Getting Personal with Brian Witherspoon

When choosing which Jaguars player I had to interview, I wanted to select an exciting player who doesn't get a ton of national publicity.  I also wanted to choose a guy who took a tough path to the NFL and wasn't handed anything. 

Former undrafted rookie, return man/cornerback Brian Witherspoon was the player I chose, and he gave some great answers to some tough questions.

Charlie Bernstein:  It's only the first week of OTA's, but how is everything going?

Brian Witherspoon:  OTA’s have been real good, the team’s looking real nice, real crisp.  We’ve got a lot of young talent out there, our draft picks are looking good, everything’s going real well.

CB:  Your path to the NFL certainly didn't involve any "red carpet treatment."  Describe your journey being an undrafted guy from a place that hardly anyone has heard of, Stillman College?

BW:  It was a very difficult path, a lot of ups and downs, coming from a small division two school that nobody has ever heard of.  A lot of extra hard work, a lot of grinding, a lot of praying.  When I got down here for OTA’s and minicamps, a lot of people gave me no chance of making the team.  I just continued to work hard, push myself, push my body to the limit, and a lot of good came from it. 

CB:  Do you feel you have to work that much harder just to make the roster being that the team has a very small monetary investment in you?

BW:  Even if you’re a drafted guy, I don’t think that guarantees you anything.  Especially on the business side of the NFL.  When you come in undrafted, they’re not investing a lot in you, and you have to work that much harder to prove you belong.

CB:  You were a rookie last season and you turned heads in the preseason and early on in the season with a couple big kickoff returns.  Were you beginning to feel comfortable in your role?

BW:  I was very comfortable.  I knew that one of the ways I could make the team was with special teams and I took advantage of it.  So far it’s worked out pretty well for me.

CB:  Near the end of the season, the big returns weren’t quite as prevalent.  Was it better coverage, or did you maybe not see the holes quite as quickly?

BW:  I think it was better coverage.  It’s the NFL.  If they want to game plan against you and take you out of a game, they can.  My body started to wear down at the end of the season playing at the weight I played at, so that’s why this season I bulked up a little more.  Gained about 10-12 pounds.

CB:  What weight are you playing at now?

BW:  I’m playing at about 185 right now, last year I played at 172.

CB:  Have you lost any speed at your new weight?

BW:  No, actually I feel a little bit faster.  The new strength and conditioning coaches have been great.

CB:  At the end of the year you were able to get some reps at corner and did a pretty good job.  Do you think the Jags see you as a young guy who can compete for the nickel job or mainly just as a special teams player?

BW:  It’s in the works.  They’ve worked me in at corner a little more, they’re trying to teach me a little more and help me become a better student of the game, and it’s going pretty good right now, I’m enjoying it.

CB:  What is it like lining up across from a legendary receiver like Torry Holt?

BW:  At first I had to catch myself because I thought I was dreaming.  Torry’s a good guy, he comes out there and works hard and he has a great attitude.  He comes to work every day with a smile on his face.  He’s a great veteran guy and a great leader.

CB:  The Jaguars selected Derek Cox in the third round and Mike Thomas in the fourth round, both have handled return duties in their collegiate careers.  How did that make you feel and what could that mean for your job?

BW:  I didn’t feel a thing.  I’m just trying to go out there and do what I do best.  Just work hard, put the team in good field position, and do what I do.  I’m not worried about the draft picks or anything, I’m not worried about all that.

CB:  The team obviously underachieved last season as they began the year with Super Bowl aspirations only to fall to a last place finish at 5-11.  What was the mood in the locker room like week to week?

BW:  We kept our spirits up and we kept our hopes up high.  I think we had that mindset that everybody was going to lay down because of the season we had the year before, and I think we got off track a little bit.  I can promise you that you won’t see that this year.

CB:  Jack Del Rio and Gene Smith have eluded to the fact that they want character guys on their football team, and that was further enunciated with the dismissals of a few guys who had some off the field issues.  Do you feel as if you guys have a more tight-knit, professional unit right now?

BW:  Everything has been going great.  We are practicing, having fun, challenging each other and it’s more competitive and it’s fun at the same time.  Things are looking a whole lot better than last year.

CB:  Are you the fastest member of the Jaguars?

BW:  Yes I am.

CB:  What has been the fastest you've ever been clocked at (in the 40)?

BW:  My fastest 40 time was a 4.16.  No wind, no down hill.

CB:  What can we expect to see from Brian Witherspoon in 2009?

BW:  You can expect to see a lot more excitement, a lot more plays being made, and I’m finally going to get in that end zone.  That’s my goal.  My goal is to make the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, if not at corner.