Temple's Jarrett eager to prove that he can play at a top level

Folks in Mobile, Ala., just might have to excuse Jaiquawn Jarrett.

The Temple safety is extremely fired up about competing in Saturday's Senior Bowl. Understandably so.

A good showing in the 4 p.m. contest could raise his draft status for April's NFL draft.

"I want to showcase what I am capable of for the NFL scouts," Jarrett said. "The NFL general managers can see that I can step up and play at the next level."

The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder is currently projected as a third-rounder by NFL Draft Scout.

Blessed with fluid hips and agility, the scouting service ranks him as the third-best free safety in the 2011 draft.

But . . .

"Coming from Temple, where a lot of athletes aren't looked at, I think it's a big opportunity to showcase my talents and what I have learned at Temple," Jarrett said.

Based on his performance, the 21-year-old has learned a lot at the Mid-American Conference school.

Jarrett led the Owls in tackles (74) and interceptions (two) en route to being named to the 2010 Pro Football Weekly All-American team.

The four-year starter finished his career with 299 tackles and nine interceptions. He also finished as a two-time, first-team all-MAC selection.

Not bad, considering Temple was the only Football Bowl Subdivision school to offer him a scholarship.

"I play with a chip on my shoulder every time I step out there on the field," said the Brooklyn native, who played at Fort Hamilton High in New York. "I think that I have something to prove every day. . . . Every day, I have a chip, and I'm giving everything that I have."

That chip has been visible since he arrived in Mobile earlier this week for the Senior Bowl.

Practicing alongside players from BCS schools Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Iowa, Jarrett was eager to show that someone from Temple could excel.

"Me coming from a small school and me talking to my family and my agent, they made me realize and understand that I'm here for a reason," he said. "Just like they are here for a reason."

According to Jarrett, he has fit in nicely at practice against the players from the high-profile programs. He's even taken snaps at both safety positions. And Jarrett has been soaking in advice.

The coaches "are telling me what I need to do on my backpedal, which is stay low in my backpedal, explode out of my break, and transitioning with my hips a little better," he said. "So that's been basically the main thing that I have been focusing on."

Now that the practices are over, Jarrett is confident that he'll perform well in Saturday's all-star game.

"I would like to just go in there and do what I've done all season," he said. "It's going to be good. I know that.

"So I'm just going to go into the game and show that I have the potential to get better."

After the game, Jarrett will turn his attention to next month's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

"To see myself play in the NFL is so close for me to get there, but so far away," he said. "I still have many months left for the draft.

"I just got to keep working, stay focused, and don't take a day off."

Even still, Jarrett admits that this is an exciting time, considering the path he has taken.

"It's a great feeling being from Brooklyn, New York, where football isn't really high, and athletes don't really get looked at coming out of New York," he said.