College football coaches say the most difficult position to fill in recruiting might be cornerback. A college corner must be fast enough to hang with fleet wide receivers and also have the strength and toughness to tackle and contribute in run support.
Two years ago, Wyoming coach Joe Glenn signed Michael Medina from Bear Creek High School and Julius Stinson from Victorville, Calif.
Bingo.
“They’ve really been a shot in the arm for us,” Glenn said of the juniors. “If there’s a surprise in our defense, it’s been the play of our two cornerbacks. They’ve really been up to the task.”
Entering the season, Glenn was even more concerned about the cornerback situation than the switch in defensive alignment from the 4-3 to the 3-4. Wyoming’s 2005 starting cornerbacks had departed, including Derrick Martin, now playing for the Baltimore Ravens.
Medina (6-feet and 185 pounds) and Stinson (5-10, 177) were the only true freshmen to play in 2004, as reserves and members of the special teams. Being a starter can be a different deal, however.
“I had to adjust to how physical the game is,” Medina said. “You really don’t know that when you’re on special teams. When you get out there on defense and get hit in the mouth, then you realize, ‘Here it is.’
“Julius and I knew we had to come out and show people this year that we could play. It was kind of intimidating at first. But the coaches were behind us and gave us a lot of encouragement. All the nerves went away.”
Stinson has two interceptions. Medina has one. Both have returned a pick for a touchdown. Their next challenge comes Saturday night at Texas Christian. Horned Frog wide receivers and running backs play football like it’s a track meet.
“TCU always has dangerous weapons,” Medina said. “You can’t duplicate their speed in practice.”
Glenn said the key to playing against a team with more athletic ability is to have the right mind-set.
“You just have to settle in (on both sides of the ball) and not be overwhelmed by their speed,” Glenn said.
Stinson and Medina can keep up with just about anybody. Stinson rushed for 1,449 yards (8.8 per carry) as a high school senior. Medina ran sprints at Bear Creek and was clocked in 10.68 for 100 meters.
“Medina could run like the wind,” Glenn said. “And he’s smart.”
Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick recruited Medina and Stinson, but ended up offering scholarships to other prospects.
“There are only so many guys you can take,” Lubick said. “I remember Medina wasn’t very big. He was probably 170 (pounds) in high school. But he has developed into a good football player.”
Wyoming ranks first nationally in pass defense, allowing just 120.6 yards a game and 9.1 yards a catch. TCU coach Gary Patterson said that’s no fluke.
“Their scheme is very well thought out. They do a great job of disguising things,” Patterson said. “And anytime you play hard for four quarters, like they do, you have an opportunity to win.
“It’s fun to see what they’re doing on defense – maybe not as fun this week because we’re playing them.”
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
GAME BREAKDOWN
Players to watch
Wyoming (4-4, 3-1): Senior strong safety John Wendling is making a bid for All-America consideration and must be catching the eye of NFL scouts. Wendling recorded a game-high 10 tackles in last week’s 24-0 shutout of Colorado State, with two tackles for a loss, a pass breakup and fumble recovery. Sophomore running back Wynel Seldon rushed for a season-best 112 yards on 18 carries against CSU.
Texas Christian (4-2, 0-2): Linebacker David Hawthorne, a 6-foot, 235-pound junior, wreaked havoc on Army last week in a 31-17 TCU victory. Wyoming coach Joe Glenn is afraid that sophomore tailback Aaron Brown is back to full speed after being slowed by ankle problems. “When he’s healthy, he’s the fastest guy in the league … freaky fast,” Glenn said.
Key stat
Good news for Wyoming: The road team won in each of the two previous meetings.
Key for Wyoming
The Cowboys, off to their first 3-1 start in MWC play, need another strong performance from their defense, which is ranked first nationally in passing defense and third in overall defense. The Horned Frogs aren’t scoring (21.7 points per game) or running the ball as they had in past years.
Key for TCU
The Horned Frogs have lost their first two conference games after going 8-0 in league play during their 2005 debut. The usually explosive Horned Frogs, with key several players hobbled by injuries, including QB Jeff Ballard (shoulder), scored only 17 points against Brigham Young and seven against Utah.
TOM KENSLER
