Senior Free Safety Kevin Curtis
November 16, 2001 | Football
Nov. 16, 2001
By Holly Krivokapich - Texas Tech Media Relations -
Kevin Curtis has become accustomed to change during his years playing football. He has seen a change in coaches, coaching styles, renovations of Jones SBC stadium and even a change in position. With all the changes going on around him, Curtis has been a constant force in Texas Tech football.
He came to Tech after playing quarterback at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas. Curtis played quarterback for the Mustangs, where he completed 69 of 136 passes for 1,018 yards and five touchdowns. Curtis earned District 3-5A MVP and a first team all-district selection and led the team to a 7-4 record as a senior, under coach Butch Henderson. He was also an All-South Plains selection by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Over two seasons, he helped the team to an 18-6 record. Coronado used his athletic abilities in basketball and baseball as well, but Curtis' heart was in football.
Tech saw not only a quarterback in Curtis but an athlete. Curtis signed with Tech, knowing that his athletic abilities would be used in the safety position rather than quarterback. Looking for contact rather than avoiding contact would now be Curtis' priority. Knowing this, Curtis trained hard and went from a 6-foot-2 195-pound freshman to a 6-foot-3 223-pounds senior.
"The change from quarterback was actually pretty easy," said Curtis. "I had played safety some in high school so I had experience. Playing quarterback and knowing how they think gave me an advantage because as a safety I could figure out where they would go."
Curtis began to focus on his new job as a defender and proved that he was the solution to Tech's need for a strong safety position. He was the only true freshman to play in the season opener at UTEP that year. Curtis saw action in all 11 games and finished the season with 45 total tackles, 21 being unassisted. He made his first start of his freshman year against Big 12 opponent Texas, where he tallied a team-high 10 tackles and a game clinching interception.
After playing in all 11 games his freshman year, Curtis made the transition to starting in all 11 games in 1999. He kicked off his season by making 30 tackles in the first two games after making 45 the previous season. Curtis reached a career-high 20 tackles twice during his sophomore campaign, both against Big 12 opponents.
Curtis played in one of the best games of his career in 1999, in a victory over Colorado. He had 20 tackles and an interception to stop a Buffalo drive as well as recovered a fumble. For his accomplishment after this game, he was named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Curtis ended the season with a team and conference best of 153 tackles, averaging 13.9 tackles per game. He did not finish the season slowly as he made 102 tackles over the last six games of the season. Curtis was the only Red Raider to be selected to the 1999 AP All-Big 12 team.
People had already begun to take notice of Curtis before the beginning of his junior season. He was a Football News preseason All-American and a preseason All-Big 12 selection who was a Thorpe Award "watch list" candidate. This award is something that Curtis hopes to accomplish before graduating from Tech.
"As a team I would like us to win a Big 12 championship and a national title would top it off," said Curtis. "Personally, I would like to receive the Thorpe award, which is an award given out to the best defensive player in the nation. That would be a huge honor for myself."
Curtis proved to be very successful in the 2000 season. He led the Red Raiders, with five tackles, one pass deflection and two QB hurries in a win against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. He also had a tackle for a loss and returned an interception for the first touchdown of his career against the Cowboys. Curtis recorded his first sack of his career against 10th-ranked Kansas State. He is also proved valuable in the game versus 20th-ranked Texas. He had 12 tackles, including three for losses. He also deflected one pass, had one QB hurry and one sack. Curtis made a career-high 21 tackles against top-ranked Nebraska.
Curtis received national attention after his junior season as he was named first team All-Big 12 by Football News, the Dallas Morning News, The Sporting News and the Houston Chronicle. These are just some of the accomplishments that Curtis is most proud of.
"I think my best accomplishment is all the awards and nominations that I have received," stated Curtis. "It is an honor to know that people have noticed me and my accomplishments. However, if I get drafted, that would be the best thing for me."
Curtis has proved that with his heart and abilities, he is a valuable tool in Tech football. However, Curtis is quite modest and attributes much of his success to others.
"I have had a lot of great coaches in my life who have taught me many things and to them I owe much of my success," said Curtis. "My size is good for a safety which is a bonus and I must be thankful for my God-given talents."