Carolina Panthers receiver Jarius Wright can recall the exact night he first stuck somebody.
Wright was a four-sport star athlete at Warren High School in Arkansas. But baseball, basketball and track and field never gave him the thrill he felt as a defensive back when he wrapped up a receiver.
“It was 10th grade, and I was actually playing defense at this time,” he said. “He had an out-route, it was cover-2, and I just sat out there and waited for him. It was my first big hit. It felt pretty good, so I can understand why guys want to play defense.