1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: But the one hundred and fifty ninth pick in the 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: fifth round, the Colts drafted Eric Johnson, defensive tackle out 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: of Missouri State, and Eric joins me now shortly after 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: his selection. Eric, congratulations, man, what's this feeling like? That's 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: a feeling I'm never including the word. You know, I 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: was out there. I was kind of shaking while I 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: was on the phone. You know, I was seeing all 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: my friends and family around and I'm just trying to 9 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: just trying to hold back tears. And you know, I 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: was hugging my dad and I couldn't. I couldn't hold 11 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: him back anymore. So it's it's a once in a 12 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: lifetime thing. It's it's hard to describe. Yeah, you brought 13 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 1: up your dad. Your dad was a football guy as well, right, 14 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 1: He was a stud at Illinois State, spent some time 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: in the NFL, the CFL, and the XFL. How much 16 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: has has football been part of your life? And you know, 17 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: just the proud moment that you know your father and 18 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: your family is experiencing right now. Yeah, football has always 19 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: been an integral part of my life. I've started when 20 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: I was young, from seven years old, and that was 21 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: all influence from them. My dad. You know, growing up, 22 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: I always wanted to be like him, and so mirroring 23 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: him in those ways is why I wanted to get 24 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: into football. I remember being little and we used to 25 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 1: go to some of just games and watching while we 26 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: were younger, and I didn't realize how much of a 27 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: you know, a special opportunity that was for me to 28 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: see that at such a young age. And then, you know, 29 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: always growing up because we also played the same ship. 30 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: He's always been a coach and a mentor for me 31 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: growing throughout my life. So throughout every stage of these 32 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: the process come leading up to here, he's always been 33 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: there in my in my corner, so you know, it's 34 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: it's it's very important for me in my family. Eric, 35 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: coming from FCS, you played two seasons in twenty twenty one, 36 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: you played a lot of ball in a short amount 37 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: of time, and you really showed what you could do. 38 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: How much do you think that helped you in your 39 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: game and your draft stock going into your first NFL season? Yeah, 40 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know how much emphasis other people 41 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: were to put on it, but I know for me personally, 42 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: it really felt like, um, it gave a glimpse into 43 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: what I would have to do and the things I 44 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,559 Speaker 1: would need in order to you know, maintain my body 45 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: progress as a player and maintained for these um for 46 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: these upcoming seasons. So it was very it was a 47 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: very important look for me before I get into the 48 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: whole role of everything. So it was a it was 49 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: a it was a great opportunity. Now, you also played 50 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: in two All Star games. You played in the NFLPA 51 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: Collegiate Bowl and were so you were so good in 52 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: that you got invited into the Senior Bowl as well 53 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: and really showed out both places. How much do you 54 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 1: think that process and those experiences helped you and again 55 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: your draft stock and showing what you could do coming 56 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: from an FCS school, Oh tremendously, you know. Um, just 57 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 1: like like you were saying, coming from that type of school, 58 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: and everybody knows that it does leave you with a 59 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: certain type of mark of what people automatically think about you. 60 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: You know, they might, um, they'll give you different for 61 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: inferences to where they don't believe that you might be 62 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: as good as some other people to certain respects. But 63 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: having those bowl game opportunities is the quickest and fastest 64 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: way to eliminate any type of doubts on what's your 65 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: ability as a player or you know, how you have 66 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: regardless of where you come from. So I would definitely 67 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: say that being at those World Games and having those 68 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: opportunities created played a tremendous amount of importance to meet 69 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: getting here now. Eric. I know we're probably putting the 70 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: cart way in front of the horse here because I 71 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: do want you to enjoy this moment. But you played 72 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: twenty three straight games in your career, fifty five games 73 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: there at Missouri State, which was a school record, and 74 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: you're a pretty versatile guy. You played the five technique, 75 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: you played the three technique. Spot where do you feel 76 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: like you're you're most comfortable? Where do you think your 77 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: home is going to be in the NFL with the Colts. 78 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: I definitely think it'll be It'll be between a three 79 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: and a four technique. I feel like a personal experience 80 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: that ask why I feel like I have the most 81 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: knowledge in terms of my game, but I'm always, you know, 82 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: looking to grow some more with it. So in relation 83 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: to that, depending on where they want me, I definitely 84 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: feel like that's probably more of the safer bed of 85 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: the area will probably be a no question about it. 86 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: That's Eric Johnson with us. Lastly, your excitement to join 87 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: this team, play with a guy like the Forrest Buckner 88 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: and insert yourself on this defense that's gonna be pretty 89 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: nasty next year with a ton of playmakers and a 90 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: lot of Pro bowlers all over it. Oh yeah, I'm 91 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: very excited for the opportunity. I've always had a somewhere 92 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: and tried to figure out a way to make my market. 93 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: That's exactly what I'm planning on doing, you know, going 94 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: up there, I'm you know, meeting with the seniors and 95 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: the veterans up there. You know, I hope to be 96 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: mentored by learn from them, and rest my game. I 97 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: hope to be able to make my spot up there 98 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: as well. Absolutely. Eric Johnson is the first Missouri state 99 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: player drafted from that program since two eleven. He's in Indianapolis, Colt. Now, 100 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: congratulations again, man, it's great to talk to you. It's 101 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: great to meet you, and we're excited to see you 102 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: get going now. Thank you for having me. Appreciate it.