2026 Position Preview: New Faces Join Proven Playmakers in the Secondary
8/27/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Coastal Carolina enters the 2026 season with no shortage of options in the secondary, as several of the Chanticleers' top returning defenders are joined by a group of experienced transfers.
The 23-man secondary features nine cornerbacks, five nickels and nine safeties, with Ja'Marion Wayne and Myles Woods highlighting the returning production.
Wayne started all 12 games in which he appeared at cornerback last season and finished with 61 tackles, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception. The graduate student recorded a career-high 11 tackles at App State and picked off the first pass of his career against Georgia State.
Woods also returns after starting 11 games at safety in 2025. He led the Chanticleers with three interceptions while adding 45 tackles and six pass breakups. After playing safety during his first two seasons at Coastal, the junior is listed at nickel entering 2026.
Both have earned preseason recognition ahead of the season. Wayne was named First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt by the conference and Third Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, while Woods earned First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt honors from Pro Football Network and Second Team recognition from the Sun Belt Conference.
The Chanticleers added significant experience around those returners, including South Dakota State transfer Jalen Lee. Lee earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in 2025 after recording 63 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He started throughout the season at cornerback, played more than 600 defensive snaps and did not allow a touchdown in coverage before joining Coastal as a safety.
Mason Moore brings additional experience to the safety room after starting 23 games over the past two seasons at Lehigh. Moore totaled 105 tackles during that stretch and recorded an interception in each season. He helped Lehigh reach the FCS Playoffs in both 2024 and 2025.
Coastal also brings back veteran Dre Pinckney, who appeared in all 13 games with four starts last season and finished with 35 tackles. Chris Henry played in 11 games and recorded 10 tackles during his first season with the Chanticleers, while Chase Jackson, Jayden Jackson, Brandon Rose and Rilan Cunningham provide additional depth. Freshmen Zeke Marshall and Jax Pope round out the safety room.
There will also be plenty of competition alongside Wayne at cornerback.
Gabe White arrives from Bethune-Cookman after being named a semifinalist for the Aeneas Williams Award, presented annually to the top defensive back in HBCU football. White recorded nine passes defended and two interceptions in 11 games last season.
Travis Roman adds another experienced option after earning Second Team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors at Navarro College in 2025. Roman recorded 17 tackles and three interceptions, returning two of his picks for touchdowns.
King White joins the Chanticleers from Tyler Junior College, where he tallied 39 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups, while Villanova transfer Damill Bostic Jr. recorded 22 tackles and five pass breakups in 13 games last season. Garrett Smith-Dean, Missouri State transfer Ryan Grayson and freshman Michael Knight add further competition at the position.
The nickel position brings another experienced group, led by Woods and three transfers with significant size.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Jesse Powell II arrives after three seasons on the field at Elon, where he totaled 109 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks and 11 pass breakups. Azarel Juste joins the Chanticleers following two seasons at Bryant and is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. His performance earned him Third Team Preseason All-Sun Belt recognition from Pro Football Network entering 2026.
Donald Quist reunites with head coach Ryan Beard after spending his freshman season at Missouri State, while Kadon Crawford moves to nickel after appearing in eight games for Coastal last season.
The 23-man secondary features nine cornerbacks, five nickels and nine safeties, with Ja'Marion Wayne and Myles Woods highlighting the returning production.
Wayne started all 12 games in which he appeared at cornerback last season and finished with 61 tackles, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception. The graduate student recorded a career-high 11 tackles at App State and picked off the first pass of his career against Georgia State.
Woods also returns after starting 11 games at safety in 2025. He led the Chanticleers with three interceptions while adding 45 tackles and six pass breakups. After playing safety during his first two seasons at Coastal, the junior is listed at nickel entering 2026.
Both have earned preseason recognition ahead of the season. Wayne was named First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt by the conference and Third Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, while Woods earned First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt honors from Pro Football Network and Second Team recognition from the Sun Belt Conference.
The Chanticleers added significant experience around those returners, including South Dakota State transfer Jalen Lee. Lee earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in 2025 after recording 63 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He started throughout the season at cornerback, played more than 600 defensive snaps and did not allow a touchdown in coverage before joining Coastal as a safety.
Mason Moore brings additional experience to the safety room after starting 23 games over the past two seasons at Lehigh. Moore totaled 105 tackles during that stretch and recorded an interception in each season. He helped Lehigh reach the FCS Playoffs in both 2024 and 2025.
Coastal also brings back veteran Dre Pinckney, who appeared in all 13 games with four starts last season and finished with 35 tackles. Chris Henry played in 11 games and recorded 10 tackles during his first season with the Chanticleers, while Chase Jackson, Jayden Jackson, Brandon Rose and Rilan Cunningham provide additional depth. Freshmen Zeke Marshall and Jax Pope round out the safety room.
There will also be plenty of competition alongside Wayne at cornerback.
Gabe White arrives from Bethune-Cookman after being named a semifinalist for the Aeneas Williams Award, presented annually to the top defensive back in HBCU football. White recorded nine passes defended and two interceptions in 11 games last season.
Travis Roman adds another experienced option after earning Second Team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors at Navarro College in 2025. Roman recorded 17 tackles and three interceptions, returning two of his picks for touchdowns.
King White joins the Chanticleers from Tyler Junior College, where he tallied 39 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups, while Villanova transfer Damill Bostic Jr. recorded 22 tackles and five pass breakups in 13 games last season. Garrett Smith-Dean, Missouri State transfer Ryan Grayson and freshman Michael Knight add further competition at the position.
The nickel position brings another experienced group, led by Woods and three transfers with significant size.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Jesse Powell II arrives after three seasons on the field at Elon, where he totaled 109 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks and 11 pass breakups. Azarel Juste joins the Chanticleers following two seasons at Bryant and is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. His performance earned him Third Team Preseason All-Sun Belt recognition from Pro Football Network entering 2026.
Donald Quist reunites with head coach Ryan Beard after spending his freshman season at Missouri State, while Kadon Crawford moves to nickel after appearing in eight games for Coastal last season.
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