Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media

Isaiah Wharton and Blessuan Austin are like peanut butter and jelly. Eggs and bacon. Steak and potatoes.

You can't have one without the other.

The two junior cornerbacks started side-by-side for Rutgers from the first game of their freshman seasons in 2015 and are halfway through their careers.

Add in talented sophomore Damon Hayes and suddenly the plate is full -- or the secondary is a strong suit.

Here's a look at how those three cornerbacks -- not to mention returning starting safeties Kiy Hester and Saquan Hampton -- are changing the narrative about Rutgers pass defense:

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Bigger, faster, stronger

Wharton hasn't missed a game or a start since the season-opener of his redshirt freshman season, when he went from a third-teamer to a first-teamer during August training camp following the joint dismissal of four defensive backs. He has made big strides in Kenny Parker's strength and conditioning program.

"I feel like I’ve come along way since last season," Wharton said. "feel like this is the biggest, strongest and fastest I’ve ever been. Coach K.P., credit to him and his staff. They are constantly on us, pushing us to our limits.”

Don't Edit

Student of the game

Austin was a 2015 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection after finishing second in the conference with 15 passes defended. He looks the part of a NFL cornerback, but he he is starting to think like one, too.

“I feel like I improved and became more of a student of the game," Austin said. "Coach Baker definitely helped with that. Just realizing certain things like the body language of a receiver when he is running his route and what could possibly be a running formation.”

Don't Edit

A nickel for every time

Hayes is Rutgers' starting nickel back, but he'll be bumped to the outside if either Wharton or Austin misses time. So that he means he has to learn the responsibilities at two different positions.

“At nickel, you really have a lot of space between you and the slot receiver. At corner, it’s condensed tight spaces," he said. "Nickel is a lot harder. You don't have the sideline. You can’t be blind in nickel. You have to know what’s happening before it's happening."

Don't Edit

Big Ten Network

The experienced trio

There's not much a line separating Wharton, Austin and Hayes in the mind of cornerbacks coach Henry Baker, who was hired in January.

“The good thing about the spring is I think we have three starting corners. With the way Damon has picked up his play over the course of the spring, and then with Isaiah and Bless.

"I think all three of those guys are iron sharpening iron. Forcing each other to compete and raise the level of their play. I think we’re in a fortunate spot to have three guys who can go out there and compete.”

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Goal of spring camp

For Baker, spring camp isn't just about building depth and improving skill.

“Right now,, it’s about the culture we are trying to build and the mindset we are trying to build," Baker said. "I think the guys are responding well."

Don't Edit

Rutgers in national rankings for passing yards allowed per game

2016: No. 18 nationally at 186.5 yards per game

2015: No. 118 nationally at 275.9 yards per game

2014: No. 69 nationally at 230.5 yards per game

2013: No. 123 at 312.0 yards per game

2012: No. 39 at 214.5 yards per game

Don't Edit

Setting the bar higher ...

With Rutgers looking for three new season-opening starters on the defensive line to replace last year's seniors and linebacker depth in question, the cornerbacks will be counted on as the strength of the defense.

""That's our goal this year," Wharton said. "If a run leaks out, the defense knows we are going to tackle it. Say the front four is not getting pressure. They can rely on us and we can get more coverage sacks this year. We work really hard, and that would be an honor to be the strength of the defense."

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

... and higher ...

Unless something unforeseen happens, Austin, Wharton and Hayes will play together again in 2018.

But why wait for a breakout? Should it be this year?

"I don't see why we shouldn't have that mindset," Austin said. "Just being a competitor and answering that question, I think this should be the year."

Don't Edit

... and higher

Hayes won't be satisfied if Rutgers cornerbacks are just the defensive strong suit.

"I feel like we should be the strongest area on this team," he said. "Our chemistry is getting better and better every day. We're all working extra in the film room. Even outside of football, we hang together. We're getting tighter."

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

How a Rutgers helmet is made, safety tested

Watch a helmet go from molded beads to passing a 60-inch drop test

Don't Edit

2nd scrimmage

After the defense dominated the first scrimmage of Rutgers spring camp, the second Saturday was more give-and-take on both sides of the ball. And that's not good enough for Baker.

“Saturday I thought we left the energy dip a little bit,' Baker said. "I know there was a lot going on, with the Student Appreciation (Day). That’s what we talked about as far as coming out (Tuesday) and being able to play at our standard. Today they responded like I knew that they should. I was happy and pleased with how they responded. I wasn’t necessarily too happy with how we played on Saturday.”

Don't Edit

Twitter

Changing coaches

Aaron Henry -- one of Rutgers' most popular assistant coaches with the players -- left his post as cornerbacks coach to become defensive backs coach at North Carolina State.

Rutgers filled the spot with Baker, a New Jersey native who is more than a decade older than his predecessor but is a Power Five coach for the first time.

It's no secret that the cornerbacks room was hurting after Henry's departure, but Baker appeasl to have healed the wounds.

Don't Edit

“I understand that this is business," Austin said. " When that happened, yeah, it was unfortunate, but I’m fortunate to have Coach Baker here with all the things he knows and the knowledge he brings to the room. He connects well with us. I have no problem with him being here at all.”

Don't Edit

“He has a lot of experience," Wharton said. "A little bit older guy, but same energy as Coach Henry has. I like both of them. This is going to be my third corners coach I’ve had. I’ve been blessed to have three great coaches.”

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

"Coach Baker is all about energy," Hayes said. "Whenever I'm down, he's going to pick me up. He'll pick us all up. He stresses energy a lot. Every day I learn something new from him. It's a real good relationship."

As for Henry, who got a big pay bump, leaving, Hayes said, "I'm mature. I understand it."

Don't Edit

Makings of the viral Rutgers fundraising campaign that raised $400K in 28 hours

How it started, what it says about the future of Rutgers fundraising

Don't Edit

Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Input from other coaches

Ash is a former defensive back who cut his teeth in the coaching profession working with secondaries.

Defensive coordinator Jay Niemann was Ash's position coach as a player at Drake.

And safeties coach Bill Busch is the co-defensive coordinator.

"Ash is always watching over us," Wharton said. "Coach Busch is constantly on us. Coach Baker is a real technician. It’s less scheme stuff. We’re getting older now so we know the scheme. As far as craft and technician, (Baker) has a lot of experience so he is able to help us with that.”

Don't Edit

What a difference a year makes

At this time last spring, Rutgers cornerbacks were learning to play press-man coverage after former defensive coordinator Joe Rossi believed in 10-yard cushions at the line of scrimmage.

"I feel like we’re playing well, playing hard and having fun. That’s the most important thing," Wharton said. "We’re not as nervous as we were coming into spring ball. We got the scheme down pat.”

Don't Edit

Press coverage

Ash and Baker believe in press man coverage, a style of pass defense that requires an uber level of competitiveness.

"We try to breed that type of mentality every single day," Baker said. "There’s arm-wrestling in the room. They’re shooting baskets. Any type of situation we can get these guys to be competitive it helps the style of football we want to play, especially on the outside. We’ve got five guys who all want to start and all way to play. It takes a competitive guy in terms of mindset.”

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Mr. Versatility

Redshirt senior Ross Douglas played running back at Michigan earlier in his career before transferring to Rutgers to play cornerback. Since then, he also has played safety and linebacker.

So what's his position right now as he works in the slot? All of the above.

“Ross has some flexibility for us," Baker said. "That’s a good thing thing about having players like him who can do multiple things. Right now, he is being a football player. That’s kind of how we look at him. We plug him where we see fit."

Don't Edit

Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

One injury away

While Rutgers has three cornerbacks who have logged a lot of snaps, the experience drops off a cliff from there.

Kobe Marfo was brought in as a junior college transfer after Signing Day in 2015 but redshirted and is behind walk-on Zane Campbell on the official depth chart.

Don't Edit

With a need for speed in the special teams coverage units, Marfo or Campell could make a first impression that way and earn playing time in the secondary.

"“Kobe is coming along well. Zane was coming on early in the spring," Baker said. "Those guys still have a lot of work to do, but they are climbing. I think those guys will be able to contribute. I think those guys will find roles. They have some more work to do as far as helping us on the defensive side of the field, but they are definitely progressing in that direction.”

Don't Edit

Rutgers only has two defensive back recruits in the 2017 recruit and both are safeties, so, unlike at other positions, there is no help on the way.

"Kobe is looking solid," Hayes said. "Zane is out here making plays all the time. We have a real good group. No doubt confidence in them."

Don't Edit

How 4 Rutgers DBs are trying to bring back DBU

These 4 juniors already have a combined 64 career starts

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Pride of DBU

Twin brothers Jason and Devin McCourty of the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots like to refer to Rutgers as "DBU" -- short for Defensive Back University.

In addition to the McCourtys, Rutgers put defensive backs Courtney Greene, Joe Lefeged, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon, Marcus Cooper and Brandon Jones in the NFL from 2009-12.

The current group wants to restore that legacy.

“We say that every day and we stand by it," Wharton said. "We put in the work. That’s a real big goal for us. I feel like we’ve got the talent, we’ve got the ability. We have great coaching. I feel like if we confinue to put in the work we can make that step."

Don't Edit

"We're just trying to be (ranked in pass defense) as high as we can," Hayes said. "If we're DBU, we're DBU. We already feel like we're DBU. That's all that matters."

Don't Edit

Communication

As you might expect with so many games played together, Wharton and Austin communicate enough from opposite ends of the field that there shouldn't be many blown assignments.

“At this point, we’re always on the same page," Wharton said. "We have a feel for each other. We know both of our strengths and weaknesses. I feel like we are the same page and we’re playing good football right now.”

Don't Edit

Some of the most important work a secondary does happens on reads before the snap.

"I feel like if we don't talk before the snap, there's something wrong," Hayes said. "They all feel that way. We're always talking before the snap. That allows everything to happen smoother."

Don't Edit

Mock draft

The first round from start to finish.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Playing mind games

Unlike perimeter cornerbacks, nickel backs are sometimes asked to blitz to change up the view from linebackers. Some corenrbacks prefer to be on an island and avoid the contact drawn on a blitz. Not Hayes.

“Tackles in the backfield, I love that," Hayes said. "Just the mind games you play with the quarterback. He may think you are coverage a dude and you are actually blitzing. He may think you are blitzing and you are actually covering a dude.”

Don't Edit

Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

How Rutgers football starts practice

Don't Edit

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.