Wyoming's Halliburton looks to fill in at safety

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - If quarterbacks didn't exist in football, Alijah Halliburton would be taking over at the most recognizable position on the field for Wyoming.

Andrew Wingard roamed the Cowboys' secondary for the last four years, tackling nearly everything that came his way. The most productive safety in program history ended his career tied for the most tackles ever in the Mountain West (454) and is the only Wyoming player ever to garner first-team all-league honors three times.

With his eligibility up, Wingard is now preparing for this week's NFL Draft. That leaves Halliburton as the next man up for the Cowboys at strong safety, where he admittedly feels pressure to perform following one of Wyoming's all-time greats.

That doesn't mean Halliburton believes he's going to wilt under it. In fact, it's quite the opposite for the senior.

"Right now, I'm feeling good. I'm not going to lie," Halliburton told the Casper Star-Tribune. "Just to know everyone's looking to you. It can be stressful at times. I need to show leadership, but I'm up for the role."

If not for being on the same roster as Wingard the previous three years, Halliburton might have cracked the top of the depth chart sooner. He's got ideal size for the position with 190 pounds packed on his 6-foot-2 frame, and he's flashed a similar playmaking ability to his predecessor when given the opportunity.

"I think Alijah Halliburton has been waiting in the wings," defensive coordinator Jake Dickert said. "With the way last year kind of went with some injuries, he got a chance to play a decent amount in every game, especially those last four games when we moved Marcus (Epps) down (from free safety) to nickel."

Halliburton didn't get many snaps as a sophomore in 2017 when Wingard was in the midst of his third straight 100-tackle season, but Halliburton still played in all 13 games and finished with 21 tackles. When injuries in the secondary last season left Wyoming's coaching staff thinking the best course of action was to move Tyler Hall back outside to corner and bump Epps down to nickel, it created the first significant opportunity for Halliburton, who started alongside Wingard the final six games and pulled his own weight.

Halliburton finished the season as the Cowboys' fourth-leading tackler with 61 stops - just two behind Epps, who also finished his career as one of Wyoming's top 10 tacklers. Halliburton also broke up two passes and forced a fumble.

He's played in 37 career games, though most of his production has flown under the radar considering the two safeties he's spent most of his career playing behind. Thanks to all the experience he's acquired both on and off the field, he believes he's ready to pick up where they left off.

"Over the years, just watching Marcus and Dewey, I guess I picked up on both of them," Halliburton said. "Marcus is really good in the third (in coverage). He was good really on man technique too. Dewey was a great tackler.

"I guess those are my strengths, but I think my greatest strength is tackling. I don't really try to miss any tackles. If it comes my way, I'm going to try to make that tackle. I'm going to fly sideline to sideline to make a tackle."

Halliburton said he believes he can also stick with receivers in coverage. His primary focus this spring has been taking Braden Smith, Cameron Murray and Rome Weber under his wing as the trio competes to take over for Epps at free safety.

Smith is a junior who's contributed primarily on special teams the last two seasons while Murray and Weber, a converted cornerback, are coming off redshirt years.

"They're kind of inexperienced," Halliburton said. "I'm just trying to lead them down the right path. I've been in the same position as well."

Halliburton's name is also virtually unknown in the college football world despite his experience. But he's confident that will soon change, too.

"It's my last year. I'm the guy," Halliburton said. "Everyone's looking my way, and I'm going to prove I'm the best safety in this conference. Not even that. Probably the nation. I'm very confident with myself and what I can do."

___

Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com