Interview: Oklahoma safety Calvin Bundage headhunting along the way to the college ranks

In a town 14 miles due north of the heart of Oklahoma City stands a football cautionary tale. When parents talk about being fearful for their child’s safety on a football field, traces of the conversation can be linked back to the town of Edmond. When media talking heads expound on the violence of the game of football, they are in some small way talking about the playing style of Santa Fe High School safety/outside linebacker Calvin Bundage.

When the 6’3”, 200 pound, headhunting safety locks onto a ball carrier everyone in the stadium tenses up waiting to see the result of a steam engine locomotive plowing through an unsuspecting body only guarded by a helmet and shoulder pads. Wide receivers take the path of quarterbacks sliding ahead of a potential Bundage hit. Running backs cough up the ball sliding ahead of a Bundage hit fearful of what may come.

The Wolves suffered through a 5-5 season in 2014 but that did not stop college recruiters from around the nation from making a trip to Oklahoma to see Bundage play. After coming up with 81 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and a sack in nine games college coaches started extending offers. So far 22 offers have gone out to Calvin from schools like Arizona, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Houston, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas, and Kansas State.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we quizzed Calvin on all things football covering the 2014 season, offseason workouts, and got an update on his recruitment process.

 

Calvin, Santa Fe had a tough season going 5-5 last year. How did the season go in your opinion?

“We were really young. Every game we were up at halftime but we didn’t know how to finish.”

The team is in the middle of a coaching transition from Lance Manning to Cal White, how is that going?

“It’s a lot better than it was. Coach White is doing a lot better than the old coach. He’s a lot more organized. He knows how to deal with kids better.”

How do the Wolves look heading into the 2015 season? Do you think you guys can bounce back and be a playoff team?

“Yeah, I think we’ll most definitely be in the playoffs. We’re all seniors. We’re old enough I think we’ll be good. I think we’ll get into the playoffs.”

What is the strength of this year’s football team?

“The defense.”

Not being biased are you?

“(Laughs) No, no I’m not. Our D-line, we got some new guys that are really good and we got some old guys coming back that were starting for us last year.”

What are your strengths on the field at safety?

“Being explosive in the run game and hawking down the ball.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last season?

“First-Team All-State.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“To get a lot of picks and a lot tackles.”

Will you play on offense in 2015?

“I’ll stay on defense mostly. I may play a little offense at wide out.”

Will you play primarily safety or linebacker next year?

“A little bit of both.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for you senior season?

“A lot of explosiveness training and working on my footwork.”

What is your fastest clocked 40-yard dash time?

“A 4.56.”

You have a lot of offers, what other schools are showing heavy interest in you that have not offered yet?

“Notre Dame, Oregon, and Texas A&M.”

When you talk to the college coaches what are they telling you they like about your game?

“They like how fast I get to the ball and my cover skills.”

Do you have a list of favorites yet?

“No.”

Do you plan on releasing one?

“Yeah, later in the future.”

What are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college?

“Early playing time and a good relationship with the coaches.”

Do you have a stronger relationship with any coaches at one school over another?

“They’re all about the same.”

What position are the different schools recruiting you to play?

“Some are at safety and some are a combination.”

What position do you prefer to play at the next level?

“Safety.”

You’ve been on a couple of unofficial visits, one to Arkansas and two to Oklahoma. How did your visit to Arkansas go?

“It went really well I enjoyed it. I got to meet the coaches and stuff. It went good.”

How did your Oklahoma visit go?

“It went really well. I got to see the spring game and stuff.”

Have you started to put together a potential list where you may take your official visits?

“No I haven’t.”

Do you know which college one-day camps you may attend this summer?

“Yeah, maybe, I don’t know.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“Hitting people.”

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: scout.com; No. 40 Calvin Bundage