Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Trent Sherfield (10) breaks tackle attempts by Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive backs Devon Key (2) and DeAndre Farris (22) during WKU's 31-17 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Vanderbilt Stadium. (Austin Anthony / photo@bgdailynews.com)

FRISCO, Texas – DeAndre Farris couldn’t suit up for spring practice this offseason, as rehab from a shoulder surgery kept him off the field.

So the Western Kentucky cornerback turned from player to coach and got a glimpse of what he hopes is his future career.

“Coaching is something I’ve always wanted to do,” a now-healthy Farris told the Daily News on Thursday during Conference USA Media Days at The Star.

“With me having that shoulder surgery and having to sit out and watch it, it allowed me to work on that aspect of my life. I was able to coach guys up and show them things that I learned from game-day experience.”

Farris has been around the game of football his whole life and lists coaches among his strongest mentors.

Collins High School coach Jerry Lucas, former WKU assistant JaMarcus Shephard and current Hilltopper defensive coordinator Clayton White have all been role models in Farris’ life, he said.

“He’s shown me how things have been done and how he’s gotten to where he is,” the redshirt senior Farris said of White. “That’s motivated me to keep going and pursue that one day.”

Farris will have plenty of experience as a player to draw upon when he one day transitions to the sidelines.

The Shelbyville native came to WKU in the Class of 2014 after winning a 2013 Class 5A state title for Collins HS.

Farris was a three-star prospect who scored 31 total touchdowns his senior season for the Titans. He signed with the Toppers alongside his high school teammate Masai Whyte, now a starting linebacker for WKU.

After joining the Hilltoppers as a wide receiver, Farris redshirted in 2014 and then switched units and became a safety the following spring.

“I kind of understand what goes through a receiver’s head,” Farris said. “I understand route concepts. I understand who’s going to get the ball at certain times.

“Playing receiver has certainly helped me make that transition to go play defensive back.”

Farris moved down from safety to cornerback and played as a reserve in 2015 and ’16. He made a combined 23 tackles those two seasons, several of which came on kickoff coverage, and grabbed an interception during a 2015 win over Miami (Ohio).

Mike Sanford was hired as WKU’s coach in December 2016 after Jeff Brohm, the coach who signed Farris and led the program his first three seasons, left for Purdue. The new coach liked what he saw from the DB.

“Dre’s another one of those guys that from the day we stepped on campus as a new staff, we felt like he was a pro,” Sanford said. “He was a pro with how he trained. He was a pro with how we worked out, how he took notes in meetings. He was a very, very smart young man.”

Farris broke into the starting lineup last season as a cornerback and became one of the Tops’ most productive defenders. He led the team with 14 pass breakups – 13th most in the FBS – and recorded 54 tackles.

Farris’ four pass breakups in a win over Ball State tied a single-game record in WKU’s FBS era. The 2017 Conference USA Honorable Mention pick also grabbed an interception during a loss against Florida Atlantic.

Turning some of those pass breakups into interceptions this season is a goal not just for Farris but for his fellow DBs, he said. The Hilltoppers grabbed 10 INTs last year, 10 less than league leader FAU’s 20.

“Become more opportunistic when the ball’s in the air instead of panicking like, ‘Oh, crap.’ Now when the ball’s in the air, ‘It’s mine,’ ” Farris said. “That’s something that we need to pride ourselves on as a defense is being opportunistic when the ball’s in the air, so we can get the ball back to the offense.”

Farris is one of the returning players for a secondary that figures to be a strength of WKU’s 2018 football team.

Safeties Drell Greene and Devon Key and nickelback Ta’Corian Darden all started at least 10 games last year. Cornerback Roger Cray was the lone WKU true freshman defender to play in every game.

“I think we have a very high ceiling,” Farris said of the DBs. “The main thing is not to get caught up in how well we did last year because we did do well, but at times we didn’t finish the way we were supposed to.

“I think our main thing is continuing to focus on our weaknesses and see what we can do to get better.”

2018 will mark Farris’ final season of college football. Whether his playing career ends this year or at the next level, he plans to stay involved in football as a coach.

Wide receiver Lucky Jackson said Farris has the right demeanor to mentor young athletes.

“He’s a good guy all the way around,” the redshirt junior Jackson said of Farris. “He’s not going to be different in front of you and then go be this guy over here. He’s going to be the same person.

“He’s 100 percent dialed into this process. … He puts his heart into his work.”

Farris obviously has connections through college football and could join a staff as a graduate assistant after his playing career.

But Farris added that he’d also “like to coach at the highest level possible,” meaning the NFL.

“Who wouldn’t want to coach at the NFL level and get that experience?” Farris said. “Me, I’m the type of guy I want to compete at the highest level. So why not coach at the highest level as well?

“I love the game. I plan to be around it for many years to come.”{&end}