Jarrett ready to step up in second season

SAN DIEGO -- When Carolina Panthers receiver Dwayne Jarrett talks about his job, he sounds like an attorney talking about billable hours, but with less glee. Every time I pull out my notebook, he talks about how much he learned last season as a rookie and how much he needs to learn and how the learning will never end.

But when I ask about Southern California, where two seasons ago he was an All-American, he smiles widely beneath his vintage Atlanta Braves cap.

"They whipped up on those boys from UVa," Jarrett says of his Trojans' 52-7 victory against Virginia, a school Jarrett considered attending. "We've got Ohio State next."

Worried?

"About O-State? Not at all," he says. "Don't get me wrong, they're a great team. But we'll be ready. Coach [Pete] Carroll is like a motivational speaker and a coach. He always gets you riled."

Panthers fans had hoped Jarrett would become riled last season. Instead, they did.

A second-round draft pick, Jarrett played seven games, caught six passes and one public admonition from Steve Smith to study his playbook.

Fans chose not to realize that rookie receivers rarely excel. Smith caught 10 passes as a rookie.

Smith won't play today against San Diego because of his suspension, and veterans Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett are coming off injuries. For the first time as a Panther, Jarrett's services will be required.

"Me and Jake [Delhomme] work well together," he says. "He knows I'm a big target and he always tells me if he sees me out there he's going to try to throw it up to me and let me go up and make the play."

Delhomme praises Jarrett, says the difference between last season and this season is evident in something as simple as his stride.

"And he's still a baby, he's 21, he's still learning," Delhomme says. "I'm expecting some big things out of him."

Jarrett turns 22 next week. For perspective, Panthers rookie Jeff Otah turned 22 in June.

Jarrett is 6 feet 4, has good hands and a penchant for the acrobatic catch. He will be good; he could be great.

But let's ask somebody more qualified. Southern California is the premiere program in college football. Steve Sarkisian is its assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

"Dwayne will be a Plaxico Burress type," says Sarkisian, who coached in the NFL with Oakland. "He'll be a physically dominant receiver."

When Jarrett left New Brunswick, N.J., to go west, he initially struggled. He was 17. He was homesick. Then he adjusted. Then he thrived.

"I love the kid," Sarkisian says. "He never did anything but what we asked. He loved the bright lights and the big game. The bigger the game, the more comfortable he was."

The Panthers open the season today near Jarrett's old turf against a team that might be the NFL's best. That's big.

Ohio State also is big. Are you as confident as Jarrett?

Sarkisian laughs, not a sound you expect at 6:55 a.m.

"I'm glad we have two weeks to prepare," he says.