Christian Wilkins – May 10, 2019
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Friday, May 10, 2019
DT Christian Wilkins
(What did you think?) – “It was definitely Day 1. You could tell from the start. Definitely a little rusty, but this is what this is all about – getting acclimated, getting back to doing football movements, working eyes, hands, feet, and really getting back in shape, too. I was working hard before I got here; but this Florida heat, this Miami heat, is a little different. So I definitely have to work hard and get better. That’s all I’m trying to do each day is improve.”
(Is it what you expected?) – “Yeah, it’s a grind. But it’s exciting, too. It’s football. Every time you get an opportunity to come out on this field, it’s special. And I bring that mindset to the field every day. I had a lot of fun out here today, but I’ve definitely got to get better. I’m a long ways away from where I want to be; but it’s good. It was my first practice and it was definitely a lot of fun. I just enjoyed getting out here and competing.”
(What was your first exchange with Defensive Line Coach Marion Hobby like?) – “Back like we never left. He’s still Coach Hobby. He coaches hard and gets after you, but he’s going to make you a better player ultimately and that’s what I was most excited about coming here was just knowing that Coach Hobby is going to get me where I need to be as a player and as a man, challenging offenses. I’m definitely excited working with him again and all of the coaching staff, honestly. (Head) Coach (Brian) Flores, (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Patrick) Graham, everybody. I’m just excited to get working with them.”
(Talking with Defensive Line Coach Marion Hobby yesterday, we get the sense he’s going the keep you grounded. He told us against Pitt you…) – “Oh, gosh. Why (does) he got to bring up old stuff? (laughter) (Dewayne) Hendrix is out here, too. He reminded me as well. Yeah. Hobby will definitely do a good job keeping you humble and that’s why he makes you better, because you’re never good enough. He’s hard on you at all times, but that’s what’s going to get you better with where you need to be. It’s definitely great. He’ll keep you grounded, keep you humble, for sure.”
(Does it feel like the NFL yet? Because it’s all rookies.) – “You can definitely tell the difference. It’s still the best guys out here, better than your typical college level. So you can tell the difference just the way the coaches are pushing you. (There is) just an extra sense of urgency. I’ve always played with that, but just an extra sense. I’m just trying to be great (and have) a sense of urgency because this is what I’ve worked for all of my life. Now that I’m here, I’m going to have fun, take it and run with it and enjoy every moment of it. There’s never going to be a bad day out here on this field as long as I can play and compete. I’m going to have fun with it each and every day.”
(You personality is a lot different than Head Coach Brian Flores, General Manager Chris Grier, Defensive Line Coach Marion Hobby. How do they encourage you to be yourself here?) – “That’s a good question. I’m definitely going to continue to be myself, but in the realms of when it’s respectful. There’s a time and a place for everything. I love to have a good time, I love to have fun with everything; but also there’s a time and a place. When it comes to this football stuff, you’ve got to be locked in, you’ve got to be focused. I be myself when I can; but also part of being myself is being locked in, focused and trying to be the best. I don’t mean that with any arrogance. That’s just what my mindset is and why I play the game, why I love the game.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores said there’s a lot of fundamentals going on basically, but was your mind still swimming out there, where to go and where to be and all that stuff?) – “As far as the playbook and stuff, I studied that. I had a pretty decent feel for the Day 1 installs and stuff. From a mental standpoint, from the install stuff, it wasn’t too bad. But definitely just the level of competition, it’s hot out here, you’re grinding, you’re moving and there’s a lot going on. You’re doing all of these drills and you’re doing things that you didn’t do before. It’s the first day, so I know for sure tomorrow I’m going to be out here better, polished and have a better mindset as far as knowing where to be, knowing what to do and leading by example.”
(Your versatility is one of the big reasons they drafted you. Where all did you line up today?) – “I just line up wherever the coaches need me to line up, whether that’s playing wherever on the defensive line, playing in the backfield, on offense. It doesn’t matter. Wherever the coaches need me to play, I’ll line up and play there. I’m just ready to come in and work.”
(Did you get some work at nose today?) – “Again, I’ll play wherever the coaches want me to play and do my thing.”
(Defensive Line Coach Marion Hobby said you were already asking to play tight end and running back. What’s up with that?) – “That’s part of just having fun with it. I feel like when you’ve got some talent, some abilities, you’ve got to try to showcase them all. (laughter) I have fun doing that. But there’s nothing like making a tackle for loss or sacking the quarterback. That stuff is fun, but I like the job I’ve got, for sure.”
(You’ve got something a lot of teams don’t have, you’ve got competition at fullback.) – “Right. (laughter) If they throw me back there, I’ll work hard and try to get the job done.”
(It has been a short time, but what is your relationship like with the other guys in the draft class?) – “I’ve already started to build a little bit of a relationship. Within the week after we all got drafted, I reach out to them. I just hit them up, congratulated them, just seeing how they were doing and everything. I’m just excited to get to work with him, not just those guys but all of the rookies out here all working hard, all competing. It’s fun to see that. We’re competing in everything: how we eat, how we work out, how we do it all. So, it’s been fun getting to work with those guys.”
(This is the first time we’ve talked to you since the day after the draft. Have you heard form anybody else, any notoriety from the shoulder bump there with Commissioner Roger Goodell?) – “That went all over the place right after. I’ve gotten stopped a lot in the airports and traveling and doing things like, ‘You’re the guy who…” and I’m like, ‘Yeah, that was me.’ (laughter) I’m definitely getting it for that. A lot of people recognize me for that, which is pretty funny.”
(Do people ask you to follow up and give them a shoulder bump?) – “Yeah, I’ve got some of that too, actually. People will see me and they’ll just go up and, ‘Alright! Hey!’ Why not? (laughter)”
(So you do it?) – “Yeah, I do it. Of course. I know what this means. (jump in the air signal) Mr. Goodell didn’t. (laughter).”
(On his collision with Commissioner Roger Goodell.) – “Yeah. He was pretty solid. I’m keeping my word on that. He was pretty solid. My shoulder wasn’t great after that.”
(Did you use the elevator wrap at the stadium? What were your thoughts?) – “I did see that. First of all, whoever did that worked fast, because that was within I felt like hours after it happened, which was pretty cool. That was pretty cool. I thought it was fun. It was pretty cool to look at.”
(Do you feel the culture yet here?) – “Yeah, you definitely get a vibe of that, first of all with Coach Flores and his leadership, what he’s trying to build and what he’s trying to establish. You definitely get a vibe for that. All of the coaches are definitely following suit. They’re coaching hard. But I feel like they’re also going to love you hard and get after you and be straightforward, straight shooters, tell you like it is, tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. That’s all good because it’s going to make you better as a person, as a player and ultimately as a team.”
