LOFTY GOALS
OSU's A.J. Green prepares to challenge himself, motivate teammates during his senior season
STILLWATER — The idea of skydiving thrills A.J. Green.
Leaping out of an airplane thousands of feet above the ground would terrify many people, but Green said it's one of his bucket-list items.
As a corner back on the Oklahoma State football team, he thrives on adrenaline.
“Especially the start of the game and during the game, you have your adrenaline pumping, and the crowd is roaring,” Green said. “I think
that's the same energy I would feel if I was to skydive.”
Green, a senior from DeSoto, Texas, described himself as a bit of a risk-taker. When he matches up against high-caliber wide receivers, he isn't afraid to make bold moves, and others have noticed his skill.
Green is entering this season with lofty expectations from
people around him. Coaches have identified him as a team leader, and Jim Know les, OSU's second-year defensive coordinator, called Green “a premiere player.” Green received preseason All-Big 12 honors and made the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in college football.
He said these early accolades don't bring too much pressure.
“It's just some people are coming along and witnessing what I can do,” Green said. “I'm just gonna continue to work. I'm not gonna be laid back or chill. I'm not gonna stop.”
Regardless of outside chatter about his talent, Green is striving to hold himself accountable as a tenacious defender and an encourager for fellow Cowboys. Green said he wants to increase his vocal leadership, and Knowles has recognized this self-motivation.
“He's raising his own expectations and passing that along to his teammates,” Knowles said.
Green and Rodarius Williams, a redshirt junior cornerback, are accustomed to grueling but strength-building matchups against explosive offenses, particularly in the Big 12. Green played in nine games as a freshman and assumed a starting role as a sophomore under former defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer.
Then Green and the Cowboys transitioned to Know les' aggressive, physical schemes. Knowles said he noticed how Green picked up on these defensive techniques and is sharing them with his teammates.
The past year wasn't easy for the defense, though. Knowles said the cornerbacks faced challenging tests during the 7-6 season.
“Definitely thrown into the fire,” Knowles said. “And to me, that's the only way you get better is by going against the best that are doing it.”
Green persevered, accumulating 49 tackles, 11 pass breakups and an interception. Sometimes he took chances that boosted the Cowboys. Some risks resulted in blunders, but coaches such as Tim Duffie, who works with the cornerbacks, have taught him to recover quickly.
“For those guys to be good, they have to have no fear of taking chances,” Duffie said. “We' re just trying to make them consider making smart moves, calculated risks, but at the same time, you can't remove all the instincts out of a player. The good players take chances.”
Green showed his resilience when OSU took on West Virginia in November. After two straight losses, including one in which Baylor's Denzel Mims made a winning touchdown catch over Green, he secured a victory that made the Cowboys bowl eligible. In the end zone, Green broke up Will Grier's last-chance pass to David Sills V, drawing thunderous cheers from the home crowd.
Green had learned from the not-so-distant past.
“I didn't forget that Baylor game,” Green said. “I kept it in the back of my head, and I knew I had to respond. I know I can play with anybody in the country.”
Green said he needs to consistently have that confident mentality. In a young defensive unit, Green is a seasoned competitor who can set an example for his teammates.
“I think the older he's gotten here at Oklahoma State, he's really kind of grown into the r ol e t hat we anticipated,” Duffie said. “We always kind of viewed him as a leader.”
Until Green has the chance to feel the adrenaline pump through him again as he blocks receivers under bright stadium lights, he can practice against OSU's high-powered receiving corps. The familiar feeling of exhilaration on a game night in front of a buzzing crowd will soon return, and Green is collaborating with Williams to ensure they are ready when it happens.
“We've just got to hold each other to a higher standard,” Green said. “We want to be great examples for the people that's gonna come after us, the DBs that's looking up to us, after we leave. So we compete in everything we do.”