First, can you tell us how you’re preparing in the offseason for camp?
Really, right now I’m studying the playbook and making sure I’m confident and acclimated with the offense. I wake up early every morning to stay on the training camp schedule then go out in the afternoon to work when it’s hot, to make sure I’m acclimated to the heat.
Are you working with a trainer or anyone else?
No – I think it’s key to work on your own – to have that self-discipline of getting that work in
Stepping back, why sign with Pittsburgh?
It was really just a great opportunity to make the team. It’s a great organization with great stability – I was really looking for that in an organization.
My agent did a really good job of looking at different teams and felt that Pittsburgh was the overall best scenario for me. A great opportunity and they gave a great history.
Were you surprised you went undrafted after the season you had at Duke?
I have no idea why I wasn’t drafted – I was shocked I didn’t get drafted but it’s great to have this opportunity now after the last two years, It doesn’t always go as planned but you have to be able to adapt.
Is it sometimes better to get to pick your team than to get drafted, say, in the seventh round?
I think there is an advantage there yes, You can see the situation with the teams you are interested in and that are talking to you and see what role you can have with them. There are advantages and disadvantages to it.
Lots of opportunity it seems at running back behind Najee – you look at that especially as a change of pace/speed guy?
Najee is a different back. He’s bigger but he moved like a guy my size. For me – I feel I can come in and have an impact on the offense and special teams too – making tackles and taking care of my assignments.
Overall, the running back room is very deep. It’s the small things that will allow guys to separate themselves from the group. Whatever you do that you’re best at, you need to take advantage of that and show that when you get your opportunity.
Me – I’m a home run hitter and can catch the ball out of the backfield well. I study hard. Coming from Duke, I had a lot of different responsibilities on offense and that helps me as I prepare for this offense.
Think your speed and receiving skills underrated?
I think so. I caught a lot of passes out of the flat but I want to show that I can run routes and catch passes in the open field and make plays in the passing game.
How did OTAs and Camp go – get any feedback from players and coaches?
They key thing they told me was to keep up the good attitude and stay consistent and stack your days with that kind of play. To be a guy the coaches can trust. Don’t eliminate yourself – that’s the key. Do your job and don’t make mistakes. Stay in the playbook and keep up a positive attitude.
What excites you about this offense and how it fits with you style of play?
I feel like it’s a diverse offense. It’s led by the run game. Najee had a heavy load last season. The backs in this offense have an opportunity to show their versatility running and catching the ball.
I think as a versatile back, I can run inside zone and stretch plays – those are my favorite. What I do I think compliments the offense. That’s how I was at Duke. One season we focused on inside zone running, the season before outside zone. I think I can acclimate to what’s asked of me.
What’s been the hardest thing to pick up so far?
I don’t think anything has been very hard. Coach Faulkner has done a great job of teaching us and putting us in a position to succeed. The onus is on us to take in everything he teaches us and to get into the playbook and ingrain in ourselves what he taught us.
Any mentors so far – on or off the field – that have helped you there? How so?
I talk to Trey Edmunds – he’s helped me. Benny Snell as well. The older guys have helped me to understand things like shifts and motions. They’ve all played a part in my development so far and helping me to see how to group things together to understand plays from a bigger picture standpoint.
What would you say are you strengths you have – and what areas do you want to work on most?
I think the best part of my game is the ability to adjust my running based on the situation. If it’s third and two I can put my head down and run for those hard yards. If it’s first down I think I can be a home run hitter.
I just need to be better at taking what the defense gives me instead of trying to hit a home run every play.
You mentioned before you had special teams experience. You enjoy special teams?
I played special teams every season until my Senior year at Duke. As a Freshman and Sophomore I played exclusively on special teams. As a Junior I played less as I played more on offense. My Senior year I really didn’t play on special teams.
I went to a small high school – a 1A school in a small town. I had to play everything. I see myself as a football player. I like to make an impact in any way possible when I’m on the field.
Will it be tough getting handoffs and passes from your formal college rival in Kenny Pickett?
Nah! Kenny is a great guy. Anything you need he’ll look out for you – that’s what you want in a leader. This is the first time I have been around Kenny socially instead of on the field. He’s a great guy. I heard good things about him from my Duke teammates who knew him.
Lastly, what should we know about you that has nothing to do with football?
I have very high goals that I set for myself and am a very confident player. I think confidence is the most important skill you can have – I see it as a skill. If you lack confidence you think you are inferior. You never want to feel that way – it makes you hesitant. It’s those unconscious movements that make you successful and when you hesitate that costs you. Confidence is key in any sport you play.
As for what I am into. I’m a huge fan of Stranger Things – I can’t wait for season five. My Senior year at Duke I stopped playing video games but I got into playing Fortnite again recently.
Other than that, I’m super chill. I just love playing the game – I’ve played football over half of my life. It’s brought me a lot of joy. There are a lot of things as a young kid I never though I would get to do that I was able to do because of football. I never thought I’d see a college football game or be in the NFL. I dreamt of those things. Especially as a young kid in a small town, hard work and dedication may sound like a cliche but they mean everything. You can’t let your circumstances change the way you try and achieve your dreams and take advantage of the chances you get.
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