Why Jarrick Bernard-Converse Earned the Nickname ‘Amazon’

STILLWATER — Jarrick Bernard-Converse has earn the nickname Amazon “because he always delivers.”

Corners coach Tim Duffie got the credit for giving Bernard-Converse, a starting corner for Oklahoma State, the nickname this spring, and it has stuck. Bernard-Converse is entering his senior season after starting two years at safety before transitioning to a starting corner. He’s been a key cog in OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ defense since Knowles got to Stillwater in 2018.

“He’s a steady guy,” Knowles said. “He’s played every play since I’ve been here, and you can just really count on him to be that steady influence.”

In 25 games as a safety in 2018 and 2019, Bernard-Converse made 112 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and had a pair of picks. When A.J. Green graduated and headed to the NFL, the decision was made to shift Bernard-Converse from safety to Green’s former corner spot, where Bernard-Converse made a solid transition, breaking up seven passes last season.

All that came without even taking a redshirt year. He started starting games as a true freshman. He was the No. 1,087 player in the 2018 class out of Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana. All the experience he has gained has made him an easy guy for the Cowboys’ younger defensive backs to look up to, according Knowles.

“He’s not the loudest person — Jarrick is a really humble guy,” Knowles said. “But I’ve seen him try to step up with all these younger guys because we’ve had an influx of great talent at DB, really. I’ve seen Jarrick step up, and they look up to him. He carries himself — he has a manner of speaking to them that’s different than me, and he really does a good job.”

More than being a leader in practice, Bernard-Converse will be looked at to take a step up as the Cowboys’ top corner in 2021 with Rodarius Williams joining Green in the NFL. With all the adaptations he has been able to make to this point, Bernard-Converse is in as good a spot as any to make that jump for the Pokes.

“I’m more confident than I’ve ever been before because I understand the job and I understand, like, more football,” Bernard-Converse said. “I’ve just been studying a lot more, so I feel pretty good about it. I’m ready to see what this year brings.”