Jets' Top Pick Pryor On WFAN: 'I Look Forward To Making An Impact Right Away'
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Calvin Pryor is ready to bring the pain, but also show everyone that he's not just a big-hitter.
A guest on WFAN with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Thursday, Pryor, who was selected No. 18 overall in last week's NFL Draft, said the Jets are a perfect match for his style of play.
"I play fast, I play physical, and I just play with such a high motor, a great demeanor," Pryor said. "I play with a different attitude than most. I take the game of football very personal and I just try to go out there and compete at a very high level and as a winner."
Calvin Pryor
Pryor had a stellar 2013 season for Louisville. He was named first-team all-American Athletic Conference after recording 75 tackles. He also had five tackles for a loss, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Safety wasn't considered a glaring area of need, but it became apparent after the Jets signed aging Ed Reed midway through last season that they were eventually going to overhaul the position. Pryor likely will be paired with Dawan Landry, meaning Antonio Allen, who had plenty of good moments last season before falling out of favor, will likely need to own training camp to have a shot to play meaningful minutes next season.
Pryor told Benigno and Roberts that starting right away is not necessarily something that has to happen.
"My main focus is to come in here, make the team first and foremost, and try to be a great teammate and a great leader," Pryor said.
Pryor was nick-named the "Louisville Slugger" in college for a reason. At 5-foot-11, 207 pounds, he hit everything, and not just wide receivers over the middle. The Jets will likely be counting on him to bring his speed and anticipation, along with his hammer, as a run-stopper as well.
"That's why I think I fit this scheme really well because they ask the safety to do a lot, such as play man coverage, play half field, blitz from time to time, so you have a mixture of things as a safety that you have to be the complete, total package to do it all," Pryor said.
It will be interesting to see how Pryor handles covering tight ends, for he wasn't asked to do a lot of man-to-man coverage in college and will face severe height disadvantages every Sunday.
"A lot of guys didn't see me play a lot of man coverage, but that's something I'm willing to prove in the National Football League," Pryor said. "I want to compete with the best of the best and I'm very confident in my ability to get the job done. I definitely think I can cover bigger tight ends and slot receivers."
Pryor, who will wear No. 35, said he hopes his contract gets worked out sooner rather than later so he can get down to business on the field.
"I look forward to making an impact right away," Pryor said.
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