Matthias Farley’s 2013 stats mirror his 2012 stats, yet public perception derided his junior season performance after a praiseworthy sophomore season. Both saw the then-safety play in 13 games and make 49 tackles.

The difference in opinion was a result of Farley’s role and varied successes in that role.

In 2012, he lined up alongside senior safety Zeke Motta, and a large portion of the credit for the secondary’s consistent performance went to Motta. In 2013, Farley served as the secondary’s quarterback and thus endured more criticism for the secondary’s mishaps.

As Farley added missed tackles to miscommunications, those criticisms grew louder -- perhaps loudest after Michigan’s first touchdown in the second game of the season - when a 61-yard pass from Devin Gardner to Jeremy Gallon, in which multiple Irish defenders failed to tackle Gallon, included Farley struggling to get a hand on the receiver.

“We were trying to get him to replace Zeke Motta and Harrison Smith, two pretty good players and two physical players,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said following the spring’s first practice. “He’s not that kind of player. So he kind of got that tag of he’s not as physical as them. Well, that’s not his best trait.”

By mid-season, Farley was replaced in the starting lineup for three games. Then he found himself coming off the bench in the Pinstripe Bowl as freshman Max Redfield joined senior Austin Collinsworth as the defense’s last line.

“It was a combination of a lot of things,” Farley said. “I was asked to do a lot. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t necessarily prepared for it, but there had been fifth-year guys, fourth-year guys who had been in the system for a long time in those roles. It was a big jump from playing my first year in 2012 to having all that on my plate in 2013.”

In 2014, Farley will once again have a lot on his plate, now due to the second position switch of his college career. The North Carolina native served as a scout team receiver his freshman season before moving to safety in 2012. When newly-hired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder came to South Bend, discussion began regarding moving Farley to cornerback.

“The conversation started several weeks ago, just here and there, nothing nailed down,” Farley said. “Then it was official last week. I’m really excited about it.

“It’s a new system, it’s a fresh start, so why not change positions?”

Farley began working on the adjustments as soon as the tentative conversations began. VanGorder mentioned the possibility -- based on what the former New York Jets linebacker coach had seen on film -- and Farley immediately began seeking the advice of cornerbacks he has worked with closely.

“Me and (junior-to-be cornerback) KeiVarae (Russell) have been working a lot after workouts, doing footwork and stuff,” Farley said. “He’s been very, very helpful. I talked to (former Irish cornerback) Bennett Jackson. He’s one of my best friends. We’ve had a couple conversations. Everyone’s really, really positive. It’s already helped me a ton with the transition.”

The early mental preparation should serve to complement Farley’s physical skills as VanGorder and Kelly see them. Rather than have Farley battle a deep safety depth chart and play inside-out, Kelly wants to see his outside-in abilities.

“He can be a very good player, and especially a tackler, from an outside-in position,” Kelly said. “We think he can be a very good force player from an outside-in position, and he’s a really good athlete. He can run and he has very good ball skills. We’re going to give him an opportunity out there to compete. We’re going to play more than two corners. We’re going to play as many as four.”

In the first spring practice Monday, Farley joined the second-team base unit and the first-team nickel unit alongside safeties Max Redfield and Austin Collinsworth and cornerbacks Russell and Cole Luke.

“He’s going to play more than corner,” Kelly said. “He’s going to have a chance to play some nickel for us, some corner. I think he’s going to be involved in what we do defensively. I think the rule is you have to be determined.”

If Farley’s excitement is indicative of his determination, that rule should not be a problem.

“I’m excited. It’s a new system. It’s a new everything,” Farley said. “When I have a fresh start, I feel like that’s been the storyline of my career -- adapting to new situations. I’m really excited about it. I think it will probably fit my skill set better. I’m really looking forward to it.”