Jakeem Grant – May 6, 2016
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Friday, May 6, 2016
Wide Receiver Jakeem Grant
(On his return game and what about it is special) – “Basically, I would say everything that I did in college is special to me – not just the return game, not just (being a) receiver. I feel like I have to be both. I have to be great at all those things in order to make that 53-man roster. The more you can do, the better.”
(On whether he was used as a pitch man on option plays) – “Yes, sir. I was. I was kind of like one of those guys that play every role. I was in the backfield, receiver, kick returner, punt returner – all those types of things. When coach called my number, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’”
(On whether being a returner will help is chances of making the team) – “I definitely feel like (having) a return job is going to help me out in making the team. Also, I do want to play offense. I know there’s a lot of competition there and I’m looking forward to it.”
(On whether he has watched footage of Head Coach Adam Gase’s offense) – “I’ve definitely been watching film. It’s kind of hard going to the next level, getting used to their schemes. In college, it’s a whole different system. The NFL is much tougher, defenses disguise (and) looks much harder. I definitely feel like, (Head Coach Adam Gase is) an offensive genius. I definitely think I can fit into a role being that slot guy or even on the outside. I feel like he would draw something up for me just as (Texas Tech Head) Coach ‘King’ (Kliff Kingsbury) did. I feel like once I get rolling, it’s going to be great.”
(On the rookie minicamp) – “I’m very anxious to get on the field, but also, you got to be mentally ready. You can’t get on the field not knowing what to do. But coming in, I told the coaches, I’m ready to get out there. I’m just ready to play. But like I said, you have to be mentally ready in order to play, in order to get out on the field and do it perfectly.”
(On walking into the building for the first time as a member of the team) – “It was a dream come true. One of our legends, one of our Hall of Famers at Texas Tech, Zach Thomas … Just knowing that he played here, it motivates me to become a Hall of Famer too and be at my best. (It is) a dream come true, that’s what I like to say. Walking in here and seeing the building, it’s a great facility. You couldn’t be at a better place than Miami.”
(On when he decided not to let his height become an obstacle) – “I definitely got that my whole life. That’s didn’t knock me down not one bit. That just created a bigger chip on my shoulder. There (were) a whole bunch of guys saying, ‘His career is not going to last long in the NFL, because of his size.’ But like I always say, ‘You can’t hit what you can’t catch.’ People have seen me take hits in college, and I get right back up. They told me I couldn’t do this against LSU, and then look what happened. Now, I’m here on this big stage. No one believes me until I actually put in the playmaking ability here. Once I do that, then all the critics will be like, ‘Okay, now Jakeem … It doesn’t matter about size.’ That’s my emphasis, and that’s what I’m going to show the world: that size doesn’t matter. If you have the heart and the passion to play the game, that’s all (there) is to it.”
(On when he hit his current height) – “I stopped growing, probably, (in) middle school. I was taller than everybody and all of a sudden, people are still growing and I’m like, ‘Dang!’ (laughter) It’s all good. I’m not blessed with the height, but the one thing I’m blessed (with) is speed and quickness. It has its pros and cons to it.”
(On the pressure of returning kicks and whether making the team depends on that) – “I feel like it’s a lot of pressure – not just being a punt returner or a kick returner. I feel like (there is) pressure just trying to become a great (player) and earn that job and be on that 53-man roster and be able to dress out. It’s great pressure. I want to be … like Zach Thomas. That’s the pressure I feel. I feel like I want to be up there with him, recognized right beside him, because he is a Texas Tech player, and so am I. Being up there with him is like a dream come true.
(On his Twitter handle, “The Dream is Here,” and what it refers to) – “The dream is … I use that nickname for me, because it’s a dream for guys my size to play in the National Football League. Being faced with obstacles, telling people … Guys telling us ‘We can’t do this, we can’t do that,’ and going out there and proving them wrong. There are only things that us short guys dream of. So, when I made my Twitter handle – The Dream is Here – it’s making a statement, saying, ‘No matter how much you knock me down, I’m here and I’m going to make a play no matter what.’
(On being an inspiration to smaller players) – “I take a lot of pride in that. I feel like there (are) a lot of guys looking up to me just as I looked up to Darren Sproles and all those guys that paved the way before me. It’s my turn to pave the way for them. I want to be great because of my family and those guys that look up to me. It’s not just for myself. Yes, it’s for myself. I make myself last because I feel like if I pave the way for those guys, one day, we will be looked at as a standard receiver. And not just because we’re short and we’re looked at as gadget guys. We’ll be measured on the same level as regular receivers.”
(On if he has always been confident) – “Yes. That confidence has always been there. I just feel like (the) more people doubt me, the harder I play. I’m basically self-motivated and I want to be the best … the best person on the field. Whether that’s at running back, quarterback, it doesn’t matter what position I’m at. I want to be the best man on the field. When you look at – on the field – defense or offense, you (can) say, ‘Jakeem Grant, that’s the best player on the field.’”
(On whether running track was a consideration for him) – “Yes, sir. Coming out of high school, I did (consider running track). My mom was heavy on track; she pushed us to it. Then my senior year, I learned not to be big-headed. It was my junior year, and I (had) never lost a track meet. I never lost a track race. I was second in the state of Texas. I ran a 10.32 (seconds) in the 100 (meter dash) so I was all big-headed. I got to the end of the finish line, and I was talking trash, telling everybody they’re slow. All of a sudden, I get to district and all I had to do was just win. I didn’t even have to run as fast as I could. I went to district. I jumped the gun, didn’t make it to state. Basically, it killed me. I was like, ‘That’s what they were telling me.’ My track coach, he told me, ‘Don’t be big-headed. Stay a humble guy.’ And that’s why … That was a life lesson I learned to this day. That’s why I’m so humble. I just feel that there’s a time for (when) trash talking is necessary, and there’s a time to be humble. I definitely wanted to run track in college but the coaches didn’t want me to run track. I wanted to run the 60 meter (dash like) Trindon Holliday (who) I looked up to in the 60 meter. I told myself, ‘If I can get a chance to run track in college, I will break his record.’ I always pride myself on speed. If I were (to have) gotten (invited to) the Combine, I would’ve broke Chris Johnson’s record. That’s how I feel. Track is definitely a big issue. I’d love to do it, but in the end, I have to focus on football. Football is my pride and joy.”
(On what enables a smaller receiver to win outside) – “Just being quick and (being smart about) releasing and being able to recognize the coverage. It’s not necessarily the size difference. What if you get a 6-3 corner, 200-something pounds and he gets ready to put his hands on you? Okay, use your strengths. You don’t have size. Okay, use speed and technique. Give the illusion that you’re going somewhere that you’re not. That’s how I feel. I feel that just because I don’t have size, doesn’t mean that a 6-3 corner is just going to come down and jam you up. I’m going to use my strengths to maneuver around them.”
(On his family’s reaction when he started playing football) – “It was basically … I came from a single-parent home. So, my mom she … I didn’t even think about playing football. I was at Broadway’s skating rink and they played a game called sharks and minnows. It’s when four people are on skates and all the (other) people are in the middle. I was the last one to get out. My mom came early to pick up me and my brothers, and I was the last one to get out. This guy was like, ‘Hey, I got him.’ And he’s on skates; just remember that. I’m thinking in my head, ‘Dude, there’s no way you’re going to touch me with skates on.’ So, I made him fall on skates, and my mom was like, ‘Wow, I’m going to throw you in football.’ The rest was history. I just fell in love with football ever since then.”
(On whether he takes pride in having excelled in the Big 12 Conference) – “Yes, sir. I do. Like I said, I was always a smaller guy. They were telling me, ‘Jakeem Grant is not going to have the success (like) all the receivers before him like Michael Crabtree.’ And I’m like … I looked at them and was like, ‘Man, you can’t tell me what kind of success (I’ll have). I’ll pave my own way.’ I told my mom (that) one of the goals of mine (was to) break Crabtree’s record and have a Crabtree moment against Texas, too. I accomplished both of those things. I feel like it’s a big burden trying to become one of those top receivers in the Big 12 … in the nation. I think I was top in the nation at receiving. They didn’t give it to me. Well, statistically I was, but they didn’t give (an award) to me because of my height. I continued to go out every day and prove that size doesn’t matter.”
(On not getting awards because of his height) – “I feel like my numbers didn’t lie. Coming out of college, my numbers definitely didn’t lie. I feel like they said, ‘Jakeem, he’s too short. He’s not a top receiver.’ That’s basically what they did, and I feel like that’s what they used against me in (the) combine. So, I wasn’t talked about until after (my) Pro Day after I ran the 40. Everybody loves speed, I guess, so that was my whole preparation. Since I’m not tall, I guess you all like my speed. I was angry. I was upset because like I told you previously before, I wanted to break Chris Johnson’s record, because Chris Johnson is one of my top favorite players and because I pride myself on speed. And that 4.24, I told my mom, ‘I’m going to break that record.’ Letting my mom down … I feel like I let her down, because I didn’t get invited (to the Combine). I wanted that record as bad as I wanted to be a great football player and to be up there with Zach (Thomas). All that … sometimes it gets overwhelming. But then again, it’s just me. I love doing the impossible.”
(On whether he has met Zach Thomas before) – “I have spoken to him at Texas Tech when he came back to speak to us. (I said), ‘Actually, I really look up to you. I love your work ethic,’ and just the fact that he was an undersized linebacker. Looking at that, I was like, ‘Zach did it, so why can’t I?’ Yes, he was on the other side of the ball. Yes, he is tackling (players), and I’m making defenders miss. I felt like Zach, he pushed forward that movement as well. Everybody didn’t think he could do it, because he’s an undersized linebacker. And what did he do? He came out and proved people wrong. I feel like that’s the same thing I’m going towards. I definitely want to be recognized with him.”
(On whether Zach Thomas has reached out to him since being draft) – “No, sir. He hasn’t.”
(On dealing with criticism about being a small receiver) – “I’ve definitely heard every joke in the book. I use that fuel to my fire. I just go out there and tell them, ‘You can say I’m short, I’m this, I’m that. But when it all comes down to (it), you can’t stop me at the end of the day.’ You can say, ‘Jakeem, grow a little more.’ (I would say), ‘Dude, I stopped growing in middle school.’ That’s all you’re going to get right here. I always tell them, ‘At the end of the day, if it’s man-to-man, I’m going to win the battle.’ That’s what I look towards. I feel like once the ball is in my hands, there’s nobody that can stop me. I’ve been feeling like that my whole life.”
