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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Wolfe Makes His Move at Cornerback
April 05, 2005 | Football
NORMAN, Okla. -- D.J. Wolfe had all the skills to be a great running back at Oklahoma. The only thing standing in his way was a certain freshman phenom who finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
After a freshman season spent mostly watching Adrian Peterson, Wolfe was approached by Sooners coaches about making a move to cornerback.
"They told me it would give me an opportunity to get on the field a little early," Wolfe said, "and I was all for it."
The switch from tailback to cornerback has worked out well so far. In his eighth practice at the position, Wolfe was working with the first-team defense on Monday opposite senior Eric Bassey. But it took a little convincing before he was ready to leave the offense behind.
D.J. Wolfe Bio | 2005 OU Spring Football Central
"I've been a running back all my life and I love the ball in my hands," Wolfe said. "But when I sat back and really thought about it, it was an opening. ... There's a void that needs to be filled. I figured I might be the one that could do it."
Wolfe, a sophomore from Eisenhower High School in Lawton, earned the chance to practice with the starters by impressing secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright during the Sooners' first full scrimmage on Saturday.
Although Wolfe played only two games at cornerback in high school, Wright said he sees a strong foundation to build on.
"He's got great natural ability," Wright said. "He's a big strong guy that can run fast. He's got a lot of physical tools and he's smart and he's real prideful. He takes a lot of pride in his job and he wants to do good. That's a good start right there."
As the Sooners scrimmaged on Owen Field to conclude their practice Monday, Wright jumped in to correct Wolfe repeatedly. Wright said that's only natural.
"He's a little bit antsy to get out of there right now, which most corners are. They're worried about the deep ball all the time," Wright said. "Certainly, you don't want to give up the deep ball, but there's a progression you have to go through."
After Wolfe agreed to switch positions, Wright said the coaching staff first had to provide him with the basic techniques and fundamentals for playing cornerback. Wolfe said his hips and legs ached after working on backpedaling the first few practices.
And while he's still working on mastering his footwork, he also has to learn the reads and calls that stem from the mental part of the position.
Wright said those parts of the game will come to Wolfe in time, but he's encouraged by the sophomore's progress so far.
"He's got a knack for the ball. He's got an instinct," Wright said. "He understands run and pass. He's physical coming up on the run and made a couple good plays today coming up on the run. He's still got some things naturally on the passing game that he's got to get a little bit smarter at, and he will once he sees things over and over.
"He just hasn't been there enough."
After a freshman season spent mostly watching Adrian Peterson, Wolfe was approached by Sooners coaches about making a move to cornerback.
"They told me it would give me an opportunity to get on the field a little early," Wolfe said, "and I was all for it."
The switch from tailback to cornerback has worked out well so far. In his eighth practice at the position, Wolfe was working with the first-team defense on Monday opposite senior Eric Bassey. But it took a little convincing before he was ready to leave the offense behind.
D.J. Wolfe Bio | 2005 OU Spring Football Central
"I've been a running back all my life and I love the ball in my hands," Wolfe said. "But when I sat back and really thought about it, it was an opening. ... There's a void that needs to be filled. I figured I might be the one that could do it."
Wolfe, a sophomore from Eisenhower High School in Lawton, earned the chance to practice with the starters by impressing secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright during the Sooners' first full scrimmage on Saturday.
Although Wolfe played only two games at cornerback in high school, Wright said he sees a strong foundation to build on.
"He's got great natural ability," Wright said. "He's a big strong guy that can run fast. He's got a lot of physical tools and he's smart and he's real prideful. He takes a lot of pride in his job and he wants to do good. That's a good start right there."
As the Sooners scrimmaged on Owen Field to conclude their practice Monday, Wright jumped in to correct Wolfe repeatedly. Wright said that's only natural.
"He's a little bit antsy to get out of there right now, which most corners are. They're worried about the deep ball all the time," Wright said. "Certainly, you don't want to give up the deep ball, but there's a progression you have to go through."
After Wolfe agreed to switch positions, Wright said the coaching staff first had to provide him with the basic techniques and fundamentals for playing cornerback. Wolfe said his hips and legs ached after working on backpedaling the first few practices.
And while he's still working on mastering his footwork, he also has to learn the reads and calls that stem from the mental part of the position.
Wright said those parts of the game will come to Wolfe in time, but he's encouraged by the sophomore's progress so far.
"He's got a knack for the ball. He's got an instinct," Wright said. "He understands run and pass. He's physical coming up on the run and made a couple good plays today coming up on the run. He's still got some things naturally on the passing game that he's got to get a little bit smarter at, and he will once he sees things over and over.
"He just hasn't been there enough."
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