Getting Personal with Brian Witherspoon

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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: 

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