Anthony Alabi

Anthony Alabi Conference Call Transcript

(On starting his college career at the Naval Academy) "At the Naval Academy it was a great place for me. My parents were really strict on education and stuff like that so they figured it would be a good place for me to get started and have a fruitful career with education and get the best of everything. I felt the same way. I liked the education and I liked the people and the whole military process. The football program and I just didn't see the same way. I wanted to take it a little more seriously and make it a bigger part of my life so I decided to go ahead and after the first season go ahead and transfer TCU."

(On if he knew the Dolphins were interested in him) "Well I did know that they were looking because the offensive line coach came and we had a private workout and I knew they were interested, but I didn't know how interested - as many of the other guys don't know with other teams. But it is a great surprise and they are a great team and I'm happy to be a part of it."

(On how tough it was to walk on at TCU) "It was pretty tough. Before I got there I think only one person, Chad Bayer, the linebacker, had gotten a scholarship from being a walk-on and other walk-ons were telling me how impossible it was and it wasn't going to work out. But luckily before I left Coach (Dennis) Franchione suggested I move to offensive line and the first day I went out there I did really well and a week later Coach (Gary) Patterson went ahead and gave me my scholarship. So I thank him for that and everything worked out. It was a weird way that everything worked out, but it worked out for the best."

(On where he is the most comfortable on the line) "The left tackle side. That's where I played all four years at TCU. So I'm pretty comfortable there, although I can play both sides. I did in the All-Star game. I started at right tackle in the (Gridiron Villages Classic) All-Star game."

(On what he played in high school) "I actually didn't start playing offensive line until I got to college. Actually, my second year in college."

(On what he played on defense) "Tackle."

(On what the biggest transition was) "The biggest thing was just changing the whole mentality and learning all the plays and the technique. I think technique with offensive linemen is one of the biggest things, which is why offensive linemen can last so long in the league. What they lack in athletic ability they can make up for in technique and intelligence. And I think that was one of the biggest things going from such a physical position to a more intelligent and technically-sound position."

(On what his time was in the shuttle run) "I think it was 4.60."

(On who the toughest defensive end he came across in college was) "Ardell Duckett was big, strong guy. Larry McSwain out of UAB was kind of a Dwight Freeney-kind of guy. He was really small speed rusher kind of thing and I had just come back off of an injury. So it was kind of tough going against that. I was kind of out of rhythm in that game. That's probably the two toughest guys that I went against."

(On how he would describe himself as a player) "I say that I'm intelligent. I say I'm athletic, long arms, built big. I can put on weight or play at any weight basically that they want me to. I'm very coachable and I think I have a lot of room to grow. I think I have a lot of upside that I can call upon later on."

(On what he needs to improve) "I think everybody can improve. You can always improve on the pass throwing and the run blocking and stuff like that. I think just getting acclimated more to the offensive line position and just getting the essence of what it to be an offensive tackle in the NFL is just some of the basic things that I need to improve on."

(On where he thinks he would be if he was an offensive lineman in high school) "First of all I went to a private high school. I went to a really small private high school that wasn't, Texas 5A football, what people are used to. So I think if I would have had that head start and if I would have started earlier, it would have probably blossomed a little faster right now. I think I'm kind of raw, need to be polished and hopefully I can do that."

(On what the background of his surname, Alabi, is) "My dad is from Nigeria. My mom is from Puerto Rico. My dad's Nigerian so it's a Nigerian name. My name is actually Abayomi Alabi, but being here is America it's Anthony Abayomi Alabi."

(On what the day is like for him) "It's a great day. My dad, he's been looking forward to this for a long time and he's really proud right now and he's on the phone jumping around. The family is really excited. I didn't have anybody over here at the house because I didn't want all of the anticipation and everything, but now that it's all said and done I think it will be great and have everybody over and celebrate. It's a big day for my family and I'm glad to be a part of it."

(On what he is studying in school) "I majored in criminal justice. I got my bachelor's of science in criminal justice and my minor in business and I got through half of my Master's in liberal arts, which I'm probably going to end of finishing and then getting into criminology."

(On how many languages he speaks) "I know English and my mother helped me to understand Spanish and I know a little bit of Nigerian. I'm not fluent by any means in any one of them, but I understand my own share of it."

(On if he wants to get into the FBI after football) "Secret Service. My fianc・right now, she's a criminal investigator down in Dallas and IＥ like to follow that route and probably get into the Secret Service or U.S. Marshals or something like that."

このOTは果たしてどうなんだろ？
EaglesのKaluのいとこらしい
わかんないけど、ロスター残って欲しいな