Photo Courtesy of WOU sports information
Western Oregon safety Caleb Singleton (6-4/205) recently received a host of post-season honors. His individual achievements included: named as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year, named as an All-GNAC First Team selection for the third time in his career and named to the Daktronics All-Super Region 4 First Team.
The Wolves defensive back ranked third overall in the GNAC with 89 tackles. He also ranked second in his Division II conference with six interceptions.
Singleton, a top small-school draft prospect, kindly spoke with Pro Football Draft Picks about his time as a student-athlete at Western Oregon, his pro aspirations and the mentors who have aided in his development throughout his collegiate career.
PFDP: Care to comment on the Great Northwest Co-Defensive Player of the Year award?
Caleb Singleton: It's a great honor first and foremost. As a defense we had a great season and great individual performances. I feel like I bring a lot to the table for opposing offenses and I made it known that every Saturday I was going to step out on the field and prove myself every play.
A key component to my success throughout the years was my ability to stay focused on the field, make plays and most of all have fun playing the game I love. This award represents the hard work and dedication I put into my game and it shows that hard work pays off.
PFDP: You were, primarily, the senior leader in the Wolves secondary this season. How did you aide the younger members of the backfield with their development and are you confident they will perform at a high level in 2011?
Caleb Singleton: Going into the 2010 season presented a new and different environment for me. Going from being the underclassman playing with three experienced seniors a year ago to being the only senior defensive back was difficult for me to grasp early in the season.
With that said, as the season progressed I feel like our defensive backfield was the best in the conference and maybe one of the best in the nation at the Division II level. It's amazing what kind of an effect you have on new, up-and-coming players throughout the season as a senior leader.
The little things are just as important as the big things. Over communicating, studying film, and giving feedback really helped guide our younger or less experienced players to success this season.
Bryce Peila (sophomore safety in 2011) who is an up-and-coming star himself had a tremendous season. Bryce and I led the conference going into our final game with six interceptions a piece. He has an important role in stepping in for me the next couple of seasons and I know he will do a great job leading the defensive secondary.
I look forward watching those players grow the next couple of years as I move on to bigger and better things.
PFDP: How did defensive backs coach Matt Overlin aide in your development as a player?
Caleb Singleton: Coach Overlin was a huge part of my success here at Western Oregon. He is not only one of the best coaches I've been around, he is a great friend. He recognizes how much potential I had coming in as a freshman and pushed me to play to my ability every time I stepped out on the field.
He had enough trust in me to start me as a freshman. That really gave me a jump start in learning, which helped me excel early at the collegiate level. The entire defensive backfield has enjoyed success because of him.
As a defensive back you have to be taught to move well in space, have a short memory, be slow to read and fast to react and make plays. As a young coach teaching those skills can be difficult, especially when you are dealing with inexperienced players.
He took that challenge and has taught us all very well. He has all the trust in the world in his players and that is what you are looking for in a coach. That is what gives us the freedom to be confident players, to do our jobs and ultimately make plays.
PFDP: Has your background in high school playing basketball as well as coming from a family where your father was a highly successful basketball player aide in your ability to play in space as well as with your instincts regarding the numerous interceptions from your career?
Caleb Singleton: There are numerous things that have helped guide me to where I am at today. Basketball was a huge part of my life. To be honest, going into my senior year of high school my thoughts of playing football in college were small.
I had the dream to play college basketball and fill my father's shoes, continuing what he had started. But with the success of my senior season in high school those plans had changed from a basketball career to a football career at Western Oregon University and I couldn't be happier with my decision to play football.
My father, Ron Singleton, has an outstanding athletic resume [Note: Caleb's father played basketball at Arizona State and was drafted in 1987 by the Phoenix Suns]. Still to this day he would give me a hard time on the basketball court one-on-one.
His experience playing at the professional level has given me an idea of what it takes to compete and play at such a high level. It all started when I was young, he taught me that sports is more than a person's athletic ability. It is about your mental approach to the game and how mentally strong and prepared you are.
He molded me into the player I am today. His guidance not only as a father, but a mentor was very important throughout my college career.
PFDP: What will you be your main areas of focus as you train for a potential pro career?
Caleb Singleton: My main focus as I begin training will be building my strength, speed, and defensive back specific skills. There is no limit to someone increasing their individual skill. It is important for me to build on what I lack and continue to get better at the skills I excel in.
The sky is the limit for me as I go into my potential pro career. I am going to continue to work hard and in doing so I hope to achieve my goal, and that is to play in the NFL.
Being a Division II player puts me at a disadvantage in itself, I take that as an insult and look to make my name known by showing people that I have what it takes. That process starts now with training but it does not end there.
0 comments:
Post a Comment