DETROIT LIONS SELECT WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN, LB DERRICK BARNES AND RB JERMAR JEFFERSON ON DAY 3 OF THE 2021 NFL DRAFT

Allen Park, Mich.— The Detroit Lions selected WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (fourth round, 112th overall), LB Derrick Barnes (fourth round, 113th overall) and RB Jermar Jefferson (seventh round, 257th overall) on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2021 DETROIT LIONS NFL DRAFT QUOTE SHEETSLions Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes was available to the media via Zoom following the conclusion of Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
In addition, T Penei Sewell (first round, seventh overall) held his introductory press conference with media today via Zoom.
Lastly, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, LB Derrick Barnes, and RB Jermar Jefferson were made available to the media via Zoom.
LIONS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BRAD HOLMES 2021 NFL DRAFT DAY 3 QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM)Opening statement: “Alright guys, great to see everyone. Pretty cool to see you guys a little earlier before midnight. But definitely want to first off thank the entire organization. Not solely just the personnel department and the coaching staff, but everyone from top to bottom. Everybody had a hand in what our success was in this draft class. Definitely with the personnel department, when everybody, you know, all of the scouts did an extremely impressive job, national scouts, area scouts, you know, all the over-the-top guys, all of the directors. The entire coaching staff was extremely helpful and willing. They got a lot of questions answered for us and things cleared up. So just couldn’t be more happy with everybody and how they contributed to what we came away with. We’re extremely happy, we’re very, very excited about all of the guys we were able to acquire. I know that we’ve talked about quite a few of them already but starting with Penei (Sewell) and just having a foundation and what we think is a building block in terms of year one of this regime. Getting a guy that has such a monstrous upside in terms of not just the talent, but also him being, I guess technically the second youngest player in the Draft. I want to say Kyle Pitts was born three days before him, that he would technically be the youngest player in the Draft. I guess Penei would be the second. But starting with him and then even going down to Levi (Onwuzurike) that we spoke with at length, and Alim (McNeill) and Iffy (Ifeatu Melifonwu). But the guys that we were able to acquire today with Amon-Ra St. Brown, he was a guy that actually I first got exposure to last fall when I was still with the Rams. Seeing him, it just seemed like he was such an immediate fit of the characteristics that I think equate success to a wide receiver. Coming from the (Los Angeles) Rams, there was a lot of players at that position that are high-floor players, that have high intangibles. And I’m not comparing St. Brown to those players, but I’m just saying from an intangibles standpoint and what it takes to play the position, you know. He’s instinctive, he’s tough, he’s got grit, he’s savvy. Usually I don’t try to put too much emphasis on blocking for a wide receiver, I just want to see if they’re tough enough and willing to do it, but he’s one of the most impressive blockers that I saw in this draft class. I just think in that phase of the game, the tenacity that he brings in that phase just says a lot about his intangibles and his football character. A guy that’s got savvy, knows how to run routes, has hands, and makes plays from inside and out, we’re really excited about him. He was a guy that actually we strongly considered yesterday to consider. But obviously as we talked about the value where we had Iffy (Ifeatu Melifonwu) was pretty high. But he was a guy that I slept on overnight and was really, really excited to be able to come off with. We had a lot of buy-in and we were all hot on (Derrick) Barnes from Purdue. Wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to still acquire him back to 153, so wanted to see if we could get ourselves in position to make the trade to get both of them. We were able to do it and have success with the trade, so extremely happy. Barnes is, you talk about elite character and intangibles, and you guys have heard me say thousands of times, those are the players that we’re looking for. There’s a base floor of talent that these guys are going to have, but I think Dan (Campbell) put it great the other night. Dan and I were talking and it was about, we’re getting not just talented football players, but we’re getting football players that have talent. And so, when we say football players, we’re talking about guys that yes, you like to watch them play, we love to watch them play the game, but they also have those necessary intangibles. (Derrick) Barnes is one that definitely fits that bill. And then to cap it off with Jermar Jefferson. Jermar was actually one that early on in the process, I want to say during the first week of meetings, you know, in February, really impressive of he’s such an instinctive runner. He has a natural feel to be a slippery inside player. He runs hard, he just has a natural feel from a lot of inside zone stuff. But he can do all phases, gap power stuff, inside zone stuff. But he’s just a very smooth, slippery, instinctive runner who we’re really excited about. Couldn’t be happier with everybody that we acquired and I think that it’s a great start year one of this regime to get some building blocks in place. I think it will only go up from here.”
On T Penei Sewell’s sentiments about opting out of the 2020 season: “Yeah, we did have a conversation about that. It actually wasn’t an easy decision for him to opt out, you know. Dan (Campbell) and I talked with him at length and it actually wasn’t even something that I, I think I’ve said it before in a previous press conference, that I wasn’t really because everyone had their different reasons that were justifiable for the most part, I wasn’t going to punish anybody that actually decided to opt out. But Penei was awesome in terms of providing his reasoning for the opt out. There was a chance that he was actually not going to opt out and play, you know, but there was other stipulations that kind of came into play where it kind of turned out best that he did not and he went ahead and opted out. But I will say that he’s a guy that loves football, and what his reasoning is and walking us through the process, it was everything that we would have expected. But that was not an easy choice for him and there was still a small window that he could’ve still played.”
On if there was one player he selected that he was shocked he was available: “That’s a great question. I will say even down to Jermar Jefferson, even when we made the trade and got (selection) 257, I believe it was. I didn’t really think that he would still be on the board. So, we were very, very happy about him. I mentioned it last night, well I guess I’d say technically this morning, about Iffy (Ifeatu Melifonwu), where we got him at (selection) 101. Didn’t really expect him to be there and so that’s one that we were extremely happy about.”
On if it feels like a monkey is off his back after completing his first NFL Draft as a general manager: “It’s not a monkey off of my back. It’s an accomplishment to get through the first one and that feels good. It feels even better to do it with great people and think that we came away with some really good football players that we feel really, really good about. The entire organization is excited about. That’s just a good feeling. It’d be good, my mom shot me a text this morning. I guess she saw me on the last press conference, she just said you’ve got to make sure you get some sleep. We couldn’t be happier with how it came out. I guess I should’ve wore a PAC-12 t-shirt to this presser. And that actually was not my intentions by the way, but shoutout to the PAC-12 about having some good football players for us to acquire. It feels great. We still have work to do. Those guys are currently working right now in the undrafted free agency process, so we’re still at it.”
On how he will look back and define successful draft classes in his career: “There’s a lot of different ways you probably could break that success down. When you look back it, I’ve often looked at just playtime percentage. It’s more easier to see it as accolades if they ended up being All-Pros, or Pro Bowls and all that type stuff, but it’s a good barometer to see playtime percentage, games played, games started. That’s probably usually a quick reference to breakdown success of past drafts.”
On if he can confirm that he made significant technology upgrades to the draft room and how that potentially helped in his first draft: “Yes, I did. I thought that it was necessary for the process that I wanted to have in place. I couldn’t be more thankful to (Lions Principal Owner & Chairman) Sheila (Ford Hamp), the Ford family, (Lions President & CEO) Rod Wood, for supplying the resources and providing everything that we needed to make sure that we have everything in order to have success. It was extremely helpful. We’re living in a virtual world. So, just from a remote standpoint with the communication being streamlined through the use of technology and a lot of the other things. It definitely streamlined the meetings and it made the meetings a lot more resourceful and vivid, for sure, and productive.”
On if he is going to listen to his mother’s advice and get some rest: “I’ll try to tonight. I will say, you know, it was other times where I felt like I kind of got back to the bed around maybe 2 a.m., or so. But still that adrenaline was still rolling, so I still really didn’t get to sleep fully until about 3 a.m., but hopefully I can get in there early tonight. But my mom always gives me the bags-under-my-eyes test and she always kind of gives me hell for that.”
On if his goal is to sign as many undrafted free agents as open roster spots: “That’s a work in progress. We’re going to keep that fluid. It does not have to be all done tonight. That’s something that I’ve learned over the years. You don’t have to kind of hurry up and slide into home plate, and just kind of fill up everything. So, we’ll just kind of make sure that we’re providing it with quality and not just trying to rush the process.”
On the importance of getting Lions C Frank Ragnow signed to a long-term contract: “Yeah, I mean, it’s extremely important in terms of we already view him as a long-term piece. And he is a foundational piece because Frank is a guy that plays the game the right way. He’s everything that we look for and what we want as a Lion. I’ll never forget when it first got announced that I got the job, Frank, he reached out immediately. I told him, I said, ‘Man, huge fan of you. You play the game the right way.’ So, very important to get it done. I’m not going to comment on timetable right now, that would be a little bit premature, but we’re not sitting back and waiting on that one.”
On the most important thing he feels he accomplished this draft for the future of the organization: “Well, from the sounds of it, after we drafted (Amon-Ra) St. Brown, I felt like people finally would get off my (expletive) about not getting a receiver. Besides that, no. We just achieved the goal of we stuck to what we said that we were going to do and that’s just get good football players, and get the best football players that fit what we’re looking for. I believe that’s what we set out to do and that’s what we did. That’s what we feel good about. Dan (Campbell) and I were talking about is that what we’re preaching, those are the players that we are acquiring. It’s not really something that we had to like look at a sheet and make sure that we’re following that, but that’s what we truly believe and I think that we achieved that.”
On if not reaching for need is a philosophy or a reflection of Detroit’s roster: “That’s just a core belief that I have. You just can never – you don’t pass on good players. That’s just the bottom line. Now, I totally understand (that) there’s certain positions like – I would say, we feel pretty good about the tackle position right now. I’m not sure if there’s another Penei (Sewell) that will be in the Draft next year. It’d be hard pressed to say that we would immediately be looking for an upgrade over the tackle position. I get all that. But at the end of the day, no, we just don’t pass on good football players. We won’t anchor ourselves.”
On the fit he sees for LB Derrick Barnes in his scheme: “I’m glad you brought that up because all these players, they do fit the new-age modern era of where the game is going. We’ll stick on Barnes; Barnes, he’s so intriguing because, yes, he might have that approach and demeanor of, like you say, kind of that older school linebacker, but that dude is fast. He’s explosive. He can really run. He’s got long arms. He can shed blocks. He plays with tenacity. He has a background as a pass-rusher, so he’s got the versatility to do a lot of different things and I think that that’s needed in today’s game. You look at Alim McNeill; he’s not just your traditional space block-eating space-eater. Like yes, he can do that, but he’s athletic. He’s got quickness, he can change directions. He does fit that mold that you kind of need in today’s game. Like an Iffy (Ifeatu Melifonwu), he may look like just a press corner, but no, he can play in space, he can change direction. He’s got twitch, he’s got shorter movement. So, we do think that all these players that we selected, we are making sure that we are keeping up with how the game is evolving. But Barnes, for sure. We just love that he just has elite intangibles, elite character – as you guys probably found out just chatting with him – but we just love his versatility and everything he does. He’s another guy that just plays the game the right way.”
On what he thinks he’s learned from his first Draft: “That’s a really good question. I will just say, coming fresh off of it, I think I learned that you have to surround yourself with great people, and you have to trust them. Coming up as a scout and a college director, you’re often tasked to do things by yourself or for yourself and have to do a lot of things and make sure that it’s right. In this chair, you don’t have the time to really do every single thing you want to. So, you’ve got to make sure that you’re on the same page and really trust the great people that you have surrounded yourself with, and I believe that’s what we did. Our personnel department, I think those guys did a heck of a job with delivering the results that we wanted. Hats off to them. Without them, we would not have had the success that we did.”
LIONS T PENEI SEWELL INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM)Opening statement from Lions Head Coach Dave Campbell: “Alright. Hey, good morning everybody. You know, obviously, this is a pretty exciting moment for us. Certainly Brad (Holmes) wanted to be here with me to introduce Penei (Sewell), but he’s obviously still getting ready for the draft. You know we have another day to add to this roster. I would say this, Brad is doing a phenomenal job. We are getting players that embody everything that we’re about. And it really starts with this big man here. We identified him early in the process. Ultimately, Brad and I wanted to walk the talk. We said what kind of players we were looking for and what we wanted to build this team around, what we were looking for from a cultural standpoint. This young man meets all of that criteria. It’s not every day you can find an athlete that is his size and has his temperament. Alright, this is a tough dude that knows how to play nasty and he can protect the quarterback. That’s what you’re looking for when you’re trying to build a foundation on the O-line. He’s going to fit like a glove, I said it before with those guys that are up there right now that we already have in the building. He’ll go hand in hand with them and he’ll adapt quickly. Had a chance to meet his family, Gabe (Sewell) and Arlene (Sewell) are here and we welcome them to the family. Outstanding people. I told Gabe this last night, that it’s easy to watch the tape and do your homework on this guy, but when you really start digging around and doing research on what kind of guy you’re getting, what kind of character you’re getting, I mean to a man, everything’s about how this guy’s been raised and the job that his parents have done and how big that his family is involved in everything that he is and what he’s about. It speaks volumes. I’m telling you, the last selling point for us, we zoomed this young man on Tuesday, and it was outstanding. It was all we needed, and it was perfect, and we knew this guy was the fit. He was everything that we’re about. So, there’s so many other relationships here. Obviously, Hank Fraley, our O-line coach, recruited him coming out of high school. So, already a history there. But we’re excited to have this guy and so last thing I would say, to you [Penei Sewell}, I’m done massaging your shoulders, alright. Now it’s go time. Without further ado, here’s our big man, Penei Sewell.”
Opening statement from Penei Sewell: “What up, what up, what up! I’m a Lion! I just want to say thank you to Sheila (Ford Hamp) and the Ford Family, Brad (Holmes), Coach Campbell, and everybody a part of this organization. Man, to believing in me and to pick me and my family here, man it’s a dream come true and I’m ready. To see their reaction when they picked me, it drives me even more. It creates a motivation that’s already there and it increases it a lot more and I’m ready. I’m excited. I can’t wait to put the helmet on, the pads on, and run through somebody. So, I’m ready and excited. So, any questions, I’m ready.”
On if he’s had a moment to reflect on how far he has come and becoming a Top 10 draft pick: “Yeah, last night to be specific. I was done eating dinner with all of the coaches and getting to know people and I was in my bed last night just, again, reminiscing about where I came from and how far it took and what the journey was like on the way here. Looking back, man, I got emotional just because if I told that kid in that moment where he was on the island, that he would be here, I wouldn’t believe it. To see where I’m at today, it’s again, a motivation to me and a testament to mom and dad and shoutout to everything that they did and sacrificed for me too. Yeah so, looking at that kid, it just makes me go harder and it’s unbelievable that I’m here and I’m going to keep going.”
On what praise from former Lions OG and Pro-Bowler T.J Lang means to be called a generational type talent: “Man, it’s good, but again at the end of the day, I haven’t played a snap and I have a lot to prove in this league. There’s a lot of work to be done and talk like that, again, is appreciated, but it has to go in one ear and out the other. I’m ready to work, I’m ready to prove everything that I need to prove to everyone. Just excited to get on that field with the players.”
On if he was able to win against his brother playing with the Lions in the NFL Madden video game growing up: “Yeah, I did. I had my fair share of wins. Obviously, Madden has its times where it’s glitching and does some plays where it’s just not in my favor. But yeah, I beat them a couple of times. All I had to do was throw it up to Megatron (Calvin Johnson) and then also run the ball with Jahvid Best.”
On what he hopes to achieve in the NFL: “Oh, shoot. I just want to accomplish whatever there is to accomplish in this game, and that’s just getting better each and every day, focusing on the present. Don’t really have anything like accolades set, just kind of taking it a day at a time, getting better each and every day and going about it like that.”
On how his perception of the Lions has changed since he has been able to become more familiar with the organization through meeting individuals in person: “Man, when I came in, I thought the NFL was all the same and it’s a business aspect, but man, I was totally wrong. I came in, family atmosphere, everybody opening with open arms and really greeting me with all love. That kind of took me in shock for a little bit, I was like, ‘OK, this is something that I would really love to be a part of and this is something that I dreamed to be a part of.’ To have people in the room like that, man, it just really makes me want to go harder and makes me want to give it my all. To sacrifice everything for them.”
On if praise from others in the League adds pressure to do well: “Yeah, just like you said, motivation comes from within. I love this game and this game has offered me things that I couldn’t imagine. Yeah so, just waking up every day, looking at the man in the mirror that I am and seeing what things I can do to improve on that day. There’s a lot of hours in the day and there’s a lot of things to do so just going about it like that, staying in the present. Don’t get outside myself and to go from there.”
On his Zoom call with the Lions on Tuesday prior to the 2021 draft: “Man, that conversation was nothing about anything but trying to find the person I am, find out the person that I am. It was real genuine talk, nothing about football, just trying to see the character and how I approach things and how I approach the game of football and so on and so forth. So, the conversation was really genuine.”
On his impressions of Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell: “Man, I loved it. The energy that they bring, Coach Campbell and his philosophy matches well, hand-in-hand with mine. I can’t wait to step on that field and match that same energy he brings out every day. And to also give Brad that same energy he had when he picked me and when he answered that phone and picked my name and called me. I just can’t wait to really, again, share the moment with them on the practice field, game field, whatever it is.”
On what this whole week has been like for he and his family: “Yeah, man, to really summarize it all up, it’s a dream come true. I’m literally living my dream. I’m walking in a dream right now. It’s crazy because one time, my mom, we were at dinner last night and she told one of the coaches, or (Lions Director of Security) Elton (Moore) here, ‘pinch me’. Like it’s really not that – it’s crazy. To see where we’re at and to walk the path that we’re walking right now, man it’s unbelievable and I’m soaking it all up every second. I’m not wasting a thing here. I’m trying to see everything, I’m trying to meet everyone. I just really want to be a sponge and soak it all in because again, you only live this life once and I’m going to make it count. To be a part of this organization, man, it’s nothing but a dream come true. I can’t wait to see what happens in the days in the future and again, nothing but excitement for me and my family. Looking forward to it.”
On if any of his new Lions teammates have reached out: “A bunch of them. So, I had Jared (Goff) hit me up, Taylor (Decker), (Halapoulivaati) Vaitai, and a couple of the O-linemen, Frank (Ragnow). All of them came in one by one. I’m trying to hit them back, but I’m here at the office meeting all of the coaches. So right after this meeting, I’ll probably call each and every one of them that hit me up.”
On if he remembers Lions Offensive Line Coach Hank Fraley from his recruitment out of high school: “Yeah, without a doubt, because he was one of the very few coaches who actually came out to St. George, Utah to watch a high school game. I remember the game that I was playing in, it was against Pine View at Pine View. To see him there meant something and I knew he was different because he was one of the few that only did that. He only stayed until halftime, but we had a conversation before that and, yeah.”
On the value of having coaches who played the OL position at a high level: “It means a lot because it just kind of gives me that confidence in what the teacher is doing and what he’s teaching to me. Knowing somebody that’s done it before me, and seen it, and what it looks like, what a rep looks like and how it’s supposed to go. It just means a lot and it makes it a lot easier for me to do. I’m not second questioning anybody because, again, they’ve been in the position that they’ve seen players play at the highest level and to go from there. So, just learning from them has been nothing but a blessing to me.”
On if he has spoken to Lions QB Jared Goff: “It was a text. It was just saying good luck, can’t wait to work. Yeah, just simply replied back that I’m ready to take a load and really work with him.”
On what is next for him and how he will prepare for rookie minicamp: “Yeah, between now and then, it’s still grind mode. Either going to Cali or getting with the O-line dude to help me get prepared for rookie minicamp and get me in shape, so that I’m ready to come in and just keep running. Not slowing down for anything or anyone, and just to put my head down and work.”
On his first memories of playing football in American Samoa: “So yeah, one of my first memories and it was when the little league just started up there. I was about 10 years old and the league went up to the age of 13, I believe, or 14. And there were some big 13- and 14-year-olds on the island back then and they weren’t too friendly. I remember practice going against all of them big boys, it wasn’t really fun. I kind of didn’t like the sport for a minute just because I was getting picked on by all of them. So, I was really small, getting picked on at the time. That was my first memory.”
On how he remembers his family and his childhood: “Man, I always look back on it and it’s always a reminder. So, my dad has given us all, my siblings and I a gift. It was a watch. It was all a watch and the case inside had a picture of our home saying in this life, it was saying ultimately in this life that we have this time and time shared with family is the most important. That right there, I remember when he gave it to me, I was a little emotional. I looked at that image in that watch every single day. That reminds me of where I came from, that reminds me of why I do this. That reminds me of everything that it took to get here. That helps me motivate myself each and every day, gets me out of bed to look at mom and dad in the eyes and to see where we were. Man, again, it’s a different motivation. Ready to go out there and show.”
On when his father gifted him the watch: “It was Christmas, yeah, Christmas when all of our family members are together for, I guess, for the little time a few times a year just because everyone is so busy with what they’ve got going on.”
On what it means that his new Lions teammates from the offensive line have already been reaching out to him: “Man, that means a lot. That’s love. To see the organization like that and to have the room all tight and really caring about each other makes the process a lot more easier and it makes it much more meaningful when you cross that line and really in the field of play with them. The relationship and that chemistry that you guys build with each other just makes it easier and everybody’s just kind of flowing as one. It makes the game a lot better for the man across and the man next to you.”
On how much he missed football last year after opting out: “Man, it was hard. To sit there and to watch everyone else play and also when the Pac-12 came back, to see my old teammates play, it was tough. It was a decision that I really had to take to the chin and really just kind of keep it pushing. When I was watching everybody, I wrote down in my notes that the next time that I get to step in the field of play that I’m going to make the most of it. That everybody will feel my passion and my heart the next time I step in between those lines because man, it was hard. To see especially little bro out there, and for me to not really go out there and share that moment with him, it was difficult. So, I wrote down in my notes that, ‘Man, I’m sitting out for a reason. I’m coming out with a purpose and I’m going to make the most of it the next time I get my chance’.”
LIONS FOURTH ROUND SELECTION (112TH OVERALL) WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM)On what his family’s support has meant to him in his journey: “My parents were very influential in my life, I have two older brothers who also played football, one that plays for the Packers right now. So, my family has been huge in my journey here. Coming to and, you know, getting to where I’m at now with the Detroit Lions, you know, I’m excited. But they’ve been huge in my whole process and I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me.”
On if his mother was an athlete: “No, she wasn’t too much of an athlete. She was a physical therapist when she was younger, but she didn’t really play any sports. So, it was really just my dad.”
On his father’s background as Mr. Universe: “Growing up, we started lifting weights at a young age. Your dad being a bodybuilder, he kind of ingrains that in you, in me and my two brothers. Growing up we lifted weights at a young age and we’re pretty strong kids. I think that’s kind of what you get from having a former bodybuilder as a dad.”
On how old he was when he started lifting weights: “I was about six or seven years old. We started with the PVC pipes, not any weight really, just to get the form down. Then once we got the form down, we just started adding like 10 pounds and went on from there.”
On why he chose football instead of a different sport: “You know, I played a lot of different sports growing up, football, basketball and soccer. But once I got to high school, I was pretty good at all three sports, but once I got to high school, football was really the sport that I just gravitated towards the most just because of the contact and I think I was better at football than I was the other two. You know, football, it’s big out here. Soccer’s not really big out here in the U.S. like it is in Europe. Football was just the sport for me. I loved football, I loved the contact and I’ve been playing it since I was like six years old.”
On the meaning of his first name: “So Amon-Ra is my dad. When he named us, me and my two brothers, he wanted us to have different names. He didn’t want us to be anything like a ‘Joe’ or a ‘John’ like he was. He thought that his name was very simple that he had growing up. He wanted us to have different names, he wanted us to stand out. So, my name, Amon-Ra, is the Egyptian sun god. It’s an Egyptian name. And then my other two brothers, Osiris, is the Egyptian god of the underworld, and then Equanimeous comes from the word equanimity. So, all three of us, he was thinking of ways to make us different and names was something that he was very into and he thought there was power in names. So, you know, Amon-Ra was one of the names he really loved.”
On how competition with his brothers growing up helped him get to this point: “It was really competitive in our house, you know, growing up when you have two older brothers when you’re so close in age. We’re all a year and a half a part. I have one brother that’s a year and a half older and the other is three years. So, we’re all doing everything together, we’re lifting weights together, we’re training together, we’re out on the field running together, we’re playing basketball together. It was really competitive in our household and I think it really just brought out the best in me growing up. I was the youngest and the youngest brother always has to try to push harder to win in everything that they do. It just made me super competitive, I think, having two older brothers and I’m actually glad that I was the youngest because I think that it helped me in life.”
On how physicality and strength transfers to the wide receiver position: “I think, you know, physicality is huge at the receiver position, at the catch point when you’re making catches, being able to have strong hands and whatnot, being durable. I think during my college career I didn’t miss one game, I played every game and I think that’s a testament to the work I put in in the weight room and taking care of my body and making sure my body was strong enough to take those impacts and those hits. And then, you know, it helps with blocking and all types of stuff when you’re on the field. Just those things right there that I named I think is why weightlifting and being strong is very important.”
On the video he posted on social media of himself working out last night in his garage: “It’s definitely just my mentality, growing up. Like I said, I’m competitive, I’m a dog. Last night I have a bittersweet feeling in my mouth and all it just made me realize was I have to go harder. So, I’m glad that the Detroit Lions drafted me, but this is just the starting point for me. This is just, you know, the beginning of a chapter for me and I’m going to go in, work hard, and give it everything I’ve got.”
On if he had to set up the weight machine in the garage: “We’re actually moving. So, you know, it was kind of bad timing for us, moving on the draft day, or draft weekend. So, we’re actually moving everything to a different spot and we have the jug machine we’re moving that too, so we just set it up and started working.”
On if he has any relationship with Lions QB Jared Goff from being in Los Angeles: “He actually, I think he trains out here, he trains out here in going to West College with one of the quarterback coaches. I don’t think I’ve ever thrown with him. I’ve seen him a few times, never thrown it, never met him. Definitely I think he’s a great quarterback and I’m excited to work with him.”
On how to make a successful contested catch: “I think it’s a lot of things. It’s definitely, you know, being strong at the point of the catch is huge. I think being able to track the ball is another thing. Usually contested catches are deeper balls. So being able to track the ball and knowing when to attack is huge. And having that mentality, just that dog, that you’re going to win no matter who’s there, you’re making that 50-50 ball. So that’s just what goes into it when I’m out there.”
LIONS FOURTH ROUND SELECTION (113TH OVERALL) LB DERRICK BARNES QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM)On his versatility after playing multiple positions while at Purdue: “I would just say that just me personally as a player, I love to be on the field, I love to contribute to the team. I love to do what the coach asks me to do. And if they, you know, you’re a football player. So being versatile is huge in the NFL and I’m glad I can bring that to the table. Playing defensive end was awesome, playing linebacker was awesome. I’m just ready to take it to the NFL and do whatever the coaches ask me to do. Just ready to get to work and you know, come to Detroit and do what I’ve been doing so far and even better. So, I’m excited about that.”
On what he thinks his strength is coming to the NFL: “I would just say excited to learn. I think that my best football is ahead of me. I’m excited to come in here and learn as a rookie, you know, contribute to special teams, work my tail off to hopefully be able to play. But at the end of the day, just come in there and working. Come in there and be able to contribute to the team, do what the coaches want me to do, learn from the older guys, you know. I’m just ready to go. I’m blessed, beyond blessed.
On what contact he had with the Lions during the pre-draft process: “So I talked to Coach Mark DeLeone, of course. Talked to a lot of them guys down there at the Senior Bowl. I knew because my coach back at Purdue would text me and be like, ‘Yo, the Lions love you. The Lions look highly of you.’ And it all shows, I’m just really blessed to be a Lion. That’s my favorite animal, I have it tatted across my chest. It’s meant to be. So, I’m ready to go and I appreciate the coaching staff, everything for believing in me. It was a long two days, but it all paid off and I’m ready to get to work.”
On the story behind his lion tattoo: “Oh, my favorite animal. I think the Lion is the king of the jungle. Heart of a lion, that’s what I say I have. You know, loyalty, just power, and just leadership. I think that’s all the strengths I grew up having. Always been a fan of the lion.”
On how big the tattoo is: “It’s huge, it covers my whole right pec.”
On if he has any experience contributing on special teams: “Oh, yeah. I contributed a lot on special teams my freshman and sophomore years at Purdue. Freshman year that’s what I was known for, is the special teams guy. The guy who you know was going to be on the field and go make a play and do the right things, be coachable. I played almost every special teams from punt return, to punt, to kickoff return to kickoff. I played PAT block. I did a lot. Sophomore year I did the same thing. It’s just like I know it and I’m ready to come in there and contribute any way I can. I’m always going to give 110 percent in anything I do so I’m just ready to come play football.”
On how he would describe his playing style: “Just going back to being a versatile player. I think that playing D-end and linebacker helped me a lot. I would say from the standpoint I would say of, you know, now I know what it feels like to play defensive end and defensive line, and now I know how it feels to play linebacker. So that kind of helps my game out because I can know, as a MIKE linebacker you can kind of put the people where they need to be, make adjustments, be a leader on the defense, be the quarterback of the defense. And it just helps me because I understand the mindset of what it’s like to be a defensive lineman and a linebacker and I think that just elevated my game throughout this 2020 season.”
On his coverage skills: “Oh, development. Always willing to learn, always willing to take on new technique and new tasks. I think that I can be great in coverage. I think that I have the athleticism and speed to do it and I’m excited to take on that challenge. Didn’t do it much at Purdue, but always willing to learn, you know. I showed some flashes of being able to cover in college and, you know, in the NFL it’s a lot more advanced and I’m ready to take on that challenge and just give it all I got. Work on my technique day in and day out and you know, like I said, learn from the older guys and take advice. You can’t be great if you’re not willing to listen and learn.”
On the dip in his sacks from his junior season to his senior season: “I would just say, you know, playing defensive end, when I was strictly playing defensive end and outside linebacker it was more so of I’m getting repetitions. And I don’t really make no excuses for myself, I think that I had plenty of opportunities my senior year to get sacks, just didn’t happen. But, you know, they didn’t use me as a defensive end in practice, so it was just like a game plan thing. Like a game thing. Depending on the down and distance, you know. I wouldn’t say I lost my technique, but just the repetition was huge for me. Didn’t get that much my senior year. But I’m willing to get back into it if I have to, if I have to come off the edge and play inside linebacker, I want to do both of those. You know, I’m going to do my best to accept both positions and excel at what the Lions want me to do. And I’m so excited to be a part of the Detroit Lions.”
On if he considered opting out of the 2020 college football season: “I didn’t. I didn’t at all just because you know, for me, if you love the game, it’s not always about where you’re going to be next year, it’s just in the moment. It’s not always about money, not like that. I just like the game of football, I love to play, and I was a leader, the captain. Why would a captain sit out and leave his brothers behind? I’m just above that, that’s just not me. I knew that my senior season was going to be important for me also, that took a big consideration to that too. But I just wanted to be able to play my last season with the guys who helped me get to where I am now. I have to show them nothing but love and appreciation, and the coaches also. I didn’t want to let nobody down and I didn’t want to let myself down, so I didn’t. I never thought about opting out at all.”
On if he has any relationship with former Purdue and Lions DE Cliff Avril: “No sir, not that I know of. No, I haven’t had any connection with him, but definitely talked to David, David Blough.”
LIONS SEVENTH ROUND SELECTION (257th OVERALL) RB JERMAR JEFFERSON QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM)On his reaction to being drafted by the Lions and if he saw it coming: “I don’t think I, honestly, I thought I was going undrafted. But you know, I cherish this moment. I have to give it up to God for real because I was down throughout the whole process, but I’m grateful for now and that I got picked by the Lions, so it’s great.”
On what it is like to wait until the end of the Draft to be selected: “It’s a little stressful just you know, sitting down with your family and being patient, being patient, and waiting for a phone call. But it’s also a great opportunity and a very open opportunity. So, it’s also a blessing too. But you know, it’s kind of stressful also, but I’m just glad I got picked. I’m just glad I got picked and I’m excited for my family and excited to be a Detroit Lion.”
On his running style and having a big difference in production between 2019 and 2020: “I feel like I’m more of a balanced back. I feel like I can get fourth-and-one, I can get the first down when my name is called or when we’re real backed up on the 10, I can take it 90, or take it 100. I feel like I’m more of a balanced back, I can do both. I got vision and I can catch the ball out of the backfield. I feel like I can do it all, so I would consider myself a balanced back.”
On joining an experienced backfield in Detroit: “You know, those guys are already experienced, and I’m hoping to come in and help my team with it can be special teams or, you know, any position they want me at, I’m going to play. I’m going to come in, ask questions, learn from the veterans.”
On if he has any experience returning kicks on special teams: “This past year I had two kickoff returns, I think it was against Oregon, but that was about it. I wasn’t on special teams my three years of college, but I was in every special teams meeting because I knew I was going to do that at the next level.”
On why he attended special teams meetings while at Oregon State: “That’s something my position coach at Oregon State, Michael Pitre, preached to the whole running back room a lot, is like special teams is very important and that’s with any rookie, you’re going to play special teams. No matter who you are, you’re going to play special teams. So, I took that, I soaked that in, and I started to take notes in the meetings and started coming to every meeting even if I wasn’t on special teams, or even if knew I wasn’t going to be on special teams, so I really looked into that.”
On if he was relieved to be drafted instead of becoming an undrafted free agent: “It was a little frustration. I felt like, you know, I felt like, I mean, I thought I was going to go in the earlier rounds. But obviously that didn’t happen. When it got to like fifth, sixth, I was just, you know, grateful for any team that picked me. So, I wasn’t really worried. I was a little frustrated towards the end, but I’m just happy and blessed that I got picked.”
On his thoughts on new Lions OL Penei Sewell, his former college rival: “That will be great. I think I only saw him play once, one year. But I know he’s a good player. Our coaches used to talk about him all the time every time we played Oregon. I know he’s going to come in and do his job and do what the coaches tell him to do. It’s great to have guys like that on the O-line that you can run behind.”
On what specifically his Oregon State coaches used to say about new Lions OL Penei Sewell: “They said he’s a top-tier guy, one of the best O-linemen in the Pac-12. Just all great things. No negative things about him, all positive things about him.”
On where he originally thought he would get drafted: “I thought I was going to get drafted in like the third or fourth round, but that didn’t happen. Now I’m just cherishing the moment. I’m happy and blessed that I got drafted.”
On why teams passed on him despite his accolades from the Pac-12 conference: “Exactly, and that’s what I don’t understand. But I’m glad that the Detroit Lions gave me an opportunity because I felt like there was nothing else I could do out there. I showed my long speed out there this past year, I showed vision, catching the ball out of the backfield. I don’t know what teams were missing or what I didn’t have, but you know I felt like I was the best running back in the Pac-12, so.”
On if the chip on his shoulder will make him run angry on the field: “Oh, really angry. I’ve been in this position before. All my life I’ve been underrated. I went to a low-tier college, wasn’t recruited by any good high schools or anything, went to a low-tier college, like I said before. Again, in the seventh round. But ‘Hey, I’m going to show the world. I’m going to shock the world. Just know the Detroit Lions are getting everything out of me. Everything.”