Sam Okuayinonu Details Leveling Up with the 49ers and Answers Fan Qs | 49ers You've Got Mail Podcast
November 22, 2024 • 18 mins
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu joined the 49ers “You’ve Got Mail” podcast presented by Delta Dental to discuss signing on with the red and gold in 2023 and answer fan-submitted questions.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You spend three seasons in Maryland pract then go undrafted,
get picked up by the Titans, then waived six games after. Yeah, yeah,
at this point, where is your mindset of what am
I going to do with my career?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Messed up? That's first of all, that's remember my first time.
You know, when you in these moments, it's like day
to day routines, like it's.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Like, ah, man, I got good meetings, I gotta do this,
I gotta do that.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But when it's not that, you miss it, like when
it's not like your day when you have all these
free times, it's just like what am I doing here?
Like I remember just staying at home like I should
be in a meeting right now. But mindset was dark, man,
I was in a very dark place. It's like physically
mentally just like not even motivated to even move and
(00:57):
get out of bed. And then I remember the day
ye I got cut, like cut cut, because I remember
I like my rookie year. They moved me up and
down the practice squad a few times, so you know
that was whatever. But being cut and like not knowing
you're going to come back, that was a tough one, man,
because I really loved this game. I loved this sport,
loved the guys on the team. I remember I went
(01:17):
home just side of my couch like all day just
they didn't move, they didn't pick up, no phone call,
just sat there and just thinking like, am I really
now on the team.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I don't have a job right now. So I remember
it was like a stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I started working on Nashville probably like a week or
so after, you know, waiting on a call, went on
a call, waiting on a call, and this at this point,
it was probably like two months, like week I want
to say, like week ten.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
So I was like, I'm going to go home.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I'm gonna to home the mass just be around my family,
you know, help with the mental So I went back home.
Like another four weeks go by, I get a call
from the Panthers. They brought me in for a workout.
Killed it. They're good.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I'm thinking, you know, they about assign me to the
practice squad at least next Monday. The head coach get fired.
So I'm just like, dangn that's tough. Go back to
the couch. You know, I'm waiting. It's week seventeen, right,
so I'm like, you know, what I'm going to play
the spring ball because nobody call my phone. Yeah, I'm
just getting ready to play the spring ball. So I'm
gon get a job. So I went into I got
(02:17):
a job with like working with children with disability, learning
disabilities and stuff, you know, helping them. And I remember
the first day I went in, I left work side
of my car, I got a phone call from my agent,
Like the very first it was like a saying.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
From a movie. It was crazy.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
I think you might have.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It was crazy, Larry gotta work. Like just don't even
know where my mindset is at this point. Sat in
my car and I get a phone call from my agent.
He's like, man, the nine is trying to bring you
in for a workout. How you feeling. I said, we
gotta go, We got to go. We got to go.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Man.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I remember just saying everythinking like thank God, thank you Jesus.
It was a great opportunity. I went home that night. Man,
I just ran around the neighborhood to freshing the legs
up a little bit, try to get the cub weaves
off man, and then the fly here, the whole flight here.
I'm thinking, like I'm not going back to Boston. I'm
not going back to Boston. I'm telling myself that the
whole time, like, I'm not going back to my room.
I'm not going back to Boston. I'm not going back
(03:14):
to Boston and workout. They finally came along, and I honestly,
I feel like everything happened for a reason because they
told me when I got here they was going to
sign the guy who I worked out with, but they
just wanted to see what I could do on the field,
you know. And then we start to work out. You know,
I'm smoking it, I'm flying around having fun. You know,
I'm looking at him. He's on the ground kind of hard,
(03:34):
catch his breath, and I just gave me more energy. Honestly,
I was just like, oh, yeah, this is my job.
Like I'm not losing this.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
This this is for me.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
And then well, did long story short end up killing
the workout and this sign him to the practice squad
and yeah, we're here.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
What's the biggest lesson you learned after having your football
journey go in about five different directions you never expected.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, the biggest lesson for me, man, just enjoy it
while you're in it, because you never know when the
last last nap, last play might be staying humble, man,
just staying humble and enjoying the whole process, because you know,
my rookieyear a lot of vets. I told me, like,
you know, I enjoy this, enjoyed this. Like when you're here,
it go hard every day because you never know what's
(04:18):
gonna be your last. But I will say those seventeen
weeks staying at home, that was the hardest year. Like
last shit, that was so tough on me mentally, just
because I just love this game.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I just love this game. I love being around the guys.
I just.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I just love the structure, you know, the structure of
your day. Like I gotta go to meetings, I gotta
to practice, I gotta go to more meetings and then
go home.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You know. But when you just wake up with the
free schedule and nothing to.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Do, it's not as nice.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It's not it's not you know, like I said, we
complaining about these meetings and stuff, But when it's taken
away from you, man, it's it's not a fun time
for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Where do you find the motivation to just stay in shape,
especially during that downtime, so that you are able to
kill the workouts when they do those big opportunities to
come up.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Man, I said, my mom and my mom my biggest motivator.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Man just do her work ethic and her mentality when
it comes to anything, She's just like a hustler, grind
or go get her.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And I was down, like I was down on.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Myself and coming back, it's really where I went home,
you know, just to even be with her and just
spend some time with her. I was working out in Tennessee.
But when I got home, man, she just because we're
very close to me and my mom, you know, she
just could just sense it, like you know, I wasn't
where I needed to be, and she was kind of
sat down. She was talking to me and like she
was telling me some of the things she had went through,
you know, like doing the Civil War and like barrier,
(05:44):
like she was separated from me. We got separated during
the Civil War, so I wasn't able to see her
for like a year and a half almost two years,
So you know that was that was huge, you know,
and telling me all the things she had to do,
you know to be able to get me back. And
then a couple of like her stories from like businesses
that has failed, you know that she has started and
(06:05):
then a couple of like successful businesses.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
That she owns.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So she was just like, you know, telling me a
bunch of stories and stuff, and I'm just like, yeah,
you know, I gotta go like this, it's not the end.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
It's not the end for me.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And like I said, just seeing how she works, how
her day to day routine is and her mindset, and
that just motivated me honestly. You know, she was sing
single parent, single mom, so I've always drew.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
My motivation from her.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
She's my reason why I wake up every day, why
I come to work the way I do, you know.
So yeah, man, my biggest motivated is my mom for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Over the years, how has her perspective on your football
career change?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Oh? Man?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
As football is still you know, now it's not about
school now, it's about you know, putting me in the
right financial you know, standing really and taking care of
the financial aspect.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
You know, I'd be trying to.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Buy how these you know, gifts and stuff, and She's
just like, I don't care. Put that in, say exactly,
you know, put that in the funds, you know, put
that in to save and save some bread. So but
she's starting to like the game. She's starting to understand
the game more and more. She's been a couple of
games here, even at Maryland too, have been win a
couple of games Tennessee. So you know, she's actually starting
(07:20):
to really love the game now. And you know, she's
calling me and she's telling me about these players and
these players. I'm like, oh, look at you. You learn it,
you know, So it's fun. It's fun when the you know,
she's when she gets into it.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Yeah, let's talk about your journey with the Niners.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So you win the job on the practice squad, then
you're signed to a reserve future contract back for another season.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, twenty twenty four absolutely killing it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah. Man, shout out to my D
line coach, man, Yeah, good dude, shout out to my
D line coach though. Man, I'll say Chris coach, Chris
Eric has been like the biggest and impact and just
like my play like with this year. Man, I remember
(08:05):
coming back to OTAs in the spring just learning how
this scheme is, just how it's meant to be played,
the physicality of it, like the violence, the explosion to
get off you know, we're very vertical in this game,
just like North South. You know, so a lot of
places you know you gotta sit there and hold guys
up and the linebackers making plays and stuff. But here, man,
(08:30):
just go, just go, just go, just go. And uh, Chris,
like I said, man, coach Krosarak has elevated my game
to levels I didn't even know I was capable of reaching,
you know, and there's still a lot more to be played.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
There's more levels to be reached.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
But just like, I'm so grateful for that dude and
everything he just taught me throughout my time here. But
I remember the last day of OTA's were leaving and
he he dropped like a gem on me. Like it's like, dude,
you have the talent and change like your whole generation.
Like you have uh, the tools in your body to
do it. And uh, this break we got about to
(09:04):
have here over the summer. That was like when after OTA,
so you know we got a break come back in
the camp. It's like a lot of people are gonna
take take this time off, but you you know, you
have this, You have an opportunity here to change your
whole family trajectory.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Man.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
And that's really stuck with me. I'm like, okay, so
he really believes in me. So I remember going back home, man,
just go just go work, work, work, work, trying to
learn everything, trying to redo everything I learned in the
spring from OTA's coming into camp fresh, you know. So
my mindset coming to camp was just dominate. It's like dominate, dude,
(09:38):
just dominating. Let everything else play yourself out, honestly. So,
you know, I thought I had had a pretty good
camp there and I kind of got hurt later on
in camp sent me back a little bit like mentally,
you know, and also just getting into like the field
of football. You know, when you're away from the game
for a while, it doesn't happen as fast, so you
don't see plays as far ass. But you know, then again,
(10:02):
my coach is like you are who you are. You know,
he just kind of I love that dude. He just
has a way of just right, you know, he just
has like a way of just like reasserting your confidence
and just boosting it to like a whole new level
where it's just like, yeah, I am that guy, you know,
like I'm him, and yeah, he's been like the biggest, biggest,
(10:25):
like aspect of my game this year. Man, that's the
coaching and the motivation that he has installed in me.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
I'm forever grateful for that.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
To give the audience some perspective.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Three sacks, six QB hits, a forced fumble as you're
stacking the stats, what does that do for your confidence?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean it grows obviously, you know, it's confident, keep
on growing.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I mean the key is, the key thing is to
always have that swag, always have that confidence. But when
you know, when you're making plays, it's naturally going to
just go up, you know. And that has been you know,
confidence man, just knowing that I can beat the due
across from me. And then you start realizing a lot
of these dudes in the NFL, you know, they're humans,
they can be beat you know. Uh, you know, my
(11:06):
rookie year, I'm just trying to figure it out. I'm
looking at some of these guys like whoa these guys
is like he's making this much money as much amount
of money, or he didn't block this guy and he's
big and this and that. But now I'm just like
I'm running through him like I don't matter who's in
front of me, you know, and practicing against Trent Williams. Awesome,
and I'll boost your confidence because he's a fresh ballot
(11:27):
Hall of Famer, you know. So it's like I got
this dude in my corner, like who are you?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
You know? So all that helps, man, for sure, I think.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
If Trent Williams is the bar, yeah you're good.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yeah, exactly right, exactly. You know.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
So it's been it's been a journey here and the guys,
the guys in the locker room, like Bosa and Flow,
they just helped. They have helping my game so much. Man, Bosa,
Me and Me and Bosa sit next to each other.
So I asked him a lot of questions about like
rush angles, tackles, like hand movements, you know, because every
tackle on the league set different.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
And how like every week, like I try to ask
him what.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
His game plan is and I just steal it right,
you know. I watched a lot of film too, so
we just kind of have similar mindset when it comes
to certain stuff. And he watched When he's not in,
he's always watching me. He's giving me tips when I
come out of the game or when I'm kind of
come out of practice, He's like, oh, you should do
this next time do that and then the flow also, man,
(12:25):
he's been in the lead for a long time, laying
the floor and he's helped me with my game on
rushes too, and just like how to set an edge
and stuff like that. So to have vets in the
room and then Malik can't forget the vet and Elik. Man,
now they got me playing inside and outside. So I'm
kind of everywhere, and Malik can tell me a lot inside, man,
just like how to play the game from you know,
(12:47):
from three technique or de tackle and it's different.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
And do you feel better on the outside still?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I feel better anywhere just him willing the field honestly.
But I love it, man. I love the guys in
the room. And when you have a good group of
guys around you who all just want to get better collectively,
you know, it pushes your game to the next level
and elevates your game for sure.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Do you have a favorite outing this season? A favorite game?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Favorite game this season? I will say the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Honestly, I'll say the Patriots game was my favorite so far,
just because everybody on the D line was having fun,
you know, like everybody who was making plays. Man, we
had like six sacks that game, stuffing the run. You know,
everybody's dancing, flying around. That's like my kind of game,
you know, when everybody eats. And I made some big
(13:38):
plays that game too, So you know, I remember just
being on the sideline, just feeling the energy of the
guys that would say, yeah, my favorite.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
So the second part of what we do here is
we get fan questions that we're sent in specifically for you.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Some of fire them off.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
All right, Jason from Walnut Creek, what are the personalities
of the D line room?
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Who's the most outgoing? Because one seems really quiet.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
I would say I'm probably the most outgoing on the
D line group. I'm like the guy that like blends
with every you know, because everybody have that guy they
mess within the like every position room. But I'm like
the guy everybody kind of you know, talk to, like
I talked to Boss. I could talk to anybody, honestly,
So got the guys use me as a bridge, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I happy to be in that position.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
The social butterfly for sure, the.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Social guy, you know, energy dancing always So.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, Casey Olivery wants to know do you have a
nickname that you.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Prefer I didn't mean it just called me Samo.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I remember in uh In junior college used to call
me the Nigerian Nightmare.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
For another very very famous player.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah, you know it needs to call me the Nigerian Nightmare.
So that was pretty cool. But yeah, a lot of
guys just called me Samo.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
You know, Samu. All right, we're all our fans out there.
That's the one.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Yeah, Cherry from San Jose. What is your ideal cheat meal?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Okay, okay, seafood ball, all right, seafootball, go crazy, But
like I need everything in there?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Okay, I need everything, snow, crab, the shrimp, I peo
put lobster in there too.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
What's a fancy?
Speaker 3 (15:14):
You know, I don't. I don't have it a lot,
but when I do, I like to go all out.
You know. I love to see football. All right.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So this one is from Camille from Daily City. What
is your relationship with some of your former coaches?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
M I have a great relationship with my coach. Man.
This Whope of Journey thing has been very long one,
you know, as we.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Just talked about chapters.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah right, I've had a lot of people helping throughout
the journey. Man, and man, I love all.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I love everybody who's helping throughout this journey, especially my coaches.
My coach from Minnesota, Thomas and Versarro, and you know
my dlone coach we're really closed. And then my coach
from Maryland. He really helped me open my eyes to
what could be, you know, the possibility of playing NFL
and stuff. So love him Brian Williams from Maryland. Man,
(16:03):
and yeah, I love all my coaches, man, I don't
really have a bad feelings, even the dude from Mississippi.
I was happy for everything he taught me, honestly, and
even when I was in Minnesota, I called him one
day and I said, thank you, you know for everything
you taught me. Man, you really helped me put myself
in a better position. So he understands.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
While we are on the subjective coaches, we do have
a surprise for you. Our producer Nigel did some sleuthing
here and we have a little something from one of
your coaches if you want to play.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
It, Samuel, what's up, man, it's coach I here. Hey Man,
I just want to give you a quick shout out.
Let you know we're pulling for you this weekend. I
know you guys got a huge game versus Seattle. I'll
be tuning in and uh just wanted to wish you
good luck and just so proud of you. Man. Can't
(16:56):
tell you that enough. You keep on doing your thing,
keep holding that rope, as you know, keep grinding, keep
hanging on when things get tough. I know, I know
you're saying everything has time. Well, man, the time is yours.
Time is yours. We're super proud back here on the range.
We're pulling for you.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Go Niners.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Oh that's dope, that's very dope. That's dope, man. That's
my guy, coach A, that's my guy.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Man.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
That's pretty cool that he sent that. That's pretty cool, coach.
I it was crazy. It was funny, not even thinking
about hearing his voice. I remember the first time he
talked to my mom. He's begging her, begging my MoMA
to let me go to Minnesota. Oh what a time, man.
But yeah, I love that dude. Man, you give me
(17:45):
a great opportunity to be here today.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
So grateful for ever grateful. Well, we are so grateful
for your time.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I loved hearing more about your story and I know
our fans are going to love that too.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
So if you want to be.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Featured on the next episode and ask your favorite player
some question, make sure to submit questions on our YouTube
community page or on Instagram. And thank you so much
for joining in on this episode of the forty nine ers.
You've got mail podcasts, don't forget to subscribe, and that's
all from us. To protect your teeth and your budget
with dental plans from Delta Dental. Get Fumble free dental
(18:18):
coverage today.
You spend three seasons in Maryland pract then go undrafted,
get picked up by the Titans, then waived six games after. Yeah, yeah,
at this point, where is your mindset of what am
I going to do with my career?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Messed up? That's first of all, that's remember my first time.
You know, when you in these moments, it's like day
to day routines, like it's.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Like, ah, man, I got good meetings, I gotta do this,
I gotta do that.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But when it's not that, you miss it, like when
it's not like your day when you have all these
free times, it's just like what am I doing here?
Like I remember just staying at home like I should
be in a meeting right now. But mindset was dark, man,
I was in a very dark place. It's like physically
mentally just like not even motivated to even move and
(00:57):
get out of bed. And then I remember the day
ye I got cut, like cut cut, because I remember
I like my rookie year. They moved me up and
down the practice squad a few times, so you know
that was whatever. But being cut and like not knowing
you're going to come back, that was a tough one, man,
because I really loved this game. I loved this sport,
loved the guys on the team. I remember I went
(01:17):
home just side of my couch like all day just
they didn't move, they didn't pick up, no phone call,
just sat there and just thinking like, am I really
now on the team.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I don't have a job right now. So I remember
it was like a stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I started working on Nashville probably like a week or
so after, you know, waiting on a call, went on
a call, waiting on a call, and this at this point,
it was probably like two months, like week I want
to say, like week ten.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
So I was like, I'm going to go home.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I'm gonna to home the mass just be around my family,
you know, help with the mental So I went back home.
Like another four weeks go by, I get a call
from the Panthers. They brought me in for a workout.
Killed it. They're good.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I'm thinking, you know, they about assign me to the
practice squad at least next Monday. The head coach get fired.
So I'm just like, dangn that's tough. Go back to
the couch. You know, I'm waiting. It's week seventeen, right,
so I'm like, you know, what I'm going to play
the spring ball because nobody call my phone. Yeah, I'm
just getting ready to play the spring ball. So I'm
gon get a job. So I went into I got
(02:17):
a job with like working with children with disability, learning
disabilities and stuff, you know, helping them. And I remember
the first day I went in, I left work side
of my car, I got a phone call from my agent,
Like the very first it was like a saying.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
From a movie. It was crazy.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
I think you might have.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It was crazy, Larry gotta work. Like just don't even
know where my mindset is at this point. Sat in
my car and I get a phone call from my agent.
He's like, man, the nine is trying to bring you
in for a workout. How you feeling. I said, we
gotta go, We got to go. We got to go.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Man.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I remember just saying everythinking like thank God, thank you Jesus.
It was a great opportunity. I went home that night. Man,
I just ran around the neighborhood to freshing the legs
up a little bit, try to get the cub weaves
off man, and then the fly here, the whole flight here.
I'm thinking, like I'm not going back to Boston. I'm
not going back to Boston. I'm telling myself that the
whole time, like, I'm not going back to my room.
I'm not going back to Boston. I'm not going back
(03:14):
to Boston and workout. They finally came along, and I honestly,
I feel like everything happened for a reason because they
told me when I got here they was going to
sign the guy who I worked out with, but they
just wanted to see what I could do on the field,
you know. And then we start to work out. You know,
I'm smoking it, I'm flying around having fun. You know,
I'm looking at him. He's on the ground kind of hard,
(03:34):
catch his breath, and I just gave me more energy. Honestly,
I was just like, oh, yeah, this is my job.
Like I'm not losing this.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
This this is for me.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
And then well, did long story short end up killing
the workout and this sign him to the practice squad
and yeah, we're here.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
What's the biggest lesson you learned after having your football
journey go in about five different directions you never expected.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, the biggest lesson for me, man, just enjoy it
while you're in it, because you never know when the
last last nap, last play might be staying humble, man,
just staying humble and enjoying the whole process, because you know,
my rookieyear a lot of vets. I told me, like,
you know, I enjoy this, enjoyed this. Like when you're here,
it go hard every day because you never know what's
(04:18):
gonna be your last. But I will say those seventeen
weeks staying at home, that was the hardest year. Like
last shit, that was so tough on me mentally, just
because I just love this game.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I just love this game. I love being around the guys.
I just.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I just love the structure, you know, the structure of
your day. Like I gotta go to meetings, I gotta
to practice, I gotta go to more meetings and then
go home.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You know. But when you just wake up with the
free schedule and nothing to.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Do, it's not as nice.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It's not it's not you know, like I said, we
complaining about these meetings and stuff, But when it's taken
away from you, man, it's it's not a fun time
for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Where do you find the motivation to just stay in shape,
especially during that downtime, so that you are able to
kill the workouts when they do those big opportunities to
come up.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Man, I said, my mom and my mom my biggest motivator.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Man just do her work ethic and her mentality when
it comes to anything, She's just like a hustler, grind
or go get her.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And I was down, like I was down on.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Myself and coming back, it's really where I went home,
you know, just to even be with her and just
spend some time with her. I was working out in Tennessee.
But when I got home, man, she just because we're
very close to me and my mom, you know, she
just could just sense it, like you know, I wasn't
where I needed to be, and she was kind of
sat down. She was talking to me and like she
was telling me some of the things she had went through,
you know, like doing the Civil War and like barrier,
(05:44):
like she was separated from me. We got separated during
the Civil War, so I wasn't able to see her
for like a year and a half almost two years,
So you know that was that was huge, you know,
and telling me all the things she had to do,
you know to be able to get me back. And
then a couple of like her stories from like businesses
that has failed, you know that she has started and
(06:05):
then a couple of like successful businesses.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
That she owns.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So she was just like, you know, telling me a
bunch of stories and stuff, and I'm just like, yeah,
you know, I gotta go like this, it's not the end.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
It's not the end for me.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And like I said, just seeing how she works, how
her day to day routine is and her mindset, and
that just motivated me honestly. You know, she was sing
single parent, single mom, so I've always drew.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
My motivation from her.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
She's my reason why I wake up every day, why
I come to work the way I do, you know.
So yeah, man, my biggest motivated is my mom for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Over the years, how has her perspective on your football
career change?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Oh? Man?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
As football is still you know, now it's not about
school now, it's about you know, putting me in the
right financial you know, standing really and taking care of
the financial aspect.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
You know, I'd be trying to.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Buy how these you know, gifts and stuff, and She's
just like, I don't care. Put that in, say exactly,
you know, put that in the funds, you know, put
that in to save and save some bread. So but
she's starting to like the game. She's starting to understand
the game more and more. She's been a couple of
games here, even at Maryland too, have been win a
couple of games Tennessee. So you know, she's actually starting
(07:20):
to really love the game now. And you know, she's
calling me and she's telling me about these players and
these players. I'm like, oh, look at you. You learn it,
you know, So it's fun. It's fun when the you know,
she's when she gets into it.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Yeah, let's talk about your journey with the Niners.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So you win the job on the practice squad, then
you're signed to a reserve future contract back for another season.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, twenty twenty four absolutely killing it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah. Man, shout out to my D
line coach, man, Yeah, good dude, shout out to my
D line coach though. Man, I'll say Chris coach, Chris
Eric has been like the biggest and impact and just
like my play like with this year. Man, I remember
(08:05):
coming back to OTAs in the spring just learning how
this scheme is, just how it's meant to be played,
the physicality of it, like the violence, the explosion to
get off you know, we're very vertical in this game,
just like North South. You know, so a lot of
places you know you gotta sit there and hold guys
up and the linebackers making plays and stuff. But here, man,
(08:30):
just go, just go, just go, just go. And uh, Chris,
like I said, man, coach Krosarak has elevated my game
to levels I didn't even know I was capable of reaching,
you know, and there's still a lot more to be played.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
There's more levels to be reached.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
But just like, I'm so grateful for that dude and
everything he just taught me throughout my time here. But
I remember the last day of OTA's were leaving and
he he dropped like a gem on me. Like it's like, dude,
you have the talent and change like your whole generation.
Like you have uh, the tools in your body to
do it. And uh, this break we got about to
(09:04):
have here over the summer. That was like when after OTA,
so you know we got a break come back in
the camp. It's like a lot of people are gonna
take take this time off, but you you know, you
have this, You have an opportunity here to change your
whole family trajectory.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Man.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
And that's really stuck with me. I'm like, okay, so
he really believes in me. So I remember going back home, man,
just go just go work, work, work, work, trying to
learn everything, trying to redo everything I learned in the
spring from OTA's coming into camp fresh, you know. So
my mindset coming to camp was just dominate. It's like dominate, dude,
(09:38):
just dominating. Let everything else play yourself out, honestly. So,
you know, I thought I had had a pretty good
camp there and I kind of got hurt later on
in camp sent me back a little bit like mentally,
you know, and also just getting into like the field
of football. You know, when you're away from the game
for a while, it doesn't happen as fast, so you
don't see plays as far ass. But you know, then again,
(10:02):
my coach is like you are who you are. You know,
he just kind of I love that dude. He just
has a way of just right, you know, he just
has like a way of just like reasserting your confidence
and just boosting it to like a whole new level
where it's just like, yeah, I am that guy, you know,
like I'm him, and yeah, he's been like the biggest, biggest,
(10:25):
like aspect of my game this year. Man, that's the
coaching and the motivation that he has installed in me.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
I'm forever grateful for that.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
To give the audience some perspective.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Three sacks, six QB hits, a forced fumble as you're
stacking the stats, what does that do for your confidence?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean it grows obviously, you know, it's confident, keep
on growing.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I mean the key is, the key thing is to
always have that swag, always have that confidence. But when
you know, when you're making plays, it's naturally going to
just go up, you know. And that has been you know,
confidence man, just knowing that I can beat the due
across from me. And then you start realizing a lot
of these dudes in the NFL, you know, they're humans,
they can be beat you know. Uh, you know, my
(11:06):
rookie year, I'm just trying to figure it out. I'm
looking at some of these guys like whoa these guys
is like he's making this much money as much amount
of money, or he didn't block this guy and he's
big and this and that. But now I'm just like
I'm running through him like I don't matter who's in
front of me, you know, and practicing against Trent Williams. Awesome,
and I'll boost your confidence because he's a fresh ballot
(11:27):
Hall of Famer, you know. So it's like I got
this dude in my corner, like who are you?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
You know? So all that helps, man, for sure, I think.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
If Trent Williams is the bar, yeah you're good.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yeah, exactly right, exactly. You know.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
So it's been it's been a journey here and the guys,
the guys in the locker room, like Bosa and Flow,
they just helped. They have helping my game so much. Man, Bosa,
Me and Me and Bosa sit next to each other.
So I asked him a lot of questions about like
rush angles, tackles, like hand movements, you know, because every
tackle on the league set different.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
And how like every week, like I try to ask
him what.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
His game plan is and I just steal it right,
you know. I watched a lot of film too, so
we just kind of have similar mindset when it comes
to certain stuff. And he watched When he's not in,
he's always watching me. He's giving me tips when I
come out of the game or when I'm kind of
come out of practice, He's like, oh, you should do
this next time do that and then the flow also, man,
(12:25):
he's been in the lead for a long time, laying
the floor and he's helped me with my game on
rushes too, and just like how to set an edge
and stuff like that. So to have vets in the
room and then Malik can't forget the vet and Elik. Man,
now they got me playing inside and outside. So I'm
kind of everywhere, and Malik can tell me a lot inside, man,
just like how to play the game from you know,
(12:47):
from three technique or de tackle and it's different.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
And do you feel better on the outside still?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I feel better anywhere just him willing the field honestly.
But I love it, man. I love the guys in
the room. And when you have a good group of
guys around you who all just want to get better collectively,
you know, it pushes your game to the next level
and elevates your game for sure.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Do you have a favorite outing this season? A favorite game?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Favorite game this season? I will say the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Honestly, I'll say the Patriots game was my favorite so far,
just because everybody on the D line was having fun,
you know, like everybody who was making plays. Man, we
had like six sacks that game, stuffing the run. You know,
everybody's dancing, flying around. That's like my kind of game,
you know, when everybody eats. And I made some big
(13:38):
plays that game too, So you know, I remember just
being on the sideline, just feeling the energy of the
guys that would say, yeah, my favorite.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
So the second part of what we do here is
we get fan questions that we're sent in specifically for you.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Some of fire them off.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
All right, Jason from Walnut Creek, what are the personalities
of the D line room?
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Who's the most outgoing? Because one seems really quiet.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
I would say I'm probably the most outgoing on the
D line group. I'm like the guy that like blends
with every you know, because everybody have that guy they
mess within the like every position room. But I'm like
the guy everybody kind of you know, talk to, like
I talked to Boss. I could talk to anybody, honestly,
So got the guys use me as a bridge, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I happy to be in that position.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
The social butterfly for sure, the.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Social guy, you know, energy dancing always So.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, Casey Olivery wants to know do you have a
nickname that you.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Prefer I didn't mean it just called me Samo.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I remember in uh In junior college used to call
me the Nigerian Nightmare.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
For another very very famous player.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah, you know it needs to call me the Nigerian Nightmare.
So that was pretty cool. But yeah, a lot of
guys just called me Samo.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
You know, Samu. All right, we're all our fans out there.
That's the one.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Yeah, Cherry from San Jose. What is your ideal cheat meal?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Okay, okay, seafood ball, all right, seafootball, go crazy, But
like I need everything in there?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Okay, I need everything, snow, crab, the shrimp, I peo
put lobster in there too.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
What's a fancy?
Speaker 3 (15:14):
You know, I don't. I don't have it a lot,
but when I do, I like to go all out.
You know. I love to see football. All right.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So this one is from Camille from Daily City. What
is your relationship with some of your former coaches?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
M I have a great relationship with my coach. Man.
This Whope of Journey thing has been very long one,
you know, as we.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Just talked about chapters.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah right, I've had a lot of people helping throughout
the journey. Man, and man, I love all.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I love everybody who's helping throughout this journey, especially my coaches.
My coach from Minnesota, Thomas and Versarro, and you know
my dlone coach we're really closed. And then my coach
from Maryland. He really helped me open my eyes to
what could be, you know, the possibility of playing NFL
and stuff. So love him Brian Williams from Maryland. Man,
(16:03):
and yeah, I love all my coaches, man, I don't
really have a bad feelings, even the dude from Mississippi.
I was happy for everything he taught me, honestly, and
even when I was in Minnesota, I called him one
day and I said, thank you, you know for everything
you taught me. Man, you really helped me put myself
in a better position. So he understands.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
While we are on the subjective coaches, we do have
a surprise for you. Our producer Nigel did some sleuthing
here and we have a little something from one of
your coaches if you want to play.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
It, Samuel, what's up, man, it's coach I here. Hey Man,
I just want to give you a quick shout out.
Let you know we're pulling for you this weekend. I
know you guys got a huge game versus Seattle. I'll
be tuning in and uh just wanted to wish you
good luck and just so proud of you. Man. Can't
(16:56):
tell you that enough. You keep on doing your thing,
keep holding that rope, as you know, keep grinding, keep
hanging on when things get tough. I know, I know
you're saying everything has time. Well, man, the time is yours.
Time is yours. We're super proud back here on the range.
We're pulling for you.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Go Niners.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Oh that's dope, that's very dope. That's dope, man. That's
my guy, coach A, that's my guy.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Man.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
That's pretty cool that he sent that. That's pretty cool, coach.
I it was crazy. It was funny, not even thinking
about hearing his voice. I remember the first time he
talked to my mom. He's begging her, begging my MoMA
to let me go to Minnesota. Oh what a time, man.
But yeah, I love that dude. Man, you give me
(17:45):
a great opportunity to be here today.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
So grateful for ever grateful. Well, we are so grateful
for your time.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I loved hearing more about your story and I know
our fans are going to love that too.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
So if you want to be.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Featured on the next episode and ask your favorite player
some question, make sure to submit questions on our YouTube
community page or on Instagram. And thank you so much
for joining in on this episode of the forty nine ers.
You've got mail podcasts, don't forget to subscribe, and that's
all from us. To protect your teeth and your budget
with dental plans from Delta Dental. Get Fumble free dental
(18:18):
coverage today.
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