The Sporting News has a fantastic article and video on NC State’s David Amerson. Amerson doesn’t get the kind of credit that he deserves from the media…so, it is very nice to see him get the kind of national attention that his play on the field merits.
Even now, frustration is in David Amerson’s voice. N.C. State’s preseason All-American cornerback is in the defensive backs room on the second floor of the Murphy Center, giving Sporting News a film breakdown of every interception from his remarkable sophomore campaign.
Considering he set an ACC record in 2011 and finished one shy of the FBS mark with his 13 picks, there are plenty of good moments to relive. Yet, he repeatedly comes back to what he considers his biggest on-field failure, a moment that happened 17 months earlier.
“That West Virginia play from freshman year,†he says slowly, and for the fourth time, “that won’t happen again.â€
The memory of the 32-yard touchdown pass from West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith to wideout Stedman Bailey in the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl, the one that almost grazed Amerson’s shoulder en route to Bailey’s hands, led to an offseason of football torment.
“I’m on him. He’s covered,†Amerson says, mentally replaying the mistake. “All I had to do was turn and it’s an interception. It just ate me up. He caught it in the end zone, right in front of me while my hand is up in the air. When I went back to watch it on film, I mean, I was right there. All I had to do was turn my head and it’s an easy interception.â€
For Amerson, the idea of being that unaware of the football is unforgivable. Never again, he decided. That play cemented his approach to playing cornerback: “If I’m going to get beat, I’m going to get beat going for the ball.â€
Click here for a lot more Wolfpack conversation! Thanks!
