Ja’Marr Chase has already established himself as one of the best wide receivers in football, but the Cincinnati Bengals star has not let the success get to his head. His position coach doesn’t think he ever will, either.
Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters spoke with reporters ahead of the Super Bowl about Chase’s maturity. He said the 21-year-old is rare in that “success really doesn’t change him.”
“He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. If he messes up, he’s hard on himself. … He wants to correct it,” Walters said, via the Bengals official website. “I don’t ever see him getting that big head, becoming a diva. I’m going to stay on him. I let those guys know, even after his 200-yard performance, I let them know the next day that was the past. It’s all about what have you done for me lately. He gets it and he puts the work in.”
Walters mentioned how Chase struggled with drops during the preseason. That led to some premature questions about whether he would be able to successfully make the transition from college to the NFL. The former LSU star had a very clear message for his detractors then.
Chase had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns in his rookie season. If he and Joe Burrow stay healthy, they should be one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in football for years to come. A big challenge for both will be staying hungry even after having so much success so early. Walters doesn’t think that will be a problem for Chase.
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