DE Victor DeGrate, a drummer, is a bright spot on the defense.
STILLWATER -- One trip to church as a seventh-grader piqued Victor DeGrate's interest in playing the drums.
He was fascinated by the drummer at the Irving, Texas, church he attended.
"I loved watching that guy play the drums, and that was something I wanted to do," he said.
After the service, DeGrate sought out the drummer and asked to learn to play.
Within a year, he was playing drums during church services. His parents bought him his own set, and the senior defensive end continues to put the instrument to good use today. He plays drums during Sunday night services at a Stillwater church.
As he showed as a youngster with drums, DeGrate has made a quick impact at defensive end. On Tuesday, he was named to the midseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the best defensive end in college football.
"I can be as good as I want to be," he said. "I figure if I can do it, I can do anything you put in front of me. I believe that."
Drumming opposing quarterbacks, though, didn't fascinate DeGrate. Playing linebacker was DeGrate's preference. Stuffing running backs and hitting wide receivers coming across the middle was DeGrate's idea of fun.
He came to Oklahoma State three years ago regarded as "Victor the Great" and appeared destined to become a standout linebacker. DeGrate had 76 tackles at linebacker as a freshman.
DeGrate's physique, though, started to change shortly after his freshman season. DeGrate put on
weight -- good weight, he says -- and began to grow out of the linebacker position.
Midway through his sophomore season two years ago, injuries forced a position change. Defensive end Nathan Peterson hurt his knee and was lost for the year. DeGrate was asked to move into Peterson's position.
Even before Peterson's injury, DeGrate heard that he was going to switch to defensive end.
"They kept telling me that, but I was like 'No, I'm not. No way,' " he said. "But Nate got hurt, so they moved me there. I'm not one to sulk and say, 'I don't like this.' I was going to try and make the best of it."
Two years later, the switch is working.
DeGrate has been the bright light on OSU's struggling defense. The senior has developed into a pass-rushing force. His 7 1/2 sacks leads the team and he is tied for third in the Big 12 Conference. Entering this season, DeGrate had 7 1/2 sacks for his career.
His relentless energy is noticeable every play.
"We know how good Vic is. The (NFL) scouts see past labels. I don't see any other end playing as well as Vic is," defensive end Darnell Smith said. "He is such an energy booster on the field."
It was a challenge posed to him in the spring by defensive coordinator Vance Bedford.
Bedford calls DeGrate a "see ball, get ball" type of player. But he insists that DeGrate did not fully grasp the defensive end position until midway through last season.
DeGrate felt he always had to rush around the outside of the opposing offensive tackle blocking him. Bedford showed DeGrate video of his five sacks last season. All five came when he made inside pass-rush moves on the opposing blockers.
"There's no one in this league that has blocked him one-on-one. Not Kansas State, not Kansas, and not even the other night (against Texas A&M)," Bedford said. "He has not been blocked. If I'm one of those teams, I'm voting him for all-conference. If he's not an all-conference player, I don't know what is."
Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com
