Clemson safety Jayron Kearse is a player I’ve been fascinated with ever since he has a high school prospect.
Jayron Kearse has made an impression at Clemson since Day 1.
There are obvious things like his pedigree, but for me it’s was his pterodactyl-like limbs, freakish height for a safety and intimidating looks he gives opponents without saying a word.
“Gimme my lunch” was a prophecy
It was Kearse’s first day of preseason camp his freshman year and the defensive backs were in the center of the end zone on the practice field the day we were allowed to observe. There were five defensive backs and four footballs on orange cones- one at the 10, 20, 30 & 40 on the out of bounds line by the right sidelines. Defensive backs coach Mike Reed blew the whistle and off they go, Jayron slipped a little coming out of the endzone and was in fifth place. The first-third balls were nabbed. Jayron reached in behind the last guy, Marcus Edmund as he grabbed the ball (he thought he’d won)… Jayron pushed him out of the way, grabs that ball and look him dead in the eye like a grown man- “gimme my lunch, now do them push ups” The lesson taught was play through the whistle.
Just like that humid 92-degree day, Kearse took Louisville’s lunch last year and sent the Cardinals home with a loss with his late play.
Jayron has that “it” factor to file guys behind him to go to war. I’ve watched it. In the third quarter in 2013, I watched him get in the the entire defense’s face on the sidelines in the Orange Bowl and then go make an interception of Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller that changed the momentum of the game- a 40-35 Tigers win.
Kearse could have a huge year this year with the skill set he has and work he’s put in the offseason. Watch for No. 20. He will be the one prowling around all over the field this fall making this fall looking like some sort of hybrid freak safety.
Stock up on Kearse in 2015.
Click below for the full article
Kearse has fascinating potential
Source: Clemson 24/7
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
YouTube
RSS