 How, you know, moving around, was that a big hurdle? Big was a big hurdle? No, not at all. I feel good, and I'm going to leave it at that. Were you able to do everything? Yeah, yeah. No restrictions at all. I was able to do everything. Feel happy about that, so. Did you anticipate that going in? Did you get the sense, maybe, of 80 even pull you back a little bit? Because, yeah, it's a longer term thought process. I mean, it is a longer term thought process at the same time. But I mean, I always had the mentality I was going to come in and do all that I can. They didn't put any restrictions on me, so I'm going to keep on going. We have a physical kind of game. How do you think that will show itself throughout camp, throughout season, when you get to the first game this season? Yeah, you know, football is a physical game. It's a game of physicality, and if you don't have that, I mean, I think you're losing part of the game. So I try to use that to my best of my abilities and use my attributes as much as I can. So yeah, I'm going to use it in any way I possibly can. The coach talked about on draft night how you fight for extra yardage, how you fight for going forward and not going out of bounds, what does that come from, and how do you think that's going to help you as well? I think it's just personal will and will for the team at the end of the day. I came here to try to get Ws, and if it means me having to fight off two, three dudes to get the extra five yards, I'm going to do it, you know? So yeah. Are you a vocal guy on the field? Does the physicality come with a little soundtrack? You know, at the same time, I got to earn my respect. I'm not going to be yapping at vets and things like that. But no, I would say I try to lead by action and just do what I can, do my part. At the same time, uplift others. Do you want to get out of these first two days yourself personally? Yeah, just the mental part of the game, you know? Learning all the plays, you know, getting right with all the phrasing and everything like that. And I'm working on that right now, and that's what I'm trying to do. Have you heard from a built-in kind of relationship with Kyle Pitts? He was kind of in a slow position last year to what you are this year. Yeah, I've been talking to him a little bit. He's been asking me when I touch down. So we've been talking, and I'm excited to meet him for the first time. What's it like at first? Oh, it's been great, you know? I'm actually one of his doormates right now in the dorm. And we've just been going over plays, chopping it up. And I mean, honestly, he's like me in a sense, you know? We are on the same mission, and I'm happy we came in together. I guess you guys realized that you have connections in some ways, or like what's one of those first couple days been like you said, chopping it up? I don't think we have a choice, but to connect, you know? So, and it's just, he's a better guy, you know? He's a guy I want to be around, and he's a guy all of us want to be around, you know? He pulled us over right now and was like, we messed up a lot today. And that's just part of being a rookie in day one, but he brought us over there and was like, hey, we got to get this together, excuse my language, but so, we got it together, and that's just the leader he is, so I'm following his footsteps. I'm guessing that the grooming aside that wasn't coincidence. Maybe, I mean, you got to have his coach for that, so. How would you describe terminology? You know, terminology is different throughout different teams in that field. How would you describe that coming from college, and then, you know, trying to learn the plays and all the time? It is definitely different. I mean, a lot of us came from different backgrounds. A lot of us came from no huddle. I came from no huddle. So a lot of things are different, but at the same time, I mean, this is what rookie mini-camp is for, so you can kind of get a grasp before you're thrown into the fire. What's kind of been the coolest moment for you so far? I mean, you mentioned just being able to back out on the field, but I mean, I guess, what has it all kind of been like to be out with these guys and rookie mini-camp, and I guess, to get in the new day, first day feels that good. Shoot, to touch some grass. Like, literally, at the end of the day, I'm out here playing the thing that I love, which is football, and to do it with these guys and building up a program, or not a program, but a club, I think it's really special, and I'm happy to be a part of it. You mentioned this is kind of the only organization you wanted to be in after you got picked. How was that translated to actually getting here? I stand by what I say, you know? It's beautiful out here. You can check the weather. I mean, it's a little humid compared to California, but no, it's amazing. It's all that I could ever ask for, you know, in a location. Random, when you see if your first road game is going to be in L.A., do you start being like, really? Like, do you start thinking about that at all? My mom told me a little bit. She was like, your second game is gonna be in L.A. You know, a lot of families are gonna come out, but I mean, why not start a home game off of the band, or a away game off of the band, you know? Home game for me, but not definitely. I think it's gonna be really cool, really surreal. I haven't even been to the SoFi Stadium, so it's gonna be your first appearance, and I think it's gonna be a cool one. Do you notice changes for you in acting, or keep reaching out, or? Maybe outside noise, but I try to stick to myself at the end of the day. I can only control what I can control, and I don't think I switched, so that's all that matters to me. In a way, all your rookies are kind of in this together, but there's only one first round pick. Do you, are you careful with the expectations that accompany being number eight overall? No, I mean, all that stuff is out the window at this point. They picked me in the first round, and I'm glad they did, but when you come here, all it's throwing out the window, and you gotta start at square one again, and that's my mindset. How happy were you to get the business part of it taken care of for yesterday? Oh, amazing, you know? My life just changed, and I couldn't be more thankful for it. When they drafted Desmond, did you start, did you go start looking at any film, or did you just wait until you got here to get any impression of him? You know, for our draft, we were actually working for the same, with the same people, you know? So I didn't get to throw with him because of my ankle, and I was still rehabbing and things like that. But we were going through the same people, and kind of doing the same training. So we have a connection there in that sense. But when he got drafted, I hit up Jordan Palmer, and I was like, yeah, we got our guy. So I was excited about that. You talked about how y'all connected because you saw the same vision in the same mission. What is that for y'all? Superbowl, that's the last thing you can get to, you know? Superbowl, yellow jackets, I mean, you can name all the crazy things you want to name, but at the end of the day, this is what we're trying to build, and that's the end goal, I think, for any team in the NFL, and we want to do it. So that's the end goal. That's really important to you to the whole, building a program, but like, building a team, being a part of a new generation, I mean, how much do you kind of love that part of it, being a part of the new generation that you air on this team? I love all of it. I mean, it's up to us to change it, you know? I mean, it's up to all the guys to change it as well, but we're like the new, the new juice in the area, you know, that new energy that's going to come here, and we got to stand by it. All right. Thank you guys. That was first day. It was good. It was fun. Back to playing football is, it's always a blast. What's been the move to Atlanta, like coming from Montana? It's a little more humid and a little less snow. So it snowed a couple of days before I got down here. So that's a nice change, I guess. Like last week? Yeah, like Tuesday. Oh, yeah. I know. Yeah, we got a nice lucky day today. What's this transition-wise? What has this been like for you because you did not play at the level that started out? Yeah, I mean, I think you do the best you can with where you are. You know, I have great coaches around me. I have a tremendous opportunity here to continue to refine and hone my skills and my game. Yeah, I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to continue to improve. After you dropped your retirement, what was the next couple of days like in your hometown after you got there? I had a lot of text messages, it calls from friends and family and just people I didn't even know, but they're from my hometown of a couple thousand. So it's kind of a small community and everybody roots for each other. Was there like a grade or anything? No, not at all, nope. What excites you most about the role that you're gonna be playing on this defense and the linebacker core? Yeah, I mean, it's awesome playing inside lineback. You have such a direct impact on the game to play for Coach Bush and Coach Pease is, it's awesome. I mean, to just sit in the rooms with them and they've had so much experience coaching. You know, they've been everywhere, done scene, everything. It's awesome. And are you looking forward to having a more defined role and just kind of sticking with one thing? Yeah, I think so, I'll do whatever. You know, I love playing football like I said and I'll do whatever a team asks me. What makes it real for you? Is it the plane flight? Is it the ride up? Is it coming through the gate? Is it the lock? Yeah, I think it was, I think it was coming through like the gate and then, you know, walking in the building. You're like sitting in the hotel the night before and yeah, like this is, I'm in Georgia, I'm in Atlanta. Like I'm ready, but till you're actually in the building it was, I guess a little surreal. It's only a short. Yeah, just learn the calls that we have in, you know, get confident with those. Just communicate well, show them that, you know, I'm gonna work hard and be ready to do whatever. You talked about the coach. I mean, he's awesome. He's, you know, a lot of fun in meeting rooms, but just know so much about football, has so much knowledge and information that, you know, I'm excited to continue to listen to him and absorb it and learn from him. Yeah, I mean, and then the other linebacks as well, just, you know, kind of pick pieces from everybody. What's it like kind of being around these other guys, the other rookies, all kind of trying to figure it out, this first day kind of situation? Yeah, I mean, it's been good. Nobody knows what doors or lead to where in the building, but you know, we're all figuring it out together. And I'm sure we'll figure it out by the end of the weekend. And what's the most lost you've gotten? The most what? Lost you've gotten, like going to a different room. Well, I went to, trying to get to, I don't even know, like the breakfast room and I went in the locker room and then came back out through the training room and just like, we did a full circle. So. Anything kind of surprised you about day one out here or just playing football once you get out there? Yeah, not, not too much. I mean, it was, it was fun, just kind of playing the few calls that we have, trying to remember everything and do everything right. What do you think the advantages of playing on both sides of the ball in your career will help you, you know, get through camp and when the season starts? Yeah, I think, I think once you learn the initial defense and you feel comfortable with it, just the spatial awareness, you know, kind of understanding how quarterbacks, think about the game and running backs. I do think it's helped me. But yeah, right now you're kind of drinking out of a fire hose, trying to learn, learn the defense. Troy, how would you describe your demeanor on the field? You're playing demeanor. Yeah, I think, I mean, you guys see right now I'm fairly, you know, relaxed. And then on the, on the field, it's, it's go time, it's game time. I'm super competitive. I hate to lose, really hate it. So yeah, I mean, I'm going to do whatever it takes to win. Lots of guys in this draft class have mentioned that same kind of thing. I mean, you know, borderline mean on the field. Do you think that's fair? Yeah, I mean, within the rules for sure. That's a shame. Yeah. We think your athleticism brings yet the fastest time of the combine for a live backer, I believe the third fastest time of all time. We think that athleticism will do for you when things get bad today. I think, I mean, speed helps. I mean, the game is so fast. These days, to be able to run with, you know, extreme athletic tight ends and receivers and backs, you need to have short area quickness and long speed as well. So I mean, hopefully my, my athletic skill set can, can help me with that. Have you surprised any of your teammates in this short period of time with your speed so far? I mean, I imagine they don't think cattle farmer from Montana can get down the road. Yeah, I've had anybody mention it. So we'll see. Have I tested you yet? Nope. Yeah, we'll call for it. Wait, for real? I was just joking around. We did. I live like 55 minutes from here. So what was that like for you? Because we hadn't talked to you since then. What was it like for you? Oh, it was like, I was kind of surprised. I was not a spet in that, you know, just me and my cousin been on the same team, but it's a blessing though. I'm very excited for him. He excited for me. So it's big. What was that ride up your? It was pretty smooth. I was asleep the whole ride. Yeah, so let it go. What did you think about the first day out here and kind of get back on me to the NFL? It felt great. A lot of people are here, you know, just trying to make a name for themselves. I felt like I did a great job, you know, just running around, learning the plays. It's kind of like the same kind of scheme, just different terminology. Yeah, D'Angelo talked to Coach Smith earlier this week. He said schools, you know, said you were too small, but he had to talk to you in the West of Kentucky. You know, what was that like and happy how it turned out for you? Yeah, I would say Coach Smith, he definitely played like a big role in me going to West of Kentucky. You know, at first people was trying to say, they were trying to criticize me. I wasn't big enough, I was strong enough. So that's probably why it put a big chip on my shoulder. And it really just inspired me just to go hard every day. And then the whole senior growth community, have they been receptive to all you guys getting drafted here? Most definitely. Everyone's excited. And you know, we doing it for the community. D'Angelo, how would you describe your play style? My play style? Fast, physical, very versatile, and just one of a kind. Several of the guys in this draft, Patrick, kind of a reputation for being a jerk inside the white line. Do you think you have the same reputation? Do you play with that style of? Not really. I would say I'm crucial, you know. It's very cordial here, but I'm talking about in-game. Oh, in-game? Not really. I'm a good competitor. You know, I'll try to leave all the trash talking and just playing. Yeah. Let's grab your... People come out to see you. What from the guy from Cedar Grove still remains? And what would be different if people come out to watch you play? How can you repeat that? For people who know you, remember you from high school, what still remains from that guy from Cedar Grove? What's different? I probably would say, you know, I still got the same work ethic. Still got the same good heart. But it was different. I probably would say just my size. That's my size. You know, I had like 20 more pounds. I feel great. What was your size coming out of Cedar Grove when people were telling you you were pretty small? Yeah, I agree with them. I was pretty small. I was like, 195. I was a little guy. What do you hope to accomplish when Cedar Grove is open? Basically, I just make a name for myself. Hopefully, you know, I can earn a spot on the team. You know, just do whatever I can for the team. Win the Super Bowl. What did 95 play in linebacker? Like what happened the first day of practice? The first day of practice? Yeah, just get thrown around everywhere? I mean, I wouldn't necessarily say thrown around, but I kind of play like with a chip on my shoulder, like I said, and I know I had a lot of proof. So like just having that heart, you know, just going out there, having that dog mentality. Describe your past Russian style and the moves you've been working on, understand? Okay, so I like to watch a lot of Van Miller, Leonard Floyd, so you know, cross chop, speed chop, and just working this out. Thanks guys. Thank you guys. Yeah. You guys actually carved it up here? No, we can't accept it. That was a different story than we just got. Oh, yeah. How was your first day? It was great. And you know, just to be out here and just be able to have that opportunity to be able to come out here in the NFL uniform, it was the greatest feeling today. What were the emotions first day on the NFL practice? I would say it was, it was, it was sad, but happy at the same time. Like yesterday when I chatted on my helmet, it really like hit me like, wow, I'm in the NFL. Like today I just had to come out here, like as a regular meal with high energy. Just coming out here, just playing ball, just keeping the energy positive, keeping the guys around me positive energy. You said it was sad first, that was the first word you used, what was sad about it? It's just like, like when I come from, I've always been counted out, like from high school all the way to college, always been an underrated guy. Like even in college, I had to sit, sit behind two or three guys for like two or three years. So just coming out here, just knowing I got an opportunity was a blessing for me. That's gotta help you as a player? Yes, sir. I just, I just take on my own, never let nothing like, bother me, aggravate me. I just take it all out on the field, like with my aggression. How would you describe the playing style on the field? I play, I'm a model, I'm nasty. Like I'm trying to finish your airplane no matter if it's a run or a pass. That lot of the guys in this draft class seem to share that. I know you haven't gotten, you probably had 36 hours to get to know them, but do you think y'all place have similar styles? Yes, sir. I feel like everybody around me got that same aggression. Everybody around me got that, got that winning mentality. So just coming in with the draft class we got, I feel like we'll be able to help the team move in a positive way. Hey Justin, coach, I talked to coach Smith earlier this week. You said you were gonna be fine cause you work hard and don't stick and stay. What are some of the traits that you know he was talking about? Well, I got to get coach Smith all the credit like coming out of high school. He was the guy who told me like, you know, when the ball down the field, cover down the field, if I get a chance to finish somebody, finish him like just that, just always having that nasty, that nasty attitude on the field. Like he, he taught me that all four years of high school and it just carried me all the way to this day. And how about the Cedar Grove community, three players in the draft most in any high school this year? What's that been like to come from that program? It's special just knowing like the school that I come from, cause I come from a three A school, only like a thousand students in us. So just coming from like that school and like the community, the community was so proud, like just being able to get that love. Like I just got to go back and just show, show that love and show this, show this opportunity with them. Thank you. Daniel was saying you guys carpooled up here. No, we ain't carpooled, but if he needed a ride, I got him. He was lying. He said he slept the whole way. He slept, yeah, he slept the whole way, but we ain't carpooled. Okay. So how'd you guys get up here? Did you get up here several of them? Yeah, I got up here. The fuck, actually had me a driver cause I had a running car. I had to turn it back in. So they had somebody to come get me. It wasn't Angela. No, it wasn't Angela. I'm trying to remember before Georgia had its practice facility indoors. Were you ever part of a team that bused here for a practice on a rainy day? I know, sir. I was a class that came in with a new facility. Okay. All right. Wow. Thank you.