1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:00,520 Speaker 1: What's good. 2 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 2: Command his Family Brian Copwa Junia and this is the 3 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 2: Next Man Up podcast We talked to your favorite Commanders players, 4 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 2: not so much about X and OS, more about the 5 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: man behind the helmet, and our next man Up is 6 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 2: no other than Khalik Huntson Man. 7 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: We had a great conversation. 8 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 2: Cleie talks about being from McKey Sport, Pennsylvania and giving 9 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 2: back to the community. 10 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: Specifically, he talks. 11 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 2: About his father and how his father throughout life just 12 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: inspired him and taught him how to be the man 13 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 2: he is today and what losing his father did to 14 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: him and his mentality. 15 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: He talks about Draft night and how that was the 16 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: best night of his life. 17 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 2: And he also talks about getting into the fourth year 18 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: of his NFL season and the trials and tribulations he 19 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 2: went through to get to this point. All that and 20 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: more starts right now, So Command his Family. This is 21 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 2: Brian Corvir Junia and this is the Next Man Up Podcasts. 22 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: We talked to your favorite Commanders players. Not so much 23 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 2: about X and O's, more about the man behind the helmet, 24 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 2: and our next man up is no other than my 25 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: God Kalie Huts and click out. 26 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: You're doing today. 27 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 3: Brother, I'm doing good about yourself. 28 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: Man, I'm doing good. I appreciate you, man. I know 29 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: the season's windling down. I know you guys are busy, 30 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: so we appreciate you jumping on with us and like, 31 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: you know, kicking it for a little bit of a problem. 32 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: Man. Yeah. 33 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 3: Man. 34 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: And like I said, Man, we ain't really talking extent. 35 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: We don't want to talk so much with football. I want 36 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 2: to talk about you as the person. 37 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 3: Right. 38 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 2: Let the fans get to know who you are, because 39 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,199 Speaker 2: you have a very interesting story, man. So we're gonna 40 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: start with the story began a Key Sport, Pennsylvania, right, 41 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 2: I said it, right, Yes, sir, you said. 42 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: Yes, sir. 43 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: Man tell me what it means to be from a 44 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: Key Sport, Pennsylvania and basically what it was like growing 45 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: up out there. 46 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 3: It means a world to me, you know, just being 47 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 3: from a key sport, just standing on, just being a pride, 48 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 3: being a guy who everybody looks up to as far 49 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 3: as all the kids, and just being a role model 50 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 3: to them. You know, I really take that serious. Try 51 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 3: to carry myself in a way to where a lot 52 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 3: of people want to look up to me and want 53 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 3: to do like certain things that I did and have 54 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 3: the impact that I have. So it just means a lot. 55 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 3: It means a lot. You know, I got a city 56 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 3: on my back that really cares about his sports, really 57 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 3: cares about his people just in general. So it just 58 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 3: means a lot for me to be in this position 59 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 3: right now. 60 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: Uh. 61 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 3: You know, growing up, there was a bunch of people 62 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 3: I was able to look up to, people like, uh, 63 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 3: swing Cash, she's in she was in a w NBA, 64 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 3: she's not Hall. 65 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: Of Famer, tough, tough hooper. 66 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, guys like uh, you know, Brandon Short, a guy 67 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 3: made it to the NFL, and just a bunch of 68 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 3: other people who who paved the way for me, made 69 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 3: it easy for me, gave me a vision I could 70 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 3: I can, you know, see what they did and do 71 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 3: the same things, but just in my own way. Yea, 72 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 3: it may have the same goal, but you know what 73 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 3: I mean, it's just a different path, that's all. But Yeah, 74 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 3: being from a key sports means it means the world 75 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 3: to me, you know what I mean. It's and it's 76 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 3: just it's just it's just a great feeling to be 77 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 3: from a place like that, and it's easy. 78 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: For guys to be like you know, I love my hometown. 79 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 2: I want to give back, but you actually do the work. 80 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 2: You had your I think this past summer thing in July, 81 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: you had your second camp out in m Key, right, 82 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: you had it out there. Man, how cool was that 83 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: to be able to not only do it once, but 84 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: then do it a second time and have all the 85 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: kids show out and just be able to holst the 86 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: camp like that for the kids. 87 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 3: It was. It was super cool, you know, just seeing 88 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 3: how excited the kids be, you know, like when when 89 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 3: they see me and stuff like oh your coolly guss. Yeah, 90 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 3: I can run you over. I fashion than you. 91 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: You can. Trash talk starts immediately, it starts immediately. 92 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 3: So like I love it though. Man, it's just it's 93 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 3: just like just going back to it, like just being 94 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 3: that guy that everybody could look up to, you know 95 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 3: what I mean, especially the kids, you know what I mean? 96 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: Growing up, that's something I always wanted to focus on 97 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 3: being an inspiration for the kids, like showing them that 98 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: there's more than just where we're from, you know what 99 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: I mean, There's more. There's more than just sports as well, 100 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 3: Like you don't have to you don't have to make 101 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 3: it out just by going the sports away. You can 102 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 3: be a lawyer, you can be a doctor, you can 103 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 3: be a dentist, whatever you want to be. As long 104 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 3: as you put your mind to it, you can do. 105 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: You can do whatever you want to. So just seeing 106 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 3: their faces every year, you know this year coming up, 107 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 3: I might have another one, and I'm just so excited 108 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: to be able to be in a position where I 109 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 3: can change someone's life. 110 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 2: That's awesome, man, Because, like you said, changing somebody's life, 111 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: I mean, one of those kids that could be their 112 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: first time seen anything involved with football, and then because 113 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: of your camp, now they love football. 114 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: Yeah you growing up? What made you love football? 115 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 3: What made me love football? So I started football at 116 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 3: the age of four. My dad put me into football, 117 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 3: and he was one of the main reasons why I 118 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: kept going so hard and because he worked me, my brothers. 119 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 3: He worked us to be the best. Every single day 120 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 3: were doing something. We was in multiple different sports, but 121 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 3: it was always football. Yeah, I mean that he was 122 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 3: most serious about. He was serious about all the other sports, 123 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 3: but football. We had to be on point. You had 124 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 3: to be hustling, full speed, hitting everybody, scoring touchdown. So 125 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 3: just from them experiences just kept creating stronger love for 126 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 3: the game for me, and I just kept it going, 127 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. And my dad passed away 128 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 3: in twenty thirteen, and me, I feel like everything happens 129 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 3: for a reason, you know what I mean. So I 130 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 3: feel like that propelled me to work even harder, knowing 131 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 3: that that's a portism from my dad was not there 132 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 3: no more. Now I had to turn it up myself, 133 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 3: my own mental like my mom mental capacity, you know, 134 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 3: just be stronger mentally, just knowing that he's still there 135 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 3: in my head. So I got to carry on what 136 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 3: he wanted me to do. I gotta carry on this 137 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 3: task of keeping my grades up in school, doing the 138 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: right thing all the time, being a good son, being 139 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 3: the best player on the field, you know what I mean. 140 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 3: So I had to work on doing that without him 141 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 3: being there, and it was kind of a struggle at first, 142 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,239 Speaker 3: but as I kept going, and you know, there's certain 143 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: things that happened. When you learn from certain situations that happened, 144 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 3: you know, might get in trouble with here, like Okay, 145 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 3: I know I can't do that, or I gotta do 146 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 3: this better. So that's why I say everything happens for 147 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 3: a reason. I feel like it was just a test 148 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 3: from God, you know what I mean, Like your dad 149 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 3: was always there telling you what to do, making sure 150 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 3: you was making sure you was always doing everything you're 151 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 3: supposed to be doing. And you know, he got taken away. 152 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 3: So that was kind of a challenge on me, like 153 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 3: I'm gonna see if you still keep going what you's 154 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 3: supposed to be doing even though that guy's not there 155 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 3: no more. So it's like it was hard. It was 156 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 3: very hard, but like I said, everything happens for a reason, 157 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 3: and it got me to this where I am now 158 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 3: and still to this day, I live by everything that 159 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 3: my dad taught me, everything that I've seen with him 160 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 3: taking care of our family, taking care of my siblings, 161 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 3: and just being a man he's supposed to be for 162 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 3: the family overall. Yeah, I was just just soaking all 163 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 3: that in and try to integrate it into my own 164 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 3: life so I could be that person for my family. 165 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. 166 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 2: And you know everywhere you go, man, everything you do, 167 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: the way you carry yourself on the field, off the field, man, 168 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: he's with you everywhere. 169 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: Man. 170 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 2: So I want to first say sorry to hear that. Man, 171 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 2: I'm really sorry you lost your father. You said he 172 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: was taken away from you. Man, do you mind explaining 173 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: what happened back in twenty thirteen? 174 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was a gun violence. Yeah, you know, he's 175 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 3: just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and 176 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 3: you know, gun violence. 177 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 2: I'm sorry to hear that, man and talk about how 178 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: hard that is, right man, twenty thirteen to ten years ago. Yeah, 179 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: we're very young man, think you were what's still in 180 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: high school on the tenth grade going into tenth grade? Man, 181 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: those are very primitive years, man, Those are years when 182 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: a young man probably needs this father the most. How 183 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: did you get through that? How did you get through that? 184 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: Because there's a lot of people going through things, people 185 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: going through things right now that are dealing with battles man, 186 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: and trying to just see the other side, see the 187 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: light at the end of the tunnel. 188 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: How did you get through that and become the man 189 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: you are now? 190 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 3: I feel like majority of time people unise situations like this, 191 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 3: like if it happens to him as a reason to retaliate, 192 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 3: or a reason to go back and do damage to 193 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 3: somebody else, to somebody else's family. But I looked at 194 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 3: it in a way to where I just use it 195 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 3: as motivation. Like it might sound crazy, but my dad 196 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 3: not being there no more. Like I said, I felt 197 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 3: like it was a test from God. You know, I'm 198 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 3: gonna see if you really still want this. I'm gonna 199 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 3: take this guy away, you know. I mean, you know 200 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 3: I've away and see how much you really wanted. See 201 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 3: if you're gonna still keep grinding, If you are, you're 202 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 3: gonna still keep your grades up? Are you going try 203 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 3: to be that person he was for your family? 204 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: You know? 205 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 3: And I just took it and just ran with it, 206 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 3: you know. I just stepped up, kept going, kept pushing, 207 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 3: worked ten times even harder, worked ten times even harder 208 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 3: in school, trying to be the best man I can 209 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 3: be for my family, the best son I could be 210 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 3: for my mother, and just kept pushing it, just kept 211 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 3: using this motive, kept saying my dad's still with me, 212 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 3: my dad still with me, like he'll be proud of 213 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 3: me right now. And I got to keep going to 214 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 3: make him happy, make my family happy. So that's what 215 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 3: I'll say. I use the situation as motivation. 216 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 2: Was it times when that confidence wavered where you know 217 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 2: your pops told you, hey, this is what you can do, 218 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 2: this is what you can do in life if you 219 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 2: just stay focused. But now you're on your own essentially, right, 220 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 2: you don't have him there. Did you have times when 221 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 2: you were like, man, I can't do this football thing 222 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 2: no more. 223 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: It reminds me too much. Did you have those moments? Nah? 224 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 3: I never had them. Wow, because I knew I always 225 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 3: always knew what I was capable of, always knew my 226 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 3: true potential and what I was able to do on 227 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 3: the field just in general, you know, just by just 228 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 3: from the things that he taught me. You know, the 229 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 3: jokes that we went over every day, and we kept 230 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 3: kept going over, going over going to the field wise 231 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 3: thunderstorment outside me and my two brothers were still working. 232 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 3: So it's like going through all that, it molded in 233 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 3: my head and that's just how I am now, Like 234 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: no one's going to outwork me. I'm going to try 235 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 3: to be the hardest worker on the field all the time, 236 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 3: no matter what I do it I don't got to 237 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 3: be on the field, could be in my regular life. 238 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: I'm trying to be the hardest worker, and I want 239 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 3: to be that guy for my family, my personal family 240 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 3: now because now I have a baby's team rather Congress, 241 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 3: so for my personal family, my family in general, and 242 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 3: just be that guy that he was, you know. 243 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, man, and you not only you know, take care 244 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 2: of your own family, but you're looking out for others 245 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 2: as well. We had a mind cause my cleats not 246 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 2: too long ago, and you decided to have something about 247 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 2: gun violence on your pleased to represent that. Why was 248 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 2: that an important message to get across? And how have 249 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: you tried your best to help others now. 250 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: Go through what you and your family went through. 251 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 3: That's very important for me because, like I told you, 252 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 3: I lost my dad through gun violence, but I lost 253 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 3: multiple friends, like a lot of friends through gun violence, 254 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 3: like over twenty more. Just I don't even know. It's 255 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 3: it's That's what I'm saying. Being from a key sport, 256 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 3: like it gots it's ups and it also has its downs. 257 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 3: Like I remember, probably like three four years ago, it 258 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 3: was like ranked like the top five most dangerous cities 259 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 3: in the US. So so there's a lot of stuff 260 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 3: you gotta deal with, a lot of stuff you got 261 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 3: to keep pushing through. Like I said, I lost a 262 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 3: lot of people, a lot of family, a lot of 263 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 3: friends from gun violence. So that hold that whole that 264 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 3: that's a heavy feeling in my heart, you know, yeah, 265 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 3: for sure, for sure, And I just want to And 266 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 3: what I try to do is I try to preach 267 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: the word to you know, stay out the streets and 268 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 3: do what's right. And like I said, don't have to 269 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 3: be through football. It could be through any avenue. Like 270 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 3: I said, doctor, then it's whatever you want to do, 271 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 3: you can do it. If you don't want to go 272 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 3: down this path to where you know, you're walking around 273 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 3: with guns and stuff like that, or you're just around 274 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 3: bad energy, to bad environments like that, because nothing good 275 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,719 Speaker 3: is happening. Nothing good happens out of being around being 276 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 3: around being around things like that. So I tried to 277 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 3: push it every day when I'm talking to my friends, 278 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 3: when I'm talking to the youth back at home, talking 279 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 3: to growing ups back at home. I try to always 280 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 3: push for peace, you know what I mean, for peace 281 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: and positivity, you know, because I know I know how 282 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 3: I feel to lose, to lose someone very close to 283 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 3: you because of gun violence. So I tried to spread 284 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 3: that so no one else has to feel that same 285 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 3: pain that I felt. 286 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: What's feeling that pain going through those things? Losing so 287 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: many people? Was that part of the reason why you 288 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,719 Speaker 2: decided to head over to Michigan for college because a 289 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 2: lot of guys you talked we talked to us a 290 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 2: little bit before the show started in I asked you, 291 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 2: like most guys that we talked to here, they stay 292 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:43,959 Speaker 2: close to home. 293 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: They don't want to go nowhere. 294 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 2: I don't know how many Virginia Tech people we talked 295 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 2: to called this team. 296 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: But you decided to go very far from home and 297 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: go to Michigan. 298 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,439 Speaker 2: When it went into that decision, it didn't have anything 299 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 2: to do with the things you were trying to leave 300 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 2: behind back in PA. 301 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 3: I'll say it had a a little bit, I'll say 302 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 3: a little bit, but really I wanted to get away 303 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 3: from home but also be close enough to where my 304 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 3: family could still come to the games. And it really 305 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 3: came down to Penn State or Michigan. Uh. In Penn State, 306 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 3: there was a couple of things that happened with the 307 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 3: with the coaching staff and me, and that wasn't really feeling. 308 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 3: But towards the end of my senior year that that 309 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 3: love for Penn State started coming back a little bit. 310 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 3: But when I went up to Michigan on my visit, 311 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 3: it was just it was a rap. It was a 312 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 3: kochar Ball had just that was I was his first 313 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 3: recruiting class. That was his second year at Michigan. We 314 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: just had changed over. We became a sponsored by Jordan. 315 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: Oh. Yeah, so they laid the kicks out for you 316 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: when you pulled up. 317 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 2: Yeah. 318 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 3: Also with that, the schooling and education from a college 319 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 3: like Michigan is like, you know, can't beat that for real? 320 00:13:58,080 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 3: Uh yeah, I mean That's how I made my have 321 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 3: to say, I really I want to go go go 322 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 3: far away, but stay close enough to my family can 323 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 3: still support for me. 324 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 1: It seemed like you made the right decision. Man. 325 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 2: And before we move forward through college, Man, it's actually 326 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 2: something happened. I think it happened in like twenty fifteen. 327 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 2: We do a research year and next man, you know 328 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 2: what I'm saying. So I saw this video of you 329 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,839 Speaker 2: like jumping over a brother that looked like he was 330 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 2: like six five six six, and you just like vertical 331 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 2: jump over him and then do like the crazy one 332 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 2: hand snag. 333 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: Right. Do you remember what I'm talking about? Yeah? I 334 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: remember that. Man, talk to me about what's going with 335 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: you about it? That video? 336 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 2: And did you know it was going to make the 337 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: impact on your life at the time when you made it. 338 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 3: I did not know, And it's crazy because I still 339 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 3: stand on this today in twenty fifteen. I did that, 340 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 3: and then right after that, all these other people around 341 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 3: the world start doing like trick catches, backflips, catching two hands. 342 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: People got whole careers off of that. 343 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 3: Now, yeah, I'm like, you know, I'm like, I peep it. 344 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: I peep it for real. You the trend set up. 345 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 3: I'm the trend sector for real. But yeah, I remember 346 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 3: that moment. Man, that's crazy, and I did not know 347 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 3: it was going to go viral. That for me doing 348 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 3: I'm like, say nothing, I just I've been doing this 349 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 3: since I was a kid. 350 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: Just I mean, it looks crazy. We're going to show it, 351 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: like right now, looks it looks nuts what you do. 352 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: Because brother looked like he was pretty big man, and 353 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: you're not a little guy either. For like to just 354 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: be bouncing like that then to catch the pass, it's 355 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 2: pretty impressive. 356 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 3: I don't know if I got that bounce like that 357 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 3: no more. That was a couple of years ago. 358 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: But I still give you a little something. 359 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, clearly you are a superb athlete and clearly 360 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: worked out for you in Michigan. Man, you get drafted 361 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: in the fifth round by Washington. Take us back to 362 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 2: that day, man, at that moment. I love hearing these stories. 363 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: Where were you at? What was you doing when you 364 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 2: got that call when you got drafted? 365 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: Man? To bring us back there. 366 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I wasn't back in Pittsburgh, and it was 367 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: during COVID, so I couldn't have the event that I 368 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 3: really wanted to have. 369 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: For all my tough man, that's tough. 370 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 3: I really had something set up. I wanted to do 371 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 3: something in my hometown to where like literally everybody came 372 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 3: and was like behind me, like literally down to the 373 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 3: whole city and I was, you know, wait for a 374 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 3: phone call and stuff like that. But COVID had messed 375 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 3: it up. But I had like an air and b 376 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 3: had some close family there and that day was kind 377 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 3: of like all the day, so I knew probably I 378 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 3: knew I wasn't gonna go the first day, but the 379 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 3: second day or third day was like really nerve wracking, 380 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 3: just waiting, waiting, waiting, then somebody random might call like yo, 381 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 3: what are you doing, like like leave my photo alone. 382 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 3: But I got called on the third day, uh, you know, 383 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 3: by Washington, and it was it was probably still to 384 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 3: this day, the best feeling ever, the best for I've 385 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 3: ever had in my life. Wow, because it was just 386 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 3: it was just a so real moment. You know, like 387 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 3: you work your whole life to get to you know, 388 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 3: the NFL, and to get that call one day, and 389 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 3: when you're in a moment and it actually happened, it's 390 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 3: just like I just like immediately just started like tearing up, 391 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 3: crying and stuff, like my mom is right here, all 392 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 3: my family's here, and like I'm just thinking about my 393 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 3: dad listening. I really don't remember what they were saying 394 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 3: on the phone. I just just whenever he stopped talking, 395 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 3: I just started saying thank you. I appreciate it so 396 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 3: much because it's just so many things was like, you know, 397 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 3: going through my mind, especially my dad, just knowing he 398 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 3: was so. 399 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: Proud of me. 400 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 3: And you know, after everything had calmed down, I had 401 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 3: left cause I had an airbnb in Pittsburgh. I left and 402 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 3: drove back to my Keysport, which is probably like twenty 403 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 3: five minutes away, and I went to my dad's grave site, 404 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 3: and I was very emotional for me as well. I 405 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 3: went by myself that good by myself. I think I 406 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 3: went by myself and I was just just talking to 407 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 3: my dad for about five to ten minutes, just telling them, 408 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 3: you know, I made it, and you know it doesn't 409 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,919 Speaker 3: stop here. We got more work to do, you know, 410 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 3: trying to be the best, trying to be the best 411 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 3: player and just do what I can. 412 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: You know. 413 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 3: And like I said, that was just one of the 414 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 3: greatest moments for me, just the phone call, going to 415 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 3: my dad's gravesite, my family being there, being able to 416 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 3: experience that moment with me. So just yeah, the whole 417 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 3: experience is just mind blowing and I still can't believe 418 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 3: it to this day. Still can't believe it to this day. 419 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 3: But yeah, so. 420 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 2: You said you went over to your pop's grave site, Man, 421 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 2: thank you for sharing that. 422 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: What do you think your pops would have said to you? 423 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 2: Man? If he could have been there with you when 424 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 2: you had that phone call? Man, you think he would 425 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 2: have said to you? 426 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 3: I don't even know he would know, y'all don't know. 427 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 3: I know what he said. I knew what he would 428 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 3: have said, going crazy. He could have been saying some 429 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 3: funny stuff, but he would have just been proud. Man, 430 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 3: He's just been so happy. Yeah, he'd have been saying 431 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 3: some funny stuff. 432 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: Man. 433 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 2: That is so cool man, Just to see the way 434 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 2: you light up thinking about your dad. Man. And you know, 435 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 2: I know you lost a lot of time, man, but 436 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 2: I have no doubt. Man, he's been watching you do 437 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 2: your thing. 438 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 3: Man. 439 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 2: And you know, it's been a long career for you 440 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 2: in the NFL. 441 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: Man, Which is year four for you? Now? Yeah? 442 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 2: Year four and year four has been a lot different 443 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,959 Speaker 2: than the first three years. First three years it was 444 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 2: a lot of prove it. It was a lot of yo, 445 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 2: I belong here? How was year four been different for you? 446 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 2: And your own words? 447 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 3: For me personally, I feel like the way I think 448 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 3: about it is like I don't want to prove nobody wrong. 449 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 3: I just want to prove myself right, you know what 450 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 3: I mean. I know my capabilities and I know what 451 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 3: I can do on the field. You know, I'm confident 452 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 3: in myself. So but it's like this fourth year has 453 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 3: been there's been a lot of ups and downs. You know. 454 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 3: Earlier in this season I wasn't playing as much. But 455 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 3: later in this season I've been getting more opportunity and 456 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 3: being able to get a chance to show what I 457 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 3: can do. So I'm just grateful because I remember last year, 458 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: going into my third year, I got cut at the 459 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 3: end of camp and that was probably the lowest if 460 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 3: I ever felt in my life. You know, Yeah, that 461 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 3: was probably the lowest ever felt in my life. I 462 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 3: was kind of like questioning was I good enough? Which 463 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,239 Speaker 3: is crazy, you know, because a lot of things is 464 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 3: just flying around in your head when you get cut. 465 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 3: It's like I do something wrong? Did they not see? 466 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 3: So it was hard, but I felt like that situation 467 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 3: propelled me into the next part of my life. It 468 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 3: showed me, It showed me a part of myself. I 469 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 3: never knew that I was there, you know, I never 470 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 3: my whole career, always been one of the best on 471 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 3: the team, if not the best on the team. I 472 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 3: always been playing, you know, I never been off the 473 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,400 Speaker 3: field like I always been on the team, you know. 474 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: Both sides of the ball in high school. Yeah, after 475 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: the ball. 476 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 3: So when that happened, it's just like whoa, Like it 477 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 3: was like a shock to me, Like this don't feel right? 478 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: Like that day. 479 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 3: I cried, I smiled, I laughed, I was I had 480 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 3: every emotion, every emotion you could think of. And yeah, 481 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 3: last year, my third year, is probably the point of 482 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 3: the hardest years of my life just overall, you know, 483 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 3: just dealing with that and trying to find myself again. 484 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 3: You know, like I said, like I was questioning was 485 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 3: I good enough? Because like I told you, in any 486 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 3: and everything that I do, I'm going to work as 487 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 3: harder as I can, no matter what practice walk through. 488 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 3: I'm going to be focused. I'm going laser focused. I'm 489 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 3: gonna do what I gotta do. And when you feel 490 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 3: like you've done that but then you still fall short, 491 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 3: it's kind of like it's the flating. Yeah, it's the flooding. 492 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 3: It really is deflating. But I'm so glad that it happened. 493 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 3: Though I needed that to happen, like I needed to. 494 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 3: I needed to find myself, you know, in a situation 495 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 3: like that. I needed to have that feeling to having 496 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 3: that feeling to being at the bottom and knowing that 497 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 3: feel like so then you know it just it just 498 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 3: helped me propel and just keep pushing and pushing, going 499 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 3: even harder. Now I'm more ten times harder, And it 500 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 3: got me to this moment now to where now I'm 501 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 3: getting a couple opportunities to be very show what I 502 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 3: can do, and I'm happy the way I've been playing, 503 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 3: but you know, there's still more to go. Like I 504 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 3: ain't showed nothing yet, There's still more to go. So 505 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 3: I truly feel that way, and that's what it is 506 00:21:57,560 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 3: right now. 507 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 2: And in hindsight, you know, it's a little easy to 508 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 2: be like, Man, I'm glad I went through that. I'm 509 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 2: glad I went through that hard time because during the 510 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 2: hard times, it's very hard to see. Like you said, 511 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 2: that light at the end of the tunnel, this is 512 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: young man from McKee McKey Sport, Keysport, Pennsylvania right now 513 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 2: watching this that maybe we'll go through that as well. 514 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 2: Maybe you'll go through a time when he's not at 515 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,719 Speaker 2: the top of the roster. You know, how did you 516 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 2: get through that and make it to this point? 517 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: Man? 518 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 2: What got you through what you said was the hardest 519 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 2: time in your life? 520 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 3: I leaned on the people who was closest to me, 521 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 3: because when it happened, my communication with a lot of 522 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 3: people kind of disappeared, and not because I wasn't playing. 523 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 3: They didn't want to call me or anything, no more 524 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 3: like I kind of like stepped back and I'm like, 525 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 3: all right, let me find myself. Like I'm in a 526 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:52,719 Speaker 3: situation now, no one's here to help me. How can 527 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 3: I get myself out of the situation? And it always 528 00:22:55,640 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 3: it always comes back to working hard, just hard work undefeated. 529 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 3: I said it. I said it after my third year 530 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 3: when I started started one game, the last game of 531 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 3: the season versus Dallas, and I received the game ball 532 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:11,880 Speaker 3: and I was able to say something to the team 533 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 3: and the only thing I said was hard work is undefeated. 534 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 3: Feel that way, you know what I mean? And that's 535 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 3: what I did. Just kept working, kept my head down, 536 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 3: control what I was able to control, and like I said, 537 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 3: it got me to the situation I'm at now. And 538 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 3: it was a lot of other things I was doing. 539 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 3: I was doing some uh, I was talking to therapists, 540 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 3: you know, to help me with my mental you know, 541 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 3: to keep going, stay on track and don't lose focused 542 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 3: on what the task I hand is. And but I 543 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 3: feel like the main thing was just going hard on 544 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 3: the field. It was just going hard just and then 545 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 3: eventually the opportunity will come, you know, because hard work 546 00:23:58,560 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 3: is undefeated. 547 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 2: And you definitely go hard on that field. Man, it 548 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 2: has been fun watching you did thing. 549 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: Brother. 550 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 2: I could talk to you all day long, but I 551 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 2: don't want to keep you too long, because we do 552 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: have one more game left on the season and it 553 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 2: is a rivalry game against the Dallas Cowboys. That's your 554 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:12,479 Speaker 2: ISO cam right there, Brother, I want you to look 555 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 2: into that cam right now and talk directly to Command 556 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 2: this fans and let them know why the need to 557 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 2: show up and show out at FedEx Field for our 558 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 2: final game this regularly. 559 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 3: Surely y'all got to show up and show out. You know, 560 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 3: it's the last dance, last game of the season, and 561 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 3: there's gonna be a lot of guys out there again, 562 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 3: huge opportunities, and we need y'all there to be able 563 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 3: to support us, support the team, and so we come 564 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 3: out with this victory. 565 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 2: And Collegue, Man, I cannot wait to see what you do, 566 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,120 Speaker 2: not only this Sunday Man, before the rest of your career. Brother, 567 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 2: It's been a pleasure getting to know you. I appreciate 568 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 2: your candedness. 569 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:40,719 Speaker 1: Man. 570 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 2: I know some of those things aren't really easy to 571 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 2: talk about, but man, you don't know how many people 572 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 2: you're helping by sharing your stories College. So thank you 573 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 2: so much. Command is family. This is the next Man 574 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 2: of Pockets. I'm Brian Cooble JUNR. And I'm honored to 575 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 2: be sitting next to Khalie Hutson. 576 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 1: Brother. 577 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,199 Speaker 2: Congrats on all your success so far. Man, I know 578 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 2: you have a lot more coming. Yes, I appreciate your 579 00:24:58,280 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 2: time bro having me on. 580 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: Thank you man, Sir, Commander's Family. 581 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 2: This is the last that's right, the last episode of 582 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 2: Next Man Up for the season, and we have had 583 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 2: so much fun with you all. We cannot thank you 584 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 2: enough for the love and support you all shown this 585 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 2: show and we cannot wait to come back next season 586 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 2: with some more great conversations. Special shout out to my 587 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: producer Kayla Key for taking care of everything behind the scenes. 588 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: This show would not be what it is without you. 589 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 2: And of course thank you to every Commander's player who 590 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,239 Speaker 2: took the time to join us on Next Man Up. 591 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 2: And although this is the last podcast episode of the season, 592 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 2: we are not done giving you content this offseason. Tune 593 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 2: in every Thursday to the Commander's YouTube page for weekly 594 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 2: episodes of Command Center until next season. I am Brian 595 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 2: Cooper Junior and this is the Next Man Up Podcast.