WERE YOU ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK AT ALL AFTER GRADUATING AND PLAYING IN THE BOWL GAME BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR TRAINING?
I was able to spend about a week with family. After that, I just knew I had to get going, so I started training back in Louisville and I was searching for an agent, interviewing agents and different people, marketing companies. I spent a week touring facilities.
WHAT MADE YOU PICK IMG?
Out of all the places that Ive been, this is the best facility, I feel the best resources, incredible people around here, and its an established facility. [They've had players] like Cam Newton, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson
Im just honored to be a part of it.
WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE LEAVING LOUISVILLE?
Well I knew, uh, well I knew before the season that I would.
WAS IT HARD TO NOT TALK ABOUT IT?
It wasnt hard at all, because I knew back when I was getting recruited, I had a plan. My plan was being able to graduate in three years and possibly declare for the NFL draft at the end of my junior season.
I came up with those goals back in high school. It wasnt hard, I just knew when I was at the University of Louisville that that was my primary focus. I couldnt control what was down the line for me, so I just shifted my focus to focus on what I could control, and that was my time at the University of Louisville.
HOW DID LOUISVILLE PREPARE YOU FOR THIS NEXT STEP?
It prepared me very well. I believe its one of the top-of-the-line programs, from the coaching staff to the training staff to the equipment staff, everyone plays a key role and theyre all supportive.
WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE CHARLIE STRONG GO TO TEXAS?
Not really, I knew that he just had to do what was best for him, with all of his hard work and everything he did for and at the University of Louisville, Im pretty happy for him.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PROVE TO NFL TEAMS?
I just want to prove that I can compete at a high level with consistency and show that I have no flaws.
HOW DO YOU SHOW THAT?
For one just hard work and dedication, commitment to the training here at IMG for one and also just mentally and physically preparing my body.
YOUVE ONLY BEEN HERE A FEW DAYS, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR?
I just learned that you play the game with the lower part of your body. You generate all your power with your legs from the ground up
rather than going all arms Im trying to improve and use my legs more.
WAS LAST SEASON A CHALLENGE FOR YOU, FACING THE EXPECTATIONS YOU FACED AT THE START OF THE YEAR, WITH THE HEISMAN HYPE?
It wasnt a challenge at all because, you know, I feel like the type of team that we had we were able to manage expectations very well. I had a supporting cast around me and so it wasnt all about me and my expectations with the Heisman because, you know, the game of football isnt the individual, its a team sport.
We were able to put all the individual accolades aside and individual goals aside and sacrifice for the team.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY IN FLORIDA, YOUR HOME STATE?
I havent thought about it. Ive just been thinking about the process right now, training and everything. Like I said, I cant control whats in the future and whats down the road, but what I can do is prepare myself for when that time comes.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO KNOW ITS FINALLY YOUR TIME?
Its just very exciting knowing as a child you dreamed of having a chance to play in the NFL. Now, throughout little league football, high school football and college football, your hard work has paid off and you have a chance.
WHAT DOES YOUR MOM THINK OF ALL THIS?
Shes pretty excited. Shes happy for me also because she knows Ive sacrificed so much. Shes sacrificed so much and just the people around that are involved in my life have sacrificed so much for me to be in this situation.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET HER A PINK CADILLAC. HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THAT YET?
(laughs) Not yet. When the time comes then Ill look
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT OF YOUR PROBABLE REPLACEMENT, WILL GARDNER?
Will is a great guy. He was raised under coach Watson and myself where he was able to learn from my mistakes and also take the great coaching from coach Watson.
Will, I feel like, hes going to light it up next year with everything hes been taught for the past two seasons of just being the understudy and in the shadow of me I feel hes learned a lot. Hes gonna take over that team and hes gonna do great things.
WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT LOUISVILLE?
Just the relationships I was able to form with some of the guys. There were great guys on that team. We had guys from all over the country. Thats one thing ill cherish the most, you know, is it was a brotherhood there and each guy felt the same way about each other.