Verse Has Strong Name for Rams Legend
Aaron Donald has been out of the NFL for a full season, but his impact still lingers with the Los Angeles Rams. Donald announced his retirement in March 2024, and now in July 2025, Jared Verse is still talking about him.
Sort of. The 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year sounded exhausted just recalling his time with Donald.
On Saturday, the former Florida State star spoke to the media at Loyola Marymount University. When the topic of Donald and his legendary workouts came up, Verse didn't hold back.
While it's clear Verse has a ton of respect for the future Hall of Famer, his nickname for him was... intense.
"I'm telling ya, he's a psychopath."
Verse described just how brutal the training was.
"I need another offseason to recover from all that. It was so bad. I worked out with multiple programs. I worked out with hundreds of people," he said. "The best athletes in the NFL. The best athletes in college. That was the hardest workout I've ever done. Not even close."
The second-year linebacker wrapped it up with a comparison every college athlete understands.
"You know those [expletive] days in college? Couldn't raise a candle to that."
Verse backed up his words with a standout rookie season. He finished 2024 with 66 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Along with winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, he made the Pro Bowl and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
The Rams went 10-7, won the NFC West and reached the postseason. They beat the Minnesota Vikings in the first round before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22 in the divisional round.
Training with Aaron Donald certainly didn't hurt. The retired defensive tackle was one of the most dominant defenders of his era. He helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI title, won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, made ten Pro Bowls and was the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Rams kick off their preseason on August 9 against the Dallas Cowboys.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
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