The Texas A&M football team is hopeful the right mix of veterans and newcomers will improve a much-maligned secondary.

The Aggies return only four starters on defense this season, including three in the secondary. Cornerbacks Debione Renfro and Charles Oliver lead the way with 22 career starts each, tying them for most on the team with junior wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon.

There’s not much experience behind Renfro and Oliver, however. The only other player to start at cornerback last season is junior Myles Jones, who made four starts. Senior Roney Elam has played in 33 games, but he made just one start last season at nickelback.

“We’ve got to develop more depth there,” A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Those young guys need to keep developing.”

True freshman Demani Richardson and junior Clifford Chattman, who missed last season with an injury on the heels of taking a redshirt in 2017, also are competing for playing time.

Fisher said Monday that a few cornerbacks have missed practice due to minor injuries but have been returning to the field. That includes Elijah Blades, a transfer from Arizona Western Community and the nation’s top-ranked junior college cornerback according to 247sports.com .

“I don’t think we are where we want to be as far as depth and numbers quite yet ... [not] as far as consistency,” Fisher said.

A&M does have experienced depth at safety despite having to replace free safety Donovan Wilson and safety/nickelback DeShawn Capers-Smith, who combined for 38 career starts. Senior Larry Pryor, juniors Derrick Tucker and Keldrick Carper and sophomore Leon O’Neal all have starting experience. The group has added true freshmen Brian Williams and Erick Young.

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“Safeties are making so many checks to get you in and out of things,” Fisher said. “From that context of communication, getting it to the linebackers and getting it to second-level guys and getting it to the corners, how we’re changing the coverage if there’s a [man in] motion, I think from that standpoint it’s got me excited to know we’re communicating much better.”

A&M had many breakdowns in the secondary last season, allowing 253.2 yards passing per game to rank 98th nationally. Opposing quarterbacks completed 60.7% of their passes, throwing 26 touchdown passes with seven interceptions to leave A&M ranked 106th in passing efficiency defense.

Carper said they’ve played much better in fall camp.

“When you do the right stuff, you get good results,” Carper said. “Once you see that, the confidence just builds and it builds.”

This article originally ran on theeagle.com .