Vikings rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks made up for his short frame with his athleticism and intelligence while at UCLA.

Though it's only OTAs, Kendricks has displayed both of those strengths so far with the Vikings. Listed at six feet and 232 pounds, Kendricks was used mainly at first team middle linebacker on Thursday.

"I would say he's further ahead than most rookies," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said about Kendricks' intelligence. "It's a lot different. [Anthony] Barr was pretty sharp when he came in last year. They're all different. Eric has been doing a good job. He's obviously got a lot of athletic ability."

Kendricks has a shot to become a starter this season and play alongside Barr, his former teammate at UCLA, and veteran Chad Greenway at linebacker. He said he's leaned on Barr and the veterans on the team since he arrived at Winter Park to help ease the adjustment from college to the NFL.

"They're showing me little clues, little steps here and there that I'm picking up out of college," Kendricks said. "I'm picking it up slowly, but I'm willing to work. As long as I'm willing to work, I know that I'll pick it up faster."

Despite his size, Kendricks said he has been comfortable dropping back in coverage as the middle linebacker in nickel coverage so far, even hinting that at times he's a little too comfortable.

"I want to cover too much too fast, and I'm not patient enough," Kendricks said. "They're just trying to get my eyes right ,slow me down a little bit, not get so anxious and realize I have help in certain situations."