When Oregon State coach Mike Riley and his staff visit recruits, they can use Jordan Poyer as the poster child for how they develop athletes.
Poyer, a senior cornerback, came from Astoria, a small fishing town in northwest Oregon, and turned him into one of the top NFL prospects at his position. ESPN’s Mel Kiper rated him the No. 2 senior corner this spring for the 2013 Draft.
He’s a shutdown corner who plays man-to-man coverage every play on defense while also being a dynamic kickoff and punt returner. He’s also an aggressive gunner on kickoffs and punts.
“Jordan has just done everything he could do for a football team,” Riley said. “He’s as competitive a person I’ve been around, and does anything to get better.”
Poyer was under the radar since he played at a small high school. He excelled as Oregon’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, and played for USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team, but there were still doubts because of the level of competition.
No major colleges offered a scholarship, only regional FCS teams. So he attended an Oregon State camp to get noticed.
The Beavers liked him, but considered him a project.
“I came into Division I football not knowing what to expect,” Poyer said. “People were telling me I couldn’t make it at Division I football, and it happened. I heard that I didn’t play at the level other guys played. But I just wanted to go somewhere and play to show I could.”
Oregon State over-recruited that year and planned to delay Poyer’s enrollment a term. Then some recruits failed to qualify academically, so Poyer joined the team.
Riley realized Poyer possessed the tools to contribute as a true freshman. Poyer played on all the special teams and eventually returned kicks.
He showed the athletic ability to cover receivers by the end of his freshman season, so he moved from safety to corner. Poyer earned second-team all-conference honors as a first-year starter last season. He broke up 12 passes, intercepted four and returned one for a touchdown.
“I still have people telling me I won’t make it at the NFL level,” Poyer said. “So I just want to make myself the best I can. I’ll work hard and live up to my dreams.”