Jaylen Waddle – May 14, 2021
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Friday, May 14, 2021
WR Jaylen Waddle
(This morning, the news came out about your contract. What did it mean for you to get it done before you hit the field? You were the first pick of, I think, the top 15 or 20 picks to get it done; so what does that mean for you?) – “Of course, it’s a blessing. But it was really just time to get back to work. I was really trying to make it to practice (on time).”
(I wanted to ask you about last season in college and kind of the four games you played, where it seemed like you really showed more of your evolution as a route-runner. I’m curious about how that process went for you in terms of making every route look the same and really expanding your route tree. What did that season for you last year at Alabama under Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian do for your long-term prognosis here in the NFL?) – “I think it just showcased a lot of ability that was in question. I really showed my route-running ability and he just gave me an opportunity to showcase talent.”
(I just wanted to get your impressions of the Dolphins coaching staff and what it’s like working now with an NFL coaching staff.) – “It’s great. Honestly, everyone here is like real personable. You can go up and talk to them and they’re willing to coach you. All of the things that you look for in a good organization, a good club, is pretty much here.”
(Your first practice in a rookie minicamp, what was the most impressive thing you saw? What was the most impressive thing you did?) – “The most impressive thing that I saw was the sun wasn’t out and it was cloudy. (laughter) That was like the most impressive thing … that was really it.”
(Obviously you have a history with QB Tua Tagovailoa. When you got drafted by the Dolphins, how excited were you to know that you were going to get to hook up with your former college teammate now in the NFL?) – “I’m just excited to just really be a part of the team and be a part of the organization. I’m just learning new things and going out there to compete, honestly. The call was great. I’m just trying to compete and just learn and fit in.”
(Have you communicated with QB Tua Tagovailoa much since you’ve now been drafted by the Dolphins? How has that been like?) – “Definitely. If I’ve got questions, I call him and he gives me advice and helps me out. I definitely talk to him.”
(This may seem like a very simple question but at what point in your life, do you feel like you realized that you were fast and faster than everybody else?) – “I don’t know, honestly. (laughter) I don’t know.”
(Pop Warner? Little league?) – “I’ve always had pretty good speed just growing up. I don’t really remember like, ‘this is the day.’”
(The one moment or few games I did see you play, I think the moment for me when I realized you were that dude was the Auburn game where you just kind of crossed your arms after every touchdown that you scored in that game. What is that feeling like when you get the ball, you get into the end zone, the crowd is going wild, you’re putting points on the scoreboard and you cross your hands like that? What’s the feeling of emotion and going through your mind? What’s going through your body when you get to do all of these things on the field?) – “Obviously that was great but that’s kind of in the past and none of that is going to help me out now. I’ve got to just keep working and try to get better each and every day. But really, that’s in the past and it’s not going to do anything for me now.”
(But just your excitement as a football player. Like when you get to score a touchdown and make a play, how does that make you feel as a person?) – “It feels good, of course. Just helping out the team. Making a big play for the team, it’s obviously going to feel good.”
(What’s the experience this week been like for you? Do you have a roommate? Aside from QB Tua Tagovailoa and DT Raekwon Davis, is there anybody on the team that you know or that you’ve touched base with? What has been Head Coach Brian Flores’ message to the team, or at least the rookies, this week?) – “Yeah, just being around all of the new guys has been a great part of this weekend. Getting to know everybody, getting familiar with everybody, being in the facility, of course. We’re all just learning. It’s our first couple of days and we’re honestly just learning and trying to learn and really be in the right place and be in the right spots.”
(I had an idea to write a story about the name Jaylen. I know that you and LB Jaelan Phillips spell it differently but there’s a lot of athletes who are about your age who have the name Jaylen. And a lot of them were named after Jalen Rose. I’m wondering where Jaylen came from – was it Jalen Rose or something else? And do you have any kind of plan to have you or Phillips go by a nickname so there’s no confusion when coach says Jaylen?) – “Yeah, as far as the name, my mom did name me after Jalen Rose. I don’t know how you knew that. That’s kind of weird. (laughter)”
(It’s a popular thing, actually. A lot of kids who are about 20 years old were named after Jalen Rose.) – “Yeah, for sure. I was named after Jalen Rose. I know Jaelan Phillips goes by ‘J.P.’ I go by what I go by. That’s kind of what I call him.”
(The ‘Magic’ nickname, does anybody use that? Or did that get dropped now that you’re in the pros?) – “No, that’s dropped. (laughter)”
(Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban is very complimentary of your skillset as a teammate. And then also, we saw you get emotional talking about your Alabama teammates on draft night. I was just wondering what have you noticed about your teammates here in Miami, this rookie class, in the early going? Is there kind of one theme that connects to all of you guys? Is there a certain class clown that sticks out? What have you noticed about your new teammates here in this rookie class?) – “Everyone is like – you know why everyone is here. Everyone is like really talented, really focused and all got to go. I think that’s important just in the class and that’s something that I can say stands out when you get here and get to meet and be around the guys.”
(Now that you’ve got the contract all wrapped up, what are you either going to buy yourself or someone else? What are you going to splurge on?) – “I don’t have anything in mind right now. I’m really just trying to learn everything right here. Money and all of that is not really on my mind.”
(What makes QB Tua Tagovailoa a good leader?) – “He’s just a natural leader, honestly. He’s just a natural-born leader. He’s confident. He knows what to do. He’s very smart. Everything you look for in a leader, I feel like Tua showcases and presents.”
(We know your speed is obviously going to translate to this level but have you wondered to yourself, are you kind of curious, to what extent it will in terms of are you going to consistently run past defensive backs at the NFL level? Have you thought about that? What does your instinct tell you?) – “Honestly, I’m just trying to learn the plays and be where I need to be. I’m not really thinking that far into that. I’m just trying to do what the team wants me to do and really just learn everything, be in the right position, not make the same mistake twice and things like that.”
(If I was as fast as you, I would cross my arms after every time I scored a touchdown. I would talk [expletive] and be that dude if I were you. What keeps you humble? What are some things that keep you very, very levelheaded like you’ve shown with us here today?) – “Just knowing where I came from. My mom, my parents, my teammates and everyone that helped me get to this point really just keep me humble. With everything that I’ve had to do to get to this point, there’s no time to be complacent or things like that.”
