[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Lansing Journal[/div]
- Elliot Reed
Its been a long road for Samuel Zhang.
The former 1 star recruit and MSU standout is has now achieved his dream of being an NSFL player, after being drafted in Season 3 NFL draft in the 3rd round, pick 23, by the Arizona Outlaws. Its been a whirlwind few days for him, between signing an agent, starting negotiations for his rookie contract and the training camps, that he's barely had a rest.
Even with so much to do, he was gracious enough to agree to let us interview him.
==========
Interview Key:
E = Elliott Reed.
S = Samuel Zhang
E: Welcome, Samuel! And is Sam fine?
S: Thank you. Its a pleasure to be here. And yes just Sam is fine
E: So, lets start this interview by talking a little about yourself.
S: I am a 6'3'' 220 LB speed WR from Michigan State. I was born near Detriot, MI, but lived most of my childhood in Denver, Colorado. However, my first experience with football was when I moved to Houston, Texas, and tried out for the football team.
E: So, I take it you were a Yeti fan growing up?
S: *Laughs* Most would think that, but I wasnt really into football then. I was more of a huge Nuggets and Juventus fan to be fully honest.
E: Well, how did you get into football?
S: The first time I ever played football was at my high school. I wanted to play an extracurricular sport, but the soccer and basketball teams were filled, so I signed up for the football team
E: So did you dominate right away?
S: I dominated the bench, for sure. I was third string JV, so I didnt get any playing time at all. at best I got some touches was playing KR or PR. Pretty hard getting Playing time as a 5'7'' skinny kid.
E: So how did you finally break through into the starting lineup?
S: When I hit my junior year in high school, I had a HUGE growth spurt. In 1 summer, I spiked from 5 foot 7 inches to 6 foot 2 inches. This led to me finally starting at WR, and leading my team to the playoffs and the region championship and state qualifier my junior year.
E: So how did your senior year go?
S: It went great, especially since I grew another inch during the summer. I was able to lead my team into 2 huge upsets over top 15 football High schools, and led my team to the state championship. I was able to rack up 2 All-American and All-State nods on my time in my high school team.
E: So how many offers did you get?
S: You would think someone with 2 All-American nods would get a metric ton of scholarships, but apparently most colleges didnt think so. I got a total of 3 scholarships, from from Colorado State, Texas State, and Houston, none of which was a school I truly wanted to attend. I was very close to attending the Texas A&M Aggies as an Astrophysics Major, but luckily at the last minute, Michigan State came knocking on the door to offer me a scholarship, and I was more than happy to accept and return to my birthplace of Michigan.
E: Even though you were on a scholarship to Michigan State, you didnt actually get to chance to start until much later.
S: Thats true. When I got to MSU, there were some very talented and skilled Veteran WRs who were already starting, and Michigan State was pretty big on senior leadership. So, I ended up being redshirted my first year.
E: Were you unhappy that you were not starting?
S: Not at all. Coach Mark D'Antoni was very upfront with me and how I would have to earn my play time. The veteran WRs in the locker room were extremely helpful as they took me under my wind and helped me learn everything I needed to be a success, from knowing how to run excellent routes to how to use my hands and body to make catches. Without them, I would absolutely not be in the position that I am now. Plus, unbeknownst to me,
my breakthrough moment would be coming soon enough.
E: So how did you finally get your starting spot?
S: It was, I believe, Week 12 against Northwestern where I finally got my breakoout moment, the week 12 game versus Northwestern, who was a fantastic team as they were ranked as the 12th best team in the country. A little background, we had lost our best slot WR(Marsin) and our 3rd best WR(Satari), who was our #1 backup WR and a fantastic player and leader, to an hurt ACL and a broken foot, respectively. So, Coach D'Antoni was running a much more conservative offense, with a much bigger focus on the run. However, the Northwestern was very well prepared for it, and was stacking the box heavily and double covering our best WR(Corton) with their second best CB and the FS, allowing their #1 CB to run as a second S and wreak havoc. Luckily, our OL played absolutely great in protecting our QB(Quin) and gaining yards on the ground, and our secondary played absolutely out of their minds and was able to slow the Northwestern offense enough to keep the game within a touchdown. Then, with 2:32 left in the 3rd quarter and down 5 points, our QB took the snap, and fired a great pass to our wide open #1 WR, and one of my best friends on the team. He managed to grab it, and then landed funny, instantly crumpling to the ground with no one around him. It turned out he had torn his ACL and MCL cleanly, and was unfortunately out for the rest of the season. With an already very thin WR corps, Coach D'Antoni was forced to put me in, and I dominated apparently, helping lead the team offense back alive and make the comeback. To be fully honest, I dont remember too much about the game. The thing I remember most is Corton, as he was being helped off the field, grabbing me by my jersey and telling me,"Listen to me. Use everything I taught you to win this damn game. Do it for me, Marsin, Quin, Coach, and our team." And well, I did.
And that was a huge turning point for you and Michigan State.
S: Yeah, it was. We used that momentum to make a Bowl game, and we destroyed our opposition, who I honestly dont remember who it was(i think it was Georgia Tech?), with me putting up a pretty good bowl game stats and won the Bowl Game MVP, which I honestly dont think I fully deserved.
E: Pretty good? I think 12 catches for 152 yards and 3 TDs is a lot better than pretty good and that Bowl Game MVP was fully deserved.
S: I just went out and balled. Plus, I would be wrong if I didnt credit Quin for his great throws to me, the other WRs and TEs for helping take the pressure off of me, our OL for their great blocking, and of course the defense for holding that #2 ranked in the nation Georgia Tech offense to 10 points and 200 yards total. Plus I actually enjoyed the pre-game paintball match we had between the two teams before th bowl. Sadly Georgia Tech was much much better than paintball than we were. I looked like a Jackson Pollock painting by the end of that.
E: So, how was the rest of your career at Michigan State?
S: It was great. We were able to become a powerhouse, with 3 straight top 10 finishes and 2 Playoff appearances. Being able to play against some of the best teams in the league at the highest stage was one of the best experiences in my life. I was named Big 10 WR of the year 3 times and was lucky enough to be named the Fred Biletnikoff Award in my senior year. I loved all the people I met at MSU, and the coaching staff, trainers, and vets have had a huge impact in my life and playing career.
E: Lets talk about the draft. When you first entered, you were projected to be a late round pick or undrafted.
S: Yes I was. It was not much of a surprise or bother to me. I have always been underestimated and overlooked, and earning time and respect is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary to me. Its something I've done my entire life.
E: And the more the draft process went, the higher your stock jumped.
S: Yeah. I was able to impress GMs enough during the pre-draft process to increase my stock from late round to mid round, and rise to being considered the #2 overall WR, after Trey Willie.
E: Tell me, during the draft process, were there any teams you wouldve liked to go to?
S: I would have liked to return back to my hometown of Colorado, but they had 3 fine WRs and needed OL very badly. Overall, my top 3 preferred destinations were, based on my criteria (Interest, Winning, Culture, Need) and in order,
1. the YellowKnife Wraiths
2. The Arizona Outlaws
3. the San Jose Sabercats
The Orange County Otters was a very strong contender for me but I had expected them to pick up Trey Willie, who is a tremendous WR, again. The Baltimore Hawks would have been great as well, but the GM who contacted me was actually banned, and the new one didnt message me at all. The Philadelphia Liberty had a pretty low contact with me as well. Neither the Colorado Yeti nor the Las Vegas Legion contacted me at all, so both of those teams were completely off my preferred destinations and at the bottom of my list.
Luckily, I managed to be drafted by one of my top 3 preferred teams in the Arizona Outlaws.
E: I know a huge selling point of you during the drafting process was your versatility.
S: Thats correct. Even though I played mostly WR in my time at Michigan State, I also played quite a bit at cornerback and free safety. This attracted a few teams, iike the Outlaws, who contacted me with intentions of asking me to possibly play heavy minutes at nickel cornerback and possibly Corner #2 in the future.
E: So, during the draft, where you nervous at all?
S: Of course I was. Unless you are a for sure first round pick, any player would be nervous during the NSFL Draft.
E: What did it feel like to be selected?
S: First thing I felt was a huge sense of relief. Than I was estatic. I mean, I was finally in the NSFL. Being able to put on that Outlaws hat and walk up there on stage to get my Jersey was just such a fantastic experience.
E: So, is there any significance to your new number, 24?
S: Oh yeah. When I was a kid, I once saw a vision of an angel with wings white as snow. The angel slashed 2 marks in the sky, and held up 4 fingers, and I always remembered that moment. So thats why I chose the number 24
E: Wow. Is that really a true story?
S: Not at all. It was 100% certified baloney. *laughs* I was just messing with you there. I just chose 24 because it was given to me, also because my birth date is September 24th.
E: So, now that you got picked by the Outlaws, can you talk about the team a little bit?
S: Sure. The Arizona Outlaws have been the best team in the league 2 years running, and are the current back to back Ultimus title holders. They have a great team, mostly highlighted by their league best Linebacker and defensive end cores. On offense, Bronko is a very good QB throwing to a strong WR corps.
E: So, considering a big part of the Outlaws interest in you was your ability to play cornerback as well, will you be playing cornerback this next season?
S: Its very likely, but not totally set in stone yet. I know the Outlaws picked me with the intention of me playing cornerback, but the GM has told me that he would prefer me to hold off moving full-time to corner until they see if Mayran Jackson is resigning with the team, either on extension or next free Agency period. Still, I would probably bet on seeing me playing the field as a defensive back next year. So to all the fantasy people out there, please dont draft me. Unless you really value interceptions.
E: Lets talk about your switch to DB for a bit here. The Outlaws also picked up Franklin Harris Jr and Vash Erikson to shore up their defensive backs, and have made it no secret its an open competition for who starts next season in the secondary. Why do you think you will come out as a starter?
S: Well, first of all, I'm a pretty rare type for a cornerback. Very few corners in this league are 6 foot 3 inches, 200 lbs+, with high speed. This lets me keep up with the best WRs in the league and gives me the ability to better contest thrown balls and stay on my man. Additionally, I believe I have one of the highest potentials of all the picks. That was a big part of the Outlaws picking me up in the third round as well, their belief in my ability to reach my very high ceiling. Lastly, when I played wide receiver at Michigan State, I had to memorize all the routes because of the pro-style offense we ran. This gives me a big advantage since I will be able to better read and react to what play is happening and be in the right position to get a pass deflection or an interception, as I would have likely ran similar routes myself in the past and would know where I would have wanted to be if I was the opposing WR. Plus Vash Erikson seems more like a Strong Safety than a cornerback, so I dont believe I will be competing against him for playing time.
E: Where do you think you will be contributing mostly in your rookie season, and what are your expectations?
S: As I said, even though I am not be officially a cornerback just yet, I believe I will likely end up playing most of my snaps at nickel cornerback as a rookie, or perhaps be moved down to the DSFL to get more experience. It honestly depends on a few things, and I cant truly say that much until the season has started. As for my expectations, I think I can manage at least 3 pass deflections and 1 interception my rookie season. I think that is a realistic and fair goal for me.
E: Is there any other players from this draft who you might keep your eye on?
S: Well, outside from the rookies on my team, there are a few. I'm not gonna list the very high picks like Willie, Bayley, or Boggs, as those are pretty obviously players who I would keep my eye on. Instead I'm gonna talk about some late round picks. I was a big fan of both (Nate) Atasuke from Auburn and (Connor) Tanner out of Dublin when I was still playing at Michigan State. I would always check to see if there was any tape on them so I could watch their footwork and route running. Plus it was always fun for me to challenge myself and see if I could outperform them in any given week. I also enjoyed watching (Nicholas) Pierno from NC State. His ability to scramble and extend plays with his feet was electric, and his highlights were some of the best I have ever seen. If his accuracy was better, I would have bet on him to be a Heismann winner once in his career and a very high pick.
E: Speaking of Tanner, he has publicly stated he was very disappointing he was not a first-second round pick like some had projected. Whats your opinion on that?
S: I'm not too sure about his claimed projection, as if I recall correctly, the consensus top 3 at wide reciever for like a week or 2 before the draft was pretty solidly (Trey) Willie, me, and (Brian) Wheat. Combine that with the fact that him playing for the University of Dublin made him a bit of an unknown and that Wide receiver is a pretty stacked position in this league, shown by Willie falling to 10 to the Hawks and me going in the 3rd round, I feel like late first to early second was a little unrealistic.
Still I cant knock on a guy for believing in himself, feeling like teams were overlooking him, and thinking that he shouldve went higher. I had the same feeling during the draft, as there were some picks where I honestly believed I was a better player than the player who was selected, and should have went over. All you can really do at that point is to ball out and make the teams that passed you up regret it.
E: What was your opinion on the whole JD Boom situation?
S: I am gonna decline to comment on that. I know firsthand Boom is an excellent player, but, if I were a GM, I would be a little miffed at what he did, especially with his talent level. However, that is not my area of expertise or something I know too much about. I'm sure Boom had his reasons, and I dont think the Otters honestly had anything to do with it, despite accusations of collusion. In my opinion, the Otters picked Boom because he would have been an upgrade at defensive end even if he didnt improve, not because they knew he was bluffing.
E: What about holdouts?
S: All I will say is that you should play for whatever team wants you. I get wanting to play with people you have made a bond with, but threatening to not play for any other team isnt something that I agree with or would do.
E: Did you hear about the huge Alex Jones scandal?
S: Sorry, but I did not. I dont actually listen to Alex Jones, so I have no idea what happened.
E: What about the situation with Tuck and Sharpei?
S: Tuck is my teammate right now, so I'm going to decline to comment. Chicago seems nice though.
E: The Philadelphia Liberty have been talking alot of trash recently, to most of the teams across the league. What do you have to say on that?
S: I think they talk too much for a team that went 5-9 last season. Even though I do like what they did this offseason, they should maybe get a season over .500 first, so they can actually back up their trash talk. Right now its all bark, no bite.
E: Now that you are an Outlaw, is there any team you want to be especially beat, or any rival team?
S: I would love to go against the Yeti and beat them, since their WR corps is very good and I feel that if we can beat them, we should be a strong team, since I honestly felt they were the true 3rd best team in the league last season, and will be a strong team this season. As for rivals, I dont consider any of the teams in the league a rival currently. Whatever team beats us in the playoffs first will be the team I consider our rival, even if its the Legion in season 9.
E: Thats about all the time we have left. Before we end this interview and you leave, is there anything you want to end with, or to say to all the doubts and haters?
S: People have said I wasnt good enough my whole life, told me I never would become great, that I could never beat the odds. Well, I've done it 3 times already. I dont care if doubt me, I'll just go out and ball as hard as I can. If you dont like that, you can hate me all you want. Its never stopped me before and its not gonna stop me now.
And to all my fans, new or old, I want to thank them for their support. Hearing your cheers is one of my biggest motivations, and I'm never gonna give up guys up or let you down.
E: And thats all the time we have. Thank you so much for coming here to conduct this interview.
S: No problem. The pleasure was all mine.
==========================
We hope Samuel the best of luck on the field, and hope he carries on the proud tradition of the Spartans in the NSFL.
Signing off here
Elliott Reed
Lansing Journal
Word count: 3550
Graded
Payout=$5,050,000
- Elliot Reed
Its been a long road for Samuel Zhang.
The former 1 star recruit and MSU standout is has now achieved his dream of being an NSFL player, after being drafted in Season 3 NFL draft in the 3rd round, pick 23, by the Arizona Outlaws. Its been a whirlwind few days for him, between signing an agent, starting negotiations for his rookie contract and the training camps, that he's barely had a rest.
Even with so much to do, he was gracious enough to agree to let us interview him.
==========
Interview Key:
E = Elliott Reed.
S = Samuel Zhang
E: Welcome, Samuel! And is Sam fine?
S: Thank you. Its a pleasure to be here. And yes just Sam is fine
E: So, lets start this interview by talking a little about yourself.
S: I am a 6'3'' 220 LB speed WR from Michigan State. I was born near Detriot, MI, but lived most of my childhood in Denver, Colorado. However, my first experience with football was when I moved to Houston, Texas, and tried out for the football team.
E: So, I take it you were a Yeti fan growing up?
S: *Laughs* Most would think that, but I wasnt really into football then. I was more of a huge Nuggets and Juventus fan to be fully honest.
E: Well, how did you get into football?
S: The first time I ever played football was at my high school. I wanted to play an extracurricular sport, but the soccer and basketball teams were filled, so I signed up for the football team
E: So did you dominate right away?
S: I dominated the bench, for sure. I was third string JV, so I didnt get any playing time at all. at best I got some touches was playing KR or PR. Pretty hard getting Playing time as a 5'7'' skinny kid.
E: So how did you finally break through into the starting lineup?
S: When I hit my junior year in high school, I had a HUGE growth spurt. In 1 summer, I spiked from 5 foot 7 inches to 6 foot 2 inches. This led to me finally starting at WR, and leading my team to the playoffs and the region championship and state qualifier my junior year.
E: So how did your senior year go?
S: It went great, especially since I grew another inch during the summer. I was able to lead my team into 2 huge upsets over top 15 football High schools, and led my team to the state championship. I was able to rack up 2 All-American and All-State nods on my time in my high school team.
E: So how many offers did you get?
S: You would think someone with 2 All-American nods would get a metric ton of scholarships, but apparently most colleges didnt think so. I got a total of 3 scholarships, from from Colorado State, Texas State, and Houston, none of which was a school I truly wanted to attend. I was very close to attending the Texas A&M Aggies as an Astrophysics Major, but luckily at the last minute, Michigan State came knocking on the door to offer me a scholarship, and I was more than happy to accept and return to my birthplace of Michigan.
E: Even though you were on a scholarship to Michigan State, you didnt actually get to chance to start until much later.
S: Thats true. When I got to MSU, there were some very talented and skilled Veteran WRs who were already starting, and Michigan State was pretty big on senior leadership. So, I ended up being redshirted my first year.
E: Were you unhappy that you were not starting?
S: Not at all. Coach Mark D'Antoni was very upfront with me and how I would have to earn my play time. The veteran WRs in the locker room were extremely helpful as they took me under my wind and helped me learn everything I needed to be a success, from knowing how to run excellent routes to how to use my hands and body to make catches. Without them, I would absolutely not be in the position that I am now. Plus, unbeknownst to me,
my breakthrough moment would be coming soon enough.
E: So how did you finally get your starting spot?
S: It was, I believe, Week 12 against Northwestern where I finally got my breakoout moment, the week 12 game versus Northwestern, who was a fantastic team as they were ranked as the 12th best team in the country. A little background, we had lost our best slot WR(Marsin) and our 3rd best WR(Satari), who was our #1 backup WR and a fantastic player and leader, to an hurt ACL and a broken foot, respectively. So, Coach D'Antoni was running a much more conservative offense, with a much bigger focus on the run. However, the Northwestern was very well prepared for it, and was stacking the box heavily and double covering our best WR(Corton) with their second best CB and the FS, allowing their #1 CB to run as a second S and wreak havoc. Luckily, our OL played absolutely great in protecting our QB(Quin) and gaining yards on the ground, and our secondary played absolutely out of their minds and was able to slow the Northwestern offense enough to keep the game within a touchdown. Then, with 2:32 left in the 3rd quarter and down 5 points, our QB took the snap, and fired a great pass to our wide open #1 WR, and one of my best friends on the team. He managed to grab it, and then landed funny, instantly crumpling to the ground with no one around him. It turned out he had torn his ACL and MCL cleanly, and was unfortunately out for the rest of the season. With an already very thin WR corps, Coach D'Antoni was forced to put me in, and I dominated apparently, helping lead the team offense back alive and make the comeback. To be fully honest, I dont remember too much about the game. The thing I remember most is Corton, as he was being helped off the field, grabbing me by my jersey and telling me,"Listen to me. Use everything I taught you to win this damn game. Do it for me, Marsin, Quin, Coach, and our team." And well, I did.
And that was a huge turning point for you and Michigan State.
S: Yeah, it was. We used that momentum to make a Bowl game, and we destroyed our opposition, who I honestly dont remember who it was(i think it was Georgia Tech?), with me putting up a pretty good bowl game stats and won the Bowl Game MVP, which I honestly dont think I fully deserved.
E: Pretty good? I think 12 catches for 152 yards and 3 TDs is a lot better than pretty good and that Bowl Game MVP was fully deserved.
S: I just went out and balled. Plus, I would be wrong if I didnt credit Quin for his great throws to me, the other WRs and TEs for helping take the pressure off of me, our OL for their great blocking, and of course the defense for holding that #2 ranked in the nation Georgia Tech offense to 10 points and 200 yards total. Plus I actually enjoyed the pre-game paintball match we had between the two teams before th bowl. Sadly Georgia Tech was much much better than paintball than we were. I looked like a Jackson Pollock painting by the end of that.
E: So, how was the rest of your career at Michigan State?
S: It was great. We were able to become a powerhouse, with 3 straight top 10 finishes and 2 Playoff appearances. Being able to play against some of the best teams in the league at the highest stage was one of the best experiences in my life. I was named Big 10 WR of the year 3 times and was lucky enough to be named the Fred Biletnikoff Award in my senior year. I loved all the people I met at MSU, and the coaching staff, trainers, and vets have had a huge impact in my life and playing career.
E: Lets talk about the draft. When you first entered, you were projected to be a late round pick or undrafted.
S: Yes I was. It was not much of a surprise or bother to me. I have always been underestimated and overlooked, and earning time and respect is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary to me. Its something I've done my entire life.
E: And the more the draft process went, the higher your stock jumped.
S: Yeah. I was able to impress GMs enough during the pre-draft process to increase my stock from late round to mid round, and rise to being considered the #2 overall WR, after Trey Willie.
E: Tell me, during the draft process, were there any teams you wouldve liked to go to?
S: I would have liked to return back to my hometown of Colorado, but they had 3 fine WRs and needed OL very badly. Overall, my top 3 preferred destinations were, based on my criteria (Interest, Winning, Culture, Need) and in order,
1. the YellowKnife Wraiths
2. The Arizona Outlaws
3. the San Jose Sabercats
The Orange County Otters was a very strong contender for me but I had expected them to pick up Trey Willie, who is a tremendous WR, again. The Baltimore Hawks would have been great as well, but the GM who contacted me was actually banned, and the new one didnt message me at all. The Philadelphia Liberty had a pretty low contact with me as well. Neither the Colorado Yeti nor the Las Vegas Legion contacted me at all, so both of those teams were completely off my preferred destinations and at the bottom of my list.
Luckily, I managed to be drafted by one of my top 3 preferred teams in the Arizona Outlaws.
E: I know a huge selling point of you during the drafting process was your versatility.
S: Thats correct. Even though I played mostly WR in my time at Michigan State, I also played quite a bit at cornerback and free safety. This attracted a few teams, iike the Outlaws, who contacted me with intentions of asking me to possibly play heavy minutes at nickel cornerback and possibly Corner #2 in the future.
E: So, during the draft, where you nervous at all?
S: Of course I was. Unless you are a for sure first round pick, any player would be nervous during the NSFL Draft.
E: What did it feel like to be selected?
S: First thing I felt was a huge sense of relief. Than I was estatic. I mean, I was finally in the NSFL. Being able to put on that Outlaws hat and walk up there on stage to get my Jersey was just such a fantastic experience.
E: So, is there any significance to your new number, 24?
S: Oh yeah. When I was a kid, I once saw a vision of an angel with wings white as snow. The angel slashed 2 marks in the sky, and held up 4 fingers, and I always remembered that moment. So thats why I chose the number 24
E: Wow. Is that really a true story?
S: Not at all. It was 100% certified baloney. *laughs* I was just messing with you there. I just chose 24 because it was given to me, also because my birth date is September 24th.
E: So, now that you got picked by the Outlaws, can you talk about the team a little bit?
S: Sure. The Arizona Outlaws have been the best team in the league 2 years running, and are the current back to back Ultimus title holders. They have a great team, mostly highlighted by their league best Linebacker and defensive end cores. On offense, Bronko is a very good QB throwing to a strong WR corps.
E: So, considering a big part of the Outlaws interest in you was your ability to play cornerback as well, will you be playing cornerback this next season?
S: Its very likely, but not totally set in stone yet. I know the Outlaws picked me with the intention of me playing cornerback, but the GM has told me that he would prefer me to hold off moving full-time to corner until they see if Mayran Jackson is resigning with the team, either on extension or next free Agency period. Still, I would probably bet on seeing me playing the field as a defensive back next year. So to all the fantasy people out there, please dont draft me. Unless you really value interceptions.
E: Lets talk about your switch to DB for a bit here. The Outlaws also picked up Franklin Harris Jr and Vash Erikson to shore up their defensive backs, and have made it no secret its an open competition for who starts next season in the secondary. Why do you think you will come out as a starter?
S: Well, first of all, I'm a pretty rare type for a cornerback. Very few corners in this league are 6 foot 3 inches, 200 lbs+, with high speed. This lets me keep up with the best WRs in the league and gives me the ability to better contest thrown balls and stay on my man. Additionally, I believe I have one of the highest potentials of all the picks. That was a big part of the Outlaws picking me up in the third round as well, their belief in my ability to reach my very high ceiling. Lastly, when I played wide receiver at Michigan State, I had to memorize all the routes because of the pro-style offense we ran. This gives me a big advantage since I will be able to better read and react to what play is happening and be in the right position to get a pass deflection or an interception, as I would have likely ran similar routes myself in the past and would know where I would have wanted to be if I was the opposing WR. Plus Vash Erikson seems more like a Strong Safety than a cornerback, so I dont believe I will be competing against him for playing time.
E: Where do you think you will be contributing mostly in your rookie season, and what are your expectations?
S: As I said, even though I am not be officially a cornerback just yet, I believe I will likely end up playing most of my snaps at nickel cornerback as a rookie, or perhaps be moved down to the DSFL to get more experience. It honestly depends on a few things, and I cant truly say that much until the season has started. As for my expectations, I think I can manage at least 3 pass deflections and 1 interception my rookie season. I think that is a realistic and fair goal for me.
E: Is there any other players from this draft who you might keep your eye on?
S: Well, outside from the rookies on my team, there are a few. I'm not gonna list the very high picks like Willie, Bayley, or Boggs, as those are pretty obviously players who I would keep my eye on. Instead I'm gonna talk about some late round picks. I was a big fan of both (Nate) Atasuke from Auburn and (Connor) Tanner out of Dublin when I was still playing at Michigan State. I would always check to see if there was any tape on them so I could watch their footwork and route running. Plus it was always fun for me to challenge myself and see if I could outperform them in any given week. I also enjoyed watching (Nicholas) Pierno from NC State. His ability to scramble and extend plays with his feet was electric, and his highlights were some of the best I have ever seen. If his accuracy was better, I would have bet on him to be a Heismann winner once in his career and a very high pick.
E: Speaking of Tanner, he has publicly stated he was very disappointing he was not a first-second round pick like some had projected. Whats your opinion on that?
S: I'm not too sure about his claimed projection, as if I recall correctly, the consensus top 3 at wide reciever for like a week or 2 before the draft was pretty solidly (Trey) Willie, me, and (Brian) Wheat. Combine that with the fact that him playing for the University of Dublin made him a bit of an unknown and that Wide receiver is a pretty stacked position in this league, shown by Willie falling to 10 to the Hawks and me going in the 3rd round, I feel like late first to early second was a little unrealistic.
Still I cant knock on a guy for believing in himself, feeling like teams were overlooking him, and thinking that he shouldve went higher. I had the same feeling during the draft, as there were some picks where I honestly believed I was a better player than the player who was selected, and should have went over. All you can really do at that point is to ball out and make the teams that passed you up regret it.
E: What was your opinion on the whole JD Boom situation?
S: I am gonna decline to comment on that. I know firsthand Boom is an excellent player, but, if I were a GM, I would be a little miffed at what he did, especially with his talent level. However, that is not my area of expertise or something I know too much about. I'm sure Boom had his reasons, and I dont think the Otters honestly had anything to do with it, despite accusations of collusion. In my opinion, the Otters picked Boom because he would have been an upgrade at defensive end even if he didnt improve, not because they knew he was bluffing.
E: What about holdouts?
S: All I will say is that you should play for whatever team wants you. I get wanting to play with people you have made a bond with, but threatening to not play for any other team isnt something that I agree with or would do.
E: Did you hear about the huge Alex Jones scandal?
S: Sorry, but I did not. I dont actually listen to Alex Jones, so I have no idea what happened.
E: What about the situation with Tuck and Sharpei?
S: Tuck is my teammate right now, so I'm going to decline to comment. Chicago seems nice though.
E: The Philadelphia Liberty have been talking alot of trash recently, to most of the teams across the league. What do you have to say on that?
S: I think they talk too much for a team that went 5-9 last season. Even though I do like what they did this offseason, they should maybe get a season over .500 first, so they can actually back up their trash talk. Right now its all bark, no bite.
E: Now that you are an Outlaw, is there any team you want to be especially beat, or any rival team?
S: I would love to go against the Yeti and beat them, since their WR corps is very good and I feel that if we can beat them, we should be a strong team, since I honestly felt they were the true 3rd best team in the league last season, and will be a strong team this season. As for rivals, I dont consider any of the teams in the league a rival currently. Whatever team beats us in the playoffs first will be the team I consider our rival, even if its the Legion in season 9.
E: Thats about all the time we have left. Before we end this interview and you leave, is there anything you want to end with, or to say to all the doubts and haters?
S: People have said I wasnt good enough my whole life, told me I never would become great, that I could never beat the odds. Well, I've done it 3 times already. I dont care if doubt me, I'll just go out and ball as hard as I can. If you dont like that, you can hate me all you want. Its never stopped me before and its not gonna stop me now.
And to all my fans, new or old, I want to thank them for their support. Hearing your cheers is one of my biggest motivations, and I'm never gonna give up guys up or let you down.
E: And thats all the time we have. Thank you so much for coming here to conduct this interview.
S: No problem. The pleasure was all mine.
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We hope Samuel the best of luck on the field, and hope he carries on the proud tradition of the Spartans in the NSFL.
Signing off here
Elliott Reed
Lansing Journal
Word count: 3550
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