Lawton’s Patterson moving over to RB

SUPER 30 | STAR WILL STILL PLAY SPARINGLY AT DEFENSIVE BACK

LAWTON — Darreyl Patterson sat just more than a week ago in the Lawton coaches’ office watching his highlight film.

Patterson had quietly answered questions and sat there going nearly unnoticed while his film played on a TV. With each touchdown he scored or great play he made last season, his expression remained the same.

There really was little to no reaction at all.

“I think I could have done better,” he said when asked about his thoughts on the film. “Broke another tackle.”

It was a prime example of the ability Patterson possesses, but also an example of how timid he really is about his talents that have him holding eight Division I offers and the No. 7 spot on The Oklahoman’s Super 30.

His highlight reel will have plenty of chances to improve this season as he takes over at running back for the Wolverines, while still playing sparingly at defensive back, his top position.

“He’s a Division I corner, he’s a Division I running back and he’s a Division I receiver,” Lawton coach Randy Breeze said. “We are going to have to make a choice. What we hope to do is give him a lot of carries and then let him play defense when we’ve got to have him.”

Patterson averaged 9.4 yards per carry while scoring five touchdowns last season behind star Michael Warren. He also had 65 tackles and three interceptions.

Warren set school records last season for the Wolverines. It’s those records Patterson hopes to break this season.

“I just want to be better than him,” Patterson said about Warren, who is now at Iowa State.

To follow in Warren’s footsteps, Patterson knows he’ll have to improve in the classroom. Currently, his ACT score and gradepoint average are too low to meet NCAA requirements.

He said he is working diligently to change that.

“As long as I get to go to college and play football, that’s all I care about,” he said.

Then perhaps Patterson will have more reaction to his highlights.

“He doesn’t think of himself as being a great player,” Breeze said. “But everybody that’s come in on film, they like him a great deal.”