 He's the pride of Farragut High School, and he's a Chattanooga mock cold strange You are a long way away from those days is a 235-pound guy who thought you were going to the Air Force Academy. What has this process felt like? Compared to where you've come from I Guess it's kind of been a long process. It's not really been like an overnight thing It's actually something I was just thinking about is like All the stuff that's happening is really cool. And I think when I was younger I had this preconceived notion that it would just happen and it would be like oh my gosh, this is amazing, but it's like I Mean from the time I was in eighth grade. It's kind of been like a consistent like Battle of working to gain weight get stronger get better at football You know whether it was a linebacker back then or defensive in offensive line when I moved to Chattanooga and so it's like You know it's awesome, but it's just like You know it's just it's just I don't know It's like a continuation of the work that's been put in for the walk for the longest now I'm sure you felt like now. It probably had to happen this way Yes. Yes, I think so Yes, sir be able to appreciate the process and what you're asked to go through are you a guard? Are you a center? Are you whatever you don't care right now? You're looking for a job, right? Yeah? No, I don't care. I was saying I could probably throw the ball to so I mean If they needed to someone back there, how do you describe yourself when teams want to know who cold strange is I? Think I try for the most part. I I try to make it known that you know I just I try to play angry and mean and I guess more so aggressive than I know I need I know just like everybody here. There's stuff I can improve on as far as technique in the actual position But as far as mentality wise like I know for a fact I have that down You know, I just try to play aggressive and mean it through the whistle You have a switch as I've watched you on tape. It's clear You're a guy off the field everybody says great guy fun to talk to interest in a lot of things But then when you get on the field you flip that switch. Where does that come from? You know, I think maybe just whenever I was younger because that's I feel like that's a saying That's been around all over the place or at least maybe just in Tennessee is like You know, I remember when I was young my dad kind of telling me like about that Like flipping the switch when you go on the football I feel like this is the place to be mean and be aggressive and to try and hurt people Or you know, whatever is it you do and then off the field. It's like you're not that person And so I don't know I guess maybe from him But for me it was kind of a natural thing was like whenever I was told younger like, you know Go go wild like freak out do whatever you want to do within this like set of rules And so it was just kind of came naturally to me I want to ask you about a mentor of yours who is a legendary coach in the state of Tennessee What does Eddie Courtney from Farragut High School mean to you your life and your football career? He means a lot You know, I mean aside from just being my high school coach Ever since I left high school any time I would have offseason, you know during Christmas break I would always go back home and work out and for the longest time He was over there unlocking the door like we'd talk every time I go over there. He told me a Little while ago before like well before any of this He was telling me that I had like a Raiders cinema packet and I was like, oh my god, that's amazing, you know So like we've been in constant constant contact since high school, you know standing touch She he used to text me whenever I was like just started starting he text me after every game And he kept doing that throughout my career Yes, sir, you feel like you have more to prove because you come from a smaller school You mean here this week, I guess so, you know, I mean in my heart, I know I belong but maybe just some others a smaller school guy Wouldn't but you know, I don't know I think I think that may be the case But I'm not really too focused on that. What is the team that drafts cold strange getting as football player someone who's gonna add to their culture if the culture that they want to have is Main and tough and playing aggressive and someone who's gonna work as hard as even worse in the locker room