WEBVTT - S3 Episode 4: One Step Ahead

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<v Speaker 1>Drafted is a production of tree Fork Media, Clutch Sports Group,

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<v Speaker 1>and I Heart Radio. Damn, he's really Draft Day Hall,

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<v Speaker 1>We're really get crack. Welcome back to Drafted. I'm Steven

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<v Speaker 1>Johnson and Alex Leatherwood is right, it's really finally drafted.

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<v Speaker 1>In this fourth episode, we'll be riding along with Alex

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<v Speaker 1>and DeVante Smith as the first round of the two thousand,

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<v Speaker 1>twenty one NFL Draft commences, and at the moment Alex

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<v Speaker 1>is in his car running some final errands before his

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<v Speaker 1>draft party tonight at a beach house in Pensacola, Florida.

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<v Speaker 1>His agent, Demarus Bilbo calls to touch base and offer

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<v Speaker 1>his last minute thoughts. Yo, what's up, dB, how's it

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<v Speaker 1>mort to be? It's been good, It's been good. I'm decided.

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<v Speaker 1>One thing I want to tell you said, for everything

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<v Speaker 1>you've accomplished in your career, Draft Knight has a funny

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<v Speaker 1>way of making people feel like somebody else is better

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<v Speaker 1>than them, or they're not good enough, or because you

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<v Speaker 1>know they haven't done enough. You know, it's just it's

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<v Speaker 1>not how it is. So with that being said, obviously

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<v Speaker 1>this is a weird draft. I mean, you can go

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<v Speaker 1>anywhere between nineteen or that's a huge gap. But you know,

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<v Speaker 1>seeing time evaluations, seeing that processes and they and the

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<v Speaker 1>draft board. So however, good phones. Just know that you know,

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<v Speaker 1>as soon as the draft is over, it's back to

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<v Speaker 1>aunt other word locky in showing the basis gast. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>you gotta prove the guy that around you right and

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<v Speaker 1>you gotta prove the one that you draft your own

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<v Speaker 1>right right. Either way, you know you're gotta have an

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<v Speaker 1>opportunity to do the bit about your dream. And just know,

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<v Speaker 1>like we always talk about, regardless of because one of

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<v Speaker 1>your regards pause behind you, you have an opportunity to

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<v Speaker 1>fool that you are the best, right all right, man,

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<v Speaker 1>So you need anything for me, no questions. I'm good, dog,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, oh, we gotta do his way now. That's

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<v Speaker 1>just be comforted in the one day your life is

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<v Speaker 1>gonna change. That was weekend and you know it's it's

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<v Speaker 1>not where you start fish, all right? Bet that sounds good.

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<v Speaker 1>I appreciate you, dB, all right about these past few

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<v Speaker 1>months have been a never ending stream of questions about

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<v Speaker 1>Alex's abilities and what position he'll play, and now he's

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<v Speaker 1>facing a wide draft range projected somewhere between pick nineteen

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<v Speaker 1>and pick forty. That's especially tough for a guy who's

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<v Speaker 1>decorated as Alex, who won national championships, all conference honors,

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<v Speaker 1>and even the Outland Trophy as the country's best interior

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<v Speaker 1>a lineman. So to Marius worries the pre Deeft process

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<v Speaker 1>might finally be getting to his client. You know, they're

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<v Speaker 1>not just handing out Hasman Trophy Awards and Outland Trophy

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<v Speaker 1>Awards and everybody know Alabama that's kind of like the

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<v Speaker 1>thirty third NFL team right there. So these guys are

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<v Speaker 1>practicing differently. So I think he felt that he had

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<v Speaker 1>done he had achieved everything and accomplished everything that he

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<v Speaker 1>could possibly do and still to be critiqued at the

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<v Speaker 1>level he was and so you know, I think a

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<v Speaker 1>part of that kind of got to him. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>it's like, what more can I do? At this point?

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<v Speaker 1>There truly is nothing more Alex can do. The draft

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<v Speaker 1>is starting in less than an hour, so Alex heads

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<v Speaker 1>back to the beach House to change and get ready. Meanwhile,

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<v Speaker 1>in Cleveland, Davante Smith woke up early, worked out, took

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<v Speaker 1>a nap, put on a suit, and as now arriving

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<v Speaker 1>downtown for the first round of the draft. Oh they

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<v Speaker 1>got to Oh I thought they had you might know,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I got miked up. Man, They got me

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<v Speaker 1>out here being a feed man. That's Davante. He's outside

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<v Speaker 1>the Cleveland Brown Stadium walking towards the shuttle that will

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<v Speaker 1>take him and his family to the green room. Security

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<v Speaker 1>stops him and ask everyone for their passes. Yet, all right, hey,

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<v Speaker 1>everybody else is hey? Everybody else's she's one. Yeah, they're waiting.

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<v Speaker 1>She did have, so it looks like a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>people who run away. Davante is talking to Garmet Mamalou,

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<v Speaker 1>one of the members of his team at Clutch Sports.

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<v Speaker 1>They're waiting for a few more people from their group

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<v Speaker 1>to arrive. These last few hours are specially hectic, with

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<v Speaker 1>extra security and COVID protocol thousands of fans arriving downtown

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<v Speaker 1>for the draft kickoff in the NFL scrambling to broadcast

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<v Speaker 1>their first ever hybrid in person and virtual draft. Here's

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<v Speaker 1>DeVante's agent, Calton Crenshaw, a lifelong Cleveland resident and native,

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<v Speaker 1>explaining this year's unique set up. It's probably like a

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<v Speaker 1>quarter of a mile stretch of land, Like, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>they had a bunch of stuff outside, and then there

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<v Speaker 1>was a stage, and then there was like a large

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<v Speaker 1>area that was like the super industrial tent. It was

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<v Speaker 1>basically like a permanent structure, but it was a tent

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<v Speaker 1>because they it doesn't exist. And um, that's the Graham Room, pods.

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<v Speaker 1>All of that was inside of this tent area. Usually,

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<v Speaker 1>the green room is a massive open lounge area near

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<v Speaker 1>the stage with tables and couches with the top twenty

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<v Speaker 1>to thirty prospects wait for their name to be called.

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<v Speaker 1>In two thousand twenty one, everything is different, so like

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<v Speaker 1>the draft, these they were bunker down like deep in

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<v Speaker 1>the middle of the layout of the draft in this

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<v Speaker 1>like little enclosed living room. This year's draft set up,

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<v Speaker 1>it's carefully designed for COVID safety protocols. Almost everything is

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<v Speaker 1>outdoors near the lakefront, in between the Brown Stadium and

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<v Speaker 1>the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's spaced out

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<v Speaker 1>more like a music festival than a draft. So it's

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<v Speaker 1>fitting that rock stars Kings of Leon finished their pre

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<v Speaker 1>draft concert on the main stage as Davante, his family,

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<v Speaker 1>Garme and Kelton take their seats in the green room

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<v Speaker 1>and at the Pensacola Beach House in Florida. Alex Leatherwood

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<v Speaker 1>settles into the couch with his family, watching as NFL

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<v Speaker 1>Commissioner Roger Goodell steps up to the podium. Three three

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<v Speaker 1>one NFL Draft is now officially owen, it's not like

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<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna get pick number four. It's not like I'm

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<v Speaker 1>gonna get pick number four, but it's probably gonna be

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<v Speaker 1>anywhere from nineteen to twenty seven. As they look on,

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<v Speaker 1>Alex tries to set expectations with his friends and family

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<v Speaker 1>in the room they watched the Jacksonville Jaguars and make

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<v Speaker 1>the first pick in the draft, selecting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

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<v Speaker 1>Alex knows it's unlikely he'll be taken before pick eighteen

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<v Speaker 1>or nineteen, and that he could end up being selected

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<v Speaker 1>as late as pick forty, so he watches calmly as

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<v Speaker 1>the first five picks roll off the board. Pick number

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<v Speaker 1>six belongs to Miami and they need a receiver. Most

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<v Speaker 1>people think this could be where Davante gets selected, especially

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<v Speaker 1>since he played with the Miami quarterback in college. Davante

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<v Speaker 1>watches and listens from the green room as the picks announced.

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<v Speaker 1>Miami selects his teammate friend and fellow Alabama receiver Jalen

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<v Speaker 1>Wantle DeVante steps out to hug Jalen. The show. Watching

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<v Speaker 1>his teammate at the same position get picked ahead of

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<v Speaker 1>him doesn't seem to bother Davante. He's as composed as ever.

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<v Speaker 1>It's Alex who was surprised because Jalen missed the whole

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<v Speaker 1>season with a broken ankle. Analysts are also surprised to

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<v Speaker 1>see the injured receiver get picked ahead of the Heisman

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<v Speaker 1>Trophy winner. Here's Alex watching from the Pensacola living room.

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<v Speaker 1>Smitty is still on the board that happened up last

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<v Speaker 1>year with like Judy and Ruggs and Ruggs one before.

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<v Speaker 1>That's crazy, ain't it. I mean, like, to be honest,

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<v Speaker 1>I think that was the only one he had though

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<v Speaker 1>that like broken ankle, but that but that was kind

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<v Speaker 1>of like a freak accident. Who it was crazy because

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<v Speaker 1>like he walked off the pin. I'm looking at life, okay, Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>like we go we played the job like wand that's crazy.

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<v Speaker 1>Teams are often undeterred by injuries like this as long

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<v Speaker 1>as they believe in the player and their ability to

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<v Speaker 1>fully recover within the coming season, and the Miami Dolphins

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<v Speaker 1>clearly believe in Jalen Waddle. Next up at pick seven,

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<v Speaker 1>the Detroit Lions take an offensive tackle the first one

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<v Speaker 1>off the board, which is a good sign for Alex.

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<v Speaker 1>He's generally ranked as the third highest offensive lineman prospect,

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<v Speaker 1>so the earlier the other two players get picked, the

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<v Speaker 1>earlier he will likely be selected. This puts Carolina on

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<v Speaker 1>the clock at pick number eight. The Panthers are also

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<v Speaker 1>rumored to be interested in DeVante, has evidenced by their

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<v Speaker 1>head coach texting Celton last night during the Clutch dinner.

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<v Speaker 1>So Calton and Davante both believe Carolina is going to

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<v Speaker 1>pick him. Here, We'll be right back. With the eighth pick.

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<v Speaker 1>In the two thousand twenty one NFL Draft, the Carolina

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<v Speaker 1>Panthers select a cornerback instead of a receiver. Then it

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<v Speaker 1>picked nine. Denver also selects a cornerback. That puts the

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<v Speaker 1>Dallas Cowboys on the clock with pick ten, a team

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<v Speaker 1>without any need for a receiver. Here's Calvin and Davante

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<v Speaker 1>shocking fall out of the top ten. That process was

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<v Speaker 1>kind of stressful because you really never know, honestly in

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<v Speaker 1>most in most cases, so it was definitely nerve wracking.

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<v Speaker 1>That's a dupe. Thing about the NFL draft is super unpredictable.

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<v Speaker 1>So when he went to Carolina, I'm like, all right,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, we might go on a little slide here

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<v Speaker 1>because I knew Philly was trying to move up. I

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<v Speaker 1>knew Denver wasn't gonna take him, and I knew Philly

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<v Speaker 1>was trying to move up. But I'm thinking at the board,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm like, well, Ship, they're not gonna trade. The Cowboys

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<v Speaker 1>are going to trade with a division arrival to let

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<v Speaker 1>them get the player they want, you know what I'm saying.

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<v Speaker 1>So I was just like, well, I guess we're going

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<v Speaker 1>to New York. At this point, I was just kind

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<v Speaker 1>of like, we're going to New York. It is what

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<v Speaker 1>it is. New York holds the very next pick at

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<v Speaker 1>number eleven. The Giants need a receiver and have expressed

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<v Speaker 1>interest in DeVante throughout the pre draft process. So Calton

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<v Speaker 1>and DeVante and everyone else following the draft all assume

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<v Speaker 1>DeVante will be playing for the New York Giants. But

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<v Speaker 1>then DeVante's phone rings, I love yes, sir, A good

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<v Speaker 1>playing your shaved? Thank you bad. I feel good. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>ready to go to work. A surprise trade unfolds and

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<v Speaker 1>it's the Philadelphia Eagles calling, And then DeVante's typical calm

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<v Speaker 1>and composed way, he just quietly found out and shared

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<v Speaker 1>that the Eagles are going to draft him lad place.

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<v Speaker 1>So yeah, Brom, so proud of you. Ye grass bro,

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<v Speaker 1>he says, God brother, let we say we'll get it, brother.

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<v Speaker 1>What The Eagles make a trade with their division rivals,

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<v Speaker 1>the Cowboys to jump up two spots to pick number ten.

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<v Speaker 1>This puts them ahead of their other division rivals, the

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<v Speaker 1>New York Giants, and allows them to select the player

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<v Speaker 1>that Giants wanted, Davante Smith. This type of intra division

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<v Speaker 1>first round trade almost never happens because now the Cowboys

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<v Speaker 1>will have to play against Davante at least twice a year. However,

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<v Speaker 1>in this instance, the Giants planned to select DeVante with

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<v Speaker 1>the next pick anyway, so the Cowboys would have to

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<v Speaker 1>face Davante twice the season regardless. That makes the trade

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<v Speaker 1>a win win for Billy and Alice and a stunning

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<v Speaker 1>blow to New York. The move also shocks teams and

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<v Speaker 1>fans around the league. Only Davante seems stoic about it

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<v Speaker 1>as he walks out to the stage to meet NFL

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<v Speaker 1>commissioner Roger Goodell, who hugs him and hands him his

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<v Speaker 1>brand new Philadelphia Eagles jersey. I'm gonna turn out by graduation.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you. See how you like this that look? Okay?

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<v Speaker 1>Oh yeah, for sure, there you go. Glad you're here, man,

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks for coming. Thanks bad you need anything, you let

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<v Speaker 1>me know, be right down the road. Now you're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>have to get these Eagles fans. Man. We'll just hold

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<v Speaker 1>that right here. I will take Okay, come on, guys,

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<v Speaker 1>thank you, thank you, thank you. You got a great player,

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<v Speaker 1>got a great kid. For important. Thank you need something,

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<v Speaker 1>let me know. Okay, they're gonna take care of you.

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<v Speaker 1>Takes to stand right here. It takes an We're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>go backstage now, do a couple of interviews, and take

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<v Speaker 1>some quick with your family. Davante heads backstage again, this

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<v Speaker 1>time to do interviews for his new team and the

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<v Speaker 1>local Aladelphia press. Meanwhile, in Florida, Alas continues watching the broadcast.

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<v Speaker 1>He's trying to figure out what team might draft him

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<v Speaker 1>based on how the top ten played out. Bro when

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<v Speaker 1>the process first broke. When the process first started, they

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<v Speaker 1>was working with me heavy, the Colts coaching me heavy.

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<v Speaker 1>But like, really, bro, it really all depended on this

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<v Speaker 1>top ten. I'll know what's gonna happen, like you got

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<v Speaker 1>like you gotta see what's gonna happen with the Chargers,

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<v Speaker 1>then Minnnnapolis, the air Raiders in Miami, because like Miami

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<v Speaker 1>like me a lot. They said that they're gonna take

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<v Speaker 1>me last year number eighteen them who else coach they

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<v Speaker 1>like me, Feelers they like me a lot, Jaguars they

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<v Speaker 1>like me a lot. And I feel like, worst case scenario,

0:15:49.320 --> 0:15:52.000
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to Baltimore because they got two restaurant picks.

0:15:52.320 --> 0:15:55.600
<v Speaker 1>So I'm gonna go to Baltimore. But but ain't trying,

0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:59.280
<v Speaker 1>but trying to go ahead late there's not enough money.

0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:03.200
<v Speaker 1>But like like it all depends on what happened with

0:16:03.360 --> 0:16:11.560
<v Speaker 1>like everybody else has been on the first contract. The

0:16:11.640 --> 0:16:14.560
<v Speaker 1>difference between getting picked in the teens or falling to

0:16:14.600 --> 0:16:17.080
<v Speaker 1>the end of the first round will be about five

0:16:17.240 --> 0:16:20.360
<v Speaker 1>million dollars. That's why Alex was worrying about the money.

0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:23.760
<v Speaker 1>So when the Chargers picked Northwestern tackle were Shawn Slater

0:16:23.880 --> 0:16:27.480
<v Speaker 1>at thirteen, it's another good omen for Alex. The two

0:16:27.600 --> 0:16:30.760
<v Speaker 1>highest ranked tackles are now off the board and he

0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:39.160
<v Speaker 1>could be picked in almost any spot. Moving forward, We'll

0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:49.080
<v Speaker 1>be right back. Alice continues watching the draft broadcast as

0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:52.440
<v Speaker 1>the New York Jets trade up to pick fourteen. They

0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:55.720
<v Speaker 1>select a guard from USC and now New England is

0:16:55.760 --> 0:17:01.320
<v Speaker 1>on the clock, with Arizona in Las Vegas following with

0:17:01.440 --> 0:17:14.040
<v Speaker 1>the next two picks. Hello, all right, yes, sir, yo,

0:17:14.119 --> 0:17:19.879
<v Speaker 1>what's up? Coach? I appreciate the coach, Yes, sir, that

0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:54.840
<v Speaker 1>sounds good. I appreciate it. Oh god, y what the PV?

0:17:55.280 --> 0:18:00.600
<v Speaker 1>What TV? Alex realizes they still have to announce the

0:18:00.640 --> 0:18:03.560
<v Speaker 1>pick on TV and that the broadcast will show him

0:18:03.600 --> 0:18:06.680
<v Speaker 1>live when that happens. So he and Coral Silverberg, a

0:18:06.800 --> 0:18:09.720
<v Speaker 1>member of his team at Clutch, scrambled to clear everyone

0:18:09.760 --> 0:18:14.080
<v Speaker 1>out of the camera's path. Well that way, everybody go

0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:56.239
<v Speaker 1>that way, go go go. Oh yes, Alex, Yeah, all right,

0:18:57.720 --> 0:19:01.080
<v Speaker 1>here's Alex about getting that phone call from the Raiders.

0:19:07.520 --> 0:19:10.160
<v Speaker 1>There was a coach Gruten's number, because he had called

0:19:10.200 --> 0:19:12.640
<v Speaker 1>me like a couple of days before. They talk about something,

0:19:12.920 --> 0:19:16.680
<v Speaker 1>and well, to be honest, what exactly what he said

0:19:17.200 --> 0:19:20.440
<v Speaker 1>was kind of a blur because I was just laden talking.

0:19:20.520 --> 0:19:22.760
<v Speaker 1>I'm just like yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, like agreeing

0:19:22.840 --> 0:19:26.240
<v Speaker 1>with whatever he was saying, and I was just like, oh, Ship,

0:19:26.280 --> 0:19:29.120
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to vegash. After the pick has been announced,

0:19:29.280 --> 0:19:32.480
<v Speaker 1>Alex's older brother runs over to celebrate with Alex and

0:19:32.560 --> 0:19:53.160
<v Speaker 1>their mom. Yes, I told you, Bro, I told you, Bert,

0:19:53.480 --> 0:20:14.440
<v Speaker 1>I told you that. I mama moment I got told

0:20:16.119 --> 0:20:18.119
<v Speaker 1>I told you, I told you. I don't need to

0:20:18.119 --> 0:20:21.960
<v Speaker 1>cry and take it off. Take it off. Even though

0:20:22.000 --> 0:20:24.520
<v Speaker 1>Alex can often be quiet and soft spoken, like his

0:20:24.600 --> 0:20:29.200
<v Speaker 1>old teammate Davante, in this instance, the emotions are too overwhelming.

0:20:33.960 --> 0:20:36.480
<v Speaker 1>It is like a dream come true. But I mean

0:20:36.520 --> 0:20:39.680
<v Speaker 1>I knew it was gonna happen, just because like when

0:20:39.880 --> 0:20:41.840
<v Speaker 1>I had set my mom to do it back when

0:20:41.880 --> 0:20:44.440
<v Speaker 1>I was like fourteen, and I told himself, yeah, I'm

0:20:44.440 --> 0:20:48.440
<v Speaker 1>gonna like take his mission head on and I would

0:20:48.440 --> 0:20:51.680
<v Speaker 1>be successful and things like that. I knew it's gonna happen.

0:20:51.720 --> 0:20:54.160
<v Speaker 1>So it's really just like everything got planned and told

0:20:54.200 --> 0:20:56.960
<v Speaker 1>myself that I was gonna do, like I already like

0:20:57.119 --> 0:20:59.800
<v Speaker 1>lift through this in my head because I manifested it,

0:21:00.359 --> 0:21:02.680
<v Speaker 1>worked at it and made sure that I wasn't gonna

0:21:02.680 --> 0:21:09.479
<v Speaker 1>be denied. Here's jaretts Parks, Alex's teammate at Alabama, who

0:21:09.600 --> 0:21:12.359
<v Speaker 1>watched his best friend's journey over the last four years.

0:21:12.840 --> 0:21:16.280
<v Speaker 1>I couldn't do anything but break down in tears because

0:21:17.040 --> 0:21:20.399
<v Speaker 1>I've just watched it up close, piece by piece, and

0:21:20.520 --> 0:21:23.000
<v Speaker 1>that plan came to life, and to hear his name

0:21:23.080 --> 0:21:25.000
<v Speaker 1>get called on that screen, it was just one of

0:21:25.040 --> 0:21:27.480
<v Speaker 1>the amazing moments to just be there and witness and

0:21:27.600 --> 0:21:29.680
<v Speaker 1>just be a part of. Back in the living room,

0:21:29.760 --> 0:21:34.760
<v Speaker 1>Alex Jaretz and Alex's friends and family continue celebrating. We're

0:21:34.800 --> 0:21:38.440
<v Speaker 1>going to Vegas. Bogus far, We're going to Vegas. It's

0:21:38.480 --> 0:21:44.280
<v Speaker 1>so no state tax. Hey, we lit, we lit. All

0:21:44.359 --> 0:21:47.480
<v Speaker 1>of Alex's pre draft dreams are coming true. He made

0:21:47.520 --> 0:21:50.640
<v Speaker 1>it to the NFL, he became a first round draft pick,

0:21:51.160 --> 0:21:54.360
<v Speaker 1>and he's playing for a franchise in Nevada. Well, there's

0:21:54.400 --> 0:21:57.680
<v Speaker 1>no state income tax. The plan he's been executing for

0:21:57.800 --> 0:22:01.640
<v Speaker 1>seven years straight is officially a succes us, And unlike DeVante,

0:22:02.000 --> 0:22:08.720
<v Speaker 1>Alex wants everyone to know how he's feeling right now. Yeah,

0:22:20.040 --> 0:22:32.640
<v Speaker 1>are we going to read? As Alex and his crew

0:22:32.720 --> 0:22:35.960
<v Speaker 1>celebrate into the night, DeVante and his family drive back

0:22:36.000 --> 0:22:37.879
<v Speaker 1>to the hotel in Cleveland to get ready for a

0:22:37.960 --> 0:22:43.320
<v Speaker 1>celebratory dinner. DeVante's longtime mentor Vincent Sanders describes the moment

0:22:43.440 --> 0:22:47.879
<v Speaker 1>before they head out. He's still a team to fan

0:22:48.160 --> 0:22:52.480
<v Speaker 1>taking pictures of I'm at and I'm coming downstairs and

0:22:52.480 --> 0:22:54.639
<v Speaker 1>I get off the elevator and I meet him and

0:22:54.720 --> 0:22:57.520
<v Speaker 1>he was like to come out with So he's gonna

0:22:57.520 --> 0:22:59.720
<v Speaker 1>meet him. You on elevator and go up to his

0:22:59.760 --> 0:23:02.560
<v Speaker 1>own so you change on the way after. He's like like,

0:23:02.840 --> 0:23:07.320
<v Speaker 1>I was like wow, well, like what he's like, dude,

0:23:07.880 --> 0:23:12.080
<v Speaker 1>I just went t pick. I was like he was

0:23:12.160 --> 0:23:17.639
<v Speaker 1>like tenths pick bro in NFL trap Like yeah. So

0:23:17.760 --> 0:23:21.720
<v Speaker 1>we just sat there for a man room like like wow,

0:23:22.160 --> 0:23:26.879
<v Speaker 1>we just what's saying that? It just was like like

0:23:27.760 --> 0:23:32.840
<v Speaker 1>ship and then you could tell we foun that was it.

0:23:32.960 --> 0:23:36.760
<v Speaker 1>It was down. Once they're quiet, moment of appreciation ends,

0:23:37.040 --> 0:23:39.800
<v Speaker 1>Davante goes back to his room. He quickly gets ready

0:23:39.960 --> 0:23:43.080
<v Speaker 1>for his celebration dinner. I kept my suit on, I

0:23:43.400 --> 0:23:46.359
<v Speaker 1>grabbed my charger. We all went to a restaurant, just

0:23:46.520 --> 0:23:49.240
<v Speaker 1>my family and things like that, the Klutch family of course,

0:23:49.840 --> 0:23:53.400
<v Speaker 1>all of us on. We kind of celebrated by stayed

0:23:53.440 --> 0:23:55.919
<v Speaker 1>probably ten minutes, ten fifteen minutes, and I went back

0:23:55.920 --> 0:24:00.080
<v Speaker 1>to the hotel, went sleep because it was just like this,

0:24:00.240 --> 0:24:01.840
<v Speaker 1>this is not me. I don't like being out. I

0:24:01.880 --> 0:24:05.920
<v Speaker 1>don't like like big gatherers and stuff like that. So

0:24:06.040 --> 0:24:07.800
<v Speaker 1>I got me some eat and then I left and

0:24:08.040 --> 0:24:09.399
<v Speaker 1>just like all right, it's time for me to go.

0:24:09.600 --> 0:24:12.000
<v Speaker 1>But like my my mom mightee like they stayed. They

0:24:12.119 --> 0:24:15.720
<v Speaker 1>enjoyed it well, like I live. Davante said that his

0:24:15.840 --> 0:24:19.479
<v Speaker 1>own celebration for only about ten minutes. Then the very

0:24:19.560 --> 0:24:22.480
<v Speaker 1>next morning, he Vincent fly to Philly to meet his

0:24:22.600 --> 0:24:26.119
<v Speaker 1>new coaches. Here's Vincent, So you wanted me to file

0:24:26.160 --> 0:24:28.280
<v Speaker 1>them with it. So I filed and we get a

0:24:28.680 --> 0:24:30.480
<v Speaker 1>we're gonna meet all the coaches and all that stuff.

0:24:30.840 --> 0:24:33.920
<v Speaker 1>His first questions, I'm gonna get to our pad tonight

0:24:35.359 --> 0:24:38.600
<v Speaker 1>to start starting to play. So they're like, you know,

0:24:38.680 --> 0:24:41.600
<v Speaker 1>you ain't going out. I'm going like the room, so

0:24:41.920 --> 0:24:46.080
<v Speaker 1>you know, you know people there looking like, yeah, right, whatever,

0:24:46.240 --> 0:24:50.560
<v Speaker 1>you're going. You're the Smith. You just can't You're going.

0:24:52.520 --> 0:24:55.359
<v Speaker 1>You can't blame the Eagles staff for being incredulous. The

0:24:55.480 --> 0:24:58.840
<v Speaker 1>team planned to take Davante to a Philadelphia seventy sixers game,

0:24:59.280 --> 0:25:02.320
<v Speaker 1>where he'd ring ceremonial bell before tip off as a

0:25:02.400 --> 0:25:05.160
<v Speaker 1>guest of honor. Then they planned to sit him courtside,

0:25:05.720 --> 0:25:08.920
<v Speaker 1>right next to Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, and of course

0:25:09.520 --> 0:25:11.480
<v Speaker 1>they assumed he'd go out on the town after that.

0:25:12.440 --> 0:25:16.000
<v Speaker 1>Here's devote again. I mean, get to feel it, meet

0:25:16.000 --> 0:25:18.080
<v Speaker 1>two coaches and things like they do some media stuff

0:25:18.119 --> 0:25:20.960
<v Speaker 1>with them, and then just at I mean, I went

0:25:21.000 --> 0:25:24.120
<v Speaker 1>to a basketball game bringing the bill. I didn't even

0:25:24.119 --> 0:25:25.440
<v Speaker 1>stay for the game. I just run the bill and

0:25:25.480 --> 0:25:28.640
<v Speaker 1>I left from me. He went to the hotel and yeah,

0:25:28.680 --> 0:25:32.160
<v Speaker 1>straight in the playbook, straight to that room. I'm talking

0:25:32.160 --> 0:25:35.320
<v Speaker 1>about straight to room. We got a restaurant. We at

0:25:35.400 --> 0:25:38.880
<v Speaker 1>room service. When I came to his room was connected

0:25:39.080 --> 0:25:41.760
<v Speaker 1>right next to buy Where I walked through the room,

0:25:42.320 --> 0:25:44.960
<v Speaker 1>he was under the covers with a pencil in hand,

0:25:45.400 --> 0:25:51.840
<v Speaker 1>the book in the op. He wasn't interested in courtside

0:25:51.880 --> 0:25:54.600
<v Speaker 1>seats at an NBA game. He didn't care about being

0:25:54.600 --> 0:25:57.040
<v Speaker 1>the guest of honor there or going to the hottest

0:25:57.080 --> 0:25:59.959
<v Speaker 1>restaurants are Club in Philly. He just wanted to get

0:26:00.040 --> 0:26:05.240
<v Speaker 1>back to football as soon as he possibly could. The

0:26:05.359 --> 0:26:12.240
<v Speaker 1>same way you might love cake blue bell ice cream.

0:26:13.160 --> 0:26:16.560
<v Speaker 1>He loves learning plays and that that's what he does.

0:26:18.840 --> 0:26:22.280
<v Speaker 1>His mom, Christina, sums it up. Yeah, he didn't stay

0:26:22.320 --> 0:26:24.800
<v Speaker 1>the whole game. He left and went back and he

0:26:24.920 --> 0:26:27.600
<v Speaker 1>wanted to get He wanted to get into the playbook.

0:26:28.119 --> 0:26:31.080
<v Speaker 1>But but that's him, you know, always trying to be

0:26:31.359 --> 0:26:35.879
<v Speaker 1>one step ahead. Davante has proven as much as anyone

0:26:36.000 --> 0:26:39.280
<v Speaker 1>in recent college football history, no matter how old you are,

0:26:39.600 --> 0:26:42.480
<v Speaker 1>how tall you are, or how much you weigh, if

0:26:42.520 --> 0:26:46.679
<v Speaker 1>you're one step ahead, it means you're open. So NFL

0:26:46.760 --> 0:26:52.520
<v Speaker 1>defenders better get ready. The quiet, humble, one and seventy

0:26:52.560 --> 0:26:56.440
<v Speaker 1>pound kid from a small town in Louisiana is coming

0:26:56.520 --> 0:26:59.760
<v Speaker 1>for them, and they might already be a step or

0:26:59.800 --> 0:27:12.240
<v Speaker 1>two behind him. Next I'm drafted. I started grooming him

0:27:12.240 --> 0:27:14.560
<v Speaker 1>at an early age to play quarterback. Everything we did

0:27:14.640 --> 0:27:17.159
<v Speaker 1>was football. In this off I realized that he had

0:27:17.160 --> 0:27:20.199
<v Speaker 1>a chance to be somebody. That's how things are in Texas, right,

0:27:20.320 --> 0:27:23.280
<v Speaker 1>it is really all about football. Well, I got death

0:27:23.280 --> 0:27:25.960
<v Speaker 1>threads starting to seek for multiple years. Freshman year for sure,

0:27:26.040 --> 0:27:28.280
<v Speaker 1>stopmore year ding a year and like, I've been booed

0:27:28.320 --> 0:27:30.960
<v Speaker 1>in my own stadium multiple times. Yeah, he was booed.

0:27:31.200 --> 0:27:32.960
<v Speaker 1>That's tough as a parent, you know, when you're sitting

0:27:32.960 --> 0:27:34.520
<v Speaker 1>at a game a little over a quarter into the

0:27:34.560 --> 0:27:37.000
<v Speaker 1>Auburn game and he got benched, but during the game

0:27:37.040 --> 0:27:39.040
<v Speaker 1>getting booed, and as a parent, you know, it's tough.

0:27:39.800 --> 0:27:42.960
<v Speaker 1>He's always considering like, Okay, now, how am I gonna

0:27:43.000 --> 0:27:45.160
<v Speaker 1>make this better? How am I gonna make this better?

0:27:45.280 --> 0:27:47.800
<v Speaker 1>He really is a lot of pressure. I said, Remember,

0:27:48.200 --> 0:27:49.960
<v Speaker 1>Jim Ball can yell at you, but he'll never be

0:27:50.040 --> 0:27:51.520
<v Speaker 1>as hard as your dad is. To me, it's one

0:27:51.520 --> 0:27:53.040
<v Speaker 1>of the most remarkable things I've been a part of.

0:28:00.080 --> 0:28:02.840
<v Speaker 1>Drafted is a production of tree Fort Media, Clutch Sports Group,

0:28:02.920 --> 0:28:06.560
<v Speaker 1>and I Heart Radio. The executive producers are Kelly Garner,

0:28:06.960 --> 0:28:11.359
<v Speaker 1>Lisa Ammerman, Eric Slott, Eric Weiner, and Sewn Titone. The

0:28:11.440 --> 0:28:15.000
<v Speaker 1>series is produced and written by Eric Winer Garme Mamalu

0:28:15.160 --> 0:28:18.879
<v Speaker 1>is our coordinating producer. Coral Silverberg is our associate producer.

0:28:19.280 --> 0:28:22.879
<v Speaker 1>Tom Monahan is our senior audio engineer. The show is mixed,

0:28:23.240 --> 0:28:27.160
<v Speaker 1>edited and hosted by Me Stephen Johnson. Additional production helped

0:28:27.160 --> 0:28:29.920
<v Speaker 1>from Tim Shower and Haley Mandelberg. For transcripts of the

0:28:29.960 --> 0:28:33.359
<v Speaker 1>show and more information Undrafted, quote a tree Fort dot Fm,

0:28:33.720 --> 0:28:35.960
<v Speaker 1>and for more podcasts from my Heart, visit the I

0:28:36.080 --> 0:28:39.200
<v Speaker 1>Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to

0:28:39.280 --> 0:28:40.040
<v Speaker 1>your favorite shows,