On how well he's been playing during fall practices: I'd like to thank the strength and conditioning staff for first of all getting my body prepared. I gained a couple pounds, got stronger, faster. I'm getting older as well. So, and I want to thank my position coaches for preparing me and letting me know I have to be a leader and step up. So if I'm able to practice how I'm supposed to practice, the younger guys, other guys will see my energy, and they'll eventually go on to them. So I have to do that. So I just want to thank my guys in my room and my position coaches, strength and conditioning staff.
On the biggest area he has grown the most over the last two years: I feel like me taking the ball away. I know this camp coming up, I got to do a big job taking the ball away and getting in the run, getting a little physical. Because last year I was showing a little arrows and not playing the ball, so I'm just trying to play the ball more and get more in the run fit.
On his measurements: Right now my weight from 195 to 200 pounds. So just keeping it there right now is gonna be the best for me. Last year I was playing at 188, 190. I feel stronger and faster like I told you guys earlier. I feel like I'm at my best right now, so I just want to stay at this weight and just keep competing.
On potentially declaring for the NFL Draft after this season: Right now I'm just worried about camp and just being one of them every day. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not really worried about that. Right now I just want to work on competing and getting better every day and helping my teammates get better as well.
On going against an elite wide receivers: I have to come every day with it because if I don't come with it, they're gonna take advantage of that. We have a lot of guys from older to younger that has a lot of fuel, and I have to keep going and I have to do me. Because if I don't come with it, I know they're gonna take advantage of that. So I just want to thank my receivers guys for giving me the work and letting me compete at the high level I am at right now.
On stepping up as a leader: That's something I had to work on. I know like I used to be quiet and just let my game speak. The guys listen to me and they see what I've been doing. So if I'm able to communicate with them and let them know, like, their flaws and me picking up my flaws, that's gonna help them. So I just got to communicate better, just stepping up. Because it's year three now, my words really matter and they listen. So I had to say something. A couple years ago, I didn't really like to say nothing. But me communicating and actually doing it, I mean, that's really great. I see guys, like, me telling them certain stuff they could fix and them fixing it, is really awesome.
On the veteran players he's learned from: One person I could say is Keionte Scott, he always mentioned me, like, you have to speak up because if you speak up and they see you do it and you doing it, they're gonna listen. Another guy I'll say is Carson Beck speaked up a lot. Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Meesh Powell, I go on and on. Those guys are great.
On what he would tell his freshman self: Something I would tell him is stay focused. Big plays happen. You just got to stay focused and keep your mind sharp. So if I had to say something, it's next play and next play mentality.
On Coach Terry Jefferson: Working with him is great. He don't let me take no plays off. He always tells me, you have to work, you have to work, you have to work, no matter if it's running to the ball, competing. Even if I do make a play and it's not to the level it's supposed to be at, he's gonna tell me, I don't like it. It got to be better. So I just thank him because he's always staying on me every play and telling me I have to be that person. I have to be that person to step up. So he's great.
On the biggest area he has grown the most over the last two years: I feel like me taking the ball away. I know this camp coming up, I got to do a big job taking the ball away and getting in the run, getting a little physical. Because last year I was showing a little arrows and not playing the ball, so I'm just trying to play the ball more and get more in the run fit.
On his measurements: Right now my weight from 195 to 200 pounds. So just keeping it there right now is gonna be the best for me. Last year I was playing at 188, 190. I feel stronger and faster like I told you guys earlier. I feel like I'm at my best right now, so I just want to stay at this weight and just keep competing.
On potentially declaring for the NFL Draft after this season: Right now I'm just worried about camp and just being one of them every day. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not really worried about that. Right now I just want to work on competing and getting better every day and helping my teammates get better as well.
On going against an elite wide receivers: I have to come every day with it because if I don't come with it, they're gonna take advantage of that. We have a lot of guys from older to younger that has a lot of fuel, and I have to keep going and I have to do me. Because if I don't come with it, I know they're gonna take advantage of that. So I just want to thank my receivers guys for giving me the work and letting me compete at the high level I am at right now.
On stepping up as a leader: That's something I had to work on. I know like I used to be quiet and just let my game speak. The guys listen to me and they see what I've been doing. So if I'm able to communicate with them and let them know, like, their flaws and me picking up my flaws, that's gonna help them. So I just got to communicate better, just stepping up. Because it's year three now, my words really matter and they listen. So I had to say something. A couple years ago, I didn't really like to say nothing. But me communicating and actually doing it, I mean, that's really great. I see guys, like, me telling them certain stuff they could fix and them fixing it, is really awesome.
On the veteran players he's learned from: One person I could say is Keionte Scott, he always mentioned me, like, you have to speak up because if you speak up and they see you do it and you doing it, they're gonna listen. Another guy I'll say is Carson Beck speaked up a lot. Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Meesh Powell, I go on and on. Those guys are great.
On what he would tell his freshman self: Something I would tell him is stay focused. Big plays happen. You just got to stay focused and keep your mind sharp. So if I had to say something, it's next play and next play mentality.
On Coach Terry Jefferson: Working with him is great. He don't let me take no plays off. He always tells me, you have to work, you have to work, you have to work, no matter if it's running to the ball, competing. Even if I do make a play and it's not to the level it's supposed to be at, he's gonna tell me, I don't like it. It got to be better. So I just thank him because he's always staying on me every play and telling me I have to be that person. I have to be that person to step up. So he's great.
