1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: Jesus, What's good? 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 2: Command of Sammy Bride Cole with JUNI here and this 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 2: is the Next Man Up Podcast, who we sit with 4 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: your favorite Commanders players and don't talk so much extra noes. 5 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: We talk about the man behind the help man. 6 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 2: Our next man Up is no other than our running back, 7 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 2: our rookie Chris Rodriguez. Chris talks about having peached State Pride, 8 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 2: how where it is to make it, from where he's from, 9 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: looking up to now teammate Antonio Gibson as a kid, 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 2: and how losing his mother impacted his life. Very very 11 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: great thoughtful conversation with this young man. And it all 12 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: starts right now. What's good Commander Sammy? I and Bride 13 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: Cole with Jun and this is the Next Man Up 14 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 2: Podcast where we sit with your favorite Commanders players and 15 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 2: don't talk so much extra notes. We talk about the 16 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 2: player behind the mask. And this next man Up is 17 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: no other than our sixth round fick Chris Rodriguez, all 18 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 2: running back out of Kentucky. 19 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: Brother, how you doing, I'm doing good? 20 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 3: How about you? 21 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: Oh man, I'm blessed. Man. 22 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 2: I appreciate you, like always tell the rookies man, I 23 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: know like these first seasons are crazy for you guys, 24 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 2: very regimented, so I appreciate you taking the time to 25 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: kick it with it, Yes, sir man. So you know, 26 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: we're gonna talk a little more about football later, but 27 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: we like to start at the beginning. 28 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: Talk about a little b where you're from. Man out 29 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: in Georgia. 30 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I was originally born in Clayton County. Yeah, 31 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 3: and then you know, when I was in fifth grade, 32 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 3: I think I moved or I did move to McDonald, Georgia, 33 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 3: where I went to Ola High School. 34 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: Uh. 35 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 3: When I got to seventh grade, that's when you can 36 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 3: start playing like, you know, real organized school sports. That 37 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 3: when I started playing. And uh, at first, I grew 38 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 3: up playing center, so I wasn't really you know, running 39 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 3: back or whatever. But my godfather, you know, I still 40 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 3: I was younger, so I could still play like reg 41 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 3: league football. So my godfather put me at fullback because 42 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 3: he was like, you're not a blog you know, we're 43 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 3: just gonna put you at full And then my my 44 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 3: older brother he played center. So then when I got 45 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 3: to seventh grade, when I started playing, uh, they were like, 46 00:01:58,560 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: you know, we're gonna put you at fullback. 47 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: Uh. 48 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 3: So then I started playing fullback a little bit. Pretty 49 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 3: much did that throughout middle school, got to high school. 50 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 3: I didn't take I didn't know like the ins and 51 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 3: out of footballs, Like, I didn't know you had to go 52 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 3: to summer workouts to make varsity, right, right, So I 53 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 3: didn't go to summer workouts my freshman year, and then 54 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: I ended up qualifying for varsity, but they didn't put 55 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 3: me on varsity. My head coach is like, nah, we're 56 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 3: not doing that. So and then I was on JV 57 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 3: pretty much that whole year, and then one game they 58 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 3: bumped me up because when the running backs got hurt 59 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 3: and the first play I got in, I took it 60 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: like seventy yards to coach took me out. I was like, 61 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 3: you're not playing anymore. I didn't play the rest of 62 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 3: the season on varsity, played JV, and then uh, and 63 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: then yeah, that's pretty much you know, McDonalds for me. 64 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, when I was growing up, it 65 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: was me, Mo, sister, grandma, grandparents, It was a lot 66 00:02:58,680 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 3: of us in the house. You know, we kind of 67 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 3: grew up as a tight family. And then when we 68 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 3: got older, like some people moved out, but pretty much 69 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 3: it was it was all of us in the. 70 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: House, did the coach explain why he took you out 71 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: like that? He didn't want you to take anybody else's job, So. 72 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 3: He told me after after the season, he was just 73 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 3: pretty much like, yo, like you didn't come to summer workouts. 74 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: You know, you're in the doghouse. So that next year, 75 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 3: you know, he sat down, he had a talk with me. 76 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 3: It was like, you know, you can you can do 77 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 3: big things, but I'm not gonna take it easy on you. 78 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: Just because you're a good player. Yeah. 79 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 3: So since ever since that conversation, like I was showing 80 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 3: up the summer workouts, we had like early morning workouts, 81 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 3: h spring workouts. 82 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was a. 83 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 3: Lot, but I mean, you know, it got me to 84 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: where I am now, and I'm grateful for him. 85 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: When you're that age, those kind of moments, especially with 86 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: like figures like a coach, right, it was very impactful. 87 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: Now that you look back on that moment right there, 88 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: you missed the workouts. 89 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, how happy. 90 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: Are you that he did that and taught you that 91 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 3: lesson so early? I mean I'm extremely happy. Yeah, I'm 92 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 3: extremely less for not only him, but my running backs 93 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 3: coach coach McCrary He's one of the coaches that I keep, 94 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 3: you know, really dear to me because when I was 95 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 3: you know, when you get to high school, you know, 96 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 3: some people just they don't take school as serious as 97 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 3: they need to. Uh, And I was one of those 98 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 3: people who was like, man, I got I'm good at football, 99 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 3: like I'm gonna make it. Don't need school. And he 100 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 3: took me and he was like, yo, nah, it ain't 101 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 3: gonna work like that. And his wife worked at the school. 102 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 3: She was a cheerleadings coach actually, and uh, you know 103 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 3: when I needed help with something, he was like, you know, 104 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 3: I got a she can tutor you, she can help you. 105 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: And uh. She pretty much helped me throughout high school. 106 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: You know, if there was something that I, you know, 107 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 3: didn't understand, she would you know, sit me down and 108 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: they would explain it to me, and not like it 109 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 3: was just it wasn't like really I would say school stuff. 110 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 3: Even if it was like outside stuff you know, about 111 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 3: about family, about home, you know, they would they would 112 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 3: bring me in like I would go over there sometimes 113 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: have dinner or whatever. But yeah, I'm extremely blessed for 114 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 3: both of them and grateful that they helped me get 115 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 3: to where I am today too. 116 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: That's so cool to hear because it clearly sounds like 117 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 2: you had people that really believed in you. 118 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, for sure. 119 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 2: When did you believe like, oh man, I'm gonna I'm 120 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: gonna make it to the next level. I'm at least 121 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: gonna go play college football. When did you like realize that. 122 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 2: I would say my sophomore year. Actually after my sophomore year, uh, 123 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 2: going into my junior or high school, I was actually 124 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: on the way to New York, uh, and. 125 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 3: I got a coach. 126 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: I got a call for my head coach, and. 127 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 3: He was like, yo, Georgia State's gonna offer you. 128 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: Wow. 129 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 3: I was like to the state, like yeah, So it's like, 130 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 3: you know, I just I was extremely grateful for that 131 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 3: opportunity that they would even you know, considered consider me. 132 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: Uh. 133 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 3: But you know when I kept working, and you know, 134 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 3: it was I'll never forget the running back that we 135 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: had when I was as freshman. He told me he 136 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 3: was like, you never break my records. 137 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: And I was like, dang, wow. 138 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 3: So I took that to heart. Yeah, I'm saying so 139 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: so that my sophomore year I ended up breaking his record. 140 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 3: The year he left, I end up breaking it, and 141 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 3: then the year after that, I ended up breaking my 142 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: own record again. 143 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: Wow. 144 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 3: So after that I was, you know, just you just 145 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 3: think to yourself, like, I really can't do this if 146 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 3: I apply myself to not only on the field but 147 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: off the field in the classroom. 148 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 149 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: So I say that was the moment probably like after 150 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 3: my sophomore year, I was like thinking, I can do this. 151 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 2: Did you get to see that running back again after 152 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 2: you broke his record and let him know, like, hey, bro, 153 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 2: I got you, got you twice? 154 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 3: So I did. I did see him, pretty cool dude talking. 155 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 3: You know, he was just I guess he was in 156 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 3: a bad mood that day. I got mad respect for him. 157 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 3: He did show me the ropes as a freshman, but yeah, 158 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 3: I seen him. It was no hard feelings, but you 159 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: know I did do it three. 160 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: Let him know wrong with that. 161 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: And it's funny every time I talk to y'all Georgia boys, man, 162 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: I hear this Peach State pride phrase? 163 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: Right, y'all got this Peach State pride? What does that 164 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: mean to you? Yeah? 165 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 3: So when I got to Kentucky, I felt like, well, 166 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 3: even when I was on my official visit to Kentucky, 167 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: it was me and a bunch of Florida boys, or 168 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 3: me and a bunch of Ohio boys. You know, I 169 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: really didn't really know any any Georgia boys. I was 170 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 3: on the team. 171 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. Uh. 172 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 3: And when I got there, I met Jamn and Yusuf 173 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 3: and they're both Yusuf was from around my area. I 174 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 3: knew him growing up, just like I knew Antonio. And Uh, 175 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 3: they had this saying it was like Peach State Pride. 176 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 3: I was like, what I'm talking about, like Peace State Prize. 177 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 3: You know it's not a lot of Georgia boys is here, 178 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 3: and you know we we got to keep the brotherhood together. 179 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 3: Yeah prize what I guess Jamin and Yusuf came up with. 180 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 3: And uh, every time I see jam And I always 181 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 3: telling you know, peace State baby. 182 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: And you mentioned Ag. Let's go back to that real quick. 183 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 2: He's from your area. Yes, he's a guy that played 184 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: in high school not too far from your high school. 185 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: And we talked talked about a little earlier before the 186 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 2: show started that you know you really he was it 187 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: to you when you watched him play, you were like, yo, 188 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: he's that guy. Talk about AG and how you viewed 189 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: him before even becoming his teammate. 190 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,119 Speaker 3: Yep, So I believe I was in middle school still 191 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 3: and it was a home game at our high school, 192 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 3: and it was it was like two people on Eagles 193 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 3: Land and which is where AG went. It was Antonio 194 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 3: and then another cold running back receiver something I don't 195 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 3: even I can't remember what he was. But when I 196 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 3: was at the game, like you know, usually when when 197 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 3: the kids go to high school games, they usually play football, 198 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 3: like by the bleachers or something. But for some reason, 199 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 3: I was really locked into that game and I saw 200 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 3: AG playing, I was like, man, he's cold. You know 201 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 3: this before he was a running back. 202 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's a receiver. 203 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 3: So I'm like, this dude is cold. And uh, you 204 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 3: know when he did end up going, I think he 205 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 3: went to a Juco first. I kind of kept in contact. 206 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 3: I looked him up on Twitter, kept in contact with him. 207 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 3: I don't think he knew of me, but uh, watching 208 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 3: him play, I'm like, man, I just I want to 209 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 3: be like that because I was more of the bruiser, 210 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 3: you know what I'm saying. But Ag, he had a 211 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 3: little finesse to him. So when I was watching him, 212 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 3: I was like I want to be like that, you know. 213 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 3: So He's from the the same area, so kind of 214 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 3: kept up with him. And ironically enough, my marketing guy 215 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 3: is the same marketing guy he had, so when I 216 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 3: did get drafted, we got to the same team. Antonio 217 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 3: he I can't remember if he text or called me, 218 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 3: but at that moment, I was like, man, like I 219 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 3: finally met Antonio. Wow, full circle, full circle. 220 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: Damn. 221 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 3: It was a It was a pretty cool moment. Honestly, 222 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 3: you know, from watching him on TV and uh, honestly 223 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: being around him and still you know, it's like I 224 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: would a starstruck because you know, I've seen him when 225 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 3: he was we was young. 226 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: It was a really cool moment. 227 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 2: Have you guys had that conversation where you told them 228 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:09,839 Speaker 2: all these things like, yo, man, I watched you with 229 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: the middle school like does he remember you hitting him up? 230 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 2: And do you have them all these things like do 231 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 2: you all have those conversations. 232 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 3: That we've had them? But you know, at the same time, 233 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 3: it's like we we What can I say, Like we 234 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 3: had those conversations, but you know, I don't think he 235 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 3: knows how much it meant to me. Wow what I'm saying, 236 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 3: Like he takes it as man like that's cool. 237 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: And stuff. 238 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 3: I'm like, Dag, like I wanted to be like you 239 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 3: at one point. 240 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: It's crazy. 241 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 3: And he wore number twenty four, which was not what 242 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 3: I used to rock YEP. So I'm like, yeah, this 243 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 3: is this is cool. It's pretty cool moment. But uh yeah, 244 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 3: I don't think he understands how cool it was for 245 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 3: me to actually get to meet him. 246 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 2: How cool was it for you to have somebody like 247 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 2: that when you're that age, when you're still trying to 248 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 2: figure things out, trying to figure out your own path, 249 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: see somebody kind of almost lay the pathway for you 250 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: and say, yo, this is what you can do when 251 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 2: you're from here, when you work hard. 252 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: How important was that for you? 253 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 3: Man? Extremely important? Because from our area, like there's some 254 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 3: kids that like, you know, they like make it out, 255 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 3: but from my school it's very very few. Like I 256 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 3: think we had one person that one player that went 257 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 3: undrafted like a long time ago, but other than that, 258 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 3: it was like pretty much nobody. 259 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: Wow. 260 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 3: So when I see in ag you know he made 261 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 3: it out and you know a couple other people from 262 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: our from our city, I was just like, you know, 263 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 3: I can I can do this. You know what I'm 264 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 3: saying and. 265 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: They give you that little boost that you need. 266 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 3: To make it to the next level. And uh, again, 267 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 3: I'm extremely. 268 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: Grateful for that. 269 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 2: And Chris, I'm sure you're doing the same thing for 270 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:44,719 Speaker 2: a lot of the youth from where you're from. Man, 271 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 2: So shout out to you. And then you go on 272 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 2: and you decide to go to Kentucky. Sounds like you 273 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 2: really love where you're from. Man, sounds like you really 274 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 2: love home. You had a strong support system. 275 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: How hard was it making that decision to go all 276 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: the way up to Kentucky? 277 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 3: Man? So, so Kentucky wasn't my first choice? 278 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: Really? 279 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I really really really wanted to go to 280 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 3: Old Miss. Wow, that was the school I wanted to 281 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 3: be at, and it was only because of hel Like, Man, yeah, 282 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 3: I grew up a New York Giants fan, which I 283 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 3: hate it now, you know what I'm saying. But yeah, 284 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 3: I grew up a New York fan. My dad's from there, 285 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 3: so that was you know, when I watched sports, I 286 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 3: was watching it with him. So when I seen Eli, 287 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 3: I'm like, Eli was at Old Miss. That's where I 288 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 3: want to go. So I went up to Old Miss. 289 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 3: It was an unofficial visit and you know, I fell 290 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 3: in love with it. I was like, man, I want 291 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 3: to come here. But at the time, Old Miss had 292 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 3: was going through some I guess some violations or whatever 293 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 3: where they couldn't go to a bowl game. And when 294 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 3: I was talking to my head coach at the time 295 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 3: for my high school, he was like, you know, you 296 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 3: don't want to miss out on those bowl games, like 297 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 3: those are like fun times that you wish you could 298 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 3: get back. And uh, you know, listening to him, he 299 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: did take me up to Kentucky. 300 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: Uh. 301 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 3: Well, before I even left Old Miss. I told him. 302 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 3: I was like, yeah, like, I got one more school 303 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 3: that we're going to go to. Uh take an unofficial 304 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 3: and uh it was Kentucky and never like, don't go 305 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 3: to Kentucky and fall in love. I was like no, man' 306 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 3: never like I want to come to Old right right right? 307 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 3: Sure enough, Man got to Kentucky, fell in love, never left, 308 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 3: never left. So you know I got home. Uh, I 309 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: was in the room with my brother. I think we 310 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 3: had just woke up that morning, and I was like, yo, 311 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 3: think about to commit to Kentucky. He was like for real, Yeah, 312 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 3: so called up coach house and I was like, yo, 313 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 3: like I think I'm gonna commit to you. 314 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: He's like, good, yeah, you sure. Yeah, yeah, he was 315 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: even surprised. 316 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 3: Yeah I was. 317 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: I was like, yeah, I think I'm gonna do it. 318 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 3: So I wouldn't say it was a hard choice. You know. 319 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 3: It was one of those things that kind of felt 320 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 3: right at the time. It's like a gut feeling you had, 321 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 3: like this is where I need to be at. Yeah, 322 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 3: it was just it was just like, you know, you 323 00:13:59,280 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 3: need to be here. 324 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, So. 325 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 3: I end up going, and you know, I'm extremely grateful 326 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 3: for what they what they've helped me accomplish. You know 327 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 3: what I'm saying, I'm here now. 328 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 2: So and clearly you said you're here now, So clearly 329 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 2: you made the right decision. Man went to Kentucky. Now, 330 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 2: I want to fast forward a little bit to the 331 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: senior ball. Right, you go on Kentucky ball out, you're 332 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: the man, and you're playing against some really high level talent. 333 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: Senior ball comes and this is your chance, right, this 334 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: is your chance. Not a lot of. 335 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: Running backs coming out of Kentucky. Right, let's be honest. Right, So, 336 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 2: I'm sure you know that pressure you have that on 337 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: you. You come out a day that everybody's watching you right, 338 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: you can make a break yourself right here, and you 339 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: decide to wear a purple face mask. Yes, can you 340 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: talk to us about why you decided to do that 341 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: and use that moment to wear a purple face mass 342 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: to stand out in that way. 343 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 344 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 3: So for people that don't know, my mom passed away 345 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 3: January eleventh, and you know, it was really hard on me. Yeah, 346 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 3: I didn't even want to play in this Senior Bowl game. Wow, 347 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 3: Like it was. It was just one of those things 348 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 3: where I was like, you know, like I'm kind of hurting. 349 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 3: I didn't want to say hurting, but like I was 350 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 3: just you know, like I had did something to my 351 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 3: need that wee cant practice. 352 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: I just was feeling out of it. Wow. 353 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 3: All the goals that I've had were for my mom, 354 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 3: like to do with her. Like my goal to make 355 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 3: it to the NFL was what we sat down and 356 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 3: we talked about. You know what I'm saying, like she 357 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 3: helped me create these goals and uh. 358 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: Like for people to ask, like, my why it's her? 359 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm saying like even even though she's not with me, 360 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 3: it's like she's still my why, you know. And that 361 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 3: day at the Singer Bowl that the night before and 362 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 3: I was like, you know, I don't want to play 363 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 3: or whatever. I talked of my agent. He was like, 364 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 3: you know, it's just it's up to you. I don't 365 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 3: think you if you don't want to, then I don't 366 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 3: think you should. And like it was just another feeling 367 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 3: that I had, Like when I laid my head down, 368 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 3: it was like my mom would not want me to 369 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 3: sit out of this game. 370 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: Wow. You know. 371 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: So when I woke up that next morning, I told 372 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 3: Jim Naggy, I was like, you know, this is I'm 373 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 3: gonna play. I got the purple face mask like my family. 374 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 3: I got family coming, and I don't think my mom 375 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 3: would want me to sit out. So I ended up playing, 376 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 3: and I had a pretty decent game. But yeah, that's 377 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: that's pretty much the purple face mask for me. 378 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. 379 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 2: And you talk about, you know, going through what you 380 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 2: went through losing a mother, Yeah, very quickly, very fast. 381 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 2: And this is during the time where, man, you're about 382 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: to accomplish maybe every dream you've ever had. Right, talk 383 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 2: about how sad you were, you having a hard time 384 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: I'd even want to play? 385 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: How did you power through that? How do you get 386 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: through something so traumatic and so tragic and you're like. 387 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 3: I mean family for me, family and friends. You know, 388 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 3: when I did get that call, I was at Exos 389 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 3: in Dallas and a huge shout out to them. You know, 390 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 3: they had everybody there was showing me love when I 391 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 3: was on that sidewalk crying, and I never forget that moment, 392 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 3: you know. And then when I did get home, I had, 393 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 3: you know, my family who was there for me, and 394 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 3: my my friends that I don't even call friends. You 395 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying. They were all there for me. 396 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 3: Uh they made it easy, you know what I'm saying. 397 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 3: And uh, that's why I'm extremely blessed for football. Football 398 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 3: brings you around so many people that that love you 399 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 3: and care about you. And uh, playing football at a 400 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 3: young age, as I say, my godfather, my mom, uh, 401 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 3: she my my foot, my head coach. When I was 402 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 3: in reg football. Uh, you know, my mom was getting 403 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 3: sick at some point. I didn't even notice, but she 404 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 3: told my coach was like, hey, can Chris come live 405 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 3: with you? And uh, you know, just keep take care 406 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 3: of him, like I'm getting sick or whatever. And I 407 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 3: didn't know that until I think my second year in college, 408 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 3: and she told me she was like I asked him to, 409 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 3: you know, take care of you, and I call him 410 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 3: my godfather. But man's it runs deep, you know what 411 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 3: I'm saying. Like I've been to family reunions with the family. 412 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 3: Every time I go back home, I stay with them. 413 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: Like it's family. You know what I'm saying. 414 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 3: They introduced me to a lot of people that I 415 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 3: don't even call friends anymore. His family, Like I said, 416 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 3: it runs deep. 417 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: Blood. 418 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 2: Couldn't make us closer. Wow, man, that's so cool. And 419 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 2: your mom's clearly was a very swart woman. Man, clearly 420 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 2: you loved her a lot. What are some of the 421 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 2: things that she taught you that you carry every single day? Like, 422 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: I know me, the older I get, the more I 423 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 2: think about my parents and things, and I'm just like Dag, 424 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 2: they were right about this, man. 425 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: I remember they used to. 426 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,400 Speaker 2: Always say this, to do this, and I never understood, 427 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:50,719 Speaker 2: But now that I'm older, I get it. 428 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 1: What are some of those things you carry with you 429 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: that you got for your mom? 430 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 3: Man, My mom she was one of those people who 431 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 3: I always say, was like, she was like one of 432 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 3: my best friends. You know what I'm saying, Like I 433 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 3: could tell her anything, anything that I ever did anything. 434 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 3: When I got in trouble, I would tell her she 435 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 3: wouldn't be mad, you know what I'm saying. But she 436 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 3: she always told me, like, you know, being say it 437 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:24,719 Speaker 3: like outside of football, being in the in the streets 438 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 3: and like partying and having fun, it ain't. 439 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: It ain't for everybody. 440 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 3: And uh, you know, I thought, you know, going to 441 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 3: the club, you know, when I was in college, going 442 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 3: to the club with friends and having fun partying, I 443 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 3: thought it was, you know what I'm saying, a part 444 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 3: of lifestyle. But sure enough I did. I did end 445 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 3: up getting in trouble and she came up to me 446 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 3: and she she helped me. She was like I told you. 447 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 3: She's like, I'm glad you found out now rather than later. 448 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 3: She's like, I still love you. I'm not mad at you, 449 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 3: but you had to learn. And uh for that. Extremely 450 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 3: grateful for that, for that, for that moment, Like that's 451 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 3: one of those mom that I wish I can, you 452 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying, get back, you know, crying in 453 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 3: my mom's hands and she's holding me, kissing me on 454 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 3: my forehead and stuff. But extreme, extremely sad moment. But 455 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 3: again blessed that I even had the opportunity to go 456 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 3: through that with her. 457 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's really interesting to hear, you know. 458 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 2: You like, we have a lot of people on I 459 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 2: mean you guys all men that come on this show 460 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 2: right next man Up, and a lot of them are 461 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 2: black men, and talk about how hard it is to 462 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: have these moments of vulnerability, have these moments where you feel, 463 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 2: have these moments where you can cry and things like that. 464 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 2: What you're going through is pretty fresh. It hasn't been 465 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 2: a long time at all. We're going through the holidays 466 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 2: and all that. Are you finding time to have your 467 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 2: moments where you grieve and feel and let these things 468 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 2: out while you're in the midst of a rookie season 469 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 2: and trying to do all of these things and you 470 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 2: have those moments. 471 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: Oh yeah. 472 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 3: So for me, like I've been living with my fiance 473 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 3: for like four years now, So whenever I do feel 474 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 3: like I need those moments, moments, you know, it's just 475 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 3: me and her, you know what I'm saying. We sit 476 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 3: down and we might not talk about it long, but 477 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 3: we talk about it, you know what I'm saying. And 478 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 3: I got a picture in a picture from my mom's 479 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 3: funeral and I keep it, you know, I'm saying in 480 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 3: my living room, and whenever I feel like I just 481 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 3: need to talk to her, I just go up to 482 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 3: her and I just I just talk to her. 483 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: Wow, you know what I'm saying. 484 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 3: It's just one of those things where it makes me, 485 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 3: it makes me feel better, you know what I'm saying, 486 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 3: makes it feel like she's listening. And before every game, 487 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 3: you know, I sit down and I talk to her. 488 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 3: I don't know if anybody's ever realized, but before the game, 489 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 3: I'm always at the end of the bench on the 490 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 3: knee and I'm praying and talking to her, just asking 491 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 3: her to just keep keep your eyes out for me 492 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 3: and keep her arms on me, no injuries and stuff 493 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 3: like that, and just asking her how she's doing. And sometimes, 494 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 3: you know, I feel like she actually is talking back. 495 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 3: But you know what I'm saying, it's just one of 496 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 3: those things. 497 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: Well, Chris, she definitely has her arms wrapped around you. Man. 498 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 2: You know, you get through all of that, You go 499 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 2: through the Pro Bowl, go through the Combine. I believe 500 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 2: you even did like a thing where you raised money 501 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 2: for LUPUS people with like your reps on the bench press. 502 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 2: So still very much locked into what you're going on 503 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 2: with her, but you're also getting a job done. Now 504 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 2: draft night comes, get drafted in sixth round. You get 505 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 2: that call. 506 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,719 Speaker 1: Now believe you were at home in Georgia with family, right, 507 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: were you in Georgia? 508 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was in Georgia. 509 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: Bring us back. 510 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 2: There, man, take us back to that moment when you 511 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 2: got that call, where you was at, who you was 512 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 2: around you and embraced you. 513 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: Talk about that little bit. Yeah. 514 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 3: So at the draft party, it was basically a bunch 515 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 3: of people that helped me get to where I was, 516 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 3: and a bunch of my family. Some of my friends 517 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 3: stopped stopped by, really most of them. But yeah, so 518 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 3: I remember there were some coaches I won't name who 519 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 3: to go to. Some coaches were calling me and telling 520 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 3: me like he man, we're gonna get. 521 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: You free agent. 522 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 3: And I'm like, coach, like the draft is still going on, 523 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 3: like that what you called me after? 524 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: And then I remember getting. 525 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 3: A car from Coach Rivera And at the time I 526 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 3: was just I was so so struck, you know what 527 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:12,640 Speaker 3: I'm saying. 528 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: I was just like, this is really happening. 529 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 3: And uh, for people that see the video, like I'm 530 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 3: sitting on the couch, it was my fiance on my 531 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 3: right and my little sister on my left, and I 532 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 3: felt like it was one of those moments where it's like, man, 533 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 3: I'm supposed to be sharing this moment with my mom. 534 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:32,919 Speaker 3: You know what I'm saying. I hate to go you know, 535 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 3: backtrack or whateverbody was. It's just one of those moments 536 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 3: where I'm like, dang, we talked about this moment for 537 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 3: a long time. Yeah, you know, and uh, people like, man, 538 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 3: you don't look at he don't look excited to be drafted, 539 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 3: And I'm like, man, it's a lot of emotionary and 540 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 3: a lot Yeah, it's like a lot of emotions going 541 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 3: through me right now. Like one my dream I just 542 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 3: accomplished it. You know what I'm saying. It was one 543 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 3: of my dreams, one of my goals, but it was 544 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 3: one of me and my mom's go was at the 545 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 3: same time. So going through that, like he was just like, man, 546 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 3: I cannot believe this is happening. And then after that, 547 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 3: like you know that moment where I hung up the 548 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 3: phone and hear my name on the TV. It's like, man, 549 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 3: this is this is this is real life. And also 550 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 3: mad that day, like my hats were late coming in, 551 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 3: so Washington had was the only one that I didn't have. 552 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: Oh man, I was mad at that, and I'm like. 553 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 3: I can't even put the hat on. 554 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 2: That's a big moment to put the I want to 555 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 2: put the hat on, Like that's the that's the big 556 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: that's the. 557 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 3: Big moment, right. But I'm extremely grateful that that Washington 558 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 3: was able to you know, draft me in. You know 559 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 3: what I'm saying here, we are hopefully creating some memories here. 560 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 3: I know I am sir, so hopefully there's many more 561 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 3: to come. 562 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 2: And like you said, here we are week thirteen, five 563 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 2: weeks left, I mean five games left in your rookie season. 564 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: What do you think your mom would say to you today? 565 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 2: You say you talk to her, You say you feel 566 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,120 Speaker 2: like you can hear from her. What do you think 567 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 2: she say to Chris Rodriguelds said to see where her 568 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 2: little boys are after you know, the tears, the hard times, 569 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:14,120 Speaker 2: the practices. 570 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: What do you think she say to you today? 571 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 3: You know, I think for her it would be like, like, 572 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,360 Speaker 3: I'm so proud of you. You know, I won't expose 573 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 3: my nickname. My mom used to call me stink a pot, 574 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 3: think a pot. Yeah, she said, I used to. It 575 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 3: used to be bad when I used to go number 576 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 3: two when I was a baby. 577 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: So that's where it came from. 578 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, So she used to call me stink apart. So 579 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 3: she'd be like, I'm so proud of your stink apart, 580 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 3: like I knew you would do it. I'm so glad 581 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,439 Speaker 3: that you're staying the course. I know it's not easy, 582 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:51,920 Speaker 3: but I'm proud of you and I love you so much. 583 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 3: You know, my mom was one of those people who 584 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 3: when she came up to stay with me when I 585 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 3: was in Kentucky, she was not leaving. She didn't want 586 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 3: to leave, she didn't want to go home, but you 587 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 3: know when she did, she was like, I don't want 588 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 3: to leave, just s we come back. But uh, you know, 589 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 3: I think if my mom was to her, she'd be 590 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 3: living with me by now, and where there I was 591 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 3: in an apartment house, she'd be living with me right now. 592 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: So that's so cool. Man. 593 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 2: Well, man, I have no doubt that your mom's with you. Man, 594 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:21,959 Speaker 2: She with you right now, She with you every time 595 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: you step on that field, and you've been able to 596 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 2: get on this field, man, able to show what you're 597 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 2: capable of. That's rare or sixth round pick, not every 598 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 2: sixth round pick, ce minutes stay rookie year? How many 599 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 2: six round picks make the team. How good is it 600 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,199 Speaker 2: to be where you are at right now at this 601 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,880 Speaker 2: point in time, being on this team, living out your dream? 602 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: Man? How good are you feeling? 603 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 3: Man? Honestly, I feel good. You know what I'm saying, 604 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,679 Speaker 3: especially like you said, the position that I'm in, like, 605 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 3: not a lot of six round picks see the field. Yeah, 606 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 3: I'm blessed to even you know, have some carries at 607 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,040 Speaker 3: this point. You know what I'm saying. First game of 608 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 3: the season, first third down, I got in. I was shocked. 609 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 3: I'm like you calling me, But yeah, man, I'm I'm 610 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 3: extremely blessed. You know. It's it's tough right now. Uh 611 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 3: you know they say you hit your rookie wall. I 612 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 3: won't lie, man. 613 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: You're there, You're there. 614 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 3: It's real. You know what I'm saying, Like, it's tough, 615 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 3: but you know, you know you stayed. Of course, you 616 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 3: got vets that you talked to, like I talked to 617 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 3: you know, DG who's been doing it for a minute, 618 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 3: j will Antonio And you know I know this b 619 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 3: rob second year, but you know I talked to that 620 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 3: when when I feel like, man like it's hard and 621 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,959 Speaker 3: they're like, like, it's only your one. You just getting started, 622 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 3: and uh, you know, they give me tips on how 623 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 3: to take care of my body and stuff. Still getting 624 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 3: into the midst of that, but they say it's an investment, 625 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:51,640 Speaker 3: but it's a great one. 626 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: It is. 627 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 3: It should be the first one that you you know 628 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 3: what I'm saying, really investing. So yeah, it's been tough, 629 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 3: but man, it's going. 630 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: I can see the way on you still like that. 631 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: I know the season's ended there. 632 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 2: If we appreciate your time so much, I just have 633 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 2: one more thing for you, man, that's your isual cam 634 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 2: right there, sir. But those are all familiar with who 635 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 2: Chris Rodriguez is. Looking at Camra right there and let 636 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 2: the command is family know who Chris Rodriguez is. 637 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 3: Chris Rodriguez man really outgoing, funny, kind guy. You get 638 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 3: to meet him. Love country music. I'm in the you 639 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying. Used to I'm starting to get 640 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 3: back into it. But really a quiet dude. If you 641 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 3: ever see me out, you can save what's up to me. 642 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 3: I ain't one of the scary dudes. I ain't gonna 643 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 3: gonna blow you off. I love everybody. I'm normal just 644 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 3: like everybody else. 645 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. Man, well you're definitely normal, but you're all so 646 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: special in that. Man. 647 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for sharing what you shared today, 648 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 2: because I know that's not easy, man, especially when it's 649 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 2: talking about your parents and it's something that's so fresh 650 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 2: and so new. 651 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: Man. So you know, I hope you and your family 652 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 1: are doing well. Man. 653 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 2: Prayers to all of them and your other Man. She 654 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: raised the great young man, and I have no doubt 655 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 2: she's proud of. 656 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: You, just like the rest of us, proud of your 657 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: cig you think, man. Command is family. 658 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 2: This is the next Man Up Podcast with no other 659 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 2: than all running back Chris Rodricus Chris Thank You, Brothers, 660 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 2: Will Thank. 661 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: You Love podcast. 662 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 2: We have a lot more for you on the Commander's 663 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 2: Podcast Network. 664 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: That's right. 665 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 2: We have the Command Center Podcast with Logan Paulson and 666 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 2: Fred Smooth and Santanta mass It's like hanging out with 667 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 2: your best friends, but you're talking all Commander's football. Then 668 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 2: we have the Players Club with Legends London Plusher and 669 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 2: Santana Mars and they sit with your favorite Commanders players 670 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 2: and they talk football in the way that only. 671 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: Those who played the game could. 672 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 2: Then, of course we have to get Loud podcast with 673 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 2: Mike Jenkins and Fred Smooth doing what they do best. 674 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 2: Didn't Loud That show is a lot of fun. And 675 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 2: then of course you have the Next Man Up Podcast. 676 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 2: We'll be back next Tuesday with another one of your 677 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: favorite Commander's players. All that and more than be found 678 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 2: on The Commander's Podcast Network, streaming wherever you get your podcasts, 679 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 2: or you can watch us on The Commander's YouTube page.