Some guys are just easier to cheer for than others.
You know, those guys who carry themselves well, guys who do and say the right things, leaders; Jasen Oden is that young man.
At only 22 years old, Oden possesses confidence and poise beyond his years, both on the football field and when he’s in front of a microphone. His leadership has shone through in fall camp, where he said he was challenging running back mates to play at their best, as well as he’s been a leader through example on the grueling gridiron.
At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Oden is the Rams’ biggest back, the one who can gain the tough yards when needed the most. Colorado State’s leaned on him this season as he’s emerged as their top runner; Saturday in the 38-23 win against Air Force he continued to build his legacy.
Vintage Oden was on display all day; a tough-nosed back who refuses to go down at first contact. To start the game, though, he showed off some speed, too.
On the Rams’ second drive of the day, Oden hit a crease and turned on his speed, running for 42 yards before being caught from behind at the Air Force 16.
“I got it from the offensive line, I got it from everybody,” Oden said of teammates making fun of him for being caught. While he didn’t score, the explosive play was much-needed from the offense and it set them up in the red zone where Joe Hansley would catch a touchdown pass four plays later.
In the second half of the rivalry game, Oden’s relentlessness, his drive started to show through. The 19-yard run started his second half off with determination; the senior was hit over and over again but stayed up, gained the tough yards. That run was classic Oden.
At the end of that drive was another vintage Jasen Oden play. After a CSU blocker was pushed into the backfield, Oden used his 3rd and 4th effort to score his first touchdown by giving it everything he had to dive over the goal line.
On the Rams next drive, he then plunged into the end zone for his second touchdown, doing anything in his power to score for his beloved CSU.
“Sometimes they run a blitz or run a stunt but we’ve got to fall forward for two, we’ve got to fall forward for three. He’s doing a nice job of that,” head coach Mike Bobo said of Oden.
“And I’ve said from Day 1, Jasen Oden has competed,” Bobo continued. “Two weeks ago, it’s late in the game and they’re trying to sit him on kickoff coverage and he won’t. He’s like, ‘I’m going in. I want to go.’ He’s one of our best protectors, he has a great attitude at practice every day. He’s one of the guys that brings energy to practice. Really proud of how he’s playing this year.”
Physicality, blocking, running and leadership through a good attitude; what more can a coach want from a player?
“That’s what I bring to the team,” Oden said of his physical running style. “Me and the coaches, we’ve got a little thing going, ‘I’ll give you two options: Either you’re going to man up, or lay down.”
“That’s got a lot to do with my past, being where I come from, a couple of rough neighborhoods,” he continued about that dogged determination. “To get here was a struggle. I’m real proud of myself for getting this far and I just carry that on my back. I refused to get tackled by just one person.”
He knew how important this win was, how needed it was, and Oden left it all out on the field as he has all year long. Just as he has all life long.
“I lived with my Grandma,” Oden said of how his past has made him a tougher person today. “Me, my mother, my mother’s five kids, my uncle and her husband. We all stayed downstairs in a two bedroom that we made a three bedroom apartment. When you’re coming from the projects, you don’t really have too many options. Nobody believed I would get this far, to college. Just battling that.
“I feel like I’m playing for a whole city,” he continued. “I’m trying to open up a lot of guys’ eyes to go to my city, Buffalo, my home town and recruit the kids. A lot of knuckleheads in the street, they’re doing a lot of bad things. The more times we’re playing on TV they get to turn the TV on to watch me play and know that I came from the same situation.”
That’s why when you see Oden tweet about Buffalo or the “716,” you know he’s got his city on his mind. In some ways it seems he’s never left, never forgotten about the struggle he went through or his friends continue to suffer.
“Every time I say ‘Buffalo’ or ‘#716′ I’m trying to open guys’ eyes that I’m from Buffalo, there’s a lot of good talent in Buffalo,” he explained. “I believe we should get some recruits up there to get to see the kids up there play.”
But it’s not just that he’s trying to open eyes, he’s got a plan to help his city, too.
“One day I hopefully wish to open up a recruiting program to help those kids,” Oden said. “A nice little facility to help them know what the college clearing house is, help them with grades and stuff like that.”
Jasen Oden Jr. went over the 500-yard mark (523) for the season during Saturday’s game in which he rushed 11 times for 89 yards. He’s made it clear he wants to make it to the next level, but if that doesn’t work out, helping kids in his hometown sounds like a wonderful option.
Some guys are easier to cheer for. Some guys come from down-and-out situations only to rise up to help themselves and simultaneously help their teammates, too. Some guys constantly think of others, not just themselves, as true team players in the game of life.
Jasen Oden Jr. is one of those guys. Enjoy cheering for him for the rest of 2015, Colorado State fans. He’s one of the good guys.
