was already like “ make the best out of all these plays ” and did what I could to get on the draft board . When we got done with the season I got invited to the East-West All-Star Game . I had a great week of practice and had a great game . They also invited me to play in the Senior Bowl but I turned it down because I didn ’ t want to risk getting injured . I was also invited to the NFL Combine . The NFL Combine was nuts ; a real adrenaline rush . I was really nervous to talk to all these big time teams . We always had interviews before we went out and participated in a bunch of the drills . So I would ask guys , “ Hey man , how many interviews you guys got ?” Some guys had 5 , 6 or 10 and I had 19 . I was like “ Aw man , I have to talk to all these teams !” It was really crazy to think that I was on a lot of these guys ’ radar which was exciting . I ended up doing well and moving up to a potential first rounder . That was one of my goals ; to be a first round draft pick . When the draft came around I was selected the first pick of the second round . So that just showed me how much God humbles you but I was so happy that I was picked up by a team that it didn ’ t matter anymore . It was definitely a humbling moment for me but also my highest honor at that point .
I can imagine that once you were drafted there was a mixture of emotions . So once you finally got to camp what was that feeling like coming in as a rookie ? We started off doing spring training and I just wanted to be on the field . I originally played left tackle my entire life and they moved me to right tackle . I was playing right tackle all throughout OTAs and they ended up moving me to right tackle right before we came back for camp . They told me to get ready for that so I did . They made me a starter so now I ’ m over here , the rookie , going against a great defensive end James Hall . I believe he was in his twelfth year . I was nervous . I was like “ This man is 30 years old , I ’ m barely 21 and I have to go against this guy every day , twice a day in practice .” I played against guys like James Laurinaitis who was a middle line-
was already like “ make the best out of all these plays ” and did what I could to get on the draft board . When we got done with the season I got invited to the East-West All-Star Game . I had a great week of practice and had a great game . They also invited me to play in the Senior Bowl but I turned it down because I didn ’ t want to risk getting injured . I was also invited to the NFL Combine . The NFL Combine was nuts ; a real adrenaline rush . I was really nervous to talk to all these big time teams . We always had interviews before we went out and participated in a bunch of the drills . So I would ask guys , “ Hey man , how many interviews you guys got ?” Some guys had 5 , 6 or 10 and I had 19 . I was like “ Aw man , I have to talk to all these teams !” It was really crazy to think that I was on a lot of these guys ’ radar which was exciting . I ended up doing well and moving up to a potential first rounder . That was one of my goals ; to be a first round draft pick . When the draft came around I was selected the first pick of the second round . So that just showed me how much God humbles you but I was so happy that I was picked up by a team that it didn ’ t matter anymore . It was definitely a humbling moment for me but also my highest honor at that point .
I can imagine that once you were drafted there was a mixture of emotions . So once you finally got to camp what was that feeling like coming in as a rookie ? We started off doing spring training and I just wanted to be on the field . I originally played left tackle my entire life and they moved me to right tackle . I was playing right tackle all throughout OTAs and they ended up moving me to right tackle right before we came back for camp . They told me to get ready for that so I did . They made me a starter so now I ’ m over here , the rookie , going against a great defensive end James Hall . I believe he was in his twelfth year . I was nervous . I was like “ This man is 30 years old , I ’ m barely 21 and I have to go against this guy every day , twice a day in practice .” I played against guys like James Laurinaitis who was a middle line-