SoonerofAlabama
6/27/2011, 07:20 PM
SAFETY - Aaron Colvin Link (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/The-Doc-8217-s-Up-and-Coming-Team-Meet-2011-8?urn=ncaaf-wp3019#remaining-content)
Colvin turned a few heads last year as an unexpected freshman contributor at cornerback, even earning his first (and only) career start against Texas before settling in as a nickel corner for the rest of the season. This spring, though, the glaring need in the secondary was at safety, where Colvin assumed the vacancy left by another converted corner, Jonathan Nelson, to fairly rave reviews.
Colvin may be small for a conventional strong safety at 5-10/175 pounds, but — as with Nelson — Bob Stoops has explicitly emphasized coverage at that spot over Ronnie Lott-style headhunting. If you believe his coach, his latest project has also been pleasantly quick on the uptake.
CORNERBACK - Gabe Lynn Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20110627_92_B6_CUTLIN366826)
As Oklahoma gears up for the 2011 season, one Sooner defensive back says he's poised for a breakout season.
Gabe Lynn, a redshirt sophomore and Jenks High School graduate, volunteered at the Felix Jones "Go Hard Football Academy" at Chapman Stadium on Saturday and said he is confident about his role heading into this season at OU.
"I think I've finally got my chance," Lynn said. "I'm ready to step up this year and show what I can do."
In 2010, Lynn had a limited role in the defensive backfield, appearing in seven games. His best performance came against Florida State, when he recorded one pass breakup and recovered a fumble.
But this season he is listed as one of the starting cornerbacks on the Sooners' depth chart. Lynn is part of a young OU secondary that has only one senior, backup safety Sam Proctor. Although most of the national attention might be on OU's offense, Lynn said the Sooner defense will be strong as well.
Lynn said Travis Lewis will continue to be the Sooners' leader on defense. Lewis recorded a team-high 109 tackles last year before deciding to not to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
"We feel really good about the defense," Lynn said. "We made a couple changes, but we had a good spring, so we're ready to go."
Lynn will be joined by as many as three redshirt freshman who will look to get playing time this fall in the Sooner defensive backfield.
"We've got some young guys who will step up, a lot of new names people are going to hear about," Lynn said.
Colvin turned a few heads last year as an unexpected freshman contributor at cornerback, even earning his first (and only) career start against Texas before settling in as a nickel corner for the rest of the season. This spring, though, the glaring need in the secondary was at safety, where Colvin assumed the vacancy left by another converted corner, Jonathan Nelson, to fairly rave reviews.
Colvin may be small for a conventional strong safety at 5-10/175 pounds, but — as with Nelson — Bob Stoops has explicitly emphasized coverage at that spot over Ronnie Lott-style headhunting. If you believe his coach, his latest project has also been pleasantly quick on the uptake.
CORNERBACK - Gabe Lynn Link (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20110627_92_B6_CUTLIN366826)
As Oklahoma gears up for the 2011 season, one Sooner defensive back says he's poised for a breakout season.
Gabe Lynn, a redshirt sophomore and Jenks High School graduate, volunteered at the Felix Jones "Go Hard Football Academy" at Chapman Stadium on Saturday and said he is confident about his role heading into this season at OU.
"I think I've finally got my chance," Lynn said. "I'm ready to step up this year and show what I can do."
In 2010, Lynn had a limited role in the defensive backfield, appearing in seven games. His best performance came against Florida State, when he recorded one pass breakup and recovered a fumble.
But this season he is listed as one of the starting cornerbacks on the Sooners' depth chart. Lynn is part of a young OU secondary that has only one senior, backup safety Sam Proctor. Although most of the national attention might be on OU's offense, Lynn said the Sooner defense will be strong as well.
Lynn said Travis Lewis will continue to be the Sooners' leader on defense. Lewis recorded a team-high 109 tackles last year before deciding to not to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
"We feel really good about the defense," Lynn said. "We made a couple changes, but we had a good spring, so we're ready to go."
Lynn will be joined by as many as three redshirt freshman who will look to get playing time this fall in the Sooner defensive backfield.
"We've got some young guys who will step up, a lot of new names people are going to hear about," Lynn said.