(on how much contact he had with the Titans prior to the draft)
Yeah, I had lots of conversations with them, just great conversations. I got to visit down there, so I got to see the facilities and all the great things that they are doing. I'm just excited to go to work and be back in the great state of Tennessee.
(on his experience at left guard and if the Titans have talked to him about moving to the right side)
Yeah, you know in this league you've got to be able to play all five, and especially for me I'm trying to go out there and play right away. So, yeah, obviously wherever their need is I'm going to go out there and compete and work hard and if that is the right guard spot, I'm going to go right for it. But, yeah, in this league you've got to know how to play all five if you want to be out there on Sunday.
(on if he worked out in other positions to show teams his versatility leading up to the draft)
Yeah, I mean, this whole offseason I've really been working both sides, a little bit of center, too. Just showing that I can be versatile and come Sunday, you can throw me in any of those five spots and I'll go out there and compete.
(on what he learned from working with offensive line coach Duke Manyweather)
Yeah, I learned a lot from Duke (Manyweather). Honestly, that's one of my biggest blessings coming into this whole process. Just the knowledge that he has and the people that he's worked with he got to spread that wisdom onto me, so I got to work with even top people in this draft, Vega (Olaivavega Ioane), Keylan Rutledge, there's a lot of great people in my group, Kadyn Proctor. There's a lot of people. Just being around all these great people and learning from Duke, it was a true blessing to be there in the offseason, and I learned and have grown so much. I'm forever grateful for them.
(on where he developed his mentality and how it will serve him in the NFL)
Honestly, it was something I had to learn earlier on in my college experience. Being a tight end in high school and then coming into college and not really having played any offensive line, I had to learn how to get that nasty mentality and I remember my first few years, or really my first year, I had to learn how to flip that switch. My first coach at San Jose, Josh Oglesby, helped me learn when you step on the field and you cross those white lines, this nice junior has to go somewhere else and there has to be a new person that steps into your body. I think the way it's going to help me in this league, you have to be nasty. I'm about to go up against some of the biggest freaks in the world and I got to be able to go out there and compete and get after them and that starts by being nasty.
(on his familiarity with the Titans)
Yeah, I know a good amount. I mean being in the facility and all the people in the building are incredible, man. I really enjoyed my time there and all the energy. I mean there's a lot of good players on this team so I'm excited to go to work with them and show my worth and work hard and work my way up the ranks.
(on the motivation to switch from tackle to guard last year and what he learned about himself in the process)
It was something that Coach Sam Pittman came up to me and my coach Coach [Eric] Mateos and they're like, 'A lot of teams see you as an inside guy going into the league,' so I just trusted their word. They've produced a lot of linemen, especially Coach Pittman, so he had that vision for me and I trusted his vision. I learned it's a place that I like to be. I like being in that phone booth and just getting after it and just hitting people in the mouth and being in those tight quarters. I feel like I really thrive in that area and so moving inside this year was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to continuing to grow.
(on what he knows about Cam Ward and Titans running backs)
Yeah, I mean we got one of the best in Cam Ward. He's going to be one of those guys that's going to play in this league for a long time. I'm excited because I've heard great things about him and his work ethic and how he shows up early to the facility and so I'm excited to get to work with him and try to beat him to the facility and just be as hard working as he is.
(on his leadership and how he plans to establish himself in an NFL locker room and translating it to the field)
Yeah, I think it's very simple, you've got to work hard. You've got to show everybody in the building that you're not just talking but your work is backing it up. I've always told myself, I'm not going to talk until people know I'm one of the hardest working, if not the hardest working person in that building. So, I think it just starts with working hard and gaining that respect from my teammates early.
(on playing tennis and his size in high school)
Oh yeah, there's not many tennis players 6'4, I was about 260 [pounds]. I wasn't the greatest, but yeah, no, I was about 260 in high school.
(on being a journalism major and if he ever considered being a sports writer)
Man, I'd love to be in one of your guys' seats when this is all said and done. I love the game, obviously of football, and a bunch of different things. But I love just talking about sports and getting with people and just communicating like this. I feel like this is something I could see myself doing post-ball.
(on where he watched the NFL Draft)
I got to watch it in Vegas. I have all my family and friends right outside right now. Man, it was a true blessing having all of them here. Having family around is a big part of who I am. They are the ones who have made me the man I am today, so being able to share this moment with them meant the world to me.
(on if the red room he is taking the call from is Arkansas themed)
No, this is actually a pink room. My late great grandma, I'm in her room right now. She's been my biggest role model, so I'm kind of getting goosebumps right now talking about her because growing up she was the one raising me while my mom was at work. She was a hardworking woman and I wish she was here today, but I can feel her presence right now and I miss her.
(on what it was like getting the call from the Titans)
I got to speak to the GM and the head coach. To be honest with you, I couldn't tell you what they said to me. I was so overcome with emotions and so many types of different feelings. I couldn't even tell you what I said, what they said, I was just so excited and they seem excited. So yeah, I wish I could answer that question better, but I can't.
(on his thoughts on the Liberty Bowl play)
Yeah, it was somewhere where I had to grow. I crossed the line and it was something that was very embarrassing towards me, my teammates, and my coaches. It's not the kind of player I am at all and it's something that I had to grow from and learn how to control my emotions while I'm on the field and being able to keep a level head. I think I did a great job this past offseason working hard with some mental coaches and just trying to work on being able to stay more consistent and not go too high or go too low. It's something that I'm extremely embarrassed about and it will never happen again.
(on playing tight end in high school and how that has impacted his approach and how he sees the game now)
Yeah, you gain respect for those tight ends that go out there and block and have to learn both the offensive line side and the wide receiver side. Being able to have that perspective in high school and then shifting over to the offensive line where it's strictly blocking, you gain a lot of respect for those guys and what they do and how hard of a job they have. Obviously, it starts with a good offensive line, but you need good tight ends in there and know the offense and block and catch, too.
