MOBILE, Ala. -- Kirk Cousins finished his college career as Michigan State University’s all-time leader in major passing categories -- everything from touchdowns (66), yards (9,131), completions (723), efficiency rating (146.1) and 200-yard passing games (26).
Most of his career highs, including completions and attempts and passing touchdowns in a single game, came during the 2011 season.
Yet even as the most accomplished of the six quarterbacks participating in the Senior Bowl, Cousins is taking nothing for granted about what’s ahead for him as a professional player.
“We’re going against some talented players and the speed of the game is going to pick up with the talent of the players continuing to be higher and higher at each level that you go through,” he said. “That’s why we’re here. We’re excited to be a part of that next level and need to get used to that new speed. It’s challenging just simply because of the evaluation you’re going through and the pressure that’s upon you.”
Since arriving in Mobile on Sunday, Cousins and the other Senior Bowl participants have been given a playbook, interviewed by countless coaches, scouts and front office personnel and put through their paces by NFL coaches. As part of the North team, Cousins has worked with Leslie Frazier and the staff from the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins has described the week in Mobile simply as “a whirlwind.”
“With practice and getting a brand new playbook, I’m trying to learn that as fast as possible to be effective in practice,” Cousins said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to be a part of this experience and hopefully, I put my best foot forward throughout the week.”
In going through the drills, Cousins has had one mindset.
“I think practice is very important to show what you know upstairs and how you’re able to adjust to that playbook and put it into practice on the field,” Cousins said. “Practices this week are more important than the game itself. Coaches just want to see how I operate and how I handle the game of football. They don’t want us thinking too much, so they don’t make the playbook too complicated, but at the same time, it is information that needs to be processed and each night, I’m going over it in my hotel room trying to get it as second nature as I can.”
In addition to getting the playbook down, Cousins is focused on proving to scouts and coaches that he has what it takes to be successful in the NFL.
“Great players and players that are going to have success on Sundays are ones that can handle that pressure the right way and deal with it properly,” Cousins said. “I’m trying to show this week and in the weeks going forward that I’m a guy that can do that.”
