RICHMOND — There are moments when it appears that Jeremy Caldwell has the ability to manipulate the laws of gravity.

“He had (an interception) against Tennessee State two years ago where he was parallel to the ground,” Eastern Kentucky University coach Dean Hood said of Caldwell, a junior defensive back. “He’s definitely a big-play guy. He’s an explosive athlete.”

Caldwell has been making those kinds of jaw-dropping, highlight-reel type plays since he first put on a Colonel uniform.

The junior tied for fourth nationally (among FCS players) last season with seven interceptions, had a team-high six pass break-ups and was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection despite being limited somewhat by injuries late in the season.

The Chattanooga native was recently named to the initial 2010 Buck Buchanan Award list, which is given annual to the nation’s top FCS defensive player and he was one of three EKU players who were named to the All-OVC Preseason Team.

The junior is expected to once again lead a talented and deep defense, which should be the driving force behind EKU’s run at another OVC title.

“I’m humble. That’s how I’ve always been,” said Caldwell, who is also a standout kick and punt returner. “I’ve never been the kind of guy to be cocky. I’m a team player.”

The Colonels return nine starters on defense, highlighted by three All-OVC selections from last season: Caldwell, senior linebacker Jordan Dalrymple and senior defensive lineman Andrew Soucy.

EKU ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense last season (21.8), second in interceptions (14) and fifth in total defense (334.2 yards a game).

This season, however, the Colonel defense is determined to make an even bigger impact.

“We know we’ve got to set the tone,” Caldwell said. “We are the tone-setters anyway. We feel like if we come out and set the tone, its going to be a good game.”

While Caldwell has emerged as a quiet leader, Dalrymple and Soucy are the high-energy and intense bellwether standouts of the defense.

“They are good friends and they are the leaders,” Caldwell said. “So, once they get going we play off them.”

Soucy, a native of Canton, Ga., and 2009 All-OVC first team selection, blocked a field goal or extra point in five straight games last season, the most by any player in the OVC.

Soucy also tallied a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss last season.

Dalrymple, a native of Chuluota, Fla., led EKU with 85 tackles last season, which ranked seventh in the OVC. Dalrymple tied for the team lead in sacks (3.5) and posted eight tackles for loss and was a Second-Team All-OVC selection.

“They are just good, hard-working team guys who want to win and will sacrifice themselves for the team,” Hood said of Soucy and Dalrymple.

The strength of the EKU defense should be the secondary.

The Colonels return all four starters — Caldwell and Jaren Gooden at defensive back and Patrick McClellan and Robert Dees at safety.

“(At safety is) where you have to make the calls and that can win or lose ballgames for you,” Hood said. “This is the first time since I’ve been here that’s we’ve had guys back who had called games for us.”

The Colonels did lose an all-conference performer on the defensive line (Chris Hall), but they still have three standouts back. Soucy, junior Emory Attiq and senior Yameen Thomas all started every game last season.

Redshirt freshman Anthony Brown has stepped into the void left by Hall at defensive end and has really impressed the coaching staff.

“He’s a real talented guy who has worked hard and really understands the defense,” Hood said. “He studied and did everything he needed to do to get better. He’s still got a long way to go, but we are really excited about him.”

Dalrymple returns to lead a group of linebackers which will likely feature two new starters.

Junior Tyson Patrick (eight games last season as a reserve) and sophomore Nick Vicini (11 games last season as a reserve linebacker and special teams player) will both see action on the strong side.

On the other side, Xavier Foster has emerged as a starter. The redshirt freshman beat out senior Antonio Fredrick, who started six games last season but is still recovering from a shoulder injury which forced him to miss all of spring practice.

“He gives us another dimension with our blitz package,” Hood said of Foster. “He is getting better and better at his linebacker reads. Antonio is a good football player, but Xavier is just playing really well right now.”

With the majority of the players at the top of the depth chart at every position in their third season in Hood’s system, the Colonels have the experience and depth to have one of the top defensive units in the OVC.

Now, they just have to prove it on the field.

“We all know the defense, so know we can take it to a different level,” Caldwell said.