Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Q&A with senior safety Jeremy Chinn
11/07/2019 | 1:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Senior safety Jeremy Chinn has proven to be one of the top safeties in college football during his four years at Southern Illinois. The preseason All-American has a team-best four interceptions to go along with 38 tackles in seven games this season. Chinn is fifth all-time in school history in career interceptions with 13 and is also second in both pass breakups (26) and forced fumbles (6). His impressive play has caught the attention of NFL scouts, as he recently accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious Reese's Senior Bowl — a postseason game only two players at SIU have ever participated in.
Were you surprised to earn an invitational to the Senior Bowl?
Yeah I was, it's big time. There was a lot of talk about it, but for it to actually come true meant a lot.
When you first went into head coach Nick Hill's office, did you think it was for a normal meeting or did you expect he had big news to present?
He calls me into his office pretty much every day. I'll usually just go in there and talk, so I didn't think much of it at the time. I thought it was one of those regular things. But then coach Hill stood up with the envelope and I saw the camera in the back, so I knew then and there that something special was happening. For him to actually have news like that was pretty cool.
» Chinn's reaction to receiving Senior Bowl invite
It appeared that the Senior Bowl had their eyes on you for awhile. Were you hoping to receive an invite once you noticed the increased attention?
I was working towards it. The Senior Bowl is the most prestigious all-star game in college football. For it to become a reality means a whole lot. It's on everyones mind when they come in to play college football. It's something I always dreamed about doing.
Is there a particular NFL team you have always wanted to play for?
As an Indiana native, I grew up a Colts fan and I'm still a Colts fan. If I could get that call from Indianapolis, it'd be a great feeling.
Just last weekend, you were playing in Terre Haute, Ind., in front of what looked like a big support group. How exciting was it for many of your family and friends to see you play in-person?
I actually had a whole charter bus full of family and friends come through to watch me play at Indiana State. It was about 40 people. It was the first time anything like has happened for me. My mom, dad and grandma have seen me play at SIU, but for a lot of the family and friends who came last weekend, it was their first-ever time seeing me play in college. For them to watch us get the win was the icing on the cake.
What is different about this year compared to your first three seasons?
Our mindset is different this year than how it's been in the past. Everyone has bought in, while last year it was a lot of one foot in, one foot out. This year, we're all two feet in and ready to roll. Our goal is a week-by-week mentality — 1-0 every Saturday.
What can you and the team do against Missouri State this Saturday to make it a fourth-straight win?
It's the hunger. Like I said, we keep a win-it-all mentality every single day. We start on Tuesday with our first practice of the week and that's when we start trying to win the next game. Just focus on Missouri State. Don't think about the playoffs. Just think about going 1-0 on Saturday. Put that focus all on Missouri State.
What were you feeling while sidelined for two games earlier this season?
It's tough right there. With the role I have on this defense and not being on the field — it's not a good feeling. Watching from the sidelines, feeling that you could be a difference on the field, but not being able to do anything about it simply isn't fun. Being able to come back and help my team after those two games meant a whole lot.
Do you view yourself as someone who can excel at a variety of positions on defense?
For sure, I feel like there's nowhere on defense I cannot play. Whatever coach Petrino (Jason Petrino) has in store for me, whether it's playing on the back end or close to the line of scrimmage, I feel like I'm capable of doing it well. I'm a football player.
How has defensive coordinator Jason Petrino helped you improve this season?
He's meant everything. He came in and immediately taught me so much. Not even just football and scheme wise, but with the body language of a wide receiver when he's running a route. Also aspects like a quarterbacks progression and things I didn't even think about for my first three years. When he got here, he opened up my mind towards the game so much and I think it's made me a lot better as a player.
Other seniors have talked about the brotherhood between your group. Has that made this season even more special?
The biggest thing is that coach Hill's first recruiting class was our 2016 class out of high school who are currently either seniors or redshirt-juniors. We started this thing with coach Hill and waited our turn to be atop of the program. Now that we are all here, it's finally coming together.
How does it feel to experience this initial success with the seniors and coach Hill?
I'm so happy for the guys and coach Hill. I know that coach is happy for us in return. But he's not satisfied and neither are we. We won't be satisfied unless we keep winning.
As someone who did not receive a lot of attention from big-time colleges out of high school, do you have any words of wisdom for those younger players who feel they are being overlooked?
Just believe in yourself. When I was in high school, I was worried about recruiting and kind of lost sight of the actual high school experience. Enjoy the high school Friday night lights. You only get that one time. Also, when your opportunity comes, whether it's a Division II or Division III school, just play football, have fun with it and be the best version of yourself.
Are you happy with how everything worked out here at SIU?
I think it's all part of God's plan. I think he had it all written out. Sometimes, I didn't know why I wasn't being recruited and all, but I trusted his plan and it worked out pretty well.
