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00:00 >> To be back after everything that you went through and
00:03 then be named a co-starter, what is that feeling like for
00:06 you right now to be back in the field and be able to help again?
00:09 >> Yeah, it just feels good just being able to play the game that I love.
00:14 Just to contribute to the team.
00:16 I look forward to doing that.
00:19 >> What was the feeling you had when you saw that you were listed as a co-starter
00:22 after everything you've been through?
00:23 Was that a moment of elation or just kind of like there's work to be done?
00:27 >> Yeah, it's just another step forward.
00:30 I don't really pay too much mind to that.
00:33 I'm just controlled, I can control and make plays when my number's called.
00:37 >> Your coaching staff praised what you did in the second scrimmage,
00:40 what was good about it that day for you?
00:42 And just, do you feel like your old self?
00:44 Are you very different than your old self?
00:45 >> Yeah, the second scrimmage, I feel good.
00:51 I feel very good right now with myself, confident.
00:54 But the second scrimmage, I was playing more faster, more physical.
01:00 And you could see the confidence and my moves and stuff like that.
01:03 So that went well.
01:05 >> Do you feel like your game's different than it was pre-action?
01:09 >> I'd probably say the only thing's different than my game right now.
01:14 I'm a little bigger, but not in some ways.
01:18 >> Was there any point last year where you kind of felt you were gonna be able to
01:20 come back?
01:21 I know you were working with the team, fan-gating, practicing.
01:24 Was there any point last year you kind of thought you were gonna be back last year?
01:27 >> Really last year, my mind set, I really wasn't thinking about playing.
01:30 I was just thinking about just getting better at practice,
01:33 just getting more comfortable running around, stuff like that.
01:36 That was my main focus last year, I would say.
01:38 >> What's the hardest part of being a professional?
01:43 >> The hardest part, when you get back, really getting in shape.
01:48 You running and stuff on the side, but it's different.
01:50 When you're 11 on 11, plays, plays, plays.
01:54 So that's probably the hardest thing, just getting back in shape.
01:57 >> You have two big body receivers outside in Wilson and Coleman.
02:01 How do you fit in with them in that offense when you get back in the field
02:03 together? >> We have two very good guys.
02:05 I feel like the whole receiver room is dynamic, so
02:09 I feel like everybody gonna be able to make plays and contribute.
02:12 >> When you first came back, did you feel like guys were being like,
02:18 delicate with you at all?
02:20 Did you have to kind of tell them it's okay, I'm good?
02:25 >> I don't really say that.
02:27 I know the whole team, they were very supportive, the coaching staff.
02:32 But I mean, I was getting pushed for sure, so I was getting to work at it.
02:38 >> At what point during the process last year did you really start to feel
02:40 comfortable in your leg again and going out there and just letting it fall loose?
02:44 >> To be honest, I really didn't feel comfortable until close to spring.
02:50 I mean, last year was a season, I mean, I felt like, you know how you get
02:55 confidence, but I didn't feel like I was fully 100%.
02:59 >> What's been the mental process for you in terms of learning the playbook?
03:05 >> The playbook?
03:05 >> The amount of time that you've been able to practice?
03:08 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:09 I mean, the playbook, while I was hurt, I was still being able to get in meetings.
03:13 My coaches were still meeting with me to go over the plays.
03:16 So I was ahead of the game with the plays, it's just getting the reps.
03:21 It's different to go over the plays in the film room and
03:26 then when you get on the field, so just had to get the repetition down.
03:29 >> What's going through your mind, getting into game week?
03:32 You're out since you last played football, and
03:34 you get to make your FSU debut finally.
03:36 How excited, what's going through your mind right now?
03:38 >> Yeah, I'm very excited, very blessed.
03:40 Just taking it day by day, but like I said,
03:44 very honored and blessed to be able to put on a garner of goals finally.
03:48 >> Do you think it's gonna hit you when you kind of hit the field,
03:49 like you find the back end of the field after everything you've been through?
03:52 >> Yeah, I think it's gonna hit me before the game, it's gonna hit me for sure.
03:56 The whole day, it's gonna be a good one.
03:59 >> How close did you get with the training staff?
04:02 >> The training staff, I'm very close with them.
04:06 Alicia, Josh, Tyler, they helped me tremendously, and I'm very grateful for
04:12 them, so they played a big part too, good people.
04:16 >> This year, the coaches were able to work with you during the summer,
04:19 a little bit a few hours, which one?
04:22 Did that help?
04:24 >> Yeah, that helped tremendously.
04:26 We went through the skills and drills,
04:28 you get time to go over the plays without the ball.
04:31 So that helped a lot, and then you get to go settle and settle while coaches leave.
04:36 We're getting time with the quarterbacks, doing one-on-one, different stuff, so
04:39 that helped a lot too.
04:41 >> You've been here now for almost two years, or a year and a half, but
04:45 Forte fans still haven't really got to see you do what you can do.
04:48 How excited are you to show them who wins some titles?
04:51 >> Right, like I said, I'm very blessed to be able to come back, and
04:55 I'm excited and I'm ready for it.
04:58 >> Just getting back to the point,
05:00 do you think you have any more selection for the draft?
05:03 >> Right, like I said, yeah, in the summertime, doing the skills and
05:07 drills, we would stay active.
05:09 We would throw probably three times out of five days out of the week,
05:15 so we got a very good connection now,
05:18 just being able to be on that timing on routes and stuff like that.
05:22 >> Is what this offense calls for much different than what it relates to?
05:25 How do you work from there?
05:29 >> I mean, I would say it's similar, but this offense,
05:32 you gotta really be thinking a lot.
05:34 You gotta really know your opponent, route depth,
05:38 you gotta be on time with the quarterback, so it's pretty different.
05:43 >> Is returning kick something you'd like to get back into the game?
05:48 >> Yeah, I would like to get back to it, but I would say in the middle of the season,
05:52 I would like to get back to it.
05:54 I wanna focus on receiving right now, first.
05:58 >> You feel like your speed and burst is getting back to the pre-injury levels?
06:02 It seems like you've worked really comfortable as of late in practice.
06:04 >> Yeah, like I said, going through the summer, I kinda felt like,
06:10 after spring, I felt good, but going into the summer,
06:14 I felt very confident hitting speeds that I was hitting before, so yeah.
06:18 I feel confident.
06:20 >> How much has it helped as you ramp back up to go against those defensive backs
06:23 in practice every day?
06:24 >> Right, yeah, that helps a lot, just getting the repetition,
06:27 going with good guys, everybody on our defense is good.
06:30 So just getting the repetition and getting your confidence back is big.
06:34 >> Is it the cuts, when you make an explosive cut,
06:38 do you try to regain confidence in, or is it just down to the speed?
06:42 >> Yeah, I mean, yeah, the speed too, but being able to cut and stuff like that,
06:47 you definitely gotta get confident back in that.
06:50 So the skills and drills, what Coach Thorms had for us,
06:54 Being able to cut and stuff like that, it helped me, helped me a lot.
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