The Baltimore Ravens continued to go with defense during the second-round of the 2014 NFL Draft when they selected defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan out of Florida State.
The 6’2, 302 pound tackle seemed shocked when Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome called.
” I was suprised. It’s a blessing. Shortly before coach [John] Harbaugh and Mr. Newsome gave me that phone call, I was just telling myself, ‘All I need is one chance,” Jernigan stated during his conference call.
“It’s a blessing, and I’m going to give the Baltimore Ravens everything I’ve got in my mind, body and soul.”
Jernigan started 16 of the 40 games that he appeared in at Florida State. In 2013, Jernigan played in 14 games (14 starts), recorded 63 tackles (35 solo), 11 tackles for losses with 4.5 sacks and was a key cog in the Seminole defense that ranked third in the nation.
Initially projected as a first-round prospect by several analysts, Jeringan seemingly came under fire for a diluted sample at the NFL Combine.
“It wasn’t a positive test drug test; the sample was diluted. The reason for that is when I first reached [workout] camp down in Orlando, within my first week I had lost a bunch of weight.” Jernigan explained.
“I was losing weight very fast, and it was causing me to cramp. So, my nutritionist, she wanted me to start drinking a lot more water. Even during my workouts, she would have to put salt in my Gatorade and different things to keep me from cramping.”
The former Seminole comes to Baltimore with a slight chip on his shoulder to all of those teams that didn’t take a chance on him.
“I definitely have a chip on my shoulder, and I’m glad the Baltimore Ravens drafted me to be able to play on a great defense,” Jernigan remarked.
“And the Ravens definitely play with a swagger. They play football the way that I play football. I feel like I’m the perfect match, and I’m definitely going to bring another edge to the defense.
The selection by the Ravens came as a bit of a shock to the former Florida State Seminole. Jernigan acknowledged he met with team officials at the Combine however didn’t really have a lot of contact leading up to the phone call telling him welcome to the Ravens.
“We had a great meeting together; everything went smooth.” Jernigan stated.
“It just kind of caught me out of the blue, but I’m happy at the end of the day.”
While Jernigan wasn’t the “sexy” pick many thought the Ravens would take with the 48th overall pick he does want fans to know what they are getting in him as a player.
“They’re getting a dominant, elusive player- a guy that is going to come in and contribute to the team, give everything that he has, and definitely I’m going to lead by example,” Jernigan said.
“They’re not going to get a guy who says one thing and does the other one.”
It is unknown at this time where exactly Jernigan will play along the defensive line and told members of the media the coaching staff has not told him how they plan on using him.
“I don’t know exactly where they want me to play, but I feel like the great thing about drafting a player like me is I can adapt to play anywhere along the front,” He stated.
Anything I’m asked to do I’m going to do it with everything I have.”
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