Football
Out Like a Bandit, CR's Hancock Signs with D-I Tulsa
By Sean Quincey/Times-Standard
Feb 20, 2008, 09:14

When Kolin Hancock left Division-I Bowling Green University in 2006, he wanted to return to playing big-time college football as quickly as possible.

Little did he know how much his patience would be tested, or how it would pay off literally and personally.

It took longer than expected, but after playing two seasons for College of the Redwoods and waiting through a few nerve-bending weeks during recruiting season, his dream was realized. Hancock on Tuesday faxed a signed letter of intent to play for the University of Tulsa on a full scholarship.

It's a far cry from the walk-on status he had at Bowling Green, but still a year later than he originally wanted. The extra year, however, helped him grow as a player and a person.

”As a person, I've learned a little bit of patience in my time here,” Hancock said. “On the defensive side of the ball, coach (Mike) Cox helped me develop my defensive back skills, whether it was a corner or safety. Coach (Tino Romero) helped me become a better tackler.

”I'm better on and off the field now after my time at CR.”

He left Bowling Green, where he redshirted, as a receiver. He came to CR hoping to move to cornerback and get back to a D-I school playing defense.

Needing help on offense in 2006, Redwoods had him split time at cornerback and receiver, and despite playing offense for only half the season, Hancock was voted to the all-Bay Valley Conference team for his pass-catching skills.

Still rounding out his skills as a defensive back, and still without the scholarship offer he wanted, Hancock played strictly on defense last year and moved to free safety. From there, he led CR with six interceptions, was second in tackles (62.5) and again made the all-BVC team. He also ran back two punts for touchdowns in two seasons.

By season's end, he had gotten calls from USC, Rice and Purdue inquiring about Hancock, but no scholarship offers. Same story on National Signing Day two weeks ago when most big-name high school and junior college recruits announce their plans for next season.

”I told him to be patient, this kind of thing happens every year,” CR head coach Dave Banducci said. “Sometimes a school loses a guy, but they still need someone to fill that position.”

Then, about a week ago, Banducci FedEx'd a highlight tape of Hancock to a recruiting service that said it was looking for a player matching his profile. Schools from all over sent similar tapes, but the service said Hancock's was the best of the bunch. A few days later, Tulsa invited him out for a visit and over the weekend the defending Conference USA-West champs sold him on its vision.

”I'm coming into a program that's trying not only to win a Conference USA title, but wants to make the next step and win a BCS bowl game,” Hancock said. “I'm excited about the goals they're setting for themselves.”

At Tulsa, he will play as a “bandit” safety, a defensive back responsible for covering skill players and helping in run support.




© Copyright by College of the Redwoods