Colin Voss: From The Football Field To The Hardwood Voss Could Have Played Tight End In The Big 10, But Basketball Had His Heart
Oct. 7, 2014
The list of schools Colin Voss visited during his football recruitment reads like a list of the most successful programs in Big 10 history. The talented tight end took visits to Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Minnesota, among others.
Coached by his father, Jim, at East Grand Rapids High School, Voss had dozens of programs across the Midwest drooling thanks to a resume of four state titles and an explosive frame that checked in at 6-7 and 230 pounds.
Voss was set to be the next in a long list of great Big 10 tight ends. There was just one problem – he wanted to play basketball.
After a couple of years at Central Michigan and an NJCAA All-America season at Northern Oklahoma, Voss found himself in Denton, Texas as the centerpiece to the Mean Green front court.
Just like on the football field, Voss has developed an all-around game that has opposing coaches scratching their heads. He developed a smooth 12-foot baseline jumper that helps pull defenders out of the paint, and when they do, Voss can cut inside and muscle to the bucket with the best of C-USA.
The results were 7.3 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting (49.5 percent in C-USA play, which ranked 14th in the league) and 5.8 rebounds per game, which ranked second at NT.
Defensively, Voss is patient yet tough, and causes havoc in the paint with his vision and positioning despite not being a premier shot blocker. Last season he played more minutes than NT’s other two post players combined, yet Voss committed 32 fewer fouls than the other two, which is a tribute to his discipline.
That discipline and toughness is rubbing off on the Mean Green. With practices starting officially starting this week, North Texas has taken on some of Voss’ characteristics. That suits NT head coach Tony Benford just fine.
