Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
“Old School” Decorian Patterson breaks out at corner
10/5/2022 4:45:00 PM | Football
The redshirt junior leads the country with four interceptions in five games
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With time ticking down on Friday night against UTSA, Decorian Patterson had to get back in the game.
Late in the third quarter, his team down three scores after he missed time during the game with a shoulder injury, Patterson got cleared by the training staff, strapped his helmet back on, and brought the energy he had brought all season.
Perhaps UTSA hadn't noticed his presence quite yet. Because when Roadrunner QB Frank Harris pulled the ball on the RPO and rifled the ball on a slant to De'Corian Clark, Decorian Patterson was right there in the red zone to stop him in his tracks.
The interception was Patterson's third on his 2022 campaign. He would go onto to add a fourth INT this season along the MTSU sideline late in the fourth quarter, giving the Blue Raiders a chance to tie the game late. A remarkable tale of perseverance, all in one game, but one that doesn't surprise those that know the Ocala, Fla. native best.
"If he's doing bad, he's working," cornerbacks coach Kenneth Gilstrap said of Patterson. "If he's doing well, he's working. That's why he is where he is, it doesn't surprise me at all."
Gilstrap calls Patterson's mentality "old school", in that he's not in Murfreesboro for the perks of being an FBS football player, he's here to play football. And like a lot of players around the MTSU locker room, Patterson has picked up a lot of playing time since taking the field at Georgia for his first collegiate game as a true freshman in 2018.
A safety at that time, Patterson found his way into a role as a nickel back, then at outside corner, over the next couple of seasons, racking up as many as 43 total tackles, including 5.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and five pass breakups, as he did in 2020.
But a variety of roadblocks kept Patterson from building consistency early in his career. The changes in technique between three defensive back positions, the injury that cut his freshman season short, the competition from other defensive backs that jumped passed him on the depth chart, as was the case last year.
"Going from nickel to corner, technique wise, everything is feet," Patterson said of what he had to work on early in his career as he played multiple positions. "But when it comes to eyes, to playing the run, you can't be run heavy as much as corner than you can be a nickel.
"And getting in shape," he added. "Being a corner, you might get three deep routes in a row, then they might throw the ball to you, but you're still in the game. playing every play."
Through it all, however, Patterson never complained, never lowered his effort level, never folded in the face of adversity. Even when he was taken off of his starting role in the middle of the 2021 season, he only asked Gilstrap one question: "What can I do to get better?"
"I always tell my players, if you aren't mad when you're not playing, I don't want you around me," Gilstrap said. "So him being mad and always questioning, 'Coach, how can I get better?', that's the reason why he is where he is now."
That disappointment, alongside his confidence in himself that he could be the shutdown guy on the outside, gave Patterson a lot to work on through the spring and summer ahead of 2022. Building up his speed, working on improving his feet, and finding more discipline in himself, both as a player and as a person.
The work didn't go unnoticed by his teammates.
"He battled some things last year, he's battled some things now, but he's continuing to go to work and to be that voice for that defensive back group," defensive end Jordan Ferguson said. "I just saw him take coaching and continuing to mature into that role where he is wanting to be the best on the field. It kind of motivates me."
The proof of that work showed up in fall camp, where he was one of the earliest players those in the know around the program saw take a big step during August practice. But when the Blue Raiders finally took the field, he became one of the most essential pieces of a new look MTSU secondary. Through five games, his four interceptions rank first in the FBS, tied with Texas State's Kordell Rodgers and Nevada's Bentlee Sanders.
He has the speed and the skill to keep up with elite talent on the outside, sure, but he also has developed the best trait a cornerback can have: a short memory.
"He can correct his own mistakes, and he's learned to keep his composure," Gilstrap said. "The plays he made Saturday, he made those plays when he gave up those balls earlier in the game, because those were good throws and catches."
From Patterson's perspective, he doesn't even recognize the player he was a season ago, saying he feels like a completely different person now compared to this time a year ago. But that fire, that belief in himself, continues to carry him forward.
"I always believed in it, but my problem was that I had to show everybody else," Patterson said. "I knew I could do it, but unless I do it where everybody else can see, nobody else will believe.
"It's not a surprise to me," Patterson added about his hot start to the season. "It might be a surprise to everybody else, but it's not a surprise to me."
Late in the third quarter, his team down three scores after he missed time during the game with a shoulder injury, Patterson got cleared by the training staff, strapped his helmet back on, and brought the energy he had brought all season.
Perhaps UTSA hadn't noticed his presence quite yet. Because when Roadrunner QB Frank Harris pulled the ball on the RPO and rifled the ball on a slant to De'Corian Clark, Decorian Patterson was right there in the red zone to stop him in his tracks.
THIRD INT on the season for 3️⃣3️⃣.#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/8r4gkmweSO
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) October 1, 2022
The interception was Patterson's third on his 2022 campaign. He would go onto to add a fourth INT this season along the MTSU sideline late in the fourth quarter, giving the Blue Raiders a chance to tie the game late. A remarkable tale of perseverance, all in one game, but one that doesn't surprise those that know the Ocala, Fla. native best.
Context: https://t.co/ouRbv4A366 pic.twitter.com/BnrvTQmrM3
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) October 1, 2022
"If he's doing bad, he's working," cornerbacks coach Kenneth Gilstrap said of Patterson. "If he's doing well, he's working. That's why he is where he is, it doesn't surprise me at all."
Gilstrap calls Patterson's mentality "old school", in that he's not in Murfreesboro for the perks of being an FBS football player, he's here to play football. And like a lot of players around the MTSU locker room, Patterson has picked up a lot of playing time since taking the field at Georgia for his first collegiate game as a true freshman in 2018.
A safety at that time, Patterson found his way into a role as a nickel back, then at outside corner, over the next couple of seasons, racking up as many as 43 total tackles, including 5.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and five pass breakups, as he did in 2020.
But a variety of roadblocks kept Patterson from building consistency early in his career. The changes in technique between three defensive back positions, the injury that cut his freshman season short, the competition from other defensive backs that jumped passed him on the depth chart, as was the case last year.
"Going from nickel to corner, technique wise, everything is feet," Patterson said of what he had to work on early in his career as he played multiple positions. "But when it comes to eyes, to playing the run, you can't be run heavy as much as corner than you can be a nickel.
"And getting in shape," he added. "Being a corner, you might get three deep routes in a row, then they might throw the ball to you, but you're still in the game. playing every play."
Through it all, however, Patterson never complained, never lowered his effort level, never folded in the face of adversity. Even when he was taken off of his starting role in the middle of the 2021 season, he only asked Gilstrap one question: "What can I do to get better?"
"I always tell my players, if you aren't mad when you're not playing, I don't want you around me," Gilstrap said. "So him being mad and always questioning, 'Coach, how can I get better?', that's the reason why he is where he is now."
That disappointment, alongside his confidence in himself that he could be the shutdown guy on the outside, gave Patterson a lot to work on through the spring and summer ahead of 2022. Building up his speed, working on improving his feet, and finding more discipline in himself, both as a player and as a person.
The work didn't go unnoticed by his teammates.
"He battled some things last year, he's battled some things now, but he's continuing to go to work and to be that voice for that defensive back group," defensive end Jordan Ferguson said. "I just saw him take coaching and continuing to mature into that role where he is wanting to be the best on the field. It kind of motivates me."
The proof of that work showed up in fall camp, where he was one of the earliest players those in the know around the program saw take a big step during August practice. But when the Blue Raiders finally took the field, he became one of the most essential pieces of a new look MTSU secondary. Through five games, his four interceptions rank first in the FBS, tied with Texas State's Kordell Rodgers and Nevada's Bentlee Sanders.
He has the speed and the skill to keep up with elite talent on the outside, sure, but he also has developed the best trait a cornerback can have: a short memory.
"He can correct his own mistakes, and he's learned to keep his composure," Gilstrap said. "The plays he made Saturday, he made those plays when he gave up those balls earlier in the game, because those were good throws and catches."
From Patterson's perspective, he doesn't even recognize the player he was a season ago, saying he feels like a completely different person now compared to this time a year ago. But that fire, that belief in himself, continues to carry him forward.
"I always believed in it, but my problem was that I had to show everybody else," Patterson said. "I knew I could do it, but unless I do it where everybody else can see, nobody else will believe.
"It's not a surprise to me," Patterson added about his hot start to the season. "It might be a surprise to everybody else, but it's not a surprise to me."
Players Mentioned
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