By LARRY VAUGHT

Indianapolis kicker Pat McAfee says it’s not hard to figure why former Boyle County and University of Kentucky standout Jacob Tamme has been successful in the NFL.

“He is an athlete. I think if you are an athlete and smart, you can make a lot of things happen. That is what Jacob has done,” said McAfee.

Tamme has played in 28 games the last two seasons for the Colts as a backup tight end behind all-pro Dallas Clark. He has only six catches for 47 yards, but he has also emerged as a special teams standout.

“I owe Jacob a lot. He is special teams champion,” McAfee, the Colts’ punter and placekicker, said. “I think anybody who knows him knows he is a hard worker and great guy and he is a great friend, too. Anything I can do to repay him for the season I had last year and the season he had on special teams on kickoff and punt team, I will do. I owe the guy a lot.

Tamme had a career-high three special teams tackles against Jacksonville and two versus Seattle and St. Louis. He also had a tackle in the Colts’ Super Bowl loss to New Orleans.

“He is very good on special teams,” Indianapolis backup quarterback Curtis Painter said. “That is a place where a lot of guys can get on the field and where he has made his mark. He is on just about every special team. Special teams are a huge part of the game and he is great at it.

What makes Tamme so good on special teams?

“He is so athletic. He is a tall, wiry, white guy who is probably one of the most athletic people I have ever met. He is fast and athletic and can catch and run. The guy can do everything and that is what helps him. And he has such a good work ethic, he learns everything whether it is offense or special teams,” McAfee said.

“He has got deceptive speed. The guy is super fast. If you watch him run down on kickoff, he is the first guy down there,” said Colts backup tight end Tom Santi. “That is pretty impressive as a tight end for him to do that. I think that is one of the biggest things that stands out is his speed o special teams or at tight end.”

Tamme, 25, will again be playing behind Clark this year if he again makes the Indianapolis roster as expected.

“He is playing behind one of the best in the world in Dallas Clark and he is learning a lot from him as Dallas learns a lot from him, too. I hope one day Jacob gets his chance to shine, but now he plays his part and helps the team, which is the best thing about him,” McAfee said.

Santi also plays behind Clark and says it is “just part of the job” one must accept.

“You control what you can and don’t waste time spinning your wheels on the other stuff. It is a great opportunity to learn from Dallas Clark. I don’t think he ever comes off the field. I don’t remember an offensive play when he was not in there. It’s pretty impressive for him to do that,” Santi said.

“Jacob and I came in the same draft class and were roommates in camp. You don’t think about competing with each other behind Dallas. There is a business side of it, but you control what you can. We have never got into the business side of it and I don’t think we ever will. We’re both just happy to play when we can and learn all we can from Dallas.”

Painter knows Tamme, who had 133 catches at Kentucky — the most ever by a tight end, would like to play just like he would as a backup to Peyton Manning, an all-pro quarterback.

“Playing behind good players can help us. We get to learn a lot. When we get that chance to play, hopefully we will go in and do some things well,” Painter said. “We do a lot together. Hopefully this preseason we will get a real good chance to go and play well. I will be throwing to him a lot.

“I would by lying to say that I didn’t want to play, but as the same time I know I am young and any opportunity I have to learn from a guy like Peyton, I certainly am okay sitting behind him and soaking up things from him. I know Jacob is a little bit of the same. Dallas is a great guy to learn from both on and off the field. I am sure he is spending his time learning as much as he can so when the opportunity comes, he is ready, too.”

His teammates all say Tamme, the Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year his senior season as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bobby Bowden Award winner, is respected by everyone in the Indianapolis organization.

“He is a great guy on and off the field. He is the kind of guy you look up to as a leader. Just being a couple of  years younger than him, he is a good guy to follow. He really sets a good example,” Painter said. “He is a really good player. He is a hard worker. That is the thing that helps him the most. The intensity he takes in the film room or on the practice field. He does a great job and continues to work hard even in his third year.

“But don’t forget he is a great athlete. He fits our mold as a tight end. Great catching ability and great route runner. He does a real good job for us.”

“I think he is doing his hometown well and he represents Kentucky well,” McAfee said. “He is a good guy off the field with a great wife and has great faith. I don’t have anything bad to say about Jacob Tamme and I don’t think you will find anybody who does.”

Santi certainly doesn’t have anything but good things to say.

“He is very well respected. He is a great guy. Smart guy. He graduated and got his MBA. Guys respect that. He is a great teammate to have,” Santi said.

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