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Three-Star Recruit
Showdown
OSU's star wideout faces Husker's shutdown corner
By Anthony Slater
Sports Reporter
Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010
Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010 01:10
With an incredible start to his sophomore season, Cowboy wide receiver Justin Blackmon has burst onto the national scene and emerged as a top NFL pick when he becomes eligible.
This is something Nebraska senior Prince Amukamara can relate to, as he has been projected as one of the top cornerbacks in his draft class for a few years running.
When they finally meet on Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium, it could be the first of many showdowns in the promising careers of these budding stars.
"It is going to be a great chance to go out there and compete and it will be a good game to watch," Blackmon said.
Through six games Blackmon has been virtually unstoppable, leading the nation with 955 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Using a combination of size and speed, Blackmon has completely dominated opposing defensive backs.
Continuing that trend will be a monumental task, as Amukamara is the catalyst for a pass defense that only surrenders 117 yards per game, far and away the best in the nation. Even in the loss against Texas a week ago, the Nebraska defensive backs surrendered one completion to a wideout.
Although coach Mike Gundy said he believes Nebraska will use bracket coverage at times to contain Blackmon, he knows there will be plenty of one-on-one battles.
"There will be times when they come right after (Justin) and match them up," Gundy said. "I would think they feel (Amukamara) is good enough to do that."
While Amukamara has rightfully earned all the confidence in the world from the Cornhusker staff, Cowboys offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen believes Blackmon can beat anyone in single coverage.
"Justin has proven he can get open on anybody," Holgorsen said. "We feel like we need to win that match-up."
Even the most diehard football fans did not foresee this sudden leap in Blackmon's production. The Ardmore native went from a relatively unknown freshman to leading candidate for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's best receiver, in one season.
"Justin Blackmon is a talented player that maximizes his opportunity because of his work habits," Gundy said.
Gundy said he began to see this talent emerge in spring workouts and throughout the fall camp.
"He had tremendous work habits, understood the importance of preparation, trained hard in the weight room and he is very competitive," Gundy said. "Those are the key ingredients of a good football player."
All the recent national hype has even made its way to Lincoln, where the Nebraska secondary is quick to compliment the Cowboy receiver but feel they have a formidable unit to contain him.
"He is a big, physical receiver, but I really have faith in both our corners shutting down anybody," Husker safety DeJon Gomes said.
So in the eyes of the coaches and players involved, Blackmon can get open on anyone and Amukamara can cover anyone. That will change for one of them on Saturday. Whichever side is right will have a huge advantage in one of the biggest games in recent memory.
OSU's star wideout faces Husker's shutdown corner
By Anthony Slater
Sports Reporter
Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010
Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010 01:10
With an incredible start to his sophomore season, Cowboy wide receiver Justin Blackmon has burst onto the national scene and emerged as a top NFL pick when he becomes eligible.
This is something Nebraska senior Prince Amukamara can relate to, as he has been projected as one of the top cornerbacks in his draft class for a few years running.
When they finally meet on Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium, it could be the first of many showdowns in the promising careers of these budding stars.
"It is going to be a great chance to go out there and compete and it will be a good game to watch," Blackmon said.
Through six games Blackmon has been virtually unstoppable, leading the nation with 955 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Using a combination of size and speed, Blackmon has completely dominated opposing defensive backs.
Continuing that trend will be a monumental task, as Amukamara is the catalyst for a pass defense that only surrenders 117 yards per game, far and away the best in the nation. Even in the loss against Texas a week ago, the Nebraska defensive backs surrendered one completion to a wideout.
Although coach Mike Gundy said he believes Nebraska will use bracket coverage at times to contain Blackmon, he knows there will be plenty of one-on-one battles.
"There will be times when they come right after (Justin) and match them up," Gundy said. "I would think they feel (Amukamara) is good enough to do that."
While Amukamara has rightfully earned all the confidence in the world from the Cornhusker staff, Cowboys offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen believes Blackmon can beat anyone in single coverage.
"Justin has proven he can get open on anybody," Holgorsen said. "We feel like we need to win that match-up."
Even the most diehard football fans did not foresee this sudden leap in Blackmon's production. The Ardmore native went from a relatively unknown freshman to leading candidate for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's best receiver, in one season.
"Justin Blackmon is a talented player that maximizes his opportunity because of his work habits," Gundy said.
Gundy said he began to see this talent emerge in spring workouts and throughout the fall camp.
"He had tremendous work habits, understood the importance of preparation, trained hard in the weight room and he is very competitive," Gundy said. "Those are the key ingredients of a good football player."
All the recent national hype has even made its way to Lincoln, where the Nebraska secondary is quick to compliment the Cowboy receiver but feel they have a formidable unit to contain him.
"He is a big, physical receiver, but I really have faith in both our corners shutting down anybody," Husker safety DeJon Gomes said.
So in the eyes of the coaches and players involved, Blackmon can get open on anyone and Amukamara can cover anyone. That will change for one of them on Saturday. Whichever side is right will have a huge advantage in one of the biggest games in recent memory.
