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Purdue pass rusher par excellence, Ryan Kerrigan, is a player who could help the Jets a great deal. They might have to trade up for him. Here is a conversation with the Muncie-native . . .
Q)What was your size during measurements at the combine?
Kerrigan: 6-3.7, 267.
Q)Who is your agent?
Kerrigan: Brian Murphy from Athletes’ First.
Q)What will you take from Purdue that will help you at the next level?
Kerrigan: The biggest thing is how you practice is how you play. A lot of us on my team learned that last year. If you really practice hard, then that will transfer over to the game. We really did that throughout the season.
Q)You had a tremendous season last year – what was working for you?
Kerrigan: I was just really sure of myself every snap. I had a good idea of what plays were coming. That came from watching a lot of game tape and I was able to take that to the field. That allowed me a little bit quicker at the start when the ball was snapped.
Q)You played defensive end at Purdue, but a lot of teams are viewing you are a 3-4 outside linebacker on the next level. What are your thoughts on moving to 3-4 OLB?
Kerrigan: I played a 4-3 defensive end in college, so I don’t have too much experience with it. But in my training for the combine, I’ve been working on a lot of drops from a 3-4 linebacker standpoint and I feel I’ve made a lot of strides with that.
I feel like I’m a good pass rusher. I can get after the passer. But I’m also athletic enough to drop into coverage and be able to cover tight ends and wide receivers.
Q)How would you describe the differences in the two positions?
Kerrigan: When you’re a 4-3 defensive end you drop back in pass coverage occasionally, but not too often. Whereas with a 3-4 linebacker, you drop back quite a bit. I think that will be the biggest adjustment.
Q)We hear you watched a lot of film of great NFL pass rushers in history to help your game . . .
Kerrigan: We really watched a lot of guys who were really successful in the NFL and see how they handle their business from the pass-rushing standpoint, from a forced-fumble standpoint. That really taught us how to do those things in college.
Q)What kind of vibe are you getting from NFL scouts about your game?
Kerrigan: I’ve been able to put together some college seasons back-to-back. I think my production overall and I was a captain. I think that will speak volumes for some of the scouts here.
Q)What was the key to your development at Purdue?
Kerrigan: I’d say it was our coaching. We were brought up really well on how to get on the edge of blockers and really how to get up field on pass rushing and I think that translates well to the next level.
Q)What was the combine like for you?
Kerrigan: It was very cool. It was a very great experience. I’m from only an hour down the road (Muncie, Ind.).
Watching the combine so much growing up, it was a real honor to be there.
Q)Where did you relentless approach come from?
Kerrigan: That comes from my first position coach in college (Terrell Williams). He basically told the freshmen when we first got there, ‘If I ever see you guys not sprinting every play, I’m going to take you out.’ That kind of resonated with me for the rest of my career. Every play after that I was sprinting to the ball, 100 percent. It really paid dividends.