Against Texas, Sooners seem confident in freshman Colvin
Published: 9/28/2010 5:05 PM
Last Modified: 9/28/2010 5:05 PM
NORMAN — Aaron Colvin was ready. But, he said, he was nervous.
“I couldn't explain how nervous I was,” Colvin said of his college football defensive debut last Saturday at Cincinnati.
But Colvin wasn’t fretting over his own predicament—that being step in and play major college cornerback as a true freshman. Instead, he was worried about something else: his fallen teammate, starter Jamell Fleming
“The first play, I was really nervous because I was really nervous for Jamell, just his injury,” Colvin said.
Colvin, who played high school football at Owasso after moving from Tennessee in grade school, admitted he was a little anxious to get his first real snaps on defense.
“I was also nervous about my playing ability,” he said. “But I eventually warmed up. They definitely came at me, but I loved it.”
Cincy QB Zach Collaros tried a couple of deep throws at Colvin, but by all accounts, Colvin did fine. He was flagged for pass interference, but the Sooners have questions whether or not it was a good call.
“Aaron played really, really well,” said head coach Bob Stoops, who also coaches cornerbacks. “I was really pleased and excited about the way he played.”
Jonathan Nelson is the starter at strong safety who also spins down and plays OU’s third corner in passing situations. Nelson, a senior, was as impressed with Colvin as anyone.
“That's great for him to get that experience on the road in front of a rowdy crowd, at a crucial time like that,” Nelson said. “For him to experience adversity, that should be big. Because that's exactly what's going to happen come Saturday if he's out there. You're going to have adversity, you're going to have bad plays. And you feel what it's like to fight that and forget that last play.
“If you could look at his face, you realize he may be 18, but he's keeping his composure. I would talk to him. ‘Hey, how ya doin? Ya doin good?’ We all call him ‘Slick’ because he's real smooth and real calm all the time. And that's exactly how he was. He wasn't panicking. He's 18. That's great for a guy his age.”
Fleming’s status for Saturday’s showdown with Texas isn’t known yet, and may not be until later in the week. Fleming sustained an ankle sprain and is rehabbing, trying to get back.
“If (Colvin) starts and plays, I’m all go,” Stoops said. “I mean the guy has played really well all camp. So I feel good about it if he’s in there.”
His teammates say the same thing.
“Aaron showed me from fall camp he's ready to play,” said Demontre Hurst, the starting corner on the other side. “He's confident. He knows what's going on. He may make a mistake here or there, but I'm never down on him. I trust him. The defense trusts him. We shouldn't have a problem.”
— John E. Hoover
Written by
John E. Hoover
Sports Columnist
