Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Kalen Ballage – April 28, 2018

Saturday, April 28, 2018

RB Kalen Ballage

(What’s this experience like for you knowing that you’re finally in the NFL and going to get the opportunity to show what you can do?) – “I’m really excited about the opportunity. Watching the draft this whole time … In my opinion, I don’t believe there are 130 guys that are better than me and definitely not 11 other running backs. It’s fuel to the fire and motivation for me and I’m just excited about the opportunity.”

(What was your expectation about where you would be drafted in the pre-draft process?) – “I really wasn’t even thinking about it too much. I felt like I put the hard work in and did what I had to do, and the rest was up to God. It’s a surprise to me, just as much to my family and everybody else.”

(Under Head Coach Adam Gase, the Dolphins like running backs that are three down running backs who can pass protect, catch the ball and run. Do you fit that mold and what is the strength of your game?) – “Absolutely. I don’t think they would’ve picked me if I didn’t fit that mold. I think that I have many strengths to my game. I feel like I’m kind of a player that is raw and has a lot of talent and ability. With the right coaching and everything, I’ll be able to make a lot happen.”

(What do you know about the Dolphins running backs Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore?) – “I watched Kenyan Drake when he was in college. He’s a great running back, a three-down running back that can do a little bit of everything. He’s going to be great to learn from. Frank Gore, in my opinion, is one of the best running backs ever. He’s so consistent and he’s always doing everything right. It’s really cool to be able to learn from him.”

(Can you explain why you described yourself as raw?) – “In college, I had four running back coaches and three different offensive coordinators. For me, I think I’m at the floor of what my talent is right now. I think that I’m a guy that’s going to continue to grow and be special in the future.”

(How crazy was that game in 2016 when you scored eight touchdowns?) – “It was a crazy game and everybody always asks me about it; but honestly, I’m just glad we won the game. It was kind of a shootout – us and (Texas Tech QB) Patrick Mahomes. It was a wild game and I’ll probably remember it for the rest of my life; but I’m more happy we got the win than anything.”

(Why do you think those other running backs were taken ahead of you? Did they have more opportunity in college and a better system? Or did they test better?) – “I tested very well. I had a great Pro Day and had a good Combine. I do think that maybe they probably had more opportunities than me. Maybe they had a lot more carries. I only had 400-some carries in my college career. Whatever it was, obviously this was God’s plan for me. I can’t really be worried about too much else.”

(How much kickoff return and how much special teams have you done? How good do you think you are at those things?) – “I played special teams all four years in college. I was a kick returner for four years and I was on every special team.”

(Do you enjoy returning kicks?) – “Yes, I love it. It’s one of my favorite things to do.”

(What about returning kicks makes it so appealing?) – “I think just the fact that you get to be creative when you’re on kick return. There is a set blocking scheme and stuff like that; but at the end of the day, you have to show your abilities to play with the ball in your hands and make stuff happen.”

(What NFL running back would you say your style resembles?) – “I would say (Arizona Cardinals RB) David Johnson.”

(Because?) – “(We’re) bigger running backs, catch the ball out of the back field well, great receivers, intelligent football players and I kind of think that we resemble each other.”

(Did you run the 40-yard dash at the Combine and at your Pro Day?) – “Yes, I did.”

(Could you share with us your 40-yard dash time?) – “I ran 4.46 at the Combine. I ran 4.35 and 4.37 at the Pro Day.”

(Did you meet with Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase at any point?) – “Yes, I met with just about everybody, so I had the opportunity to speak with those guys.”

(Do you have any sense about Head Coach Adam Gase and how he may want to utilize you?) – “I think I kind of already have an idea with how they use Kenyan Drake. I think they kind of want to just add me in there and have a trio of running backs to be able keep guys fresh and play ball.”

(I know you said you’re looking forward to learning from the guys in that room, but how much are you looking forward to competing with them for playing time?) – “I’m competitive in everything I do, no matter what it is, so I’m excited about the opportunity. I think that competition breeds greatness. I feel like being around those guys that have had quite a bit of success, I think it’s going to up my game.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives