RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University's defensive secondary made massive strides in the 2024 season helping the defense allow only 23.7 points per game, the best in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) while producing the second-best defensive passing efficiency rating of 126.63.
 
That secondary was led by captain and All-American Mike Smith Jr. whose presence and leadership will have to be replaced, but the Colonel secondary is well stocked with skill and experience heading into this spring camp.
 
"Right now it's about the simple things, finishing on balls in the air and tackling in open space," said defensive secondary coach Rashad Watson on the group's focus this spring. "Vito [Tisdale] and [Jaheim] Ward have been doing a good job leading in the room by example and verbally and all those small things I expect the leaders in my room to do. We also have some guys in Derek Taylor at safety and Charles Ingram V at corner that are new to the team that I expect to make an impact and are fighting for starting positions."
 
#6 Vito Tisdale | Redshirt Senior | Bowling Green, Ky.
 
A shutdown corner, Tisdale made an instant impact in his first year in Maroon & White after transferring from Colorado.
 
In 2024, he made his presence felt everywhere on the field in all 13 games with 35 total tackles, with 24 solo efforts. In the passing game, he recorded one interception coming against Morehead State with eight pass breakups on the season.
 
#9 Jaheim Ward | Redshirt Senior | Moultrie, Ga.
 
A Second Team All-UAC selection in 2024, Ward put the conference on notice in his first season as a Colonel after transferring from Austin Peay.
 
On the season, Ward had one interception and eight pass breakups while adding a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while playing in 12 of the Colonels' 13 games.
 
Additionally, he tallied 66 total tackles with five being for loss including a standout performance against Southern Utah where the Georgia native had 11 total tackles.
 
#10 Moses Sarweh | Senior | Seat Pleasant, Md.
 
Another newcomer in 2024, Sarweh played in five games for EKU with eight total tackles with three of those coming in his season high of three against West Georgia.
 
#11 D.J. Galva | Sophomore | Bartow, Fla.
 
The Florida native made one of the plays of the season in 2024, intercepting a fade down the sideline, on the road against No. 7 Tarleton State, returning it 37 yards to the Texans' 1-yard line.
 
The interception set up a Colonel score on the next play, as EKU went on to upset the Texans, 17-13 marking the first road win over a top-10 opponent since 2006 for the Colonels.
 
Statistically, in 12 games played, Galva added seven total tackles.
 
#15 Garnell Wilds Jr. | Senior | Tampa, Fla.
 
A transfer from City College of San Francisco, Wilds played in two games in 2024.
 
In two years at CCSF, Wilds played in 21 games making 43 tackles with three interceptions.
 
#17 Derek Taylor | Redshirt Junior | Greenbrier, Tenn.
 
A three-star recruit out of high school, Taylor joins the Colonels by way of Cumberland University (Tenn.) after originally signing with Tennessee.
 
In two seasons at Cumberland, Taylor was a First Team All-Mid-South Conference selection with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
 
#18 Rossie Grimes | Junior | Stockbridge, Ga.
 
Grimes comes to Richmond after two seasons at Tuskegee University.
 
As a Golden Tiger, Grimes made 86 total tackles with two interceptions, a forced fumble, and nine pass breakups.
 
#20 Charles Ingram V | Redshirt Junior | Nashville, Tenn.
 
A transfer from Furman, Ingram spent three seasons as a Paladin, helping them to a SoCon Championship in 2023.
 
In 2024, he played in nine games recording 18 total tackles with three pass breakups including a career-high seven tackles against Charleston Southern.
 
#21 Rishad Hence | Redshirt Senior | Detroit, Mich.
A transfer in 2024 from Akron, Hence did not play last season.
 
A three-star defensive back recruit out of high school, Hence's best statistical season with the Zips came in 2022, playing in 11 games including four starts with 28 tackles and two pass breakups.
 
#29 Kevin Ford | Senior | Indianapolis, Ind.
 
Played in 11 games in 2024, his first season with EKU making five tackles.
 
#30 Jeffrey Kinley | Redshirt Junior | Richmond, Ky.
 
Mainly a special teams player in 2024, Kinley appeared in all 13 games for the Colonels making five tackles.
 
Colonel fans can get their first look at the 2025 team at the annual spring game on April 26 at 3 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.