Khalil Mack Interview Oakland Raiders DE LB NFL Draft Interview (Video)

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Khalil Mack Interview Oakland Raiders DE LB NFL Draft Interview (Video)

Khalil Mack went to a small school, Buffalo, but had a huge impact on NCAA College Football. He was so unknown that, the story goes, according to Michigan Live’s Justin Rogers:

The NCAA football video game produced by EA Sports thought so little of Mack, they gave the unknown, redshirt freshman linebacker a rating of 46 in 2010, among the lowest assigned.

Mack coincidentally donned the No. 46 jersey for the Bulls when he exploded on to the scene that year. In his first season, he racked up 68 tackles (14.5 for a loss), 4.5 sacks and 10 pass defenses.

Against Ohio State in 2013, he had three sacks and one interception, even thought they lost 40 to 20 – the Kahlil Mack story was born.

Kahlil Mack Interview Oakland Raiders DE LB NFL Draft Interview Transcript:

KAHLIL MACK
OAKLAND RAIDERS

Q. When you think of the silver and black, what do you think of?
KHALIL MACK: I think of a gritty, hard‑hitting team, and I’m excited.

Q. Are you surprised the Jaguars didn’t go your direction?
MACK: Not at all. You have to keep an open mind. This is the draft process. I knew everything might not play the way you think it would. Even then, I was prepared mentally, and I’m grateful.

Q. How will you fit into the defensive scheme of the Raiders? What do you think?
MACK: We discussed that a little bit over the phone. I’ll be pass rushing as well as playing some stand‑up linebacker.

Q. Do you think the comparisons between you and Von Miller are valid?
MACK: When you think about the play‑making ability, I feel like you could say that. That’s valid, especially from a motor standpoint. You could say it’s valid because I love to go out and try to change the game and make it easy for the offense.

Q. Are you going to get Sammy Watkins some winter packing trips?
MACK: Man, he better get ready. It’s about to get real.

Q. Reggie McKenzie was at your Pro Day. Did you get a good idea then that they were pretty interested in you?
MACK: You can say that, but even then ‑‑ Reggie’s a good guy, by the way, and I got a chance to meet him and his brother, and we laughed a lot in the Combine. I told him my first game, my first football memories was seeing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat some team back in 2000 maybe when Warren Sapp was playing. And they said, “Maybe you’re in the wrong room.”
It was funny. But even then, I’m excited, man.

Q. When your name was called, did it surpass your expectations, what that excitement would feel like?
MACK: No doubt. It was a big ‑‑ it’s kind of like a big relief, too, because you don’t have to worry about any of this anymore. It’s all about playing football now, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.

Q. Talk about playing with Woodley and Tuck.
MACK: That’s going to be crazy, man, being under those guys’ wings and seeing how they work and how they got to the levels they’re at. I’m excited to be a part of it, man, and, if God is willing, to learn and be taught. I can’t wait.

Q. Khalil, talk about the journey from Westwood to Buffalo and now to fourth pick overall.
MACK: That’s a story, man. I need to write it one day. It’s been a journey, man. I’ve been a blessed young man. God has been good. He showed me a lot of favor.
I put in a lot of hard work, man. It wasn’t me just thinking that I was good or everybody telling me I was good. I wanted to go out and show it every time I stepped on the field. When I wasn’t on the field, then practicing. If I wasn’t practicing in the off‑season, then I was grinding, grinding trying to get better. That’s the mindset I have, and I’m continuously going to do that.

Q. What are you going to miss about Buffalo?
MACK: Miss the weather, man. No, just messing with you. I miss a spot called Elmo’s for the wings. http://ift.tt/1oxT1t7

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