Throughout the week of practice leading up to the 2014 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, California, some of the players broke out of the interviewee role and became the interviewer.
Pro Player Insiders handed the mic over to two pairs of athletes who interviewed each other following Wednesday’s practice session.
The first pair of players are quarterback Caleb Herring from UNLV and wide receiver Terrence Miller from the University of Arizona. Herring finished off his Senior season with 29 total touchdowns and almost 3,000 passing yards for the Runnin’ Rebels. Herring completed 63.7% of his passes and only threw four interceptions on the season. The 6’4″, 234 lb. receiver caught 40 passes for almost 500 yards in his Senior season with the Wildcats. Although he only hauled in one touchdown reception, Miller’s big frame could cause matchup nightmares for defensive backs in the NFL.
Here is their interview in full:
Caleb Herring: This is Caleb Herring with the American Team, here with Terrence Miller from the American team.
CH: Terrence, how does it feel being around all of this former NFL talent, whether it be coaches or players?
TM: It feels great man. You get to take in all the good lessons from these guys and hear their cool stories, it kinda motivates me.
CH: Being a Southern California native, how does it feel to be playing back on your original stomping grounds? I’m sure you’ve got a lot of fans coming out.
TM: Man I got a lot of family coming out, this is home, man. We’re trying to do it big for the West Coast and big for the I.E.
CH: Definitely man, definitely. You got some questions for me?
TM: How many touchdowns you gonna throw in this game Caleb? We’ve seen you light up the boards in high school.
CH: I don’t even know man. I plan to get the win, ya know? I plan to go and get the win, you know what I’m saying? Whatever it takes to get the win, that’s what were gonna do.
TM: Alright man, can you at least promise me one throw in the red zone? That’s all [I ask].
CH: I’ll be looking for you, are you gonna promise me you’re gonna catch it?
TM: C’mon man, serious questions only (both laughed)
It’s not all business for these collegiate athletes, as you can see in that interview the players are sure learning a lot this week, yet they are making sure to find time to have fun.
The second set of players who took over the microphone Wednesday afternoon are a pair of linebackers playing for the American team, Brandon Watts from Georgia Tech and Avery Williamson from the University of Kentucky. Watts recorded 66 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and one interception in his Senior season with Georgia Tech. Williamson’s Kentucky Wildcats had a disappointing season (2-10 record on the season), but Williamson himself was a real standout in his Senior year. He recorded 102 tackles, one sack and three quarterback hurries in the 2013 season.
Here is the full conversation between Watts and Williamson:
Brandon Watts: Hey I’m Brandon Watts from Georgia Tech University and I’m playing on the American team.
Avery Williamson: I’m Avery Williamson from the University of Kentucky and I’m playing on the American team.
BW: Avery, what’s been your most fun experience since we’ve been out here?
AW: The most fun experience, I would say, was seeing the ocean. I’ve only seen the ocean one time in my life and that was like 7th grade so, seeing all that water was a really cool experience.
BW: What do you think you have to improve on going into our last day of practice?
AW: Really just doing my assignment and doing what the coach tells me which will allow me to make plays, and I’d like to make as many as possible.
BW: How has it been learning from all of these NFL coaches and NFL personnel that have been through what we’re going through?
AW: It’s been great. Just getting the experience and I’ve never been taught by this many NFL guys so it’s cool to get to meet different people, like Daunte Culpepper. Just to see people and soak up all the experience, I’ve been having a great time.
AW: So what do you like most about California?
BW: I like the weather. The weather’s real nice.
AW: The ladies?
BW: Yeah, the ladies look good. There’s a variety of women here (laughs with AW).
AW: How do you feel practice has been going for you the past couple of days?
BW: Practice has been going good. The first day I started out kinda shaky because there was couple of things I haven’t seen before. You know you got different schemes and different terminology with different coaches, so I’ve just had to adjust to that.
AW: This your first time in California?
BW: Yeah this is my first time coming to California. I’ve always wanted to come and I might want to live out here one day since coming out here.
You can check out these players and more draft eligible players in the 2014 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday, January 18th on the ESPN Network.
