First off, why did you decide to choose the Steelers?
I felt like it was the best situation for me. The coaching staff and the offense they run – and the quarterback room – it was just a good situation for me to learn and grow. It was the best chance to play the game I love. I am super blessed to do it.
Was the history of the Steelers giving undrafted free agents a real shot at making the 53 part of what drove your decision to sign with the team?
To be candid, I wasn’t extremely aware of the history but Jeff {marketing agent Jeff Weiner} knows so much. He did relay that to me and told me that Pittsburgh gives free agents a real shot to make it. It wasn’t a real part of the decision, but it was nice to hear.
What did the team say to you when they spoke to you about signing?
It was a zoom call and a lot of the staff were on it. We did the call a week-and-a-half before the draft. There were like 10 people on the call – Coach Tom {Arth}, Mark Sadowski, Mr. Omar and Coach Tomlin. I talked to them all – it was really cool talking to them all and having them show interest in me.
What made it different was that a lot of teams called me before the draft. I knew I had a chance to be drafted on Day three – though once it got to the sixth round, at that point I think I would have preferred not to get drafted and pick the team I played for. Those teams – and teams I visited in my top 30 visits like Seattle and Cincinnati – they indicated they may want me to play receiver too, but I am so passionate about playing quarterback.
What made Pittsburgh different in that regard?
I felt like Pittsburgh committed more to me being able to play quarterback. They expressed that they believed I was a quarterback and that I fit their system, and would give me that opportunity. I have uber-confidence that I can do it.
On the call too, Pittsburgh was different. The other teams had coordinators meet with me, but Pittsburgh had their GM and head coach. they had six or seven people who had serious value in that organization there showing interest in me.
Lots of arguments about two-sport players – whether kids should focus on one sport or more – what are your thoughts and how has baseball helped you as a football player?
Baseball is often described as a game of failure. I think that’s true. If you go 3-10 over your career you’re a Hall of Famer. That helped me learn how to deal with failure and push forward.
As a quarterback you have to have the mindset to to go on to the next play whether you throw an interception or a touchdown.
Will you miss baseball?
I will miss baseball. It’s one of the two sports I love and played ever since I was 5 years old –but I’m giving it up to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL. While it was weird not playing baseball this spring for the first time since I was four years old, I have been focused solely now on football and trained for the Draft with QB coach Jeff Christensen (who is Pat Mahomes’ QB coach), so I feel like by being focused just on football has already led to major improvement in my game.
The Steelers have had several guys over the years with similar skillsets – Randel-El, Ward… With your diverse skillsets, is it more challenging at times to focus on the details because more in a sense is being asked of you in order to leverage those skillsets? How do you navigate managing to focus on more than a typical QB may be asked to do?
I think I bring something different. I’m not a cookie-cutter quarterback. I bring something dynamic to the position. That’s not new for me. I’ve always operated in that manner. It’s more about instinct. You can get better at anything of course and sharpen your game – but the scrambling to extend plays is more natural instinct.
Do you now anyone on the team? I know former UCF K Matt Wright is with Pittsburgh – talk to him at all yet?
Wright was before me. But George Pickens and I talked some at the Mississippi/Alabama High School All-Star Game. Mason McCormick – he and I got close at the East-West Shrine Bowl Game. And Beanie Bishop and I trained together at Exos before the draft and played against each other in the Big 12 last season.
Where do you think you can most improve most as a quarterback?
I need to master the playbook – that’s the first step. As far as my game is concerned – working on my footwork inside the pocket is something I’m very focused on and working hard at.
With your diverse skill-set, there’s a lot of value for the team having you at least start off on the practice squad. Any thoughts on starting off there and working your way to the 53 as so many Steelers have done?
For me, that’s a ways down the road. I’ll cross that bridge if I get there. My goal is to execute at a high level and stay out of that situation. Worst case though if I’m being paid to play football, I’d still be living my dream. But I have high expectations of myself and am very much focused on doing everything in my power to make the 53 from day one.
Lastly, what should we know about you – what makes you tick that’s not sports related?
I grew up in the church in Southern, Mississippi. I have a relationship with The Lord that I actively pursue. I call myself a Christian. That’s what makes me tick. That’s a big part of who I am and I want Steeler Nation to know that about me.
How has your faith helped you as a player?
Life is a rollercoaster. Now I’m on a really high high. Next week I may be at a low for some reason. When you put your identity in something as up and down like football it becomes a rollercoaster. But if you put your identity in something concrete like following Jesus, that takes the rollercoaster element out of it a bit.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
