1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,559 Speaker 1: Hey, Darna, congrats on getting drafted. Man, appreciate you, appreciate you, 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: thank you, you got it. Hey, he's a pretty young 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: secondary with a lot of guys drafted the last couple 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: of years, including DeAndre Baker in the first round a 5 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: year ago. Um as another young guy coming in here, 6 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: what can you do to differentiate yourself and get on 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,159 Speaker 1: the field. You know, my thing is just to be 8 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 1: a sponge. You know, Deand was there a year before me, 9 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: so you definitely learned more things to have learned. So 10 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: I'm definitely gonna get under his wing and try to 11 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: contribute to every phase. You know, I'm gonna be an 12 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: asset and never be a lot of big liability, and 13 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna play my part in maximize my role 14 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: for sure. Hey, donate, congratulations and welcome to the Giants. 15 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: You appreciate it, appreciate you. Um I was doing some 16 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: reading up on you, and I see you're somewhat of 17 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: a trend set or someone who uses chess as a 18 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: way to analyze football. Can you talk a little bit 19 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: about that, how you got into that and how exactly 20 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: that works and helps you. Yeah, so I saw several quarterbacks, 21 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: you know, playing chess, and I would player that wants 22 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: to get insight on, uh, everything that's going on. So 23 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: I walked up to the chess master and I asked them, 24 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: you know, do you mind helped me out and play chess? 25 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: And the reason I play chess, you know, I don't 26 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: have efficient thoughts. You know. Want to make sure that 27 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: I'm making forceful moves. I'm making sure everybody respond on 28 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: things that I do. You know, everything I'm doing, I'm 29 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: not a piece I'm gonna play. I'm gonna make sure 30 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: that the team is working accordingly. You know, we all 31 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: wanna one according and chess is just a great thing 32 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: for me to get my mind off football, but also 33 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: get my mind in the state of being efficient with 34 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: everything I do. Uh. I read about some of the 35 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: hardships you had earlier in your life. Was there ever 36 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: a time when you thought that this state wouldn't come? Uh? Definitely. 37 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: It was several times when you go through different emotions 38 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 1: and you don't know when that day will come, you know, 39 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: And I know that those days and those experiences only 40 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: motor me to a better person, a better man. You know. 41 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: It's more of my spirit to be someone that's ready 42 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: to transition and transform within every phase of my life. 43 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: So every season is not gonna be a good season, 44 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: but I know that season shell pass and I will 45 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: be bigger than that season. And how how is everyone 46 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: in your family doing these days? When my family is 47 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: doing good these days, you know they are uh being 48 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: on one the core. You know there's no family few 49 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: and everybody's making sure that we're transitioning. So we have 50 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: generational wealth from my young nephews. Hey, Darnelle, I know 51 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: your your dad played at the NFL, and I know 52 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: he went through a lot of stuff and it's like 53 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: before he even started coaching. Guys, how much has he 54 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: impacted your growth as a football player and as a 55 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: person over the years. Yeah, definitely, My post impacted me 56 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: a lot of ways. You know, he was a person 57 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: who installed that the hustlers drive, that drive competing each 58 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: and every day and know that there's somebody out there 59 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 1: working to take your spot or working to be better 60 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: than so each and every day. He always told me 61 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: that you never compromise your grind. Compromise you know, the 62 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: good habits you have for something that not gonna allow 63 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: you to propel you forward to your full potential. So 64 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: He always made sure that you can't take no shortcuts, 65 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,679 Speaker 1: you know, to take shortcuts when the time comes you 66 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: reach that destination, there's lessons that you did not learn. 67 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: So the down fall is gonna be harder than to 68 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: come up. How you doing? Hey? How are you doing? Good? Good? Um? 69 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: Just curious. Who are some of the guys that you 70 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: idolize growing up watching their game, studying and yeah, definitely 71 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: a few people that our mentors of mine are Ninus Williams, 72 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,399 Speaker 1: Dion Sanders, Wild listen. So I have a great group 73 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: of guys around me. You know, those guys are constantly 74 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: providing you with insight that will allow me to just 75 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: be discipline and have freedom. You know, in freedom equals disciplined. 76 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: So by them giving me different tools and different things 77 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: I can add to my toolbox. I'm just I'm just 78 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: ready to rock. Do you have personal relationship with them 79 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: or just from studying them? Oh? Personal relationship? Definitely that 80 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: personal relationships? How how did that come about? Uh? So 81 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: when you're around the football circuit, you definitely come around 82 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: several marquee guys and guys who want to get back 83 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: to youth. Hey, Donic, congratulations. First off, the first question 84 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: where are you same background behind you? I'm a thing 85 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: so much behind you. Yeah, that's just some some some acres, 86 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: get some working. Um. Just curious about your experience in 87 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: the slot. Did you play much in college or if not, 88 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: do you feel like you're canna play it at the 89 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: next level? True, I can't tell you what I'm gonna play. 90 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: You know, I'm just ready to contribute. You know, wherever 91 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: they put me in, I'm going to maximize that role, 92 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: and I'll make sure that I understand that role. You know. 93 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: That's my main thing, is I understanding and grasping all 94 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: the concepts. But have you played it much in the past? 95 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: Some time I played was a singer, but that was 96 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: my first go around at it, and I loved it. 97 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: You know, There's a lot of things that I need 98 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: to learn about it. But until then, I'm just gonna 99 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 1: keep on crafting and get to notice playbook thats you 100 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: giants have from Hey Darnick, congratulations from thank you, Jordan, 101 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: appreciate you. You got it man. I'm just wondering, what 102 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: did it teams talk to you when you when you 103 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: talk to them about about position wise? Was that something 104 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: that they brought up? The slot is that something that's 105 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: been mentioned to you? And what do you when people say, oh, 106 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: you're you're too small to play outside and in the process, 107 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: is that something that you heard and you you have 108 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: to fight throughout this process? Definitely, I haven't had to 109 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: fight that. You know, a lot of people need different 110 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: roads to be fulfilled. So some roles needs to be nickel, 111 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: some of else needs to be boundary, some of else 112 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: needs to be primary corner, you know. So everybody got 113 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: different roles and different things that needed to fulfill. So 114 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: I'm just ready fulfill whatever role that's needed right away. 115 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: So do you what what do you bring to the 116 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: team in the terms of special teams? Do you think? Uh? 117 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: And and did you talk to Joe Judge about any 118 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: of that yet? You know he has a special team's background. Yeah, definitely, 119 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: I could bang a lot of things to the team. 120 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: You know. I could be a gunner, I could be 121 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: a jammer, I could be wherever the a team needs 122 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: to be. You know, I'm really just contribute. You know, 123 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: I'm ready to play football. I'm ready to uh showcase 124 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: everything that you need to showcase. You know, I have 125 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: a lot of things to learn. I didn't play much 126 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: special teams in college. But I know right away I'm 127 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: gonna be able to contribute on those those four phases 128 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: of special teams. So wherever it maybe you know, I'm 129 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: gonna be front line, ready to rock. And I just 130 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: wanted to go back real quick. You talked about you 131 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: went up to a chess master. Where how does one 132 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: go about finding a chess master? So when when you said, 133 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: you know, you're around different things, you have access to 134 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: different pools of people, you know, so Chip Kelly a 135 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: great uh you know, five figure of mine, I should say, uh, 136 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: he makes sure that he brings people within the school, 137 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: was gonna able, was gonna be able to allow your 138 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: mindset to reach that different frequency? Thank you? Hey darned. 139 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: I also read that you i think graduated very early. 140 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: I think was it two years or three years and 141 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: stuff like that. So I'm just wondering what motivated you 142 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: to kind of get through your study so quickly, and 143 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: apparently you did so at a high level. You've got 144 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: good grades and and I'm just wondering, as part two 145 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: of my question, how that has helped you with learning 146 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: you know, complex defenses and just you're studying and everything. Yeah, 147 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: definitely the school curriculum allowed me to implement a stract routine, 148 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: you know, a routine that allowing me not to sway 149 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 1: away into different distractions. So by me having this vivid vision, 150 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, my y you was aligning to it right away. 151 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: So that's definitely something that I implemented. Right and I 152 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: got to the University of you said like it was, 153 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna graduate in three years and for me, I'm 154 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: gonna figure out what I want to do, you know. So, uh, 155 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: right away I was a student. And then after I graduated, 156 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: it's like, okay, well, how can I pursue my athlete Endever, 157 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: and I'm here now being another giant, very excited. Did 158 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: you choose to to go as quickly or accelerate your 159 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: your studies or is that just come together for you? 160 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, definitely definitely. I have to make that choice. 161 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: You know, if we hadn't make that choice, I probably 162 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: still be undergraduate, you know. So I made that choice 163 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: right away that I had to get my degree, you know, 164 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: and break that bear within my family. Being the first 165 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: uh personal my family get that degree at a prestigious 166 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: college allowed them to know that we have so much 167 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: greatness within ourselves. Let's go chase that and manifest that 168 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: and then I'm sorry, one last thing, how did that 169 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: help you with football? Because obviously learning a playbook is 170 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: so can be so complex, So imagine that made it 171 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: easier for you. And definitely, definitely you have different tactic 172 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: tactics that you use to grabs concepts and grabs gans 173 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: and make sure that you understand those things. I don't memorize. 174 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: I want to grasp and understand. Else I'll be able 175 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: to tap into it. Uh, No matter what what the 176 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: heat of the moment is, I understand this, I'll be 177 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: able to utilize the life. Hey darnay, Um, how do 178 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: you think playing for someone like Chick Kelly who has 179 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: experienced coaching in the NFL got you ready to make 180 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: this leap to the league? And Um, you kind of 181 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: had the reputation in Philly and then in San France 182 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: not a class mask or the girl sergeant. Um, Joe 183 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: Judge comes in here kind of an old business, no 184 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: nonsense type of guy. Um, when you look at their 185 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 1: two personalities, how do you think you're gonna be able 186 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: to make that transition from hip to playing projection. I mean, 187 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: in the day everybody holds up a standard you know. 188 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna buy by that standard and buy by 189 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: that code, and I know that that code is for 190 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: us to flourish, you know. So when I have something 191 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: that's great, it's like, why what did you utilize and 192 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: to tap into it? Yeah, I was wondering about with 193 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: your academics. Obviously you're not gonna be able to come here, 194 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: uh to New Jersey for a while. Um, did you 195 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: take any online courses and you think that's gonna help 196 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: you during this uh, these next couple of weeks and months, 197 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: when when most of this stuff is gonna be done, 198 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: virtually my online course is gonna be Zoe meetings with 199 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: the New York Giants getting that playbook. Then I'm a graduate, 200 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: you know. So it's either hit the field I learned 201 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: more about myself or the New York Giant organization and 202 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: tap into different people who's been around, veterans, you know, Barkley, 203 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: everybody who knows what it's like to be a New 204 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: York Giant. That's my that's my key, and that's my 205 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: goal is to understand the playbook, you know, be a sponge, 206 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: you know, and find a way to be a leader. 207 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not saying I'm gonna be a a leader 208 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: right away, but by me being under somebody who are leaders, 209 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: you know, you're the average to fight people you hang around. 210 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna hang around five leaders, you know. That's just 211 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: the type of person I am. Have you taken online 212 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: courses in the past though, Yeah, definitely. I take sever 213 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: online courses to graduat into an happy or sir. Yeah, 214 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: that's where I figured. So what's what's the key to 215 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: learning that way? I mean to keep learning always understanding 216 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: that you can't lively dag. You know, you can't put 217 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: things to the side. The end day. It's on your 218 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: own time, you know, and it's life for living. You know, 219 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 1: you do things on your own time. But at the 220 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: end of the day, you have a strict team. You 221 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: never be swayed off to different distractions and different things 222 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: out hinder you from accomplishing the main goal, which is 223 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: being a great contributor to the team.