Trade good for both

PULLMAN – Hollywood is big on remakes. For every black and white “3:10 to Yuma,” there seems to be a full-color, modern version.

So why not a new “Trading Places” starring Chima Nwachukwu and Alfonso Jackson?

The two Washington State University defensive backs have changed roles this fall, with Nwachukwu, a sophomore from Allen, Texas, moving from cornerback to safety and Jackson, a senior from 185 miles down the road in Hearne, making the opposite journey.

For one it was a radical change. For the other, it was like coming home.

“I actually wanted to play safety,” said Nwachukwu, who started every game his freshman season, making 73 tackles and coming up with an interception. “I was really happy to make the change. The coach wanted it so I was definitely happy to make that change.”

Nwachukwu was in ninth grade before his mother finally allowed him to do what seemingly every Texan boy does: play football. And he started as a safety, only moving to the outside as a senior.

Jackson, who has been playing football as long as he can remember, always was in the middle of the defensive backfield, delivering hits with his powerfully built 5-foot-9, 203-pound body.

But it was those explosive hits that cost him playing time last season, his first at WSU after two seasons at Blinn Junior College. Twice last year Jackson, 22, missed time after suffering concussions, both on ringing tackles. Despite sitting out most of five games, he made 65 tackles and had two interceptions.

“Trainers and coaches think it will be less chance,” he said of the move. “I’m still going to hit hard. If I still get the chance I’m going to try to punish receivers, punish running backs. I’m still going to try to do the same things, just at a different position.”

That was part of the motivation, co-defensive coordinator – and cornerbacks coach – Jody Sears said, but not the most important one.

“What we saw was the quickness, the quick feet,” Sears said. “Speed-wise, I think it was a wash. But the quickness and having the agility to move in space gave him a little more of advantage to be out there on that island.”

Sears feels Jackson is “a natural football player” and has to be on the field somewhere. With his speed and quickness, cornerback seemed to be a perfect fit.

As for Nwachukwu, 19, speed isn’t a problem, but it also isn’t his biggest strength. That would be his intelligence. And it’s those smarts the WSU defensive coaches wanted at safety.

“Chima’s a good football player,” Sears said. “Generally, he’s going to have himself in a position to make ball plays. He’s smart. Now, he doesn’t have the experience that Alfonso has, but that’s coming. You can see it coming. He’s going to be that kind of savvy football player.”

Both players were smart enough to get together in the spring when the change first occurred and pick each other’s brains.

Nwachukwu would head over to Jackson’s apartment and the two would talk about what to expect. That conversation really hasn’t stopped.

“He brushed me up on a lot of that stuff starting off,” Nwachukwu said. “And, over on the field, he would ask me, ‘OK, what are we doing on this?’ So we would on the same page.

“He would help me out, I would help him out, it was a nice combination.”

“He had to help me,” Jackson said, “and I had to help him. … At first I could tell he was a little bit hesitant about the switch. I know I was. At first I was a little iffy. I didn’t think I was a corner. Now it just feels natural.”

So far in fall camp, Jackson has had to deal with defending against WSU taller receivers, something he’s just now learning to deal with.

“It’s tough, but if you’re in good position it doesn’t matter how short or how tall you are,” Jackson said. “It’s just playing ball, really.”

Nwachukwu, at 5-11, 197 pounds, is learning how to start one snap at the line of scrimmage over a slotback then the next 20 yards downfield in zone coverage. There’s something new for him each day – just like last season.

“Last year was only my second year playing corner,” he said. “Every day was a learning experience.”

Will the change last? It looks like it, though head coach Paul Wulff is like that old James Bond movie. He’ll never say never.

“You never say you would never switch them back,” he said after practice Friday, “or move one back to the other spot and keep them both there.”