1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Commanders Today Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. Welcome 2 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: to the Commanders Today Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. The first 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: three rounds of the NFL Draft have officially wrapped, and 4 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: the Commanders welcome new additions to both sides of the ball. 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: Washington traded their first round pick to the New Orleans 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: Saints in exchange for the sixteenth overall pick and both 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: a third and fourth round selection. With the sixteenth overall pick, 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: the Commanders drafted wide receiver John Dotson out of Penn State. 9 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: I had the chance to sit down with Dotson after 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: his arrival in Ashbourne. John, Welcome to Washington. Now. We 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: got to talk last night, but now you're here, You've 12 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: been able to see the facility, meet some of the coaches. 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: How is it settling in for you? Yeah, it's crazy, 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: honestly a dream come true. Just taking it all in, 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: being here, getting picked last night, flying here today, being 16 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: with my family. It's honestly amazing. It's a dream come true. 17 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: And you said you were kind of surprised, you weren't 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: sure who was going to select you or where you're 19 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: going to be selected. What have you learned so far 20 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: from the coaching staff of what they say of why 21 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: you were their guy. Yeah, they said they've been looking 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: at me for a while now and they just kind 23 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: of wanted to keep it a secret. Didn't want all 24 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: the teams knowing that they were interested in me and 25 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: basically telling me that I'm a versatile receiver who can 26 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: do a lot of things, who can compliment guys who 27 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: are in the receiver room right now, and someone who 28 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: can be a vertical threat down the field, and then 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: adding special teams value is always good. Okay, so you're 30 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: just led me write into it. Let's get straight into 31 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: your game. Then, Yeah, they do line you up inside outside? 32 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: Where do you feel more comfortable though doesn't matter. I 33 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: feel like it doesn't matter to me, to be honest 34 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: with you. I feel more comfortable of being able to 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: go inside and outside. So being able to show my 36 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: versatility and show the different things that I can do 37 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: on the football field is something that plays right into 38 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: my game. Your coach Rivera says you have. One of 39 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: the things he loves about was you have this great 40 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: catch radius. You're five to eleven. Let's just state the 41 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: obvious um. You know, typically to go up and be 42 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: able to do that against some other taller dbs is 43 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: not easy. Maybe your height, How do you play bigger 44 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: than your size? Yeah, just kind of having a it's 45 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: more of a mentality thing, kind of having that dog mentality. 46 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, I've been the youngest of eight cousins, so 47 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: pretty much growing up getting bullied and picked on. It 48 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: kind of raised me to be the man I am 49 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: today and just overcome my fears and overcome challenges in 50 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: my life. So being able to do those things. I 51 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: look at tall tasks as just things that I want 52 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: to accomplish. I know you haven't had much time, but 53 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: then have you been able to go and thank all 54 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: your cousins say hey, this is for you picking up 55 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: me when I was three years old. Now right, Literally 56 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: they were all there last night, so I feel like 57 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: I kind of got the last laugh a little bit. 58 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: But it's been pretty cool. Yeah. We normally always see 59 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 1: you with a football and hands. In fact, I was 60 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: anticipating here, but as he walks up, he you toss 61 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: it up or to your best friend that's here with 62 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: you as well. It's great to be surrounded by good people. 63 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: Why is that the football? Yeah, honestly, it feels like 64 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: It's like a little piece of me that like always 65 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: feels like home wherever I bring it, no matter what, 66 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: something that I can just resort back to, and it's 67 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: kind of just a way for me to just get away. 68 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: I can kind of be my be by myself, just 69 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: chilling and I could be throwing the ball up in 70 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: the air. Kind of feels like I'm just getting away 71 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: from everything. We've seen some pretty athletic one handed grabs 72 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 1: as well. Is there anything or psychology or science to 73 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: you always having the ball in your hand that maybe 74 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: helps you be able to do that in the game. Yeah, 75 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: there's definitely probably some some type of study that me 76 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: always having football in my hands has helped me with 77 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: being able to make those crazy acrobatic catches. But I 78 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: would honestly say most of it is just guy giving ability, 79 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: just thanking the man above for kind of blessing me 80 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: and touching me. So just thanking him and being able 81 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: to do these things is a dream come true. A 82 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: lot of people do say that one of the best 83 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: traits of your game is you do have good hands. Yeah, 84 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: you're also got some good speech to you as well. 85 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: We talk a lot Santana Moss as one of our guys. 86 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: He'll be around a good bit he talks about. He said, Man, 87 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: he is always open, and you're good at running routes 88 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: and doing that. What do you pride yourself most on 89 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: in your game? Yeah, definitely my route running. Yeah, taking 90 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: pride in that is big for me. Just because I'm 91 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: not a bigger guy, I can't just rely on my 92 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: side to get open. So Um, making sure that I'm 93 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: precise in the little details of route running it's huge 94 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: for me, and it's gonna be able to make me 95 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: create separation against guys who are just as good as 96 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: me and have just as much as athleticism as me. 97 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: So taking pride in those little details of route running 98 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,359 Speaker 1: is really big. You know. I asked him last night 99 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: because you said that you kind of enjoy like, kind 100 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: of manipulating your defenders a little bit Nasum and said, 101 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: what does that mean? What goes into that? And he says, 102 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: it means he's a smart kid first off, right, because 103 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: you're able to know how they're playing you on certain 104 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: reads and certain things to be able to change it 105 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: up a little bit. You're also one of the best 106 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: when it comes to the nine six percentile when playing 107 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: in the zone. You don't have time to see that. 108 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 1: You have to be able to recognize it when you're 109 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: on the run. Right, Where do these smarts come from? Yeah, 110 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: I would definitely say my experience at Penn State. Coming 111 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: from a small high school, you don't see big time football. 112 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: You're kind of out there, just kind of free for all, 113 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: just playing and kind of lending your natural abilities take over. 114 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: But once I got to Penn State, as you know, 115 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: when you get to when you move up the ranks, 116 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: you kind of get guys who are just as good 117 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: as you, get just as athletic as you, and you 118 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: got to find a little advantage and the film the 119 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: film room was big for me. Getting in there with 120 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: Sean Sean Clifford, a guy who I got to play 121 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: three years with is my quarterback, and just seeing the 122 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: things that he sees. He's a very intelligent football player, 123 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: so just learning from him, learning how to watch film 124 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: and learn the nuances of defenses and what they're trying 125 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: to do to you. It helps me manipulate my defender. 126 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: Everybody kind of wants to also be able to find 127 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: a way to identify of who you will be as 128 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: a player, so they go to kind of former guys. Right. Yeah, 129 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: we've heard coach m ar so you're remind them a 130 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: little bit of Deshaun Jackson and and that of it too, 131 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: was kind of playing bigger than your size. Um of 132 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: Steve Smith when he was with Carolina. We've heard Tyler Lockett. Um. 133 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: People even here are saying, you know, Terry McLaurin, And 134 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: that's just kind of a lot of it too, I think, 135 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: is how you you're carrying yourself. Um. And Terry's kind 136 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: of that guy that's kind of like nitty gritty as well, 137 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: Like he goes up and he prides himself on those 138 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: fifty fifty balls. Who do you model your game after? 139 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: Or what do you think when you hear those names 140 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: doing the success that they've had. Yeah, it's definitely pretty 141 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: cool to hear the names that are that I'm mentioned with, 142 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: especially Terry mclauren. Uh, talking to a lot of people 143 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: in the in the building and just noticing how how 144 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 1: I'm picturing my head Terry McLaren is, I can't wait 145 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: to meet him. Uh. It's honestly like this was kind 146 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: of meant to be a little bit. He's kind of 147 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: a guy who who goes about his work. Quiet guy 148 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: who goes about his work and I'm the exact same way, 149 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: So just honestly can't wait to meet him, can't wait 150 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: to learn from him and take his song. He's beloved here, 151 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: So you're gonna fit right in line with the Burgundy 152 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: and gold. Um, and what you're going to contribute to 153 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: on the field. What do people need to know about 154 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: you off the field though? Yeah? Um, I'm a quiet kid, 155 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: quiet laid back kid who just likes having fun, honestly, 156 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: really easygoing. U loves to play video games. Um, yeah, 157 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: just can't wait to I'm excited for this moment, So 158 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: can't wait to get in the community and really uh 159 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: just be a part of it. And you have some 160 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: family here as well that lives in Potomac. They told 161 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: you anything to expect about your move here, Maybe where 162 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: you want to look, Yeah, not too much. Knowing that 163 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: I'll be able to somewhere, be able to go outside 164 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: my front door and yell and hear their name will 165 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: be pretty cool. But um, haven't really thought about a 166 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: living situation too much, But just excited to be here 167 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: in the moment right now. And we now know it's 168 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: that number one Jersey that's a bold move, man, that's 169 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: a bold move. That's a bold move, and I honestly 170 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: can't wait for it. Feeling like the perfect it was 171 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: a perfect opportunity to first pick ever for the commanders 172 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: and just be able to being able to wear that 173 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: number one jersey. It's gonna be pretty cool. Welcome, Glad 174 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: to have you here, and let me just finish with this. 175 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: Doug Williams picked you up on the flight. Yeah, there 176 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: is so much rich history with this franchise. You are 177 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: now a part of that history and a new chapter 178 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: being that first commander drafted. Um, it's important for us 179 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: to tie our history with today. What did you get 180 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: take from talking with Doug to know the importance of 181 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: you being here and being now the first commander? Yeah, 182 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: definitely talking with Doug was amazing, honestly, just getting on 183 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: the flight with him, talking to him about what it 184 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: is to be a commander, what it is to be 185 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: a part of this organization, and what it means to 186 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: the city. Um, it's it's amazing. I can't wait for 187 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: this opportunity and I can't wait to talk with him 188 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: even more about it. So, um, just looking forward, looking 189 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: forward to it as coach On Rivera said, you're here 190 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: to help change the trajectory of this franchise. Welcome, glad 191 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: to have you. Thank you. Be sure to tune into 192 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,079 Speaker 1: Washington Football Today weeknights five thirty and ten pm on 193 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: NBC Sports Washington. And while you're at it, be sure 194 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: to follow at Commanders on all social media platforms for 195 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: the latest news on the team. Thanks for listening.