Capitalizing: How Notre Dame WR Deion Colzie made an impact after difficult year
Notre Dame junior wide receiver Deion Colzie could have waited for a block. But he had his chance, and he took it.
Colzie caught a tunnel screen from the 25-yard line in the fourth quarter of Notre Dame’s 42-3 win over Navy. Sophomore tight end Holden Staes kicked out the cornerback, as the play chart said he would. Junior guard Rocco Spindler came over to the safety, Navy senior Eavan Gibbons, but Colzie had a different idea: If he could put one move on Gibbons, he was home free.
Colzie cut inside. Shook off some light contact. Gone.
“I wouldn’t have heard the end of that if I let him tackle me,” Colzie said. “I couldn’t let that happen.”
Dr. Yolanda Jackson, Colzie’s mom, watched her son make that catch and score the touchdown from the stands at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. She hasn’t missed a game yet, even the ones Colzie missed in 2022 due to a preseason knee injury.
Jackson had that injury, and Colzie’s more-arduous-than-expected recovery process, on her mind that night. When her son crossed the goal line, Jackson cried.
“I know he had his very first touchdown against USC last year, but also knew how hard he fought in the offseason to try to stay healthy,” Jackson said. “To see the fruits of his labor in that game on Saturday was something I will never forget.”
How Colzie stayed the course
Colzie missed the first three games of his sophomore season after suffering a PCL sprain in August. It wasn’t a quick fix after he took the field in Week 4, either.
Colzie had to work his way back toward playing time and was not targeted until Week 9 against Syracuse, but he stayed the course as best he could.
“I wouldn’t say there was any frustration,” Colzie said. “Everybody has their own path, and I felt like I wouldn’t be on that path for no reason.”
He and Jayden Thomas are the lone remaining receivers from the 2021 recruiting class, and they have a history that predates their Irish days. They played together in middle school, going back to sixth grade in Georgia. They’re still close today, routinely watching film together.
While Thomas experienced a mini breakout of sorts as a sophomore, Colzie ended the year with 13 targets and only started one game. Colzie didn’t let the days when he didn’t play or get the ball a ton affect him.
“It’s a lot of déja vu,” Colzie said. “It’s all mixed up in my head, but those are the days I think about the most — the days where I felt like I could do more, but I wasn’t able to. I just put my head down and worked and worked, and eventually came to the position where I am now.”
While Colzie was healthy over the offseason, he had to take extra care to work out his lower body to make sure his knee didn’t get stiff. He continued rehabbing throughout the season, which Jackson said carried over to when he came home between semesters. It was tough, especially in a critical offseason for his future at Notre Dame.
The extra work, Jackson said, made Colzie both physically and mentally stronger.
“Mentally, I think it was really a good growing experience for him,” Jackson said. “With any player, when they aren’t able to play because of an injury, it’s just really hard for them. … Doing all the training, keep using the knee brace, keep doing all those things was going to be worth it.”
Ten Crucial Days
Even in fall camp, Colzie dealt with a lingering injury. He declined to elaborate on what it was, but with about a week and a half until the season opener, the issue seemed to be behind him.
“He had some struggles and had to get healthy in camp there in a minute,” Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker said. “He came back, practiced very efficiently and productively those last 10 days. And he found some plays out there.”
Parker said Colzie earned the coaching staff’s trust. He also earned himself more confidence, which carried into the Navy game and should only grow from here.
“I’m just preparing, getting here every day early, watching film, studying coverages, knowing [the other team’s] tendencies and just being mentally prepared,” Colzie said. “Then, once I get out on the field, it becomes second nature. At that point, I can just do what I do best.”
“It’s a huge confidence booster,” Jackson said. “I watched his media interview, and I know he said he had to get the first-game jitters out. But then being able to perform at the level that he performed in that first game — I know his confidence is through the roof.”
Another source of confidence for Colzie: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman used him as an example for the rest of the Irish to follow during his Aug. 28 press conference.
Freeman made sure to point out that Colzie finished the Navy game with 3 catches for 45 yards and a touchdown in his season debut on only 7 offensive snaps. Even more impressively, Colzie played only 4 pass snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, and caught passes on 3 of them.
The 6-foot-4¾, 210-pound wideout took advantage of the opportunity he had. Whether he receives an uptick in snaps going forward or not in a deep receiver room, Colzie will stay ready.
“I knew what I was capable of,” Colzie said. “I got to show bits and pieces of that against Navy. I’m just happy to keep moving forward and keep doing that the rest of the season.”
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