Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

October 11, 2012

Colvin's value to OU defense can't be easily measured

JOHN SHINN CNHI News Services

NORMAN — The Big 12 Conference’s reputation for offense continues to snowball. Its teams continue to put up massive offensive numbers. Nevertheless, the highlight play of the first six weeks of the season wasn’t a miraculous catch by a wide receiver.



Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin’s leaping pick of Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege at the line of scrimmage last week will be hard to top.



“That was an athletic play,” OU cornerback Demontre Hurst said. “For him to jump in the air and catch a ball like that was pretty impressive.”



It’s a player like Colvin who may separate the 13th-ranked Sooners from the rest of the Big 12’s defense. OU has defensive backs who are making plays that rival some of the league’s outstanding receivers. Colvin could be the best of the bunch.



“He’s a great cover guy. He’s a great athlete. He’s got great ball skills. And he’s highly competitive,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s a guy who takes pride every day in how he plays. Even out there against the scout team, he can’t stand it if they catch one ball on him. He’s really playing great.”



The Sooner coach said after the Texas Tech game that Colvin has the ability to be as good or better than any defensive back who has played at OU. When you consider the program has produced three Jim Thorpe Award winners (Rickey Dixon, Roy Williams and Derrick Strait), it’s incredibly high praise.



“It’s definitely motivating but at the same time, I remember I had trouble being humble about certain situations,” Colvin said. “I’ve been at the worst ends of that. I’m definitely taking that as a motivator and I’m very appreciative of that, but I still have a lot of learning to do.”



After watching him on Saturday, it’s hard to believe Colvin is in his first season as a starting cornerback. He was OU’s strong safety last season and led the team in tackles. The position switch was made because defensive coordinator Mike Stoops believed Colvin would have more of an impact on the perimeter of the defense.



The Sooners (3-1, 1-1 Big 12) face No. 15 Texas (4-1, 1-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Having cornerbacks that can lock down receivers is an advantage.



“You’ve got to have great corner play to be successful in any league. I don’t think that’s any great revelation, whether it’s in the NFL or college. I feel like we’re getting good play out there on the perimeter, “ OU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. “That’s going to be a big factor in this game Saturday.”



But what is it that has made Colvin so effective at corner?



He’s not exceptionally big (6-0, 180 pounds). He has good speed, but it’s doubtful anyone will mistake him for an Olympic sprinter.



There isn’t one special attribute. It’s a mixture of many that has put Colvin on a pedestal.



“Aaron is a very complete player. Aaron does way more than cover. He is a very instinctual player. He finds the football quickly. He understands concepts, where help is. That isn’t news to anybody,” Mike Stoops said. “From day one when I saw him once he got healthy, I knew he was a special player.”



The Sooners’ special players always seem to have a major impact in the Red River Rivalry. Colvin will be walking down the Cotton Bowl ramp for the third time. He played well in both those games. But he’s a better player now. That athletic ability is starting to shine through more and more with every game.



“I’m just excited to go out there and play,” Colvin said.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • Practice_051web.jpg ‘All-State Brace’

    All the hours and hard work of keeping the Claremore Zebra athletes injury-free in order to reach their dreams at the highest level helped graduate Averey Brace fulfill a huge accomplishment in her athletic training career.
    Brace, a recent 2013 graduate of Claremore High School, received All-State honors from the Oklahoma Coaches Association earlier this month for her three-year commitment to the Claremore High School athletic training program.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sign up now for OSU Baseball Camp

    Oklahoma State Baseball will be holding a pair of camps in June for players in grades 1-8, and registration is now open.
     
    Session I of the camp is June 17-19, with Session II set for June 24-26, and cost for each camp is $200. Camp runs from 9 a.m.-noon each day.

    May 17, 2013

  • Lady Zebra volleyball camp set for May 20

    The Claremore Lady Zebra volleyball camp will take place on May 20-23 at the Claremore High School gymnasium.
    Under the direction of Lady Zebra head coach Lindsey Renfroe, campers will receive instruction in fundamentals — passing, setting, hitting and serving.

    May 17, 2013

  • Green Country All-Star Games start May 23 in Catoosa

    Area senior all-star athletes from 21 schools in northeastern Oklahoma will lace up their high tops, hoist their bats and dust off their pom-poms in preparation for the 2013 Green Country All-Star Games held May 23-24 in Catoosa.

    May 17, 2013

  • SEC BASEBALL: Auburn blanks No. 13 Arkansas, 3-0

    Conner Kendrick and Terrance Dedrick combined on a five-hit shutout as Auburn defeated No. 13 Arkansas, 3-0, in the series opener on Thursday night at Plainsman Park.

    Arkansas drops to 34-18 overall and 17-10 in Southeastern Conference play, while Auburn is now 32-21 and 12-16 in league play.

    May 17, 2013

  • GOLF: Bradley gets course-record 60 at Byron Nelson

    Keegan Bradley had no thoughts of a course record, or the possibility of a 59, after consecutive bogeys in the middle of his opening round at the Byron Nelson Championship.

    Until his 136-yard wedge shot on his final hole Thursday.

    “It was going right at it. (A 59) crossed my mind for a second, and it would be unbelievable if I buried this,” Bradley said. “But I had 3 feet to shoot 60. I was actually very nervous, uncomfortable over it and thank God I made it.”

    May 17, 2013

  • Cowboys rock Mountaineers, 7-4

    Oklahoma State showcased its offensive ability in its series opener against West Virginia on Thursday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

    Whether it’s small ball or the long ball — both of which came into effect — the 16th-ranked Cowboys are proving they can find a way to win here late in the season with a 7-4 mauling of the Mountaineers.

    May 17, 2013

  • OU baseball closes out regular season play at K-State

    Moods were light as Oklahoma boarded a bus for Manhattan, Kan., Thursday afternoon. What they’ll be like by Sunday depends on what transpires over the next three games.

    The Sooners’ season hinges on the outcome.

    May 17, 2013

  • Westbrook's injury hinders Thunder's playoff run

    The way Kevin Martin describes it, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost the “vision” of a potential championship run the morning they learned All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook would be out for the rest of the postseason.

    May 17, 2013

  • NSU women's golf in 8th place at NCAA Division II Championship

    The Northeastern State women’s golf team sits in eighth place after Thursday’s second round of the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships on the par-72, 6,228-yard Legends Course at LPGA International.

    May 17, 2013