NSU Spartans' defense focuses on safety issues this spring‎

NORFOLK, VA - Backing up Terrell Whitehead wasn’t the most demanding job a Norfolk State football player could’ve had last season. The All-American free safety, who led the team in interceptions and passes broken up and was second in tackles, rarely came off the field. That left few opportunities for the No. 2 man , redshirt sophomore DeVonte Reynolds. “I’d get a couple of reps per game,” he said. “Mostly, I played special teams.”

NSU head football coach Pete Adrian said Dwight Fluker-Berry, 6-2, 200-pound senior, is one of the team’s most versatile players. “He’s not a bad cover guy, and he’s a big physical guy who can come up and make a tackle.”

Reynolds played them well, becoming one of the Spartans’ top kick-coverage guys. Now, he’s in the mix to replace Whitehead, a task that is considerably more challenging than being his understudy. “To replace Terrell, that’s tough,” he said. “He played all over the field and had great instincts. Me, I’m still learning.” The learning curve has been steep for both Reynolds and Dwight Fluker-Berry, who are vying for the starting free safety job. Reynolds has two years in the system under his belt. Fluker-Berry is returning to safety after playing receiver last year.

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