Spring Break
The Daily OrangePhysical freak
Now that he's healthy, Jared Kimmel is ready to lead SU's pass rush
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 9/4/08, 11:39 PM EST Section: Sports
When Chandler Jones arrived at training camp, he was afraid of Jared Kimmel. Not that Kimmel wasn't a nice guy or a good teammate, but few people make the 6-foot-5 Jones feel small or weak.
"From the time you look at him, you would assume he'd be mean and more scary," said Jones, a freshman defensive end. "Well, actually, he is mean and scary."
Most importantly for Syracuse, he's healthy - fully recovered from the left knee injury that stole from him the final eight games of last season right when he was becoming a vital cog in the Orange's defensive line. In the game he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, Kimmel had already deflected a pass and forced a fumble.
That's the Kimmel Syracuse expects to see this year, lining up at defensive end next to Art Jones for a full season, becoming one of the keys to what could be one of the Orange's most consistent and successful units.
So far, so good. Against Northwestern last Saturday, Kimmel made two tackles, including one for a seven-yard loss, and forced a fumble in the backfield that set up Syracuse's lone touchdown.
"I was really thinking about the knee during the game, especially for the first couple plays or during the first drive, even after feeling fine during training camp," Kimmel said. "But games are a whole new speed, a whole new level. After a few plays of testing it out and feeling no pain, I knew I was totally fine. I'm back."
But why would Chandler Jones think Kimmel is scary? Why does his brother, Art, call him a "beast" and a "physical freak of an athlete?"
Well, just look at the guy.
For starters, Kimmel is 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, with plenty of room to fill out even further. Syracuse co-defensive coordinator Derrick Jackson said he's possibly the best looking young athlete he has ever seen, with arms so long, it's as if he could stand across a room and open the door.
Jackson calls it the Popeye look - thin wrists, massive forearms; thin ankles, giant calves.
"From the time you look at him, you would assume he'd be mean and more scary," said Jones, a freshman defensive end. "Well, actually, he is mean and scary."
Most importantly for Syracuse, he's healthy - fully recovered from the left knee injury that stole from him the final eight games of last season right when he was becoming a vital cog in the Orange's defensive line. In the game he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, Kimmel had already deflected a pass and forced a fumble.
That's the Kimmel Syracuse expects to see this year, lining up at defensive end next to Art Jones for a full season, becoming one of the keys to what could be one of the Orange's most consistent and successful units.
So far, so good. Against Northwestern last Saturday, Kimmel made two tackles, including one for a seven-yard loss, and forced a fumble in the backfield that set up Syracuse's lone touchdown.
"I was really thinking about the knee during the game, especially for the first couple plays or during the first drive, even after feeling fine during training camp," Kimmel said. "But games are a whole new speed, a whole new level. After a few plays of testing it out and feeling no pain, I knew I was totally fine. I'm back."
But why would Chandler Jones think Kimmel is scary? Why does his brother, Art, call him a "beast" and a "physical freak of an athlete?"
Well, just look at the guy.
For starters, Kimmel is 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, with plenty of room to fill out even further. Syracuse co-defensive coordinator Derrick Jackson said he's possibly the best looking young athlete he has ever seen, with arms so long, it's as if he could stand across a room and open the door.
Jackson calls it the Popeye look - thin wrists, massive forearms; thin ankles, giant calves.
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