A nightmarish start to the football season for St. Thomas included a pair of eye-opening losses, and just as significantly, the loss of one of its premier players and leaders.

Junior cornerback Branden Smith sustained what proved to be a season-ending leg injury in Week 2, leaving his position to unproven junior Den Juette. But as the season has unfolded, Juette has consistently shown that he is up to the challenge.

The Chicago native has helped the Tommies to a 4-0 start in the Pioneer Football League as they head into Saturday’s game at Morehead State. The Tommies defense has contributed 10 interceptions, with Juette sharing the team lead with safeties Grif Wurtz and Nick Hand, each with two.

“When Branden went down, I knew I needed to step up to give the team that missing piece,” Juette said. “I just kind of made the most of my opportunity. I wanted to prove to the coaches that I was ready and that they could trust me.”

Tommies head coach Glenn Caruso is surprised how quickly Juette has emerged as a key defensive component.

“I knew he was ready to step in, but I did not know he would be ready to produce at the level that he is,” Caruso said. “It’s such a tough position to play; you’re doing all the athletic movements of everybody else, except that you’re doing it backwards in high heels.

“But the way coach (Regi) Trotter and coach (Trevor) Warner have built out the depth of the secondary is something we needed, and now you’re seeing it.”

After redshirting as a freshman, Juette appeared in five games last season, primarily on special teams. He stepped into the starting role with little game experience. Caruso credits Juette for being a student of the game, and for his willingness to put in the work as he waited for his opportunity.

“That Longfellow quote that hangs in our locker room — ‘Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait’ — exemplifies what his track has been here,” Caruso said.

Juette’s main sport growing up was basketball. He was a combo guard at Fenwick High School, a private school in the Chicago suburbs, and played on the varsity for three seasons. He said he didn’t start taking football seriously until his junior year.

“I think basketball helped me a lot with football,” Juette said, “with my lateral movement, my agility.”

His continuing education as it elates to learning how to play cornerback has been aided by the support he has received from Smith.

“We talk all the time,” Juette said. “He gives me tips on how I can do things better and on how he sees situations vs. how I see situations. We bounce ideas off each other. While he’s been down, he’s been a great leader.

“He’s been vocal with me. He hasn’t been easy on me, and I appreciate that.”

Like Smith, Juette has good size for a cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds. He sees his long reach and ability to cover a lot of ground as major assets as a pass defender.

“I try to bait the quarterback a little bit,” Juette said. “I make him think I’m going to be in this spot when I’m (actually) going to be in that spot.”

Juette and his fellow defenders take pride in their ability to create turnovers.

“The biggest thing we talk about is how we can impact the game,” Juette said, “and how we can help the offense. Taking the ball away is the main thing. The D-backs in the room, we keep it a friendly competition. When we get one, we want more. We’re still hungry.”

The same holds true for their head coach.

“The defense has done a tremendous job creating turnovers,” Caruso said. “And that’s not just the defensive backs getting interceptions. It truly is collective. The pass rush has something to do with it. Stopping the run has something to do with it, forcing them into passing situations.

“The takeaways have been really good for us this year. It’s been a massive winning edge.” With Smith expected to be back to resume his starting role next season, the Tommies’ secondary should boast excellent depth, with junior Joseph Obeto currently holding the other starting cornerback spot.

Time will tell how things shake out, but as Caruso said, “Den Juette has earned the right to be on the field.”