(On what he thinks he can bring to the team) “I’m definitely bringing my physicality to the team as well. My tackling presence I feel is definitely what puts me on top as far as linebackers go. And just my overall will. You know I don’t like to lose on any given play. I will always play for my teammates, always for the cause of the team.”
(On how he will balance the transition from being a captain before to becoming a rookie now) “Honestly, it really just repeats itself. The same thing happened in high school. I had to come in as a freshman and put my head down and just put my work towards the plow and I ended up alright. I became the leader that I was. I did the same thing at the University of Miami. Freshman year I came in and put my head down and I ended up starting for four years. I’m not changing much. I just want to help my team to the utmost.”
(On if it holds more meaning being drafted to his hometown team) “Of course, of course. It’s an awesome blessing to play for any team in the NFL. But being able to stay home is just a different feeling. It’s a very different feeling. I’m just so happy that I had the opportunity to do it, because to be honest most people don’t get the chance to do that. Representing the brand has always been a thing for me, especially Jacksonville with that 904. I’ve been throwing my fours up since I got to college. I’m excited.”
(On seeing the area code number 904 pop up on his phone when the Jaguars called him and if he knew it was them before he answered the call) “Yes, I did. When I saw that the Jaguars had the next pick and I got a phone call, I tried to make sure not to press the wrong button on my phone when trying to answer the phone call. So as soon as he said he was from the Jaguars, I almost started crying already. But yes, it was a different feeling. It’s hard to explain it.”
(On if he is in the “904” right now and with his family) “Yes ma’am. I heard the news that I could stay home while I was home and that was just different. It’s just different.”
(On being an emotional person and how his emotions define him as a football player and what he can bring to this team) “I think it defines me because it only takes one guy, in a lot of scenarios, to get a group of guys going. It just takes somebody to maybe say something and I’ve learned that that’s just the role that I have to play. I’ve been blessed with talent on and off the field, but even more so as a person. I’m not too cool to tell my teammates that I love them and that I need them. And doing things like that go a long way more than most people actually know. Most people think you have to be provocative, that’s not the case. When you stand on the side of winning and your teammates know that, then they respect you much more. You don’t have to do all the extra to try to gain respect. That’s why I just plan to come in and show them I came to work. I’m going to be here whether you like it or not because I came to work.”
(On how much he met with the Jaguars before the draft and what they said he can bring to the team) “I met with the Jaguars a couple of times. Definitely at the combine. I got to talk to the linebackers coach, and we talked for about 30-45 minutes. We first started with the football stuff like X’s and O’s and showing him that of course I know defense and I know offense as well. After finishing up with the X’s and O’s and the schematics, we just talked to each other for about 30 minutes and it was amazing. My future coach and I really hit it off from that point on. He really told me, ‘we’re going to grab you,’ and I was thinking a lot of teams say that. It’s the law of the land when it comes to the draft, but he was right. He was not playing with me.”
(On how he was the first from Oakleaf High School to be drafted in the NFL and what that means to him) “First, I want to say hello to Mr. John Shipley, we go way back. I don’t know if you all know that. But, second of all, it means everything, John, because even when you were there, it was tough. We were a new school and before we got there, as a new school it was hard to compete. But being the first one from our school and from my area to make it, it speaks volumes, because all I ever wanted to do was rep the brand. That’s all. I just wanted to make sure that everybody knew that North Florida had a lot of football talent too. When everybody talks about Florida they want go down south, but I just wanted to be one of those who put North Florida on the map as well. There’s no slouches over here.”
(On the Jaguars director of college scouting’s comments about his leadership and what that kind of praise means to him) “That’s 100% correct. Everything he said was correct. And that high praise just comes from just working. I was always one that wanted my praise after the fact. And I was always honestly looked over in high school. I mean I wasn’t highly sought out, but there were guys that I felt I should have got. And that’s at every level. So the chip on my shoulder has always been there and its propelled me to every level, and it’s allowed me to go beyond the limits that I have set for myself.”
(On whether he’s in Jacksonville right now) “Yes sir, I’m in Jacksonville right now.”
(On when he graduated) “Yes sir, I graduated this past December.”
(On if he’s officially moved out of Miami) “Yes, sir.”
(On what it meant to be the first one from UM to be drafted this year) “It meant a couple of different things for me, for the fact that most people were misconstrued what the draft really represents. It’s not a directly correlated to how you did in college, so if you take it that way, you’re going to take it way too personal and it’ll end up upsetting and you become flustered and that type of manor, but the fact that I was chosen first from my team, it just meant everything and meant I had worked so hard year after year, like the body and work put together in those 52 games. It’s so quickly said when you read it off a screen, read it off a piece of paper, but that took 52 games. That took 4 years and that took more time to prepare to be able to last 4 years. I think it’s just easily looked over, you know, and that’s fine because I’m used to it. I’m sorry I don’t mean to rant but I just get emotional sometimes.”
(On what it means to him to carry on being a linebacker from UM into the NFL) “It’s my part to keep Miami, not only afloat, but to keep them as who they are and represent that logo. I can continue to work, when I get to the league I have to translate. You know it’s a lot of guys that translate and it’s not good enough to just be that, it’s not good enough to by chose by, you know, my home team. It’s not good enough for me, I plan to go the distance, you know, to rep their brand to the best of my abilities. People aren’t gonna say what school Shaquille Quaterman went to, they say Shaquille Quaterman represents the U, you know, he’s up there with the Ray Lewis, Jon Beason, BJ Williams, Jon Vilma. Not just because I went to the school and graduated but because I deserved to be there and that’s been my goal since going to Miami, since I committed to Miami. If I do what I’m supposed to and I’m amongst the names on that list, I did something right.”
(On his day leading up to getting drafted) “I woke up this morning, my agent Drew Rosenhaus, who does an awesome job, you know. He told me what to expect, which was to be chosen today. I was still disappointed, you know, just watching the draft, obviously, but I woke up this morning I had a different feel. I had a little pep in my step, you know my family was a little more excited than they were, you know, yesterday and the day before, my aunt made breakfast, everybody just knew. Everybody had a feeling so sitting on the couch with my family, everybody’s anxieties were raised and as the picks go, I feel it getting closer and closer. I know my name is on the rise, I’m about to be called and when that phone rang, my family doesn’t know, you know, they’re watching the TV, but I see my phone ringing and I just thank the lord before I answer. I say, ‘Thank you, lord’ and I pick up the phone and I get the news and after that it comes on the TV and my phone just goes blue screen for a couple minutes.”
(On whether he was ever worried about an injury throughout playing all 52 games) “Only one time, for a serious matter because if it’s not broken, then I’m going to play. I mean, that’s just the way, if you didn’t play you lose your spot so I never messed with that, but the ankle sprains and stuff like that, I was playing on those. Only had one time that was my junior year and we had LSU at a neutral site and on Wednesday I had back spasms just doing footwork at practice. Back spasms, fell to the ground, couldn’t practice for the rest of the day and took me to the trainer room. All different types of tests were done and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play or when they were going to stop, but I practiced the next day, you know. Did my water therapy the whole week up until the game, still went to all my meetings and I played every snap of that game, besides one. I played every snap of that game.”
