'Prime' example at OSU
Bucks' Underwood gets a helping hand from 'Neon Deion'
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | — E.J. Underwood was just looking to increase his speed when he accepted an offer to work out with Deion Sanders' personal trainer, but the Ohio State junior ended up with more than that.
He learned a few secrets about playing cornerback, too. And the inside information came from Prime Time himself.
Renowned trainer Tom Shaw has helped scores of NFL players get faster, including a reported 62 first-round draft choices since 1994. And he invited the Hamilton native to New Orleans for a private session after the two met at a high school football camp before Underwood's senior year.
Underwood ran through sand pits and learned other unconventional training methods that would allow him to lower his 40 time by a couple of tenths — he was timed at an OSU-best 4.27 seconds this summer — and the player feels even more equipped for duty as a starting corner after getting a surprise phone call from Shaw's most famous client.
When Sanders called the Underwood home in July, E.J. initially panicked.
"My heart just stopped," he said. "I thought, 'This is Deion.' "
Underwood eventually regained his composure. And with younger brother Brandon, a freshman defensive back with the Buckeyes, listening in, E.J. probed the future Hall of Famer for some pointers.
"I started asking him questions about technique and stuff," Underwood said. "I wanted to learn the little things he does that are different than anybody else."
Underwood isn't sure what prompted the star to call. But the 37-year-old cornerback — who ended a three-year retirement this week to attempt a comeback with the Baltimore Ravens — promised to stay in touch.
He told Underwood to send video of him to be critiqued, and Sanders wants to hear from the player after every game this season.
"He said he has satellite TV, and he'll definitely watch Buckeye games," Underwood recalled. "He said I'd better not get beat deep, or he'd be the first call I get."
Although Underwood will often be required to defend the opponent's best receiver, he may prove difficult to burn.
He started two games as a true freshman in 2002, and he was midway through a promising sophomore season when he sliced his thumb with a knife in a kitchen accident and sat out the final eight games.
OSU coach Jim Tressel has said Underwood "has as much ability as anyone I've ever seen at that position." But his relative lack of experience keeps the coach from gushing too much.
"I think he has a lot of the abilities," Tressel said, "but that's what the newcomers face as they go out there on Saturday. Can their abilities translate into performance on game days now?"
Underwood, who wears No. 2 like Sanders, plans to mimic his idol this season.
"He put fear in quarterbacks' hearts," Underwood said. "They didn't really want to test him out. And when they did, he made them pay."
Underwood's goal for 2004 is seven interceptions, and he'd like to return at least a couple for touchdowns.
ut when asked if he would preen like Sanders on the way to the end zone, Underwood shook his head and laughed.
"Naw," he said. "If I do that, I'm going to hear about it."
