at defensive back as a senior … Recorded 77 tackles and three interceptions, while also playing wide receiver … He was one of only two juniors to earn all-state honors from The Provo Herald after leading the team with 74 tackles and notching two interceptions … Rivals.com ranked him as a three-star player, the No. 5 player in Utah and the No. 24 safety nationally. Personal: Born Nov. 20, 1991 … Older brother, Troy, played football at Harvard … Was enrolled in First Year of Studies. N icky Bar at ti • S So. • Tomball, Texas Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 201 Career Highlights: Played in every contest during the 2012 season … Registered eight stops and intercepted one pass. Prep: Logged time at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, safety and punter in 2011 … Named first-team all-state for Class 5A by the Texas Sportswriters Association … Was 13-of-33 passing for 214 yards, rushed for 338 yards, and caught 48 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns … Played mainly safety in 2009 before switching to mostly quarterback as a junior … Ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 35 athlete in the land and the No. 76 player in Texas by 247Sports. Personal: Born Nov. 13, 1993 … Was enrolled in First Year of Studies. Jalen Br o wn • CB Jr. • Irving, Texas Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 207 Career Highlights: Earned playing time in seven games as a sophomore … Notched three tackles and broke up one pass … Did not play during his freshman campaign. Prep: A three-star product at MacArthur High, according to 247Sports … Recorded 26 tackles and five passes broken up as a senior … Rated as one of the top 100 players in Texas by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram … Selected as a first-team All-Texas District 7-5A pick at cornerback as a junior. Personal: Born April 4, 1993 … Enrolled in College of Arts and Letters. Austin Co llins wor th • S Sr. • Fort T homas, Ky. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 194 Career Highlights: Returns after missing the entire 2012 campaign due to a shoulder and back injuries … Compiled 25 tackles and a forced fumble in 26 games played over his first two seasons … Started his career at wide receiver, but moved to defensive back and has excelled on special teams … Was named Notre Dame's Special Teams Player of the Year in 2011 … Played in all 13 games as a sophomore and notched 18 tackles, including a team-best 14 on kickoffs … Returned seven kicks for 144 yards with a long of 41 … Saw action in every game on special teams as a rookie … Totaled seven tackles and forced a fumble, 104 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 100-106.DBs.indd 104 6/25/13 2:34 PM