First, what are your offseason plans?
I’m just taking a month or so off after the season is over to let my body recover from the season. I’ll go and train in Florida after that with Mo Wells and Jordan Bush at Brandon Marshall’s facility “The House of Athletes.” I’ll work on strength and speed training there and get ready for OTAs.
There’s a new wide receiver coach just announced- was that a surprise for you – know anything about Frisman Jackson?
It was a surprise definitely. I’m still wrapping my head around it. I’ve been in the NFL long enough now though that I know that this stuff goes on – changes and moves happen all the time. We’ll just adapt to it.
Have you spoken to him yet? Know anything about him?
I don’t know anything about the new guy yet no. We haven’t spoken yet, no.
How did Ike Hilliard help you as a rookie?
He helped me to learn the game and become a better wide receiver. I learned a lot from him. I have no complaints at all with Ike – he was great. He taught me a lot.
I know you just recently had your exit meetings – anything specific they ask you to work on?
Playing to my size – making more of those 50-50 catches and making those explosive, splash plays. That’s an area that they haven’t seen as much from me before but it’s something in my game. I’ll be working to improve on that and bring that to the team.
How do you work on that?
It’s a bit of both being born with some of that and working on it too. I’m talking to those that did it before – guys like Brandon Marshall. Learning how they did it and putting that into my training.
You were a big multi-sport athlete in high school. A lot of scouts and coaches talk about how the strictly-football focus of many high school kids now is hurting them. What ae your thoughts on that?
For me, I just never wanted to be sitting around and not doing anything. When football was over I played basketball, baseball and ran track. I just loved all sports – it was always a fantastic thing for me to get to do.
But if you don’t love a sport, my opinion is you shouldn’t play it. Playing all those different sports though did help me a lot. Basketball helped me with moving my feet and hand-eye coordination. So did baseball with certain movements. They all helped me a bunch.
To add to that, you also played a number of positions just in football alone. How did that help you?
Oh it helped a lot. As a wide receiver I knew how the defensive backs were playing me because I played defensive back. I played quarterback and that helped me to understand why we were running certain routes and how to do them well. Even as a punt and kick returner those helped me in those areas. Playing all of those positions helped me to improve my football knowledge.
Stepping back, why did you sign with Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh was my fourth team. They signed me to the practice squad and I stayed there for the year then was on the active squad week three. It was a blessing to end up here. I’m not sure how I ended up signing with Pittsburgh – what that process was – but it’s worked out for me.
Who helped mentor you on and off the field when you got there – and how so?
When I first got there Diontae {Johnson} and Deon Cain did – Deon was on the practice squad then. They took me under their wings as a young guy – a rookie who was on his fourth team.
They helped me understand the team’s routines, how to work in the weight room and off the field stuff like getting massages to take care of your body. That kind of stuff really showed with Diontae this year too – I just want to match his intensity.
Anything else they help with?
One thing they stressed was before and after practice, catching balls – to keep working. And taking care of of your body – the massages and things like that that are really important.
On the practice squad, were there any guys you enjoyed matching up against?
I was just amazed at Haden and those guys – how much talent there was. “Kelo” Witherspoon – he came in halfway through the season but you could tell right away he was gifted. And Sutton was good too – they were fun to match up against.
Win a lot of those battles? Just trying to get you in trouble here!
Ha I’m not going to say I did or didn’t win a lot!
Do you remember the excitement being named to the active roster and how that occurred?
I knew after the second game they had to make a decision on who it would be, and I was just so happy to get added to the 53-man roster. All that hard work came to fruition. Now I could show my work on Sundays instead of Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
It was exciting for sure. But I’m not satisfied yet.
So with Ben leaving, do you have any thoughts on what the guys there now bring to the table – Mason and Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins?
Mason – he brings that experience. He played an entire season and has the knowledge of the game and knows how to get all of the guys involved – to make the right checks. He’s been impressive doing that. We could always lean on him and ask him questions.
And Dwayne has a lot of arm talent. He could be leaned on too. They are both similar in that way. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
Any moments stand out most to you so far of your time in Pittsburgh?
That’s a good question. I think the Baltimore game when Boswell made that kick. We thought then that we had made the playoffs – we didn’t know there were a few other hurdles to overcome. But that excitement in the locker room – it was one of those moments I enjoyed.
What was Ben like during the season from your perspective – was he more day-to-day or could you tell he was approaching this as his last season?
Ben was definitely day-to-day. His leadership – you could tell he knew how to do it all and the correct way. He was a leader in the locker room and in practices – he was definitely just taking it day-to-day. I am happy for him in his retirement.
Lastly, what does success look like for you next season?
For me, it’s getting back to the playoffs. I want to make plays for the offense. To give it my all and be a spark plug for the team – to make plays and be consistent for the offense.
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