First off, what brought on the signing with the Steelers – how did they find out about you and bring you in?
I know they saw film of me and liked that – and I did well in my pro day. After the draft I had a couple of teams call with interest in signing me and I picked the Steelers.
Why Pittsburgh?
Coach Dunbar is a really good coach and they’ve had a lot of successful defensive linemen there. I thought it would be a good opportunity too come in and learn from him and the players there and do well. They called me actually two days after my pro day and told me they were interested in drafting me late in the draft or signing me as an undrafted free agent. They said there were some unknowns about me, coming from a small school, but they liked my athleticism.
You were a basketball fan and player first correct? How did playing basketball help you as a football player? And why did you end up playing football?
My first love was basketball, yeah. Playing helped me with my footwork for sure. My footwork in the paint – drop steps and shuffling – that all translated well to football. Especially for a guy my size – I’m 6’4′ and over 300 pounds – that helped me to be able to move quickly on my feet.
I always wanted to be in the NBA. But in the end I knew there was more opportunity in football – more players on a team and more chances to play. Also, I’m built more like a football player.
I know you spent much of your childhood in Kenya – up until 10 or so. What about that experience influences who you are as a player and person today, and what brought you to the states?
I didn’t have it as easy as many had, for sure. Not many people from Kenya come to the U.S. and I don’t take that for granted. I give it all I have on every play – I know there are people back home who would kill for this opportunity.
We came to the states because my dad got a teaching job here. There was a teacher who was in Kenya on sabbatical and taught with my dad there, and when he went back he told my dad about the opportunity to teach here.
You started off at a division III school (Curry) before moving on to Merrimack. How did starting off at a smaller school impact your growth as a player?
Obviously, it’s harder to get as much support in a division III school. I didn’t even know if I was going to play football at all until after high school. I wasn’t recruited by division I schools – my only offer was from Curry.
The good thing is you get a ton of minutes at a small school like Curry. I played every position on the line. That helped me – I only started playing football when I was a Freshman in high school. So those extra opportunities really helped me.
It was hard because there wasn’t a lot of help in terms of diet – taking care of your body and stuff like that. You have to learn a lot of it on your own – you have to do it for yourself. That’s moe powerful – learning that all on your own – then being told that to do. There’s no offseason in division III – so I had to look up how to prepare and work out the right way. I wasn’t going to let any excuse hold me back.
As a big guy – 6’4″, 300+ – what have they been asking you to play on the line – what have they asked you to do? Nosetackle?
Three-tech and end actually – like Cam. Right now they just want me to learn everything as fast as possible. They know that I’m coming from a smaller school – they want me to learn before I go out there and play.
It’s a deep group of veterans on defense. Any of those guys in camp helping you most – how so?
Cam’s been really helpful, especially in run-stopping. He’s just showing me a lot of those little things to look out for to help you as a lineman. There are so many little things – clues and techniques – more than you could expect. I’m picking it up.
How have OTAs been going so far – what have the coaches and players been saying to you so far about your play? Any feedback?
I’m improving. Coach Dunbar I think sees me as a long-term investment. That’s the vibe I get. He sees my athleticism and knows I wasn’t coached up a lot in college. He’s giving me time to pick things up. But personally, I have a high standard for myself and want to pick things up quickly.
Coach Dunbar has been telling me that everyone out there is a guy just like me. That I shouldn’t be nervous coming in from a smaller school. The biggest thing for me he says is my mentality – I can’t think of myself as a smaller school guy. I can’t be afraid of where I came from and have to believe in myself. He’s been telling me that almost every day.
If they tell you that a year on the practice squad would be a big help for you…..thoughts on that?
That’s something I would like to do. It’s a great opportunity here in Pittsburgh to learn – I would be down for that.
What about your game do you think you excel at most and where do you think you can most improve – how do you go about doing so?
I’m a natural pass rusher I think. That goes back to my basketball days – I move well on my feet. I struggle most with run blocking recognition and how to play against the run blocking schemes. I’m picking it up though and have taken a huge leap just in these past two weeks.
Any funny or memorable camp experiences so far you can share?
Go-carting and going to the movies have been fun. Me, Keeanu {Benton}, David {Perales} and Nick {Herbig} have all gotten tight – all of us are defensive guys. Nick is a funny guy – he cracks us up.
Lastly, what should we know about you that has nothing to do with football?
I’m a huge family guy – there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for why family. I actually flew them down here for the weekend.
And – I use to play the saxophone. Maybe that’s something I’ll bring out to the rookie show!
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