James Dockery knows the performance by the cornerbacks for the Oregon State football team will be in the spotlight until they prove they can handle Pacific-10 Conference competition.

A large part of their success depends on him.

The junior is the probable starter opposite senior Tim Clark. When Dockery steps onto the field it will be the first time he's covered a receiver in an NCAA Division I game.

"With what we do in our defense it's important for our corners to play well," cornerbacks coach Keith Heyward said. "The type of the defense we play allows us to get pressure, play more coverages and do more stuff with the corners covering (man-to-man)."

Opponents have an idea what Clark can do from his success the last two seasons, so the other corner can expect to be tested. The other candidates have little to no experience in a pressure situation.

"Is it a concern for me? No," Heyward said. "It's not a concern for us on the team because they've been playing well. Will we give up big plays? Of course we will. It's a long season. But if we didn't, that would be great. Ultimately, we'll go out there and play solid."

Dockery missed all of last season recovering from a torn ligament in a knee, and only played on special teams as a freshman.

He was a safety during his redshirt and freshman seasons. His conversion to cornerback was delayed by the injury.

"I missed a lot not having my sophomore year as far as game experience," Dockery said. "That's one of those things people question about the cornerbacks, the total experience. If I was healthy last year I would have been playing and eased the transition more."

Dockery split time with senior Patrick Henderson on the first string during training camp. Spectacular pass break ups were mixed in with receivers getting the upper hand.

Being able to play at full speed on his knee free of worry was the biggest hurdle to overcome. He doesn't need a brace, and didn't want one to slow him down.

"It feels good," Dockery said. "(Last Saturday's) scrimmage gave me a different feeling. Practice is fine, but I want to get back out there in the game. That's when you know you are truly back, when the big lights are on. But as far as reaction and my knee, I feel great."

Dockery's injury was a random occurrence. After finishing a morning workout last August he left the weight room and the pain overcame him.

There was a minor pre-existing ligament tear that he didn't know about. A stray strand was caught in the knee joint and it tore all the way.

Surgery and a long rehab took him out for the season. He could have come back at the end, but it was decided to wait until the spring to get back on the field.

"It was one of the hardest times of my life," Dockery said. "That was my first injury I had since Pop Warner. I've never missed a rep in my whole career. So I had to adjust to that."

Dockery didn't pout and just think of himself during recovery. He attended all the meetings and studied opponents like the rest of the cornerbacks.

He coached teammates on the sidelines during games, not only in OSU's coverage techniques but on what was seen from the opponents on the sidelines because of the mental preparation he went through each week.

"He's going to be a good addition to our secondary because he's a communicator," Heyward said. "He's a smart football guy. He's a big-time competitor. When he gets a couple games under his belt, and he gets the timing and the tempo of the speed on the field, he'll be a true leader."

If Dockery establishes himself on the field, the final leg of his journey of changing positions and coming back from injury will be complete.

And that would also mean the cornerbacks are ready for the Pac-10.

"I'd say we've come pretty far," Dockery said. "It's fair to assess us as we haven't been giving up the deep ball too much. We are at where we need to be."