Thursday, April 29, 2021 Vikings OT

First, I just want to thank Rick Spielman, Coach Zimmer and the Wilf family for giving me the opportunity and having a faith and just picking me to join the . It’s definitely a dream come true, just growing up as a kid, wanting to be in this moment. And to be a Viking – I couldn’t be more happy. It’s a surreal moment, for sure. I’m just still grateful to be a Minnesota Viking, and I can’t wait to get to work with all my teammates and coaches.

Q: Rick Spielman said tonight that was the first time he talked to you; had the Vikings shown some interest in you, or were you a little bit surprised that they stepped up and grabbed you? A: I had one Zoom meeting with the Vikings, with the O-line coach (Rick Dennison), went over a few plays, like an install and just getting to know each other and everything. But it was definitely surprising, but anything can happen, and I knew this could be a possible situation I could be put into, and I’m just happy to be a Viking.

Q: When you were in Zoom meetings with coaches, what did you tell them about yourself? A: I told them the type of player they’re going to get. I’m a hard worker, a guy who’s going to do whatever it takes to win, basically. Be the best player I can be. A guy who’s going to watch extra film, listen to the veterans and just do extra on and off the field – no matter what it means, just to be the best player I can be.

Q: Do you feel like you have what it takes to be the starting LT? A: I definitely think I have what it takes. I’ve always had that chip on my shoulder, so no matter what situation I’m put in, I feel like I’m always going to come out on top. I’ve always been the underdog, there’s always been questions about me, but I know just in here (points at his chest), I’ve got heart, belief in myself, and the confidence. I feel like I can accomplish anything if I put my mind to it.

Q: VA Tech was only Div 1 to give you an offer, a 2-star recruit, and you mentioned that you have that chip on your shoulder. How much does has that driven you to this point? A: Oh, just waking up every day. Going to prep school, just knowing all the teams who slept on me and just knowing where I wanted to go and what I knew I could do. Just having that real self-confidence in yourself. You’ve got to block out all the outside noise. There’s going to be some people that ride with you [and some that don’t] ride with you. You just have to stay level-headed. And I feel like that motivates me every day – whether it’s a workout, anything – anything that I’m doing, it definitely motivates me just to be a better person.

Q: Coach Zimmer said they were looking for athletic pass-blockers but also someone who can hold his own with the size. You’re 6-5, 322 – knowing the type of pass rushers you’re going to face here in the NFC North, how do you think that’s going to help you hold your own? A: I feel like it will help me a lot. Just going against those guys in practice, my teammates, for sure, it’s going to start off there. But in the division, I feel like it will definitely help me a lot going against those types of caliber guys.

Q: In regards to the zone-blocking scheme, as a guy who has the size that you do, what is the key to you being in that spot and still being mobile enough to get to the second level of the defense? A: It’s definitely the footwork, for sure. Got great feet. And just staying low. The low man wins all the time. So as long as you got your good feet – if you’ve got that second foot in the ground, I feel like you’re going to win every block. And if you’re staying low. And getting to the second level, it’s always about knowing where the defender’s going to be, and not always going to where he’s at. So just knowing where that linebacker is going to go, based off a play. ‘We’ve got an outside zone to the right, and the linebacker will shoot past to the right.’ So just being in the right spot, for sure.

Q: You took on some teams with some pretty great rushers last year – do you think you took a step of improvement that allowed you to be a first-round draft pick? A: For sure. I feel like [the pandemic] really helped me a lot, too. … There were four of us in a house for, like, five months or whatever, and just going to the fields and working out together and getting better … I really feel like I took that to a huge advantage, and it showed this past season.

Q: You cut out a little bit – can you say again who you were working out with? A: During the quarantine, it was four offensive linemen, three of my offensive line buddies at Virginia Tech. We stayed at a house, and we had a garage … (audio cut out) … I definitely feel like I made a huge jump from 2019 to 2020.

Q: We know you’re going to be blocking for and . What are your first impressions? How much have you seen the Vikings, and how exciting it is to block for those two guys? A: Man, I’ve actually watched the Vikings a couple of times. I know they have a top-10 offense, if I’m not mistaken, so just watching Dalvin Cook hitting the hole and break for like a 60-yard run, it’s like, ‘I want to be blocking for a guy like that.’ Seeing Kirk Cousins throw a deep ball to , there’s explosive plays happening all across the field, and anybody who’s on the field, you want to play for that type of offense.

Q: The Vikings have a fairly young OL; are you familiar with them at all, and what are you looking forward to about being part of that group? A: I’m not familiar with any of them right now, but in the next hours I definitely will be. But I just want to bring an energetic [presence], a guy who they know is going to work hard for everything that I want, basically. I know nothing is given to me, and I know that, just coming out of high school like that. They’re going to get a hard worker, and I’m going to do whatever it takes.

Q: What was that moment like when you got the call, and who are you celebrating with? A: That moment was surreal, like I said. Just growing up as a kid and watching the NFL Drafts and knowing that 1 percent of, I don’t know, high school or college kids, make it to this level. So you’ve got to beat the odds, for sure. And just knowing that I beat them, and being drafted in the first round, really it’s like a dream come true, in a way. Having my family with me definitely was a great moment to [celebrate] with them. They’ve been with me my whole journey. It was a great moment.