A year ago Buster Skrine was working his way through the NFL’s free agency, trying to find a proper home for a guy who was growing into a solid player at cornerback.
Now heading into the second season of his current deal with the New York Jets, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout can focus on solidifying his career further.
Skrine had 56 tackles, an interception and seven other passes defended in his first season with the Jets, who ended with a 10-6 record. They fell just shy of the playoffs, which Skrine said Friday was going to be “added motivation” this year. He is currently expected to start at corner.
“I feel I’m going to peak this year,” Skrine said while watching UTC scrimmage. “This is the hardest I’ve trained in the offseason. As a team, my goal is to make the playoffs.
Of course, just having an opportunity to compete for a playoff spot is an improvement from his first four seasons as a pro, when he was with the Cleveland Browns. It was in 2014, his final Browns season, that Skrine came into his own, with 67 tackles, four interceptions and 18 passes defended.
He felt that production was deserving of a Pro Bowl nod. It did not come.
“I feel I should have made it two years ago,” he said. “I had my best year, but last year I had a different role. The difference maker this year is I play for the Jets. I feel in Cleveland, we didn’t win enough games for you to not have as big of a name to make the Pro Bowl. This year I’ve worked as hard as I can.”
Friday was the first time Skrine had been at a UTC practice in “a while.” He went through two of coach Russ Huesman’s spring practices before being drafted in 2011, and one thing he took from the Mocs’ leader is “how detailed” Huesman is.
Skrine still keeps up with the three-time defending Southern Conference champions. He even has a friendly back and forth with Jets teammate Marcus Williams, a second-year cornerback from North Dakota State.
“You can tell with these guys that it’s the same,” Skrine said, noting the Mocs’ back-to-back playoff appearances. “To see them do well like they have been doing is good to see.”
Huesman said Friday that Skrine was part of the foundation of the program, adding that he and his classmates “welcomed us in” when Huesman took over in 2009.
“It’s neat to have him back,” Huesman said. “Just his work ethic. He listened and bought it.
“He’s a tremendous worker, and I’m so proud of him. He’s done things the right way.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.