Kelly Lyell

kellylyell@coloradoan.com

Messing around after practices the past three seasons, Jordon Vaden often lined up as defender, trying to deny his fellow receivers the ball.

Even against Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins, the 2014 finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and a consensus All-American who holds nearly every career receiving record at CSU.

“He won’t admit it, but I feel like I won more than 50 percent of the battles,” Vaden said after practice Thursday. “If I can shut down Hollywood, then I can shut down anybody.”

That’s what Mike Bobo is counting on.

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It’s why the second-year Colorado State University coach is giving Vaden, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior from Henderson, a try at cornerback this spring.

As much as the Rams could benefit from Vaden’s skills as a receiver — he has 38 catches for 481 yards and three touchdowns over the past three seasons — Bobo believes he can help the team even more in a defensive secondary that was depleted by graduation losses.

Vaden believes it, too.

So what started as a joke with former defensive coordinator Tyson Summers during special-teams drills last fall has become a reality. Vaden has “come over to the dark side,” senior cornerback Tyree Simmons said.

Instead of catching passes for the Rams this season, he’ll be trying to keep the ball away from opposing receivers. He entered spring drills No. 2 on the depth chart at left cornerback, behind junior Kevin Nutt.

“He has the length, he has the size, he has the speed to run with anybody out there on the field,” CSU cornerbacks coach Terry Fair said.

And once the ball’s in the air …

“I’m going to be able to go get it, just like any other receiver,” Vaden said. “I have that ability.”

He has the confidence to play cornerback, too. The desire to go one-on-one against any receiver he’s asked to cover and beat him.

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It’s what made the Colorado native an all-state performer at Prairie View High School in Brighton, where he did a little bit of everything, playing quarterback, running back and wide receiver at various times while leading his team in passing, rushing and receiving. He also had more than 1,000 yards on punt and kick returns. And he played a little bit at cornerback, too.

“It’s a whole new deal at this level,” he said. “My head’s spinning every day. It’s definitely a lot harder mentally, and everybody’s bigger, faster, stronger.”

Vaden said he feels like a freshman again, learning not only the various coverages the Rams play and what his job is in each one, but also the finer points of playing his new position. He’s working just as hard in the meeting room as he is on the field, where he’s learning the proper techniques to backpedal, swivel his hips to change direction on a dime, footwork and press coverage techniques.

The hardest part, Vaden said, is eye discipline and knowing his assignment.

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“You’ve got to be able to see one receiver and feel another one, while you’re looking in the backfield, while you’re looking at the quarterback," Vaden said. “Other than that, let your athleticism take over.”

Vaden made a diving interception in 11-on-11 drills near the end of Thursday’s practice. It was the fourth of 15 practices this spring and the first in full pads. It also was the first day Vaden said he truly felt like a cornerback on the practice field.

“My backpedal felt natural, changing directions felt natural, breaking on the ball. So it’s starting to feel natural,” he said. “I’m still a receiver at heart. I love getting the ball, and when I get it, I’m going to do something with it.”

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Vaden showed that best on kickoff returns last season, averaging an impressive 31.7 yards on his seven returns. He ran one back 99 yards for what would have been a touchdown if he hadn’t dropped the ball just before crossing the goal-line.

The mistake, in a season-opening game against Savannah State that the Rams won 65-13, is one he’ll never live down. Teammates still razz him about all the time.

“Some of the greats have done it, so I don’t beat myself up too hard,” he said. “It’s funny, it’s a folly. I’ll live with it forever.”

He knows he’ll probably make some mistakes at cornerback, too. Even the great ones do. It’s the nature of playing that position.

Vaden, though, believes he’ll make a lot more good plays than bad this fall. Maybe even enough to draw the attention of NFL scouts.

“I love defense,” he said. “I’m excited about the possibility to maybe play at the next level. I know the NFL loves big, tall corners, so that’s something that I’m looking forward to.

“I’m attacking it.”

Follow reporter Kelly Lyell at twitter.com/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news