The Indianapolis Colts see a high ceiling for second-round pick and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, who appears to be impressing those around him early on in his professional career.
Making a strong first impression is vital to get a career started on the right track. It seems Ya-Sin has done so in the eyes of the leader at his position in veteran Pierre Desir, who told reporters Thursday how impressed he’s been with the rookie.
“What I have seen from Rock is he’s very quick and he plays with a chip on his shoulder, even when we are going through drills,” Desir said. “He’s very committed. I got to speak to him a couple times throughout the day and I am just very happy for him because I know he wants it and you can see that when he is out there practicing the drills.”
How quickly Ya-Sin can grab a starting role remains to be seen. The Colts, though, love his talent and fit in their defense, regardless of whether they continue working a heavy-zone scheme or if they move more toward a man-to-man scheme.
The lengthy cornerback was known for his high character and leadership at Temple, which helped him earn a single-digit jersey number. It’s a tradition at Temple that the single-digit players are deemed as the toughest players on the team.
Those leadership skills have flashed already in front of Desir, who sees a player in Ya-Sin doing so by example.
“It wasn’t anything he said it was what he did. I think we had a meeting and he was walking in there 10 minutes early,” Desir said. “He had his playbook, had his pen and his paper and he was getting ready. I was like, ‘Hey man, what are you doing? You’ve got some time, you can get some water, some snacks.’ He was like, ‘No, I am just getting ready.’ It’s more of just his actions and just how he carries himself.”
Desir himself signed a three-year extension this offseason, but he’ll have some competition in the form of Ya-Sin, who is a young player already impressing those around him.
