Player Profile
NFL Player | Carolina Panthers TE
Experience: Rookie
Contract: CAR 3 Year Deal Worth $2.3M
Experience: Rookie
Contract: CAR 3 Year Deal Worth $2.3M
Interview
Q: You’re a quarterback turned receiver turned tight end through your high school and college career. Do you feel like this transition has negatively impacted your draft stock in any way, or has it taught you more about the game?
A: I don’t think it’s negatively impacted me at all to be honest. Like you said, it has taught me a lot about the game from seeing it from multiple positions. As a QB, having to be knowledgeable of what the entire defense is trying to do. One on one matchups as an outside receiver and how to effectively run routes and then also the large scope of knowledge you have to have to be able to play the Tight end position. It has helped me a ton as well with the incredible coaching I have had over the years.
Q: Congrats on making the 2019 All-MAC team as a tight end last season! How did it feel initially receiving this honor, and how does it add to your confidence going into the pros?
A: I appreciate it, thank you! But definitely. Like I said, I had some great coaching and my coach at western Michigan prepared me to be the best that I can be and I was fortunate enough to be a part of an amazing team with an amazing group of guys. Also doesn’t hurt when the starting QB is your roommate, get him to throw you the ball a little bit more! Haha but definitely is an amazing honor but I believe I can play at this level and that’s a credit to all the people that have prepared me to get to this point so I am extremely thankful for the opportunity!
Q: As a converted receiver, many scouts have noted that your run blocking is not quite on par with some career tight ends. Have you been working to improve this, and how do you plan on adding to your skill set in the NFL?
A: Yeah definitely.. that was a big transition for me. Something I think I’ve been able to improve through repetition and coaching. Definitely a focus of my game as I continue to improve it. I plan on drilling it all the time and taking in all the coaching I can as it is something I’m definitely willing to do and plan to continue to improve moving forward.
Q: Carolina can definitely use reliable tight ends after the loss of Greg Olsen this off-season, and the team brought in a lot of depth competition. Given this, is there a lot of pressure for you to go out there and compete for a roster spot?
A: I think like everything in life there will be plenty of competition and opportunity to earn a spot on the roster and it’s competition that I am excited to be a part of. The organization here gave me this opportunity and I plan to do everything in my power to take advantage of that opportunity and it’s going to be great to be able to play some football again.
Q: Do you still carry a “chip on your shoulder” as motivation to compete being an undrafted player, or is that all over now that you’ve been signed by Carolina, and is everyone on equal footing?
A: Yeah definitely. Having a chip on my shoulder is something that I feel like you can never lose as an athlete or professional with anything. Knowing that there is always something I can improve in order to maximize my ability and having a chip on my shoulder as constant motivation to get it done.
Q: Who are you most looking forward to meeting and learning from, whether in-person or virtually, on the team?
A: You know I just can’t wait to be around the team and get to know everybody in the organization. Having the opportunity to learn from coaches and players who have been able to coach and play at the highest level, I am extremely excited for that and also to be around a locker room environment, a team, again will be awesome.
Q: Thank you so much for your time, Giovanni! Anything else you want Panther nation to know about you?
A: Appreciate it! Definitely; want to let them know that I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and I will be giving panther nation all I have! Going to work as hard as I can in order to help this organization succeed to the highest level!
Interview conducted by @Panthers.Edge | Published with consent of Giovanni Ricci | No Reuse of Any Portions without Explicit Consent
A: I don’t think it’s negatively impacted me at all to be honest. Like you said, it has taught me a lot about the game from seeing it from multiple positions. As a QB, having to be knowledgeable of what the entire defense is trying to do. One on one matchups as an outside receiver and how to effectively run routes and then also the large scope of knowledge you have to have to be able to play the Tight end position. It has helped me a ton as well with the incredible coaching I have had over the years.
Q: Congrats on making the 2019 All-MAC team as a tight end last season! How did it feel initially receiving this honor, and how does it add to your confidence going into the pros?
A: I appreciate it, thank you! But definitely. Like I said, I had some great coaching and my coach at western Michigan prepared me to be the best that I can be and I was fortunate enough to be a part of an amazing team with an amazing group of guys. Also doesn’t hurt when the starting QB is your roommate, get him to throw you the ball a little bit more! Haha but definitely is an amazing honor but I believe I can play at this level and that’s a credit to all the people that have prepared me to get to this point so I am extremely thankful for the opportunity!
Q: As a converted receiver, many scouts have noted that your run blocking is not quite on par with some career tight ends. Have you been working to improve this, and how do you plan on adding to your skill set in the NFL?
A: Yeah definitely.. that was a big transition for me. Something I think I’ve been able to improve through repetition and coaching. Definitely a focus of my game as I continue to improve it. I plan on drilling it all the time and taking in all the coaching I can as it is something I’m definitely willing to do and plan to continue to improve moving forward.
Q: Carolina can definitely use reliable tight ends after the loss of Greg Olsen this off-season, and the team brought in a lot of depth competition. Given this, is there a lot of pressure for you to go out there and compete for a roster spot?
A: I think like everything in life there will be plenty of competition and opportunity to earn a spot on the roster and it’s competition that I am excited to be a part of. The organization here gave me this opportunity and I plan to do everything in my power to take advantage of that opportunity and it’s going to be great to be able to play some football again.
Q: Do you still carry a “chip on your shoulder” as motivation to compete being an undrafted player, or is that all over now that you’ve been signed by Carolina, and is everyone on equal footing?
A: Yeah definitely. Having a chip on my shoulder is something that I feel like you can never lose as an athlete or professional with anything. Knowing that there is always something I can improve in order to maximize my ability and having a chip on my shoulder as constant motivation to get it done.
Q: Who are you most looking forward to meeting and learning from, whether in-person or virtually, on the team?
A: You know I just can’t wait to be around the team and get to know everybody in the organization. Having the opportunity to learn from coaches and players who have been able to coach and play at the highest level, I am extremely excited for that and also to be around a locker room environment, a team, again will be awesome.
Q: Thank you so much for your time, Giovanni! Anything else you want Panther nation to know about you?
A: Appreciate it! Definitely; want to let them know that I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and I will be giving panther nation all I have! Going to work as hard as I can in order to help this organization succeed to the highest level!
Interview conducted by @Panthers.Edge | Published with consent of Giovanni Ricci | No Reuse of Any Portions without Explicit Consent