Kent State’s defense allowed fewer passing yards per game in 2020 than all but two teams — West Virginia and Army. The Golden Flashes also ranked third in opponent completion percentage, permitting quarterbacks to complete a hair under 52 percent of their attempts.
Yes, Kent State only participated in four contests in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and yes, two of those games were against rebuilding Bowling Green and Akron teams which combined to finish 1-11. But Kent State’s secondary showed necessary signs of improvement after treading below the national average in those categories in 2019.
The Golden Flashes reloaded their secondary with newcomers from the transfer portal and also by regaining one of their starting cornerbacks who missed the 2020 season.