SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
DOUG PEDERSON: (Opening statement) “Good morning. Thank y’all for being here. We’re going to introduce Devin [Lloyd] to you here in a little bit, but, you know, these last couple of days for us have been really exciting. As you guys know, with Travon [Walker] being the first pick and then moving up to grab Devin [Lloyd] who we feel is an outstanding not only linebacker on the football field, but he’s probably a better person off the field. His mom, Ronyta, is here and you did a great job of raising your son and we’re excited here in Jacksonville to get to know you a little bit better and welcome you here to Jacksonville. But obviously with Devin, his athleticism, obviously the size you can see it, the speed, everything that we felt strongly [about] when we took Devin in this draft. We’re excited to get him in here in a couple weeks and get him going with all of our picks. But with that, we’re going to open up for questions.”
DEVIN LLOYD: (On the pre-draft process and being surprised by a call from the Jaguars on draft night) “To be honest, I was surprised like as soon as I saw it. We had met at the combine I believe and then I think we had some communication after that, some slight communication after that. But outside of that, I wasn’t really expecting a call. But as soon as I saw it, I was ecstatic. I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ It was finally all of the emotions hitting you, so you knew at that point you were home.”
LLOYD: (On waiting in the green room in Vegas on draft night) “It can get nerve-racking for sure, and I was one of those guys where I was coming in, I was like, ‘It’s not going to be that bad, just breathe and just wait and understand that God has got you.’ But when I was in there, I was just waiting, waiting, and wait a little bit more. Like I said, I was just finally ready to get that call.”
LLOYD: (On his upbringing and his parents) “My mother and father were in the military. They served in the Navy. My dad did 30 years, just retired a little over a year ago. My mom did ten, would’ve done more but she had me, so she had to get out because of that. But they’ve done so much for me just as far as just the values they’ve instilled in me, teaching me the right things, teaching me to be a good person, but they’re also teaching me about self-discipline and really working for what you want to go get. They always instill confidence in me, telling me that I can do anything I put my mind to, so I’m just grateful to have them in my life.”
PEDERSON: (On building a team with young players based on character) “Short answer is yes and honestly our whole team right now is full of high character guys. When you have a group of men that are like that and they’re young and they’re energetic and you can shape them as players, you can shape them as men, it really goes a long way to how you perform on the football field because what happens is with guys of character, they become great leaders not only on the field but also in the community and they become great citizens in Jacksonville. We have a team full of guys like that and Devin [Lloyd] is just going to be a great addition to not only the linebacker room but I think to our team and to Jacksonville. I
talk a lot about how we handle our business off the football field as well with our guys and this is obviously no exception.”
SHAD KHAN: (On improving the process of picking first round players) “I think I’ve elaborated on it. I didn’t see you so for your benefit, I’ll repeat it. You are one of my favorites. That was one of the things, really one of the first things with [Head Coach] Doug [Pederson] and [General Manager] Trent [Baalke] that let’s be honest with ourselves. Our record has not been good drafting especially in the early rounds and how do we get better. And really the answer is basically two words: collaboration and transparency. So, this has been a very intensive process with really the coaches with the scouts viewing film together, a very grueling process where there’s integrity in the evaluation. There isn’t ‘I have a bias’, and just skipping the data to convince myself or other people which led to really how the draft board shook out. Then I obviously sat down with Trent and Doug and some of the coaches and went over that really to kind of validate that this is something. Obviously, time will tell, but definitely you can’t be doing the same thing over again expecting different results. We are doing something very different, and it started from day one. I can tell you, I feel fabulous, and I think we’ve had a really great last couple of days I think as an organization.”
LLOYD: (On looking forward to playing in physical, run heavy matchups especially in the AFC South) “Coming from the Pac-12 which is a pass heavy conference, I’m looking forward to actually getting able to play the run a lot more just because so many teams they want to run the ball. So, I’m looking forward to actually get in those battles in the trenches. That’s why I play football just because of the physicality of it and I mean just really getting downhill and being nasty, so [I’m] looking forward to that for sure, those matchups and it’s going to be a great challenge.”
LLOYD: (On watching AFC South opponents Titans RB Derrick Henry and Colts RB Jonathan Taylor) “I’ve seen a lot more film on [Titans RB] Derrick Henry than [Colts RB] Jonathan Taylor, but I’ve seen a little bit of both. I definitely have a lot of respect for their game and their o-line. Both of their teams o-lines are very good, so I think they do a great job running the ball, both teams. Like I said, it’s a great challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”
LLOYD: (On the team’s rivalry with the Titans) “I got freshened up on a little bit. Me and Coach [Doug Pederson] were talking about it a little bit. I know we don’t like Tennessee, do not like Houston.”
LLOYD: (On his role while dealing with adversity at Utah) “My role for me was to just step up and be the best leader I can be, really just bring everybody together. Whenever we’re on the field or whenever we’re doing anything football related, it’s got to be focus, it’s got to be football related. And whenever we’re off the field and we’re not doing anything football, we have to be together, we have to be there for one another. That experience brought everybody closer, but it also made everybody lock in a little bit more and it was my job as a leader to make sure everybody stayed locked in and just understand what we had and the task at hand, what we’re trying to accomplish and how we were supposed to get there.”
LLOYD: (On what Jacksonville should expect from him as a player) “One thing I define myself as is a football player, so it doesn’t really matter where you put me, I’m going to go out, I’m going to be competitive and I’m going to have success. I pride myself on being able to play anything that you could ask a linebacker to play, coming off the edge, rushing the passer, man coverage, zone coverage, playing the run, whatever you could ask a linebacker to do. I pride myself on being able to do that at a high level and I prepared to be able to have success all over the field, so I’m watching film for pass rusher, I’m
watching film for safeties. You have to be able to do it all, so, like I said, I’m excited for whatever I’m asked to do.”
LLOYD: (On picking up NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the draft stage) “I think my mom could explain that a little bit better. No, I had no plans of picking him up until right after I got the call, and it just came up.”
RONYTA LLOYD: (On her son LB Devin Lloyd picking up NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the draft stage) “I just told Devin [Lloyd] to make sure he picked up Roger Goodell off the floor. I didn’t know he was going to pick him up like that. I just wanted to see if he could.”
LLOYD: (On conversations with current and newly drafted players) “No intense conversations. [Jaguars DE/OLB] Josh Allen did reach out to me, so that was cool. But me and [Jaguars LB and third-round draft pick] Chad [Muma] definitely chopped it up a few times at the combine. So, that’ll be good to get with
him and I know we’re going to be close, probably going to be roommates so I know we’re going to definitely get to know each other even better.”
LLOYD: (On acclimating to the NFL and learning a new playbook) “Well, I’m hoping it’s not going to be long, that’s also my expectation, but that’s really just based off how prepared [I am]. I plan on going in headfirst, just giving it everything, so I’m hoping it’s not going to be that long, but we’ll see. Like I said, it’s something I’ve never experienced before, so I can get back with you on that one.”
LLOYD: (On learning the ‘DUUUVAL’ chant) “I had actually heard about it before. I appreciate it, but I had actually heard it. As soon as I saw Jacksonville too, whenever I hung up the phone, like I immediately felt like dang I’m going to be able to say that now. I did it as soon as I got a chance to do it.”
LLOYD: (On what number he wants to wear this season) “I have definitely thought about that and based off what’s available, I’m going to choose a number I feel like that really kind of suits me and is calling to me. I’ve thought about it for sure.”
LLOYD: (On switching positions in high school and choosing football over basketball) “Started off playing football in eighth grade, that was the first time I played tackle football. That was eight on eight. When I got to high school, I played receiver. That was primarily my position up until my senior year. My senior year, I played free safety and that was my first time playing defense. The film that Utah was watching really just translated to the linebacker position. I just feel like my mentality and the way I play free safety translated to their linebacker position, so that’s kind of how they ended up offering me. But for me, basketball was never really kind of my sport. It was the first sport I actually played growing up, but once I found football in eighth grade, seventh, eighth grade, that was the one I knew I was going to end up playing hopefully in college and in the NFL. It’s the one I fell in love with.”
LLOYD: (On his path to the NFL) “For me, college was the first steppingstone. Once I got to college, ultimately the NFL, I always dreamed of playing in the NFL. That’s why you play football, that’s what you dream of. But for me, it was steppingstones, so in high school, college was the next steppingstone. Once I got to college, then it was the NFL, so kind of just in that order. But to being here and to be a Jag, to finally be home, it’s just a blessing. I can’t really put it any way other than that just because, like I said, you dream of playing in the NFL and so to be in this position, I’m exactly where I want to be right now.”
LLOYD: (On learning from coaches that are also NFL veterans) “I love football and I’m always looking to get better, to expand my game, to learn from people who’ve been and done it. Whoever I learn from or just whenever I get in a room really, I’ll be ready to learn.”
PEDERSON: (On getting creative defensively with LB Devin Lloyd) “Those are all things that once we get Devin [Lloyd] in here [we’ll figure out]. We obviously know his college background, his production there and where they used him and how they used him. Obviously at the linebacker position. [it] Can be a versatile position in our defense, in our scheme. Again, it kind of goes back to let’s get him in here, let’s get him caught up, let’s get him learning the playbook right, let’s get him around the teammates and get going, and then we can begin to kind of shape a plan down the road as we go with guys like Devin [Lloyd] and obviously with Travon [Walker] and the others. But I know [Defensive Coordinator] Mike [Caldwell] and the staff become very creative with scheme from time to time, but you have to do that. You have to do that each week and having guys like Devin that are versatile that way can help that process.”
PEDERSON: (On getting LB Devin Lloyd a playbook today) “No.”
JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON AND GENERAL MANAGER TRENT BAALKE NFL DRAFT MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
TRENT BAALKE: (On the draft overall and taking two corners, CB Gregory Junior and CB Montaric Brown, with the team’s last two picks) “I think the draft went well. The two corners at the end, you look at the best player available on the board, need, the ability to come in, both of them are talented young guys that have a chance to make the team and compete. They’re both fast enough to compete on special teams, so there’s a lot of upside to both of them we felt.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On his vision for RB Snoop Conner) “I think for Snoop [Conner], it’s just a matter of him coming in and competing. It gives us another opportunity to look at him and fit into that room and really compete and see where he’s at. It does depend on where James [Robinson] is obviously going into training camp and into the regular season and obviously Travis [Etienne Jr.] as well. But this gives up depth at that position, gives us a little competition there and we’re excited to get him here and get him going. I don’t think he’s just strictly a short yardage back. I don’t think that with him at all.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On an update on RB James Robinson) “Just he’s doing well. He’s on track and he’s obviously getting his treatment and rehab and everything, conditioning, that he’s supposed to be doing now. He’s been around his teammates the last three weeks which has been good, so we just keep him plugging and hopefully soon he’ll be back out there.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On his first draft with the Jaguars) “Overall, I feel great, all the way back to even the free agency. We addressed a lot of issues early with free agents and now we’ve picked it up here in the draft. Then just speaking about the process, you’ve heard us talk a lot this weekend about the collaboration, the communication involving the staff and just really spending a lot of time with these players and the board. For me, it was refreshing to do that and to be a part of it that extensively. I know the coaches felt the same way. There’s accountability there with the board and with [General Manager] Trent [Baalke] and his staff and felt the process was really good, really smooth.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On CB Gregory Junior coming from Ouachita Baptist University) “The advantage with him was he was at the Senior Bowl, so we got a chance to see him there. We had several scouts go into the school, so he wasn’t somebody that was unknown or unheard of. The scouts did a good job of identifying him in the fall obviously, enough to get him a look at the Senior Bowl. We felt pretty good that we had a good amount of work done on him.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On the importance of the Senior Bowl for players from smaller schools) “It’s real important. It’s also important that they dominate their level of competition. When you turn on a small school guy that you feel can compete at this level, he jumps out at you and Greg[orgy Junior] did that, so we’re very confident he’s going to come in here and now compete obviously. It’s a much higher level, he’s going to have to adjust to it, but he showed at the Senior Bowl that he was capable of making those steps. We’ll bring him in and let him go to work.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On concentrating on the defense in the draft) “I think the free agent period allowed us some freedom to look at the draft a little differently than we might have pre-free agency if that makes sense. Again, dealing with [Head] Coach [Doug Pederson] and going through the process with the coaching staff, it’s all about developing the best roster, the best 53. That’s how we approached free agency, that’s how we approached the draft. Obviously, you have to address needs and we felt we did that. At the end of the season, we go through an end of the season review and write down the top needs that we have on offense, defense, and special teams. We feel like we did a really good job of addressing those and we’re going to continue to address the needs that we see as we work through the offseason program.”
BAALKE: (On CB Gregory Junior being the first player drafted from Ouachita Baptist University) “I think so for the university itself and for the young man, it’s a heck of an accomplishment to go to a small school. I went to a small school too up in Northern Minnesota, I didn’t get drafted. But I think for any of these guys it’s a dream come whether you play at Alabama or whether you play at from Ouachita Baptist. We’re excited to get him. He’s a young man that’s a high character guy. That’s one thing that we’re proud of with this draft class. I think when you get a chance to meet them all individually, you’ll see what we see. These are really good young men that are going to represent the community very well and we’re looking forward to having them as members of our team.”
PEDERSON: (On knowing how to pronounce Ouachita Baptist University) “I did. Going to school in Louisiana, we don’t have counties, we have parishes and the parish that I lived in was spelled the same way. My wife went to Ouachita High School. I have a brother that went to Ouachita High School. It’s spelled and pronounced the same way. I had to teach them. The day we were doing it, it was like ‘Woah, no, no, time out. That’s not it.’”
PEDERSON: (On how he feels about the roster now after the draft) “I think for me personally, obviously we did some really good things this offseason. Again, going back to free agency and obviously this weekend. The big thing for me too is the roster too now, nothing’s set. It’s a still a work in progress and we still have a group of free agents that we need to add to this roster to fill it out, but it’s going to continue to be a work in progress now really through training camp until we get to the final cut down. But I think overall, where we are with the men that we drafted this weekend really helps us. To me too, I talk a lot about the depth at each position and the competition at each position, it just makes us better as a football team when we can have that consistency at these position groups. From the standpoint, I think we did an excellent job.”
BAALKE: (On the anticipated number of undrafted free agents) “I think right now, the guys are down there working, you can’t offer anything until the draft officially ends, so I think they’re getting their ducks in a row. I think we’re right around 15,16.”
BAALKE: (On the financial status of the team regarding salary cap, etc.) “We’re in good shape and with the undrafted free agents, every team has the exact same amount to work with. You have $160,000 spread over as many people as you want. So, if you have 10, that $16,000 a piece and so on. We’re in very good financial condition. We have no problem, especially with getting Cam [Robinson’s contract] done, so we’re in good shape.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On CB Montaric Brown’s potential as a returner) “Again, he just comes in and he fits. He comes in, he competes there. He comes in, he gets some reps there. We know we have some guys
that are ahead of him that we obviously feel comfortable with, but you never know. He could be one play away. Jamal [Agnew]’s coming off an injury obviously and we have to make sure that he’s 100 percent before he gets back out on that football field. You’re always looking for guys, especially in the DB room or the running back room who can return kicks for you, whether it’s punts or kick offs and kick returns. He can do that and we’ll just get him out there and see what he can do.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On how many undrafted players the Jaguars anticipate signing) “I think right now the guys are down there working. You can’t offer anything until the draft officially ends, so I think there getting their ducks in a row and I’m thinking right about 15 or 16.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On the status of the salary cap) “We’re in good shape and with the undrafted free agency, every team has the exact same number to work with. You have $160,000 spread over as many people as you want. If you have 10 then that’s $16,000 a piece. We’re in a really good financial position, especially with getting Cam [Robinson] done, so we’re in a really good shape.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On the vision for CB Montaric Brown) “He just comes in and he fits. He comes in and he competes there. He comes in he gets reps there. We have some guys ahead of him that we feel comfortable with, but you never know. He could be one play away and Jamal [Agnew] is coming off an injury, so we need to make sure he is 100% before he gets out on that football field and you’re always looking for guys in the DB room or the running back room who can return kicks for you, whether it’s punts or kick returns. He can do that and we can’t wait to get him out there and see what he can do.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On what made them want to move up for RB Snoop Conner) “He’s got really good size and quickness. It’s not so much the long speed as it is the one cut guy. He is really good out of the back field as well and has good hands. He can be used first, second and third down because of his size. Again, just a back than give us that depth that we look for and give us that competition. Just his special
teams value as well and at this point in the draft, special teams becomes a little bit more of a factor and he is capable of doing that.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On the importance of trading with Tampa Bay) “If you followed that scenario, we were picking at 157 and Tampa Bay had called us about trading and we were going to use that pick to take Snoop [Conner]. When we had that on the table Tampa to come up, we packaged two sixes to move ahead of that pick so that we could make the pick of the running back that we wanted and next pick up the fourth for next year, so that’s kind of how that unfolded.”
DOUG PEDERSON: (On the collaboration here in Jacksonville and if Doug Pederson has seen it before) “All 32 clubs are different and they approach it differently. The places I’ve been the coaches are involved, but maybe not as involved as we are here. It just holds us as a staff accountable to the players that we’re drafting because we get to coach these guys and we want to be able to have our hands on these guys and go through the process. I can’t speak for the other 31 clubs, but it’s not the same and that’s why this process has been good not only for me but for our staff.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On feeling comfortable with the TE room and WR room) “We like this team and we like the group that’s there obviously, but as I’ve always said, you never not stop looking, never stop looking to improve each room and try to make it as competitive as you can. Obviously, free agency is over and the draft is over, so now teams picked players and so are there going to be other players that come available. You’re constantly looking to create competition and improve the roster, so we’re not done.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On current areas of need after the draft going into the undrafted free agency) “I think you never have enough big bodies. You’re always searching for big bodies. You’re always searching for speed, so we’re combing. The board is set obviously and we’re working off the board right now. If we have players, the higher rated they were on our board, if they’re still available then we’re willing to spend to get those players. It’s a very competitive period right now. You have 32 teams scrambling. There’s some teams looking for 30 plus guys to fill their roster. There’s other teams looking for less than that. So right now, the guys are down there, the scouts and coaches, making calls and trying to fill these spots. We know exactly how many guys we want to bring in at each position to fill the 90-man roster, so that’s what we’re currently doing.”
TRENT BAALKE: (On what he looks for when selecting undrafted free agents) “We completely follow the board because it’s too hard not to. It’s stacked. You’re trying to get the best available players. We’re trying to stick with the theme that we’ve had this entire time, getting guys that are high character guys, guys that have been healthy and available, and guys that can come in and compete for at least a practice squad spot if not higher. All these guys come in with a dream. You don’t want to put a cap or a restriction on what they can become. You try to sell the limit to them. They’re not coming here to hopefully make a practice squad, they’re coming here to compete for a roster spot and you have to make them believe they can and you should give them that. They’ve worked awful hard to get to that point and we’ve seen the success that a lot of these undrafted free agents have had not only in Jacksonville, but in the league as a whole. So, I never put a ceiling or a cap on anyone’s ability.”
JAGUARS RB SNOOP CONNER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
(On his nickname ‘Snoop’) “It used to be ‘Snoopy’ when I was younger, but when I got a certain age, I changed it to ‘Snoop’. I didn’t want to be called ‘Snoopy’.”
(On his knack for finding the end zone) “I feel like I can score from far also too but especially inside the endzone, inside the goal line, I feel like that’s my game too. I show both on film, so I feel like I have a good, pretty special [skill] to just get in the end zone.”
(On the Jaguars interested in him prior to the draft and what he brings to the team) “Actually, we talked a couple times, but I didn’t feel like I was on their radar … But what I can bring to the team, I think I can be that powerful back, that all around back, every down back. I just feel like I can bring that to the team, especially [the] physicality of my play style. I just feel like I can be a great running back to this team.”
(On what being a young father has taught him) “Having a daughter, it taught me how to mature, be more mature. It made me grow up faster I know. Being in high school, I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do like go out and stuff like that. I had to focus on my daughter. Every break I had, I had to get her and just take care of her. With college, it was the same thing. I had support from my mother when I was gone away. My mother and my father, they kept her and just took care of her for me while I was gone. With football, it just made me more hungry to the game because I know I have to give her the life she needs.”
(On the running back situation while at Ole Miss) “What we were doing at Ole Miss, we had a three-back rotation. Our coach believed in that. He tried to keep the milage down on us so if we get tired, another back [was] going in. That’s what he believed in. He just believed in [the] three-back system and it actually worked in my favor. I don’t have a lot of miles on my body coming to the NFL.”
(On his communication with the Jaguars today) “The just called me, just told me they wanted me to be a Jaguar, so today I was happy I know. It was a little nerve racking coming up to this point, but they finally got me. They trust and believe in me, and they put their pick and trust in me, so I’m just really showing what I can do.”
(On his communication with the Jaguars prior to the draft) “I talked to them at the combine.”
(On being able to handle a heavy workload as an NFL running back) “Yes, I believe I do. I believe I can do it. I work out enough to put my body… I put a lot on my body like the workouts I put myself through, so I feel like I can handle it. Actually, I know the Alabama game in 2020, I had like 20-something carries and I wasn’t sore after that game so I feel like I can handle it.”
(On Snoop Dogg and if he would like to do a commercial with Snoop Dogg) “I’ve never met Snoop Dogg, but I would like to do a commercial with Snoop Dogg. I listen to his music and stuff, so I like it.”
(On his best capabilities) “I feel like I can spread the field out too. Like I showed on film, I broke a couple long runs, never got caught from behind. I can catch the ball too out of the back field, so I feel like I can bring that to the table.”
(On his knowledge of the current Jaguars running back room) “I know about Travis Etienne [Jr.] from college, but I don’t really know about the other guy [James Robinson]. But I just know, I’m ready to come in and compete.”
(On coming into a similar situation with multiple other running backs) “Actually, that taught me a lot of patience in college like how to sit back and just control what you can control and just always compete. But I’ll be ready to come to this and I’m ready to compete and try to take over the room.”
JAGUARS CB GREGORY JUNIOR
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
(On his excitement and journey to the NFL) “It’s a blessing, man. First off, I give all of it to God, man. He’s true, living God. I’ve been through it all. It’s always been a dream, just an exciting moment for not just me but for my family and my hometown, Crossett, Arkansas and my school, Ouachita Baptist [University]. I mean it’s just a blessing and it’s just the beginning.”
(On his communication with the Jaguars before the draft) “I talked to them at the NFLPA [Collegiate Bowl], at the Senior Bowl, and they came down to my pro day, so we’ve been staying in contact a lot.”
(On being the first draft pick from Ouachita Baptist University) “It’s a blessing just being the first person to represent Ouachita. I know we have three other people who went undrafted from Ouachita so just to be able to be the first, it means a lot.”
(On competing in the Senior Bowl) “The first day was kind of like a blur just because I didn’t know my competition but once I got to watch film and all that, everything slowed down for the rest of the week because after a while, like I say, it’s just football at the end of the day so it slowed down and you’re just out there having fun.”
(On knowing the pronunciation of his alma matter before attending) “I knew about Ouachita, but I didn’t really know Arkadelphia like didn’t know where it was at. But I mean I knew how to pronounce Ouachita.”
(On people mispronouncing Ouachita) “Every person I see from another state, they always butcher it. I find it funny just because I like hearing people say it for the first time just to hear their reaction from them. But I don’t really get too upset about it, it’s funny to me. I laugh about it.”
(On his pride being the first draft pick from Ouachita Baptist University) “For sure. Like I said, just being able to represent Ouachita Baptist and the football program, I’m glad I’m the first person. Hopefully there’ll be many more to come.”
(On whom he got advice from before the draft) “Where I was training at, his name was Ryan. Ryan Fuller. His name was Ryan. But when I was up there training in Denver, Colorado, he just gave me a lot of words of wisdom and stuff, just talking about keep the main thing the main thing and just work, work hard, and that’s all I did. I just made sure I had fun while I was doing it.”
(On his pre-draft training in Colorado) “My pro day training stuff, Combine training. I was training up there.”
(On only having one career interception but multiple pass breakups) “Going into my senior year, I didn’t really have a lot of attempts thrown at me, balls thrown at me. But I dropped one or two, so it’s not just on them, it’s on me too.”
(On how he celebrated being drafted) “Really, I was just with my family. We all just stuck around the yard. Instead of going somewhere, we just decided to do it at my hometown [Crossett, Arkansas], just everybody come down, just watch, just watch the celebration.”
(On how far he is from Ouachita Baptist University) “I’m two hours and twenty minutes, so it’s not that far.”
(On receiving a Combine invitation) “No sir, I did not.”
JAGUARS CB MONTARIC “BUSTER” BROWN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
(On if he was nervous about going undrafted after leading the SEC in interceptions last season) “Yeah, I was pretty nervous during this whole process. Just talking with my agent and talking with other teams, they gave me an idea of just where I was going to go, so I was preparing for day three. During the whole process I was pretty nervous. I’m just thankful for the organization in Jacksonville picking me up and believing in me.”
(On how he got the nickname Buster) “My grandmother gave me that name as a child. She said I was tough. There was a Buster Brown shoe back in the day. You might know them. She just said I was tough and gave me that nickname and it just stuck with me my whole life. A lot of people call me that.”
(On his feelings about being a day three pick after leading the SEC in interceptions) “You know, it’s shocking just having this dream as a child and it’s finally happened for me. My mindset throughout this process was just head down and keep working and have a chip on my on my shoulder, so that’s been my mentality this whole process.”
(On the experience of the turnaround during the 2021 season at Arkansas and how it can translate to Jacksonville) “Just seeing the coaching change throughout the whole process and having [Arkansas Head] Coach [Sam] Pittman step in, I’m looking forward to doing the same thing in Jacksonville and just changing the program around and keep it in the right direction.”
(On what it’s been like the last couple of days) “I’ve been sitting around waiting on day 3, just chilling with family members. You know, I had a lot of family members and I threw a draft party back in Fayetteville, Ark. so I had family come around, family friends. I’ve just been kicking it and waiting for my name to be called on day three.”
(On if the party was just today) “It’s been Friday and Saturday.”
(On how he explains why he’s a day three pick) “Everybody’s journey is different. I just trust in the process. I see a lot of guys go ahead of me, so they just keep that chip on my shoulder. I’ve got to work harder. It just motivates me. I was just trusting the process and just waiting on my turn.”
(On potentially playing special teams or kick returning and if he did any of that at Arkansas) “You know I played a lot of special teams and I came into Arkansas as a safety. That wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted me to play safety too because I came in as a top-ranked safety in high school and then I changed my position to corner during college. If they need me to do anything, play safety, play special teams, I’m willing to do it.”
(On Arkansas DB LaDarrius Bishop, how they are related and if he was at the party) “He’s with me right now. He’s been here the whole process. To have him as family, he’s like my second cousin. Just playing with him during high school and continuing that during college is wonderful. Just seeing him watch this process just motivates him for his time next year. It’s been a great process and a fun process to have him here.”
(On if there’s a bet on if Arkansas DB LaDarrius Bishop will get drafted higher than Brown next year) “Oh definitely. We’re definitely going to talk about it later on to see if he can do better than me.”
