Kevin Ogletree proudly wears his fitted New York Yankees cap-none of those one-size-fits-all jobs for him-in the Valley Ranch locker room.
He's not some late bandwagon-jumper for the World Series champions either. The Queens, N.Y. native's been rooting for the Bronx Bombers for as long as he can remember.
To those who complain that the Yankees bought a World Series, Ogletree points out that it had been nine long years since their last title. He grew up inspired by the Yankees' excellence, celebrating their World Series triumphs in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Jeter and Rivera and Posada and Pettitte were his heroes.
"I love watching it, and I still love the sport," he says. "I follow it closely. It was either the Mets or Yankees when you were in New York. But the Yankees were the best. It was always the Yankees."
Ogletree admits he attended more Mets than Yankees games as a kid because Shea Stadium was a lot closer to his home than a cross-town trip to the Bronx. But he followed the Yankees on television and caught games in person when he could. So after the Yankees captured their 27th title, Ogletree savored the moment.
"I was thrilled," the 22-year-old says. "People say we already have a bunch, which is true, but it's good to see another one. I still have nightmares of blowing that 3-0 lead to the Red Sox. But we made up for it."
Ogletree had to watch the Yankees celebrate from long distance because he's immersed in his current job as the Cowboys' only rookie wide receiver.
Having spent most of his life as a passionate fan of the most visible team in baseball, he now wears the uniform of the NFL's brand-equivalent of the Yankees.
"The Yankees are one of the most known names, known symbols, in sports, and so is the Cowboys star," he says. "It feels good to be a part of it. I'm way excited that the Yankees won, but to play for the Cowboys and be a part of this, that means even more. I'm proud to be a part of this."
Ogletree became the only rookie free agent to earn a roster spot out of training camp, and now he's slowly advancing up the depth chart.
After spending the first four games of the regular season on the inactive list, Ogletree made his NFL debut in the Oct. 11 game at Kansas City. Subbing for the injured Felix Jones as the kickoff return specialist, Ogletree brought back four for 94 yards with a long runback of 32 yards on the opening kickoff, his first NFL play.
He was back among the inactives two weeks later against Atlanta, then saw his first action of the season with the offense in the home game against Seattle, reeling in a 19-yard reception on third-and-10 in the fourth quarter.
Having earned the confidence of the coaching staff, his workload increased a few more notches the following Sunday at Philadelphia. He was a part of the early offense, picking up six yards on an end-around on Dallas' second possession. Later in the same drive, Tony Romo found Ogletree for 21 yards on a third-and-nine to the Eagles' two, setting up Tashard Choice's touchdown run on the next snap to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.
Ogletree came up with another huge catch in the second quarter, a 17-yarder on second-and-14 to give Dallas the ball on the Philadelphia two. That put Nick Folk in position for a 22-yard field goal that provided the Cowboys with a 10-6 halftime advantage.
Romo had 21 completions to seven different receivers on the night in another example of the diversified offense the Cowboys are featuring these days.
Baseball was Ogletree's first love in sports, eventually playing center field for Holy Cross High School in Flushing, N.Y.
"It was the first thing I was good at," he says. "I played until my senior year of high school. I could go get the ball in center. I wasn't a great hitter, but I was good enough. I played other sports so I'd have to come right in (with the high school team) and hit the fastball (without much batting practice), but I was talented enough to play. I always felt I didn't put enough time in to succeed at it. I played in the summer, CYO, played for Harlem Little League the year before they went to the Little League World Series."
He was also a basketball standout, but by the time he was a senior, football had become his primary focus. In his final season for the Holy Cross Knights, he caught 61 passes for 1,170 yards and 19 touchdowns, all league records, and he added five interceptions on defense. That earned him a scholarship to the University of Virginia.
Raised by his late grandmother, Ogletree also was an honor student, and his desire to keep up with his studies at Virginia caused the sociology major to forget any notions of playing a sport other than football.
"I thought about playing basketball in college, but football was enough," he says. "I committed to Virginia for football. They didn't tell me I couldn't try basketball too, but school was hard there and there was no slacking in academics."
He appeared in seven games as a true freshman, and became a starter and the primary receiver as a sophomore, collecting 52 passes for 582 yards and four TDs. His college career was put on hold with a medical redshirt when he missed the 2007 season with a knee injury, but as a junior in his final season for the Cavaliers, the 6-0, 196-pound Ogletree caught the attention of NFL scouts when he grabbed 58 passes for 723 yards and five touchdowns.
Ogletree finished with 117 receptions for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns, but when the NFL draft rolled around, he waited through two days and seven rounds without his name being called.
The Cowboys rang soon thereafter, however, and Ogletree turned down other offers to sign as a free agent. He was on his way.
Ogletree gives the Cowboys another young receiver to join Miles Austin, whose breakout season has been one of the team's most pleasant developments. Austin serves as inspiration, having taken the same rookie free-agent route in 2006.
Ogletree earned a roster spot out of training camp after leading the team with seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns in preseason games, becoming the only rookie free agent to make the team. Another stat that impressed special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was Ogletree's 28.4-yard kickoff return average through the exhibition schedule.
"My attitude in camp was to just play ball and let everything else fall by the wayside," he says. "I knew what the odds were like. But I'm past that part now, into my first season trying to do whatever I can to help us win games."
Talent has carried him this far, although confidence has also been a factor.
"There aren't too many things that intimidate me other than scary movies, but on the field I'm comfortable and confident in my ability and my preparation and God-given talent, how much I want it," he says. "Ever since I got on the football field, I loved to play. It was always natural for me to run and catch the ball. I was fast, I had soft hands. Now I'm just trying to perfect my craft and be the best I can to help my team."
Bottom line: the proud Yankees fan is thrilled to wear a star on his helmet.
"It's good to be part of a winning ball club," he says. "We've got a great unit in the wide receivers; we're all working hard. We can only get better. That's what pushes me."
Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS
