Tulsa World: Up close: Ricky Price

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Up close: Ricky Price

Oklahoma State's Ricky Price causes Washington State quarterback Gary Rogers to fumble in Seattle on Aug. 30. Price is third on the team in tackles and will make his 23rd straight start this week. stephen pingry/Tulsa World

By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
Published: 11/5/2008 2:12 AM
Last Modified: 11/5/2008 2:55 AM

STILLWATER — Ask Ricky Price about the 2007 Texas Tech game and the Oklahoma State strong safety will point to his finger.

The tip of Price's right middle finger was the difference between victory and defeat. Price's caught just enough of Graham Harrell's fourth-down pass, which was intended for Tech's standout receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone in the final seconds.

The pass hit Crabtree's left shoulder and fell incomplete to preserve OSU's 49-45 victory.

"I didn't think I got enough on it to even make a difference," Price said. "I thought he would catch the ball because he hadn't dropped a ball all day. But when I turned around and heard the crowd, I knew I made the play."

Last year's Texas Tech game was only Price's fourth at strong safety. The Houston native was a wide receiver his first two OSU seasons. Now, entering Saturday's showdown at Texas Tech, Price is a key fixture in OSU's defensive resurgence. Price is third on the team in tackles (48).

What was going through your mind seeing Harrell's pass zip towards your vicinity on that last play last year?

Everything happened so fast. I just got caught up in the moment. I just knew we had to stop them on that play. It was going to me or Jacob Lacey or one of the other defensive backs that needed to make a play because they were throwing it. I thought (Crabtree) had caught it, and it surprised me that he didn't catch it.

How much of the fingertip got the ball?

It just grazed it. It barely messed up the rotation. I guess it threw (Crabtree) off enough to where he didn't catch the ball. Texas probably grazed that ball thrown to him Saturday night and he caught it this time. It was probably a one in a million chance that he was going to drop that one last year.

Was the position switch from offense to defense the best one for you?

Without a doubt. I fit back there and feel more comfortable back there on defense. I played both in high school and middle school, but now I feel so much more comfortable on defense. I feel comfortable with Jacob back there. I feel comfortable with Perrish (Cox) back there and I feel comfortable with Q (Quinton Moore) back there. The closeness I have with those guys is why I'm comfortable.

You are first cousins with St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson. How much of an influence was he?

When I was being recruited, he told me to keep my head on straight and do the right things. We used to talk a lot when he was in college (at Oregon State). But now we rarely talk. He doesn't have time and neither do I.

PRICE FACTS

Position: Strong safety

Class: Sr.

Height: 6-1

Weight: 195

Hometown: Houston

Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer

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