Jayron Kearse's Size, Effort Impress Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Jayron Kearse wants to make an impact. He did that Thursday night by making an impression.
"It feels pretty good, just being out there, having an opportunity to go out there and show the coaches what I can do for four whole quarters," Kearse said. "It also felt good having the vets cheer me on and just talking to those guys throughout the course of the game and them having my back."
What you can't help but notice is his size -- his length. 6-feet-4-inches, 215 pounds. A rare frame for an NFL safety.
"My body size, my body type, they can't outmuscle me," said Kearse. "They can't just shield me out when they're going to make a play on the ball and I think that's definitely what benefits the most."
Add to that the intangible -- he's played with a sense, a football IQ that is almost innate.
"He's got a nose for the football. Sky's the limit for him," said cornerback Terence Newman. "Obviously he's a guy that can make a lot plays, he's rangy."
What he learned he has to be is not intimidated by the league, but proactive in a physical way.
"Go hard, just know your assignment and everything will fall into place," Kearse said.
"Just coming out watching the guys ahead of me, guys like Harrison, those guys will definitely be aggressive, they'll attack everything aggressively. So I just went out there and tried to do the same exact thing.
"Just give everything you got like I said before. Effort, effort and just know your job. I think pretty much anybody can do it, you just have to know what you have to do and give max effort."
