Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Quentin Poling – April 28, 2018 Download PDF version

Saturday, April 28, 2018

LB Quentin Poling

(How would you describe your style as a player?) – “Fast, smart, intelligent and speedy.”

(It seems to us that the Dolphins have really gone to address team speed this offseason, especially this draft. Do you feel that you add to that re-casting of the defense?) – “Absolutely. Speed is kind of where the progression of the game today is going. It’s going in that direction, which I think is a good move by them and I think I fit well in the grand scheme of things.”

(When you’re talking about speed, what are you talking about?) – “It’s everything in terms of on-the-field speed, being able to get the call, process it quickly, being able to look at the offensive formation, being able to process the instincts reading and reacting to plays. Speed is a lot more than just a 40-time. The 40-time plays a part; but when it comes down to it, you have to be a football player. And you have to have that football IQ also.”

(What was your time, if you don’t mind me ask?) – “My 40-time? I timed anywhere from a 4.52 to a 4.58 on my Pro Day.”

(Where did you mostly play at Ohio and do you have a preference at the linebacker position?) – “At Ohio, I was always a Mike linebacker playing in the middle, making the calls and leading the defense. I enjoyed that responsibility and such, but as a preference, I don’t really have one. As long as I’m getting to play linebacker, whether it’s in the box or out of the box … I have played both in high school and college and I’ve enjoyed both. I’m just happy for the opportunity.”

(Do you have experience on special teams?) – “I played sparingly. I was a four-year starter at Ohio, so I played a lot of games and a lot of reps each game at linebacker. They really limited my role on special teams, just to keep my health and keep my endurance and things throughout the game and season.”

(What player would you say you modeled your game after?) – “I really like Luke Kuechl. Who doesn’t? (laughter) He’s a good guy. He plays smart, plays fast, plays tough. I’m just trying to be like him as best as possible.”

(At what point did you start to think that the NFL could be a reality for you?) – “I would say after my redshirt sophomore season, maybe in my redshirt sophomore season. Things started to come along and you start to get that buzz around you. I’d say right in there.”

(How was the buzz? What was the buzz around you saying? Was it praising your speed, or your instincts? Why were you regarded in that way?) – “The speed, the instincts, the playmaking. I started off that season … I had a knee injury in the middle of the season and missed a couple of games; but I started the season off … I think after the third or fourth game I was fifth in the nation in solo tackles. I was pretty high. I had a lot of tackles and impact plays that I made the first couple of games. I missed a couple of games with a minor knee injury and came back at the end of the season and finished it out pretty well. I got a lot of good vibes generated at the end of that junior year.”

(As far as your athletic background, did you play any other sports in high school or did you have family members who were athletic?) – “I wrestled, I played basketball and I was a four-year track and field guy. I always did the shot put and the 400 (meters) and throughout the years I also did the discus, the 200 (meters), 300-meter hurdles and things like that. I was a pretty versatile track athlete. They moved me around a little bit here and there, depending on what scored best for the team at the meet, depending on what other teams were there and things like that.”

(What’s this day like for you? Did you sit, watching the television to see the draft and did you expect to have your name called today?) – “I did expect to get drafted today; but today was probably as stressful of a day as I’ve ever had. Just sitting around, going back and forth with my agent and calling teams and preparing a list if things weren’t to go as planned and I would be undrafted. Just having a list of teams that I knew I could make a confident decision right away, with who would give me the best opportunity to make an active roster.”

(So you were prepared to go undrafted?) – “Yes. I mean you hope for the best but plan for the worst, right?”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives