Changing direction pays off for ’Runners defensive back
Godfrey has made the most of move to safety, new maturity
Perhaps it was a part of UTSA senior Darryl Godfrey’s DNA as a defensive back, where confidence — if not outright cockiness — was a must-have trait. In a position where a player is often labeled as being on an island, UTSA defensive coaches once tried to stress to Godfrey that he was not an island unto himself. Godfrey thought otherwise. “Darryl is a very opinionated young man, has a wonderful mind, a great personality, (but) he really needed to conform to and embrace this thing we call team,” UTSA coach Frank Wilson said of his early dealings with Godfrey. “Being a skill guy, he’s always — whether receiver or defensive back — kind of played on an island or did his thing from an individuality standpoint, where now we needed him to encompass the team. He’s done that. He’s grown up a whole bunch and is one of our leaders on the team.” UTSA (0-3) takes on Texas State (1-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome, and the former O’Connor standout could be instrumental in helping the Roadrunners get their first victory and a little mo-
mentum ahead of their Conference USA opener against UTEP on Sept. 29. The 6-foot, 200-pound Godfrey has been a bright spot on a UTSA defense that has allowed 482 yards and 42.3 points per game in opening the season with losses to Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas State. He shares the team lead with 19 tackles, including 14 solo, and had a team-high eight stops — 2½ for loss — and a sack in the Roadrunners’ 41-17 setback last week at Kansas State. A year ago, as part of a unit that ranked No. 5 in the nation in total defense, Godfrey had 19 tackles in 11 games. “The game has slowed down a lot,” Godfrey said. “I didn’t used to watch film as much as I do now. I’m taking notes, and that helps me get into the backfield.” Godfrey’s maturation into a player who relies on his teammates instead of trying to do it all himself has been the key to his success, Wilson said. “I think he’s a natural defensive back because he is instinctive, he has a nose for the ball — he has speed and physicality,” Wilson said. “He has just raised his game to another notch. Very pleased with the progress he is making. I think some of it is his maturity and some of it is just game experience, and he’s peaking at the right time.” If you had asked Godfrey five years ago about his football plans, they would have involved the offensive side of the ball. He played wide receiver from Pop Warner through his sophomore season at O’Connor and dreamed of being the next Jerry Rice. But during the offseason before his junior year in 2013, O’Connor coach David Malesky asked Godfrey to move to safety because the Panthers needed him to break up passes instead of catching them. “At first, I was kind of confused,” Godfrey said of the change in positions. “I was like, ‘Safety? I’ve got to make tackles now? I’ve got to come down and hit people?’ At first, I wasn’t really with it. But as time progressed, I started getting a feeling for this. I’m liking being the hitter and not getting hit.” Godfrey, who said he got an offer from Texas State and made recruiting trips to Texas Tech and Arizona State, was selected to the Express-News All-Area team in 2014 after racking up 51 tackles, five interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. “I ended up being really blessed,” Godfrey said of the move to defensive back. “As you can see now, I’m playing at the next level at the position I got moved to.” tthomas@express-news.net Twitter: @en_terrence