Jerrel Jernigan Interview   Updated - 8-13-10 By: Alex Khvatov

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)? 

Jerrel Jernigan:  5’9”, 188 and my best forty time was a 4.28.

 

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you? 

Jerrel Jernigan:  Auburn, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State and Alabama. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Troy?

Jerrel Jernigan:  I chose Troy because they ran the spread offense.  There was an opportunity for me to get the ball in my hands.  I also knew the receivers’ coach at Troy because he coached me in high school during 9^th grade.  He had a good connection with me and my parents.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your junior season to us. 

Jerrel Jernigan:  I actually started off a little slow.  But I picked it up midway through the season especially after the FAU game.  The coaches believed in me and they kept getting me the ball.    
 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your expectations for this upcoming senior campaign?

Jerrel Jernigan:  First and foremost, I want to win the conference again and go over 1,000 yards receiving.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  Will Troy win another Sun Belt title this year?  Will your team finally win a Bowl Game?

Jerrel Jernigan:  We are going to try for five.  We have a good chance.  We have good athletes and the players to do it.  We will win the Bowl Game this year.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  What will be the toughest game for you this year?

Jerrel Jernigan:  Probably Middle Tennessee State.  We are always hyped up for that game. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Jerrel Jernigan:  It would have to be the Georgia game my freshman year.  I caught 12 balls for 102 yards and 2 TD’s.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths on the football field?

Jerrel Jernigan:  I can run and catch the ball well.  I have the speed and the hands.  I also have the elusiveness to get away from the defenders.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game do you need to improve upon?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  I have been working on my route running all summer.  I have improved.  I have been training and working on it every day.

Alex Khvatov:  Do you take a lot of pride in being a returner?

Jerrel Jernigan:  I take a lot of pride in being a kick returner.  It will be my first year returning punts.  Leodis McKelvin came back to campus this summer and taught me a lot about being a punt returner.  I got much better.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you bring to the table that other college receivers might not have? 

Jerrel Jernigan:  Probably not being scared to go over the middle and give up my body.   

Alex Khvatov:  Which underclassmen on your team should we keep an eye on in the future?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  X receiver Chip Reeves is a fast kid.  RB Shawn Southward was freshman of the year last season.       

 

Alex Khvatov:  Which NFL player would you compare your game to?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  It is between Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers and Wes Welker. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?   

Jerrel Jernigan:  I don’t have a favorite player, but I like to watch Chad Ochocinco.  He is a funny guy. 

 
 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  The Atlanta Falcons.  We have no pro team in Alabama.  Atlanta is the closest, and I have been a fan of theirs since I have been little.  

 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the one thing in your daily life that you can’t live without?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  My cell phone.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  If you could have dinner with anyone out there, who would it be and why?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  Probably Peyton Manning.  He is a good role model.  I like the way he carries himself.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  I joke around with my teammates a lot.  I like talking on the phone.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?  

Jerrel Jernigan:  I am working on my degree in criminal justice, so I have something to do after football.  I want to have a wife and kids.  I want to be a positive role model for my kids.

 

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, Jerrel Jernigan is….    

Jerrel Jernigan:  On the field, I am all about business.  I never laugh or joke around.  But I am totally different off-the-field.  I like to joke around with my teammates.