The Los Angeles Rams owned their first-round pick for the first time in eight years and took Florida State’s Jared Verse with the No. 19 overall selection.
Verse was considered one of the best pass rushing prospects in his class and joins a Rams team in desperate need of help off the edge, especially after Aaron Donald retired. So far, Verse has been impressing his teammates like Byron Young during OTAs with his approach to practices.
Despite getting to the NFL, Verse continues to operate as an underdog and he explained where his mentality comes from, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“I mean, it just comes from me always being doubted, and I really like to hear my voice. I want others to hear it, I want to be loud,” Verse said. “I really just like people to hear me. (Well), not even like to hear me, but it gets me more involved. When other people hear you talking, it gets them more involved, and just gives me like a lot more energy. It gives those around me a lot more energy, especially when we’re out there making plays. It just gets everybody hyped up and it just hypes me up. It’s more of a mental thing than anything.”
Normally, rookies are even-keeled and even quiet as they try to take in all the information being thrown at them, but Verse refuses to be muted despite his lack of professional experience:
“That’s who I am,” Verse said. “I’m not going to shy away from hiding who I am. This is who I am. I talk a lot. I’m loud. I’m vocal. You gonna hear me. I make a play, you gonna see me hyped up. That’s just who I am. I can’t hide it. I’m not gonna pull back from anybody.”
From a culture standpoint, Verse seems to be the exact kind of player Los Angeles needs as they could use some extra fire and competitive spirit on and off the floor. This incoming group of rookies has a chance to have the same level of impact that last year’s class did, and Verse will be the one to lead the way.
Rams to host joint practice with Cowboys during training camp
The Rams typically hold joint practices with teams during training camp to give their players live reps against different competitions and this year is no different as they’ll hold joint sessions with the Dallas Cowboys before their preseason opener.
