*Eugene Smoothie Post NSFL Draft Pressure

[Nhamlet]

How do you feel about your draft position? Did you expect to be taken in the 2nd round?

Were you surprised to see your name called when Philadelphia's pick was announced? Had any other teams shown similar or more interest in drafting you?

Five safeties went in the first round. Is being the sixth safety off the board motivation for you to prove those five teams wrong or are you just happy to have been picked high in such a talented draft class?

How has the Philadelphia locker room been since your arrival? What were your expectations prior to meeting your new teammates?

I think based on the type of teams that were contacting me, the number of other players in my position and my relative value, it made sense where I landed where I did I think. There were some reports that I could have gone into the first round with some being surprised that I would be available in the 2nd. I think it would have been nice to have had that first round pick status but ultimately in the long run of things it doesn't matter too much since it won't change the fact that I landed where I did and couldnt' be happier honestly.

When I saw the trade happen, I had a hunch that it was for me just because of the great talks I've had with Philly prior to the draft. My anticipation was that if the first round shook out in a way where the last couple teams decided to go in a different path with other players/safeties, then I felt relatively confident that Philadelphia would be my new NSFL home. I thought that it might have been nice to have potentially been part of some of the final three teams in the 1st round as they have had a long history of success and especially as of late, but definitely none of them stood in the same way that Philly did for me. I think if I was given the choice I don't think I would have picked a different team to go to instead knowing the kind of culture that the Liberty value as part of their team.

No, no hard feelings for being picked behind so many talented players. As well with the inherent value that many teams place on the user rather than the player or even position, trying to judge the decision of which safety or defensive back was best available at this point is hard to do. Not to mention with how common position swaps are, trying to compare them right after the draft is probably a lost exercise for now. It's something I'm definitely interested in following to compare fellow rookie defensive backs in our first seasons in the NSFL as well as how the trajectory of our careers go on to be.

The Philly locker room was great on my initial entrance and time goes on I only seem to enjoy it more. Still lots of folks to meet and get to know as well as my fellow rookies. There was a little bit of the hub bub of Philly recently moving on from a large locker room personality so I'll have to admit there was some hesitation about entering a situation that was recently so seemingly volatile but without knowing the full situations, I think that what happened was probably in my favor as well coming into a room that had a clear idea of what sort of team engagement they were looking for.