Gettis gears up for a big rookie season

[DynastyRTR]

The draft can be a nerve-racking experience for prospective pro players. It’s the weekend when they find out if their collegiate résumé is strong enough to merit an invite to the Big Leagues.

Some players spend the weekend clinging to their agent or watching the draft scroll at the bottom of their TV screen. David Gettis was not one of those players.

“One day, I went go-karting with my dad and my sister,” Gettis said of his weekend activities. “Another day, I played some video games with a couple of my friends from high school. I really didn’t watch the draft at all.”

Gettis is already leaning on the greatest Panther, wideout Steve Smith, as he makes his transition.

“Steve is being helpful as far as teaching us rookies techniques and different things like that,” Gettis said. “Also, all the position coaches have been great to us. They are coaching us to where we can come into training camp and we won’t be that far behind and won’t be that lost.”

Gettis noted that Strength and Conditioning Coach Jerry Simmons has been particularly helpful. Simmons has worked with Gettis throughout minicamps and OTAs. He’s also given Gettis plenty to work on between now and training camp.

“I’m catching a lot of balls and making sure my endurance is up,” Gettis said. “I’m also making sure I’m hydrated, because I heard horror stories about how hot it is in Spartanburg. So I’m making sure I’m hydrated and making sure I catch at least 200 balls a day. I’m running, too, so it’s a combination of all that and at the same time being relaxed and knowing it’s just football.”

The goal for Gettis is to carryover his collegiate success to the NFL. He comes off a senior season in which he ranked second on the Bears with 52 catches for 675 yards and three touchdowns. It capped a four-year career that saw him record 116 catches and 1,555 yards.

His college teammate, WR Ernest Smith, is also going pro this season after joining the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Gettis gives credit to the Baylor program for sending two receivers to the NFL in the same season.

“The biggest thing at Baylor was just playing fast and playing every play like it is your last play,” Gettis said. “Our coaches graded us on how we performed on every single play. I think it helped me out a lot, especially at this level, because someone is always critiquing you. So it’s not that big of a jump for me.”

While the critics are many, so are the supporters. One such supporter is Jason Smith, the tackle from Baylor who was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

“Before we even went to the NFL Combine [smith] talked to me about what to expect,” Gettis said. “He told me just to let things happen and to make sure I do everything I can, at least with the things I have control over. He said if I did that I wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

Smith was correct. Gettis performed well at the Combine and got drafted by a receiver-needy team. Now, Gettis will jockey with third-round picks Brandon LaFell and Armanti Edwards for a spot in a rotation that will also include veterans Smith and Dwayne Jarrett.

Let the worrying begin.

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[SorthNarolina]

Smith, LaFell, and Edwards are the only guys guaranteed a roster spot right now.

I'd like to see them keep Wright to help shore up ST. They are pretty high on him.

So unless we are keeping 6 WR's it's a fight between Jarrett, Moore, Gettis, and Martin for the 5th spot.

Jarrett has the edge but he hasn't really shown much. I'm tired of waiting on him to blossom.

[DynastyRTR]

same here. I see him making the team then being traded around the trade deadline for a draft pick. probably like a 6th. so then it would look something like this...

Smith/LaFell/Edwards/Moore/Gettis/Wright

[SorthNarolina]

I hope Gettis is raw enough to not get snatched off the practice squad. That would suck.

[jasonluckydog]

Gettis will make the team as S/T maybe even pr or kr he did well in college.

Kickoff Returns: 2006: 0-0-0; 2007: 37-763-1; 2008: 4-93-0; Career: 38-856-1 TD

[cdandi1]

i feel that gettis is a super sleeper here. I watched lafell at LSU for the past three years and i can't count the times i was pissed when he dropped a pass. Dont get me wrong, im a huge lafell fan and want him to succeed, and im sure he can and will. But i wouldn't be suprised if gettis makes a huge push for a wr spot. He has very sure hands and is a big body. ftw

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I agree that he's a sleeper with a ton of potential. He's very quick for his size.

If LaFell impresses, I could see the front office letting Dwayne Jarrett go. Yes, he's only got a year left on his contract, but assuming LaFell can fill in as a bonafide No. 2, I'd much rather see one of these younger guys get a chance.

And I'm not ruling out Jarrett here. We've got some guys with potential. I just hope even one or two of them step up.

[Argus Plexus]

Don't know much about any of our receivers other than Smitty and Jarrett. Don't even know that much about Moore either.

I'll make my judgments during Pre-Season.

[DickolausJ]

Gettis is an NFL player. If not for us, then someone else.

[panthers55]

i feel that gettis is a super sleeper here. I watched lafell at LSU for the past three years and i can't count the times i was pissed when he dropped a pass. Dont get me wrong, im a huge lafell fan and want him to succeed, and im sure he can and will. But i wouldn't be suprised if gettis makes a huge push for a wr spot. He has very sure hands and is a big body. ftw

Unless you are an LSU fan, who could name any of these great quarterbacks throwing the ball to LaFell???? Sure he dropped passes more than he should but that was most noticeable his senior year when he had no one who could throw a decent ball. At the end of his junior year there were very few receivers in college who were rated higher than he was.

I really see Gettis making the team as a return man not primary receiver at this point. He will only get better but won't displace LaFell because he can't block nearly as well.

[Ricky Spanish]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the panthers release jarrett before the season at some point. he will then go to seattle.

in the event that this happens, i expect compensation for my clairvoyance

[SorthNarolina]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the panthers release jarrett before the season at some point. he will then go to seattle.

in the event that this happens, i expect compensation for my clairvoyance

I can see them keeping him but just never activating him like they've done before. If they have that little confidence in him I hope he would get cut.

[Zod]

Can Jarrett really be considered a veteran?

[firstdayfan]

When I was reasearching for the draft I thought gettis was a potential sleeper pick and when we got him I was excited. He big and fast and has adequate hands. Remember colston was a 7th round pick so it's not crazy to think gettis could do something, he just needs time to develop. I predict that he will have a good preseason but I will know more about that after fan fest.