Conference call transcripts of the five Carolina Panthers’ draftees.
RE: How it feels to be picked by the Panthers
VB: “It feels great. I’m just honored and really blessed right now. I thank God.”
RE: How he sees himself fitting into the team
VB: “I feel like a fit in real well with them. Coming in to contribute and help the team out any way I can and be a great teammate.”
RE: How he feels about being a first-round draft choice but playing a rotational role
VB: “I’m going to do whatever the coaches want me to do. If it’s wanting me to be a rotational guy, I’ll be a rotational guy. But I’m going to work hard every day and give it my best and try to help them win games.”
RE: How he would describe his style of play
VB: “I would describe it as more aggressive. Penetrating up the field, make plays in the backfield. That’s what I like, make plays in the backfield. Any time I get out of my stance, make a play.”
RE: What it was like to meet Luke Kuechly on his visit to Charlotte
VB: “It was good. Just meeting one of the best linebackers in the NFL, it was pretty sweet.”
RE: If it is correct that he didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school
VB: “Yes sir, that’s correct.”
RE: If he was a basketball player before playing football
VB: “I was playing basketball in my freshman and sophomore year of high school and then I picked football up.”
RE: Why he changed sports
VB: To be honest, I knew I wasn’t going to get no taller than 6-4. To play basketball you’ve got to be at least 6-9 in the post. I went back to playing football, playing defensive end.”
RE: If he got the sense during the Draft process that Carolina was very interested in him
VB: “Yeah, I met with them at the Senior Bowl, the Combine. They came in and worked me out. I even went there and had a visit there. I knew that if it came down to it that was where I’d probably most likely be. And I’m happy to be there.”
RE: If it is correct that the Detroit Lions told him they would select him at No. 16 if he was available
VB: “That’s what they said, but they say a lot of things.”
RE: If he was surprised to drop to the 30th selection
VB: “A tad bit, I was. But I’m at a good home with the Carolina Panthers so it works out good.”
RE: Who he was cheering for in the Super Bowl
VB: “The Panthers. I’m a big Cam Newton fan. I’ve been a fan of Cam since he was at Auburn.”
RE: If he feels he has a point to prove coming to the NFL from a smaller school
VB: “I would say yeah, I would. I have a point to prove to people in all the NFL. Big school guys, they think they’re probably the best, but small school guys, we can show them what we can do.”
RE: What Senior Bowl week was like
VB: “It was good. I got to go out there and show the scouts and coaches what I can do against some of the big-time schools. I felt like it did me a whole lot for my draft stock.”
RE: How he would explain not having “eye-popping” sack and pressure statistics
VB: “I think I did a good job getting the quarterback on the ground. Push the pocket to change the play. It’s something I’ve been working on this offseason so there’s nothing to worry about with that.”
RE: If he expected to be picked this high in the draft
JB: “Not really. I was actually fixing the toilet in my mom’s bathroom when they called, so I was just waiting man, I didn’t know when I was going to get the call.”
RE: Issues with the toilet
JB: “My mom just had me fixing it, I don’t really know how to fix things for real, but I try when I can.”
RE: Defensive back skills being better than his plumbing skills
JB: “No doubt, they definitely are”.
RE: His strength as a corner
JB: “Just my versatility and my physicality when I am pressing.”
RE: Where he expected to go in the draft
JB: “I had heard anywhere from the second round to the fifth. I tried to keep a level head and expect anything, I was ready for anything.”
RE: Possible draft party tonight
JB: “Well, I am actually here with my friends and family, but it’s not like a big draft party. I had actually planned something to do tomorrow night after the whole draft was over.”
RE: Josh Norman leaving and the need for a new corner
JB: “I didn’t really know what was going on with that situation. I knew they had a great defense no matter what happened with what all was going on. So I didn’t really know what they were going to take when it came towards the draft.”
RE: On his emotions
JB: “I am excited, I am not a very emotional guy. I try to keep everything bottled in, but I am very excited on the inside. You might not be able to tell by the way I am talking right now, but I am very excited.”
RE: Where he was when the phone rang
JB: “I had my phone in my pocket and I’m walking into the bathroom in my home, me and my friends fixing the toilet and I feel my phone vibrate and I think it is a text message, but it’s a Carolina area code and that was when my heart started beating real fast. I go into the hallway and answer the phone call and it’s the Panthers.”
RE: On if the toilet got fixed
JB: “Nah, it didn’t. It is still in there waiting on me.”
RE: On if he will fix the toilet tonight
JB: “It may not get fixed.”
RE: Background with Panthers in the pre-draft process
JB: “We had a workout and I also had a team visit and that was pretty much it. I was saying, that was a lot for me to have a visit and a workout.”
RE: If the Panthers showed the most interest
JB: “They were the only team that I had a workout and visit with so I would probably say yes, but it is kind of hard to say because I know a lot of teams said they loved my size and stuff like that and they were hoping to get me. I don’t really know if they showed more love, but it is about even across the board for teams that I had visits.”
RE: On what he does well as a corner
JB: “At Samford we pretty much press a lot as far as the corners. I feel like I have a good style of technique when it comes to press coverage, I have long arms so I am able to redirect receivers and also in zone, we also play a little zone. In zone I am able to recognize routes and read the quarterback well and I catch the ball when it is thrown my way.”
RE: On his ability being 6’1’’
JB: “Definitely. I am very confident in my ability. I started the past four years at Samford, went against top level competition like Auburn, played TCU, played Louisville, and I think I played pretty well against those teams. I feel like my length and my height can be an attribute for me in the league, I am very confident in my ability.”
RE: His decision to transfer from Arkansas State to Samford
JB: “Coming out of high school, I played corner and they recruited me as a DB and then when I got up there, they put me at safety. I really wanted to go back out and play corner and just wanted to prove myself that I could still play it. They didn’t believe in me. They didn’t want me to play corner, so then I ended up transferring to Samford. Samford actually offered me coming out of high school, so that’s how I was connected with them.”
RE: Biggest receivers he faced during his college career
JB: “I played Sammie Coates. I played Josh Doctson and I played Kobe Listenbee.”
RE: How he played against Coats, Doctson and Listenbee
JB: “I had an interception against Sammie Coats. He had his catch, I had my pick, so it was about even. I said an even match there. I think I played pretty well against Josh Doctson. Kobe Listenbee got one on me but I think I played well overall.”
RE: His thoughts on Cam Newton growing up since he grew up in Alabama
JB: “I was a Florida State fan growing up, so when I saw him play at Auburn, I just knew he couldn’t, after the maybe the third game in the season, I had a feeling that Auburn was going to go on a run and go to the National Championship. But, I just admired his character and the way he handled everything that was thrown at him.”
RE: If Panthers indicated that he would be strictly a corner or more versatile on the back end
JB: “I’m definitely playing corner. I’ve got that vibe from Coach (Steve) Wilks, the way that he’s confident in my abilities so I am definitely playing corner.”
RE: Thoughts on Coach Wilks
JB: “Definitely during my workout, I could tell he was an intelligent guy. He knew the game well. He has different approaches when it comes to technique at the press. He’s just an overall great coach and I feel like he’s a great guy off the field too. I got that vibe from him when I went on my visit. He was easy to talk to and a really knowledgeable guy.”
RE: His plans for tonight know that he is drafted
JB: “I don’t know. I heard that I’ve got a flight in the morning so I don’t know what I’m going to do. I know I’m going to celebrate, but I don’t know how long I’m going to celebrate so I’m still in the planning mood right now.”
RE: His hometown of Pleasant Grove, Ala. and what sports he played growing up
JB: “Pleasant Grove is right outside of Birmingham. I actually grew up playing, I played a little baseball. I played soccer. I actually played soccer before I played football, but when I was in high school, I strictly played football and basketball. But growing up, I played all the sports.”
RE: If he had any interest coming out of high school from Auburn or Alabama
JB: “Not at all. I think I went to Auburn camp and that was the only interest I got. I talked to some coaches out there and I didn’t hear from them since then.”
RE: Feedback from Auburn and Alabama explaining why they weren’t pursuing him harder
JB: “I really didn’t get any feedback on why they weren’t pursuing me or why they were going to pursue me. They just were giving me a little feedback on my technique and stuff like that. They didn’t really recruit me at all. I was just going to the camp because I had family members that stayed down there and we were going down there to visit them, so that’s why I went to the camp.”
RE: His background in tackling skills
JB: “Since my freshman year, I feel like I have improved every year. That’s been my goal when I got into college after my freshman year was to make sure that I have less missed tackles going into the following year. I don’t think I had any missed tackles my senior year. I was a good tackler then, so that’s what I got.”
RE: On what he was doing when he got the call
DW: “I was actually sitting on my brother’s bed, honestly laying in the dark.”
RE: On why he was laying in the dark
DW: “Nah, I just needed a quiet place to be right now, just to be alone with my thoughts and really just speak with God and allow him to take everything into his hands.”
RE: On what it means to be drafted to the Panthers
DW: “It’s nothing but a blessing and an honor. I mean, that was a team when I took a visit there that I honestly, I fell in love with them, the entire coaching staff and the city as a whole. It was just completely comfortable and I loved the place as a whole. It was an excellent place. I mean, there was no other team in the NFL that I wanted to be with besides the Carolina Panthers. That was all I kept telling my agent and my family, so for it to come into fruition, it’s a blessing.”
RE: On why he wanted to be with the Panthers
DW: “I don’t know. Honestly I think it may be the culture. The culture that they have here, have at the Panthers, it honestly is a little bit identical to what we had on our defense last year. The fact that it spreads on the offense and defense side of the ball, I know that they do something awesome and it has resulted in their last couple seasons and that’s honestly a team that I want to be a part of. A team that is not only just a team, but off the field they’re a family and they love each other. It is very genuine.”
RE: On him fitting in well with Panther’s Cover Two scheme
DW: “Yes, that was definitely a part of my attraction. Just knowing the style and game that I love to play in, which is more physical, more like they did last year. They lead the NFL in what, 24 interceptions, that is the thing that I love to do is turn the ball over and get it back to my offense. Just being aggressive and more of an attack style defense then really just sitting on your heels and scheming teams, that is just amazing and that is the style of defense that I want to be a part of.”
RE: On if he has talked to Secondary Coach Steve Wilks
DW: “Yes, I have. We’ve had multiple conversations from when he came to work me out at West Virginia to when I went down on my visit there. He is an amazing man and that is definitely someone I look forward to just learning the game from because he does know a lot in the perspectives in which and the attitude that he has is awesome. It lines right up along with how I feel about the game and I am looking forward to having him coach me.”
RE: On whether or not it crossed his mind that Panthers could work out for him after hearing of Josh Norman’s departure last week
DW: “I didn’t really look too much into anything. I mean Josh Norman, he is a legendary corner in my mind. He makes all the plays that come his way. He does exactly what he should do. He is a respectable player and I have nothing but love and respect for him. So whatever the move came from, whatever caused him to have to move, that is unfortunate. I know he didn’t want to leave the Panther family. I wouldn’t want to and I know no one else would want to. But, at the end of the day that news had to come through and he had to do what he had to do and I am just happy to be a Panther at the end of the day.”
RE: On him joining a team that is in need of his position
DW: “It is not only a need at this point, it’s a blessing. Only God could put me in this position right here and I can’t explain it any other way. This is all God’s work.”
RE: West Virginia altercation
DW: “It was a simple situation where it was wrong place at the wrong time. There were nothing malicious about the incident. All 32 team have seen the videotape, they have the official court documents which I gave to them, where there was nothing malicious about it. I did my due diligence as far as the court required me and honestly it is just behind me in the past. It is expunged from my record and I am looking to move forward. Nothing like that is ever going to be a problem heading forward.”
RE: Leaving West Virginia a year early and the grade he received from the advisory board coming back
DW: “As a grade coming back they gave me about a fourth round grade, but at the end they all sum it up as going back to school if you are not first or second round.”
RE: On why he ignored that advice
DW: “I was very confident in my decision. I talked it over with my parents, my coaches, even some of my teammates back in West Virginia. I mean just the confidence in my abilities knowing that physically and mentally I can take it to the next level and be able to make plays and be able to feed a team the necessary things that they need. The same things that I was giving to West Virginia and I am guessing the Carolina Panthers felt the same way which is why they ultimately made this decision which is why I am so thankful.”
RE: On the best receiver he has faced in the past two seasons
DW: “I would say the best receiver that I went up against was Amari Cooper.”
RE: What he thought when the Panthers took a corner in the second round
DW: “At that point I was sitting there, the anxiousness was taking over. I mean I was a little bit, not to say on edge, but you question everything. When someone is picked above you, you begin to question. At the end of the day I like to keep my faith with God, he does everything for a reason and his timing is always perfect. Nothing is going to happen when you want it to happen, when he wants it to happen is exactly when it should and it is going to happen. I just kept my faith in God, once I see that pick I literally I just came in the room and said, ‘if it is supposed to happen, it will definitely happen’ and ultimately in the end it definitely did.”
RE: On what he says to the critics on his 40 time
DW: “I don’t really have a comment for those type of people, Critics, they are doing exactly what they get paid to do, so I can’t fault them in the end. All I have to do is go out there and do my job on the football field and it will handle itself, it will speak for itself.”
RE: Reaction to being drafted
ZS: “It’s unexplainable, unexplainable feeling. I’m blessed.”
RE: If he believed he would end up in Carolina after recent meeting with Coach Rivera
ZS: “Yeah, Carolina showed me the most interest of any team in this process. So, I didn’t know when it would be or how I would get here, but I just had a feeling that this would be my landing spot for me.”
RE: Insight into his conversation with Coach Rivera
ZS: “He just said basically that he just believed in me and felt like I could be a good player in this league. Obviously, he didn’t know what the Draft would hold or if I would end up in Carolina as I did, but he just thought that I would be a good player in this league wherever I ended up. He just wished me the best of luck and to hear that from Coach Rivera and now be a part of this team is real rewarding and I’m just blessed and grateful for the opportunity.”
RE: Key to his success in turning the ball over
ZS: “I was just blessed with my natural instincts, just my ability to make plays, put myself in position to make plays and be aggressive at times. There’s things obviously I still need to work on and fix, but I was born with the ability to make plays and have better instincts than a lot of guys.”
RE: If he is a risk taker
ZS: “I think it’s a little more of me actually knowing the game and knowing what’s about to attack me than me just guessing every time and taking risks. I had a lot of good safeties behind me that allowed me to do that, a lot of good teammates. So, it’s a little bit of both, just knowing what I’m seeing and having a feel for a game as long as it’s being able to take chances as well.”
RE: If he believes Carolina sees his role as playing outside or inside at nickel
ZS: “I have no idea yet. Wherever I need to be played, I’m ready for it. I am willing to do whatever they need me to do to help this defense out. It’s a top ten defense in the NFL. I want to do my best to be a part of it and be a guy that makes plays for them.”
RE: The impact of going up against a guy like Sterling Shepard every day at practice while playing at Oklahoma
ZS: “A lot. I’ve seen the best of the best every day in my opinion. Shep (Sterling Shepard) is the best and I got to see him every day. So, it helped me a lot throughout the year and I think it helped me get ready for what I’m about to get into next.”
RE: Whether or not he knows Panthers tackle Daryl Williams
ZS: “Yeah, we have the same agent and I’ve known Daryl since I stepped foot at O.U. (University of Oklahoma). He’s always been a real cool guy and a really nice guy and a real good teammate. So, I know Daryl pretty well.”
RE: How he has handled the past three days
ZS: “It has been pretty small. I mean the first day and yesterday was pretty small and then today some of my family got in. It is actually my grandpa’s birthday and he got in about 30 minutes ago so you know I am sure the house will start filling up in a little bit.”
RE: His reaction to being a part of this corner group
ZS: “We all kind of got to take it with a grain of salt. You know I am just ready to work my tail off and get on the field regardless of where I was drafted. If I was the first or the last corner taken, you know I just want to get into camp and work hard and prove myself to show the coaches that you know I belong on the field.”
RE: On what he wants to improve on
ZS: “Just my tackling for one. Being more consistent with my tackling and then my eyes and my technique. Trusting it and knowing that I am going to make plays, that it is going to lead me to plays and just stay true to my technique. Know that I am a natural playmaker so my technique is going to get me to my plays and not try to stress making the play every play.”
RE: If he knows the other corners the Panthers have drafted
ZS: “I played against Daryl (Worley) the past four years so I know him pretty well. I actually got to meet (James) Bradberry at the Combine so I am kind of familiar with those two guys.”
RE: On the type of rivalry it will be among corners and if he is looking to get on the field early
ZS: “Oh definitely, I am a competitor. I understand they are my teammates, but I am here to compete with anybody. The better they compete, the better I am so I think it is just going to make us all better in the long run.”
RE: On him thinking he’s the best defensive play maker in the draft and then being drafted in the fifth round
ZS: “To say I am not surprised would be a lie, but things happen for a reason. There has been a history of some pretty good fifth-round corners in the league. I hope I can continue that streak.”
RE: On Josh Norman
ZS: “I don’t know too much about what went down, but I know Josh was a great corner and a great player. I wish him nothing but the best, but you know I am a Carolina Panther now and my focus is on the Panthers and my team.”
RE: On the amount of contact he has had with Secondary Coach Steve Wilks throughout the draft process
ZS: “He just called me earlier, you know he told me he wants me to celebrate with my family a little bit. He is going to give me a call a little later on and we are going to have a longer discussion. On my visit I was able to watch film with him and go eat lunch with him so I have had some good conversations with him.”
RE: On how he is spending the remainder of today
ZS: “Man, just waiting for my boy Strike (Eric Striker) and my boy Dom (Dominique Alexander) to get off the board. You know I will be watching and tuned in, waiting on those guys to come off the board.”
RE: On how it feels to be drafted by the Panthers
BS: “Feels awesome to be a Carolina Panther, you know. It was a long day, but it felt great to see my name going across the bottom of the screen and get that call from them. I couldn’t be happier to be at an organization like Carolina and with a team like the Panthers.”
RE: On what was going through his mind throughout the day
BS: “Just sitting around with family, just had some friends over, just kind of kept it low key. We were just watching, just hoping to see my name called and hoped for the opportunity. I am glad it was with a team like the Panthers who I had so much contact with in the past. Being able to visit them, going out there in Charlotte and talk to Coach (Ron) Rivera and Coach (Mike) Shula, and everything like that. I always felt good about Carolina so it is always good when a team you feel comfortable with ends up being the one taking you.”
RE: Thoughts on Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen
BS: “I think it’s awesome. I think it’s great, obviously going in there with Greg Olsen a 10-year vet, Pro Bowl guy. I had a chance to meet him when I was at Miami. He would come down there pretty regularly, just come in the meeting rooms, talk with us, answer questions. Great guy, great pro, so to be able to go in there, that was one thing I actually talked about to Coach Rivera on my visit. I was like, what a great opportunity for a young rookie tight end to be able to come in and learn from arguably the best tight end in the game right now. So I think that is going to be a huge advantage for me and anybody else on that roster, just to kind of watch him, obverse him, learn from him. Someone who’s been there and done it and done it at the highest level.”
RE: On what teams he visited
BS: “Just Carolina.”
RE: How he feels being a last round pick and not getting the ‘Mr. irrelevant’ title
BS: “Very glad. I know that they make a big circus of it and there’s a parade and everything like that and all the big deal and all that, so I didn’t want to be the Mr. Irrelevant.”
RE: On his strengths
BS: “I would think that my strength would be that I really can be an all-around complete tight end. I think there are a lot of one-dimensional tight ends in the college level and the professional level. A lot of guys who are great receivers, but can’t really do the in-line stuff, the dirty work and run power and counter. But then there are guys that are great blockers, but they are too big, they don’t have natural hips or hands and can’t really make an impact in the passing game. I think I am balanced enough to where I can be a complete tight end and play all four downs if that is what they need me to do and be able to run counter one play and then split out a run and route the next play.”
RE: On transferring from Miami to Montana State University
BS: “That was my junior year because I was a junior college transfer. It was a business decision, it was playing time. I wasn’t getting the playing time that I felt that I deserved or that I needed in order to put myself in the situation I am in today, playing in the NFL. I knew that I wasn’t going to be utilized in the offense enough to get enough game film and everything like that. I knew what kind of player I was and could be in the right situation and given, you know, a good scenario. It was a tough decision, it wasn’t easy, obviously nobody wants to transfer, nobody likes to transfer, but I knew that for my future and my career and what I wanted to do for my life that was the best thing for me. It ended up being, I think, one of the best things I have ever done.”
RE: On how he is going to celebrate
BS: “You know, I have been on the phone since I got drafted so I haven’t really had time to sit back and relax and hug my family. I haven’t even been able to watch it because I was on the phone with the Panthers when they drafted me and it came across the screen, so probably go and watch that. Hug my family members a little bit and keep it low-key. I am not one, not really big into going out and partying, I am just happy to have this opportunity.”
RE: On his thought process as it neared the end of the draft and if there was a point where he thought he’s be an undrafted free agent
BS: “Obviously when it gets to the sixth round, you don’t get called, you get to the seventh round you don’t get call and all of a sudden there are three picks left, obviously yeah that is something that crosses your mind. That wasn’t something that was going to deter me. I have had a lot of obstacles I have had to overcome, whether it was going the junior college route or leaving Miami, but I have been pretty determined. I know with hard work I can persevere and do whatever I want, so yeah obviously that was something that entered my mind, but I knew that even if I wasn’t drafted that I would still sign with a team and go to a camp and get a chance, get an opportunity and really that’s all you can ask for at the end of the day.”
RE: On why he went to junior college
BS: “Coming out of high school I was a non-qualifier for the NCAA clearing house and it wasn’t because I had bad grades or anything, it was actually kind of a dumb mistake. I took general English and general Science my junior year when I needed to take college prep English and college prep Science, but I didn’t know that at the time. By the time I found out it was too little too late in my senior year and the counselors pretty much called me into their office and said ‘you want to play football? You want to continue in college?’ I said, ‘Yeah’, and they pretty much said, ‘Well, too bad, you are going to have to go the junior college route.’ It really ended up being a blessing in disguise looking back at it.”
RE: On if he was a surfer growing up
BS: “No, not at all actually. I never did surf. I grew up in Simi Valley, California which is just north of Los Angeles and people think and Southern California, they just think big city, concrete jungle. Really I grew up in a really rural area outside of LA, we have you know I grew up with horses and quads and you could really go hunting. We have thousands of acres of property here in my family so I grew up kind of in, I would say more of a rural country setting. There is no cell reception, we don’t really have any neighbors back here or anything like that. That is kind of how I grew up, so I don’t think it will be a huge adjustment going to Charlotte and being in North Carolina. Just the time I have spent there and the things I have seen about North Carolina or the stuff I have heard, seems to be a great city with kind of the rural country aspect of it right at your fingertips.”
RE: On the land his family owns and if they are farmers or ranchers
BS: “It used to be a ranch. My ancestors came here from England in 1880 and the land has been passed down through generations. It is not a working ranch anymore, but that’s what it originally was.”