By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JAN. 29, 2014 – Kayvon Webster is about to play in the biggest game of his life Sunday when he suits up for the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII and the former Bull is treating the game, and the crazy media festivities leading up to it, like business as usual.
“I think I have to wait for the game to be over with to get the full feeling,” Webster said in a phone interview from New York on Monday. “Right now we're just trying to stay the course and do what we've got to do.”
Part of the process of completing the mission will involve Webster facing off against a team that has a former Bull, and one of his good friends, on the roster. Former USF quarterback B.J. Daniels, originally drafted by San Francisco, has been with the Seahawks throughout the season and he's currently on the practice squad.
“I talked to B.J. a couple of days ago and he was telling me how excited he was to be a part of the Seahawks and he's excited to see me play against them,” Webster said. “It's just a good feeling. B.J. and I came from the same school and I'm just happy to see we're on top right now.”
Webster was known for his businesslike approach at USF and the first-year pro has used it to handle the pressure well since being drafted in the third round by John Elway and Co. The 5-foot-11, 198-pounder from Opa Locka, Fla., started 32 times and played in 49 games as a Bull before starting twice already in the 16 games he's played in as a Bronco.
“I'm thankful and blessed to be in the position I'm in; to leave USF, get drafted and then come to a winning team is a great thing,” Webster said. “It's also a blessing to be a part of secondary with so much talent. I try to take pieces out of all those guys' games and try to add it to mine.”
Webster has had plenty of big-name talent to learn from with Champ Bailey, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Quentin Jammer in Denver's all-star secondary, and Webster has wasted little time making a name for himself amongst the group. Webster has used his great mix of coverage and run-stopping abilities to rank seventh on the team in the regular season with 41 tackles, along with posting a fumble recovery and his first NFL interception in Week 6 against Jacksonville.
“I just stayed ready, going to meetings, paying attention and remaining aware of everything that's going on around me,” Webster said. “This is my job. People get fired daily and you have to come prepared for every chance you get. Once your name is called you just try to take of every opportunity you have.”
Webster also handled adversity well while missing the final two games of the regular season with a thumb injury. A small bump in the road didn't stop the former All-Big East selection from playing in the AFC Divisional Round against the Chargers and the AFC Championship against the Patriots, which Webster will remember for a long time.
“It was my first year in the league and my first championship game and the stadium was rocking,” said Webster, who had his mom, brother and friends in the packed stands in Denver. “We played well together on all three cylinders and it was a good feeling.”
Webster said he was prepared for the huge stage partially because of the expectations set by the Broncos before the season kicked off. Denver was coming off a 38-35 loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore in the AFC Divisional Round last January and anything short of a Super Bowl run would have been a huge disappointment for the Broncos in year two with Peyton Manning.
“Last year we fell short and this year when I came in there was just that mindset: 'We have to get ready and we're going for the Super Bowl,'” Webster said. “It was always that type of feeling that we were going to the Super Bowl. We just took it one game at a time and we're finally here. We're ready to play the game and complete the whole process.”
