Mustangs matchup to watch: Safety B.J. Nard vs. Nevada safety Dameon Baber

B.J. Nard will have a different supporting cast around him when Cal Poly officially begins the 2016 season Friday night against Nevada.

The fifth-year junior safety from Bakersfield anchors the Mustangs’ new-look secondary, which includes first-time starters Kitu Humphrey at safety, and Jerek Rosales at the cornerback spot opposite Kevin Griffin.

Rosales (Diablo Valley College) and Griffin (Washington State) were prep teammates at De La Salle High School who both transferred to Cal Poly before last season.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pounds Nard made 62 tackles last year and tallied three interceptions during the Mustangs’ season-opening victory at Montana.

He figures to be a key playmaker on a Cal Poly defense eager to show it’s improved since last fall.

“I believe if we come out and be very disciplined with our eyes,” Nard said, “we can compete with them, no doubt.”

There are high expectations on the opposite sideline for Nevada sophomore safety Dameon Baber.

A second-team all-Mountain West Conference performer, Baber recorded 65 tackles, six interceptions and eight passes defended as a true freshman in 2015.

Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider Baber did not play the first three games of the season in what was expected to be a redshirt year.

The Wolf Pack secondary struggled at times last season, however. They allowed 18 touchdowns through the air and opponents averaged nearly 11 yards per reception.

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Mustangs matchup to watch: Safety B.J. Nard vs. Nevada safety Dameon Baber."