Northwestern University Athletics
One-on-One With Jordan Mabin
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2008
You saw your first significant action at cornerback against Duke. What was that experience like for you?
It was a dream come true. That is what you always want since the days of playing as a kid. Just getting that chance to play college football at a Division I and Big Ten level. I got that opportunity and I'm very thankful for it. Now I have to showcase my talents. I have been working hard and I know I'm ready for it.
How did you use your redshirt season to get ready for this year?
Last year gave me a lot of time to sit back and learn the schemes and learn how college football works. It gave me a year to grow and how to learn how to compete. It was hard at the beginning because I wanted to come in and play right away, but I think coming in and sitting out gave me a chance to see the older guys compete and made me more hungry. It made me come out in spring ball and compete every day and then every single day in fall practice. It is good to see all the defensive backs competing because it makes the whole backfield better.
You didn't always play cornerback, right?
In high school I started my freshman year as cornerback and then for my sophomore, junior and senior year, I played mostly running back. Senior year I played a little bit of corner. I liked the running back days and if all things work out I'll get some special teams touches.
You aren't the first Wildcat to make the transition from running back to cornerback. How do the skills translate from one to the other?
You just have to be physical. I learned how to be physical from my running back days. Of course, having speed to catch up with receivers is important. Being a running back helps your eyes. You have to have good vision to see holes as a running back and as a corner; you have to read your keys, the quarterback and the receivers. I think it definitely translates well.
What is your favorite part about being in the secondary?
My favorite aspect is getting interceptions. That's what you want as a cornerback. You want to get interceptions and take it to the house. All of the defensive backs are trying to make big plays, big picks and big hits. Defense is about having fun and flying around and that's what we're trying to do.
Several members of your family have played college and professional football. How did they impact you growing up?
Since I was six or seven years old, my dad has had me playing football. Since then, I have just loved it and have a passion for the game. I have football in my family, so that's just a good thing in my dad being able to show me how to compete every single day. He showed me how to have love for the game and respect the game and that's what I try to do day-in and day-out.
Talks about this year's defensive backfield...
I think we are very deep this year and I know the defensive backs have a mentality of going out and playing as a unit. If you try to be back there by yourself you aren't able to make up for mistakes. We try to come out as a whole unit and play together. We want to communicate and have each other's backs. Not every play is going to be a good play and we want to keep each other up.
Who have you learned the most from in your time as a Wildcat?
I have learned the most from Sherrick McManis because he plays corner and I can go to him with questions. If I have questions or am iffy on a play, I can go to him and see what he thinks. It's good to have Brad (Phillips) and Smitty (Brendan Smith) back there as the safeties as well. They have played a lot of games and have a lot of experience so I have gone to them too for advice.
What do you like to do in your time away from the field?
I like to play a little Xbox here and there. I still have the crown in NCAA 2009 and no one has knocked me off yet. I also like to fish.
Do you play as yourself in the game?
I am still second-string in the game, but I play as the normal starting lineup. I like having fun with knowing the guys on the field.
Is the game popular with your teammates?
Everyone plays and it gets a little competitive in the dorm rooms. We like to have a lot of fun with it.
Who gets to play as Northwestern?
We all play with random teams. It gets intense, but it's a lot of joking around.
You mentioned fishing as a hobby. Where do you go to fish?
I fish a lot at home, but I haven't been able to go out here because of football. I want to go out onto Lake Michigan and some of the guys and I might do that after the season. Near me, there are a few lakes near my house and I've done some deep-sea fishing on Lake Erie.
What do you catch and what do you do with them?
I fish for like some bluegill and walleyes. Anything we can get our hands on. My mom loves fish so we keep some for her and I eat a few here and there, but we throw them back if they aren't big enough.
