Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste wants his teammates to know they can count on him. Any time, day or night, the UCF senior says they can pick up the phone and call him, whether it's a question about football or anything else.
As the only returning linebacker with significant game experience and a defensive player Gus Malzahn and Travis Williams will be relying upon, Jean-Baptiste knows it comes with the territory.
"I'm trying to lead by example for the whole defense and the linebacker room," Jean-Baptiste said. "I try to make sure everybody is on the same page. If they have any questions, come to me. I'm trying to be the big brother for everybody on the defense. Whenever they need some help or assistance, I'm there. Whatever time of day. I told them, call my phone. It may be late at night, but I'll answer."
Jean-Baptiste said former players like Nate Evans and Eric Mitchell mentored him when he was a young guy, so it's important to become the leader they were for him.
"I'm very hard on myself to make sure I'm a great example for the younger guys," Jean-Baptiste said. "The younger linebackers behind me. When my time is done here, they'll know the standard here and how to play at a high level."
As for the first week of spring, Jean-Baptiste said it's been productive.
"Everybody is comfortable and poised," he said.
And the pads were popping on Saturday after the first two practices were in shorts and jerseys only.
"First day of pads, everybody is usually excited," Jean-Baptiste said. "Had a lot of guys flying around making explosive contact. You hear something like boom, what's that? Everybody is flying around trying to hit people and make plays. For the first day of pads, I feel everybody came out with a competitive edge."
With Tatum Bethune and Bryson Armstrong moving on, that's providing opportunities for younger linebackers to seize the opportunity.
"Specific names I'd say are Quade Mosier, Cole Joyce, T-Lew," Jean-Baptiste said. "Terrence Lewis is stepping up and making sure his presence is known even though he's very limited. He shows he's very focused in practice and very eager to play."
Lewis, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021 from Miami Central, transferred to UCF from Maryland in January. He redshirted last season recovering from an injury, so UCF coaches are still being cautious and keeping him out of contact this spring.
"He's in the playbook," Jean-Baptiste said. "T-Lew, being from Miami, everybody is from Miami so there's a mutual connection. I watched him throughout high school. My senior year I played against him when he was a freshman. That's when we were introduced to each other. We stayed cool throughout high school."
Asked to name a highlight from that day's practice, Jean-Baptiste didn't hesitate to name drop another transfer.
"Koby Perry," Jean-Baptiste said. "I think we were in a boundary defense, he came down, filled the hole and made a (big hit). Everybody was like whoa."
Perry is an experienced former All-Conference defensive back from Austin Peay who will play his final season of eligibility with UCF this fall.
Earlier this week, Davonte Brown proclaimed UCF's defense would be "scary good" this season. Jean-Baptiste concurs.
"We can be damn good," Jean-Baptiste said.
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