| (On his experience returning kicks and how that may translate to the NFL level) “I have been returning kicks all my life – in high school, JUCO and Memphis. I was behind Tony Pollard, one of the best to ever do it at Memphis. I learned tips from him and he coached me up. I am going to turn it loose with the Jaguars – my speed, my motor, never giving up – and I’m a playmaker. Whatever they need me to be, I can do it and I will make plays and make an impact.” (On the foot injury he dealt with and how serious it was and how much that hurt his 2019 season) “It was heartbreaking for me because I was just grinding my whole spring, my whole summer and when fall came, I was just grinding. I was making plays and letting my team know I was here for them as well as they were here for me. When I hurt my foot, I was so hurt because I did not know it was broken, but I got an X-Ray and they told me I had a fracture. I was going to play on it, but they kept telling me not to play it because I would hurt it more and be out for the season. I just talked to my coaches, my family and my son. He was telling me, ‘It’s going to be OK daddy, just take the surgery and come back 100 percent.’ I did that and I came back 100 percent and I made plays and my team took home a [conference] championship.” (On what the final tipping point was on when he would decide to return) “I would not say I jumped the gun …. I was not rushing, but I was just working so hard so I could come back. I was supposed to come back when we played Tulane, but I just jumped the gun and told them I was clear to go. I told them I was playing versus Temple no matter what. I was good to go, I was cleared. Just tape me up. I did that and it worked out great.” (On if Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell recruited him as a defensive back) “When I got there, they saw my speed. I was playing wide receiver, but then they switched me to DB. He told me, ‘You are going to hate me right now, but you are going to thank me later on.’ Shout out to them for making that move on me. It has been awesome. (On if the move to defensive back was the right move) “Yes sir.” (On how he feels about his development about on defense) “I’m very excited to play on defense because I love to tackle. I love to compete when the ball is in the air. I am an all around playmaker so I am going to bring that to the Jacksonville Jaguars and show them I can do whatever they tell me to do.” (On his journey until now and it has impacted his mentality) “It has impacted me a lot. I did not have as a hands on experience as others have had. I had to work for mine. I went to JUCO. I had a son my sophomore year [of high school]. It has been hard for me. My mother got sick with lupus. I have just been grinding. At the time, I wanted to come for a year and she told me to follow my dreams. I went to Coahoma Community College and I just played a whole year there. I went to Memphis as a walk-on and I was just going hard every time. They were like, ‘Dang, why do you keep going hard?’ I was like, ‘Because I’m a walk-on and I have to eat.’ I have a family to feed. I kept on working. They put me on scholarship and I just had that mindset … It was a dream come true. I got drafted, and it feels amazing. Hard work pays off.” (On what was going through his mind when he got drafted) “It was like a relief because I’ve been sitting all day with my family. My son been right there all the time with me. He told me, ‘It’s OK daddy, just keep on waiting. Your time is going to come. I can’t explain it. It has been awesome.” (On what his 40-yard dash time is) “It is a 4.25. I ran that on April 11 and I sent it in to all the teams.” (On the story of his son getting a scholarship offer from Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell) “It was just one day I was showing him that my son could play football for real. I showed him a clip that went viral. He did two spin moves and a stiff arm move in a seven- and eight-years old league. He is only six-years old. He saw that video and he said to post [on social media] that your son has a offer and I’m going to comment. The next day, he said, ‘Why did you not post it?’ I said, ‘Because I did not know if you was playing.’ He said that he was for real. I posted it and he tagged my son and told him welcome to the family. A big whole thing started. My son has a highlight tape, too.” (On if his son now has an offer at Florida State since Coach Norvell is at Florida State) “We are going to see! I have to talk to him. We are going to see what is up.” |
