By John Shinn
By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
Gerald McCoy readily admits he didn’t know how fast things moved in college football, but he didn’t think it would me a problem.
“I knew the game was faster, but I was always told I moved like college players already,” McCoy said.
A lot of people were telling McCoy things like that prior to last season. He was the reigning 2005 USA Today National High School Defensive Player of the Year from Oklahoma City’s Southeast High School and the centerpiece of Oklahoma’s recruiting class.
But there’s a reality that sets in for all but a handful of college freshmen and McCoy realized last August when he lined for the first time in a scrimmage situation.
“I was like, ‘I can’t believe it. I’m finally here,’” McCoy recalled. “Before I knew it, (the quarterback) was saying, ‘Hut.’ I was like, ‘What was that?’ And then (OU offensive guard Duke Robinson) is coming downhill. And ‘AD’ (Adrian Peterson) is just gone. I was like, ‘What was that? Whew, I got to do something about that.’”
Doing something about that took some time, time McCoy thought he wasn’t going to need. From seventh grade through his final prep all-star game, McCoy started every single time.
The thought of any team having a better option at defensive tackle didn’t seem possible.
But he knew that wasn’t the case last season.
“In high school, you’re faster than everybody, stronger than everybody,” McCoy said. “You get to college, people are just as fast or faster, just as strong or stronger. It’s all about technique here.”
Speed and strength he had, but the rest needed some work. So McCoy, and all the potential he owned, spent last season being redshirted.
“I realized it’s a completely different game,” McCoy said. “And from the heart, honestly, I wasn’t ready.”
To some, having to spend a season without the payoff of playing in games is disheartening. The idea of not being ready to play is beyond comprehension.
McCoy, however, had a realistic attitude to go along with the talent. He believed a year of coaching and watching fellow tackles Cory Bennett, Steven Coleman, Carl Pendleton and DeMarcus Granger from the sidelines would help.
It was an attitude coaches would love for every player to have.
“That approach allowed him to continue to grow even though he wasn’t playing,” OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “If you have that feel-bad-for-me, everyone-is-screwing-me-over attitude, then you’re not going to grow mentally or physically.”
McCoy has grown on both fronts. His weight is down, his muscle is up.
The changes will be on display at 1 p.m. in today’s Red/White game at Owen Field.
It will be the Sooners’ last public display of the spring, but McCoy has already shown he’s up to speed.
He registered five tackles and 11⁄2 sacks in the Sooners’ last scrimmage. That performance went along with a five-tackle effort in the first spring scrimmage March 14.
“What you see is more aggression, he’s more assure of himself, things are more second nature,” Venables said. “Now he’s starting to use more of his natural movements.”
And the blurs he was seeing last August have slowed considerably. The college speed everyone told McCoy he had has emerged.
“A lot of things have changed since I came here,” McCoy said.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
