Vikings’ Jayron Kearse adversity best teacher
The Vikings’ newest safety, Jayron Kearse, signed his rookie contract with the team today, after agreeing to a four-year $2.4 million deal with a $64,224 signing bonus, earlier in the week. He was selected with the 244th pick in the seventh round of the draft.
On Tuesday Kearse gave an interview on KFAN’s Bumper to Bumper program. While on the show he spoke candidly about falling in the draft and persevering through adversity. Kearse also talked about his relationship with Mackensie Alexander and what he expects from his role on the team.
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Kearse said he talked with head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman at his pro day and at the combine, but other than that there was not a whole lot of communication. He was surprised to get the call from Spielman and the Vikings on draft day.
Upon being drafted by the Vikings, Kearse wants to do what is best for team and is willing to do what it takes to give the team its best opportunity to win. He’s a team player and will take on whatever role the team needs him in. Kearse is a hard worker who is looking to contribute right away be a dynamic, impact player on special teams and defense.
While the draft was going on in Chicago, Illinois, Kearse was watching eagerly from his home in south Florida. He thought day two was going to be his day or possibly early on day three. From what he was hearing from his agent, it looked like Kearse was going to be a late third or early fourth round pick and that some team would select him no later than day three in the fifth round. Nobody thought he would slide past the fifth.
When the fifth round came and went and his name still wasn’t called, Kearse started losing faith. He left his house and prayed. Not hearing his name called was getting to him and he was a mix of emotions. Kearse said the toughest part was seeing guys getting selected before him that he knew he was better than.
Then in the seventh round he got a call from the Vikings and the excitement was immediate. To Kearse it was like being drafted in the first. Now he hopes to give the Vikings the most he can to help them win.
The draft was a very humbling experience for Kearse and he is determined to “flip it and make it a positive.” He said “adversity is the best teacher” and plans to do everything he can to make the Vikings’ 53 man roster – whether that is as a starter, backup, rotational player or on special steams. Kearse is going to do whatever is asked of him.
Kearse told KFAN that God put him in this position for a reason and there is a greater reason for it. He feels that by joining the Vikings and their great group of players and coaches will make him better – that being around great players and teachers will help him to become a great player.
Zimmer is looking for a guy who can play opposite of safety Harrison Smith. By being paired together, Kearse said, would allow for Smith to play how he wants and be able to do the things he hasn’t been able to do. Kearse feels his addition would do just that and free Smith up. He is looking forward to competing for the spot alongside Smith and said a “competitor wants to get better and be the best.”
Kearse came from a tough area of south Florida and after getting into some criminal trouble at age 14, he decided to turn his life around and do the right thing. He said the key to making it out of his situation in life was finding the right person and role model to look up to. He also said it’s important to find the right friends that share the same interests and “want to be good at what you want.” Kearse stuck with it and was eventually presented a better opportunity in life.
Seeing his family members, Jevon Kearse and Phillip Buchanon, make it out and succeed was inspiring and motivated him to do the same. He followed in their footsteps and used football as his ticket out.
Kearse was asked about former Clemson and new Vikings’ teammate, Mackensie Alexander, and said he is a smart football player that helps out and does the right things. He said Alexander does whatever he has to do to be the best player on the field; he is a true competitor.
Before the draft, New Era gave Kearse 32 hats, one for each team in the NFL. After being selected by the Vikings in the seventh round, he picked up the Vikings hat and put it on while tossing the remaining 31 on the ground. There was only one hat he cared about and the rest he gave away.
Kearse wants to show the teams that passed up on him that they made a mistake and wants to make them pay. He wants to succeed and show the world that he belongs in the NFL. He wants to show his coaches and teammates, along with the 31 teams that passed on him, that he belongs.
Kearse has learned to humble himself and is ready to make the most of the opportunity. He is eager and ready to accept any role given him and will do whatever is necessary to help his team win. He is already showing the maturity and personal growth that coaches have commended him for.
In the end, Kearse just feels blessed the Vikings called him and to be playing football in the NFL. He is excited to be where he is and thankful for the opportunity given to him by the Vikings.
– Miles Dittberner, is a Managing Editor at cover32 and covers the Minnesota Vikings.
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