Q: A lot of players talk about having a moment when the “light bulb” went off in their head, and they realized they could make a career out of professional football. Have you had one of those in your career?
A: I didn’t have a certain thing that sparked it, but I knew by talking to Coach Bo [Pelini] that my junior and senior years, if I stepped it up a notch, I assumed I could make it into the NFL. During my junior and senior years, by making some plays and just listening to what the coaches had to say, I feel I really evolved as a player.
Q: What is the next career goal you want to accomplish?
A: I want to make a team and make an impact wherever I am. Learning what they want to learn, doing what they want me to do and of course and being able to play up there in the atmosphere with everyone that makes it to the NFL.
After football, I would love to work with kids and be a high school coach.
Q: How does it feel to be entering the league amid the labor uncertainty right now?
A: It’s an awkward situation because I graduate in May, and we would have already be doing some camps and learning some defensive stuff, but … nothing can really happen. We definitely want to be out there, getting ready to play, but everything is up in the air. It’s just a weird situation to be in because everyone wants to be ready to play football.
Q: How badly do you just want to play football?
A: I really want to be out there in that atmosphere playing ball. They’re having spring ball out here in Nebraska and watching them play is like one of the worst things, because I am all ready to play football. Last year, I would be in spring football right now, not relaxing. I really want to play.
Q: How important is it for all players, including rising rookies like you, veterans and former players to be one team and stay unified right now?
A: I think that it is terribly important. Coming from me not being in the NFL and as rookies, we really don’t know what is going on. We definitely want to be with the other players and do what they do because they’ve been in our position and they know what’s going on. I think it’s really important to do what they say because they’ve been in the action.
Q: How could the owners justify wanting to reinstitute this lockout when the sport is at all-time high levels of popularity and revenue?
A: Everybody loves football; everybody wants to play the game. Depending on what the owners and the players want, I hope they can come to an agreement. The fans, the players and the owners all love football and we hope they can get the whole thing settled.
Q: What is your one major passion in life?
A: I love to compete. God gave me my ability to play football—just competing anywhere especially with the abilities that God gave me. One passion that I really have is just studying the words of God, and I hope I do it through my actions.
Q: What was it like to play at the University of Nebraska? How big is football in Nebraska?
A: Football is huge in Nebraska; it’s the only big sport out here. It’s kind of like the NFL, but not an NFL team. Coming out here, it’s crazy to see how much the fans really like you—really love you—even when times are good or bad, they’re there to support you. Coming here was a culture shock at first, but I really started to like it.
Q: What has been your most rewarding experience in life? Where does football rank?
A: The most rewarding thing in life is just having the opportunity to play football. God gave me the abilities to actually play and pursue my dreams of playing in the NFL and making it to the NFL. Another rewarding thing was coming here to Nebraska.
Besides football and family, my relationship with Christ is the most important thing that you can have because it’s the only thing you leave with. Everything else is material stuff, but your relationship with Christ can reveal your reward in heaven. The only thing He wants you to do is obey His commands.
