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ASU redshirt junior wide receiver Kevin Ozier nearly shed tears of joy during ASU’s 27-17 victory over California.

It was a long time coming for the Sun Devils. They picked up their first win in Berkeley, Calif., since 1997.

And the former walk-on was picked to smash the rock after the game.

Ozier waited a long time to display his playmaking ability. His dream came to life Saturday as he caught three catches for 42 yards and two crucial touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly connected with Ozier for a nine-yard touchdown just before halftime to put ASU up 17-7. Ozier made a tough grab in a very small window, which he knew would likely occur during the game.

“In practice, (Kelly said) if he throws it to me, it was going to be right on my break,” Ozier said. “Soon as I break, the ball is up in the air. I was kind of on the one(-yard line) and then the goal line when I caught it in the air. I tried to turn because if I get tackled at the one, coach (Todd Graham) is going to run it in. So I’m not trying to take this hit for nothing. I wanted the touchdown and I got the touchdown.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, Kelly found Ozier cutting across the field on third-and-12. Ozier cut up field and was twirled into the end zone to extend ASU’s lead and seal the win.

“He’s sacrificed a lot to be a part of our program,” Graham said. “I’m really proud of him. He’s just quietly having a great year.”

He walked on in 2009 and redshirted, spending practices as a member of the scout team. He earned a Hard Hat recognition for his work in the offseason strength and conditioning program as a redshirt freshman, but Ozier didn’t get his first taste of playing time until last season. He was mainly a factor on special teams.

Ozier said he did get discouraged by the lack of playing time, but his teammates and family members kept telling him the hard work would pay off eventually.

It did during spring camp, when Graham rewarded Ozier with a scholarship.

“I told someone else I wanted to do a backflip,” Ozier said when he received a scholarship. “It was great. I was excited. I called my mom and everybody like, ‘I’m on scholarship. I don’t have to pay for school no more.’”

The experience made Ozier humble and taught him how to keep an optimistic outlook on the situation.

“You’ve got to think positive,” Ozier said. “If I held my head down and thought negative about it, I probably would’ve gave up. Times get tough and that’s when character is built.”

He hasn’t lost the work ethic that helped him receive a scholarship either. Offensive coordinator Mike Norvell said Ozier has been steady over the last three weeks out of the wide receiving group.

“He knows where to be at,” Norvell said. “He’s making plays when the opportunities are coming to him. Seeing that confidence in him – when he’s stepping on the field, he know what he has to do.”

Ozier said he’s just doing what the coaches tell him to do, which has resulted in the increase in playing time and success on the field. Once Ozier caught his career-high second touchdown catch in the game, it all came full circle.

“I wanted to shed tears,” Ozier said. “It’s a great feeling coming from being a walk-on on scout team for a couple years, earning a scholarship and then starting. It’s just a great feeling.”

 

Reach the reporter at mtesfats@asu.edu


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