Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace sits down with J.B. Long to discuss learning new positions on defense, working with defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and his college career at the University of Michigan.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, a game ball to all of you who are
able to be there in person at Sofi Stadium or
were with us in spirit as the Rams got their
fifth straight win, this time of the Seattle Seahawks come
up next. It's Sunday Night football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and this week's guest is one of many candidates to
step in for the injured captain Quinton Lake in the
Rams secondary. I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Josh wats.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Good to stay with you, Josh, and I hope you're
enjoying your victory Monday. How are you enjoying this Rams
winning street?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Oh? Loving this so far? Eight and two? Yeah, keep rolling?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yeah, tell me about the middle of yesterday's game. Quentin
Lake is not only a captain, but he plays every
snap for your defense. And I know you're a part
of the game plan. But when he suffers that elbow injury,
what are the halftime adjustments and conversations?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Like it's tough.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
You know, a brother to me, you know, since I
got here last year, he's been an older brother to me,
and just seeing him go down kind of, you know,
shakes this up mentally. But I was glad we was
able to perform and get to win for him, you know,
if that's all the DV unit was just saying, we
gotta get this Q, gotta get this p Q.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
And we came out and got the W so that
was great.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
How would you describe how your role did or didn't
change over the course of that game based on that injury?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Uh? Just honestly, my role just staying ready wherever it is.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
A star safety corner and another opportunity for the itselves
to do the job.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
And I mean you unless you play linebacker three technique,
I mean how differentiated are each of those responsibilities within
the context of.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
The RAMS defense.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
It's very different, challenging at times, but uh, you know
that's what we're do for a living, you know, challenge
ourselves and get the best.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Of ourselves with our role.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
So which one do you prefer?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Anything? Honestly, just to be on the field, that's the dream.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Uh, let's dig into the preparation a little bit more
than how do you do I don't know, three times
the work or three times the preparation because you don't
know where your opportunity is gonna land on any given Sunday.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I feel like coach Ap and coach b they do
a great job challenging me this offseason. They wanted me
to pick up the safe the role a little bit more.
So I studied that a lot, and you know, getting
the great grass of the defense as well, so that's
been helping as well.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
When did we first see that?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Maybe in the preseason, if memory serves you know, you
had kind of already shown them what you're capable of
in the slot and out wide, and so they were
experimenting a little bit with that.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
What was that August like in your mind?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
It was a challeent for sure, because I never played
safety before in my life, so it was kind of
fun learning a new position in the middle of training camp.
But I picked it up and the coaches have trusted me.
So that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
In a crowded dB room though, especially at safety, that
had to be a good indication that you're heading to
a role in your second season.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I said, bro, I don't want to take that.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
For granted as a former undrafted that they were moving
you around and seeing where else you could supplement. Did
you take that as in an encouraging indications?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Always you know, I trust coach AP, coach B coach McBay,
and wherever they feel like it best, I'm willing to
do it for them.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
As a defense, you had to withstand seventy nine plays
from Seattle yesterday, thirty eight minutes of possession.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Was the cardio test?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Oh yeah, cardios most definitely tested. Definitely. We were talking
about that in the locker room not too long ago.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
What did the four takeaway performance for interceptions of Sam
Darnold feel like?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
How enjoyable was?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It was fun?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
You know, that's the biggest thing with our team, just
having fun out of other people's success. So it was
great to see camp Will just pick d Well Kobe
and just having a blast doing our celebrations at the end.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
It's just fun making turnover.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
What is it with Cam? He probably wishes he could
play the Seahawks everywhere.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I know he had to last year.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I told him before the TV and on Saturday, I
was like, they didn't play your video today, and he
was like, don't worry, I got it.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I want to ask you about Roger McCreery, kind of
the newest member of your secondary. He can play in
the slot as well, diding his time in Tennessee. The
question is to the effect of, like, what do you
have to do to hang on to your role or
your job knowing that there's other people competing for it?
But like, how does having that many different options help
the Rams account for all the offensive challenges they're going
to face in the back half of the schedule.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It helps the defense a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Roger's a great player, he does some great stuff in Tennessee.
I know he's going to help us out as well.
Me and him build a great relationship. So far we'd
be joking around a lot. So Rogers a great guy
and great person. I'm glad he's on our team. And yeah,
it just brings the better out of us just competing
every single day.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
I like that reaction.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
What were you thinking of in terms of he's only
been here what? Yeah, so how did you bond already?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Just spending time with each other, Like we're always with
each other lifting or you know, joking around.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
And he's a great guy, a great human being.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
So I was watching a line up over a J.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Barno right, a nice day yesterday in the slot for Seattle,
and I'm thinking, wait a second, they go back, don't they. Yeah,
Michigan teammates on the national championship teams.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
How close were you?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Shoot, me and aj real close. We both transferred in together.
I think he was in a couple of months before me.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
But this all scene.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
We worked out together at Proactive out here in California.
So it was great going against him with Jersey Swap
last year.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So that's my brother at Michigan.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
He lived upstairs, you know, but yesterday I had to
not be my brother during the time.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
But I think we hugged each other.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I mean, is there any moment you may not have time?
We were just like standing across from somebody who you
share a past with, and You're like, look where we
are right now, right, I mean we're battling for first
place under the lights.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
At Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Can't get any better than that.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
What was Blake hornlike in college?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Blake, great guy, leader, family man, obviously, and he's just
a great player, always talented. I knew Blake since we
were little, actually, like eighth grade.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
He was the star, you know. He lived up to
that role. Honestly.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Blake's a great guy, a great player, and I'm excited
to see.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
What he has.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
So you guys connected on the youth football circuit or yeah,
a little bit. Yes, interesting, all right, it wasn't all
Anne Arbor, though you did win a championship there, but
the bulk of your college career was spent at U Mass.
That's kind of an interesting college football destination. How did
that come to be? So out of high school?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
My first year playing cornerback was senior year. I had
a couple of basketball offers, but I wanted to play
football and you know, for college, and U Mass offered
me late and I just rolled with them. Ended up
being a captain there three others for four years, had
some extra year because of COVID, end up transferring to Michigan.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
And no kidding, do you go to U Mass thinking, Okay,
I'm going to prove myself here as a football player,
maybe climb the ladder?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Is that your thought process?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Just I didn't have another opportunity during the time, so
I wanted to play football for the rest of my life,
obviously in my future. So I picked you Mass and
it worked out. Started my freshman year after my fourth game,
and just became a captain that next year.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So after you have a good career there, you're thriving,
but if you want to make the lead, either as
a collegiate or maybe to the NFL, you felt like
you needed to play on a bigger stage Or am
I assuming too much?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I wouldn't say that. It was just the opportunity was there.
There was a couple of things going on with the
coaches getting fired. It's a tough situation, leaving my friends behind,
my teammates behind. But at the end of the day,
I had to do what was best for me, and
I felt like that was the best decision.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
At the time.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, you've played for some good defensive minds, be it
at UMass or at Michigan with coach mentor I want one.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
I want to ask you what's it like.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Working with and working for Chris Shula and what's he
like as a defensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
He's a great coach. He's always challenging us, and his
schemes are great. It gets everybody involved, and yet everybody
played at their strengths and does everybody making players that
you can see. He confuses the quarterbacks with different disguises
and just a great guy, great coordinating.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Great coach.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
For you guys to play the way you did yesterday,
with so many sub packages, so many defensive backs on
the field, it takes a lot of chess pieces, whether
it's quintona like or someone like yourself, or guys who
can play multiple roles as a collective group. Do you
guys take pride in that, like, Hey, this is the
type of game plan where we're all going to be featured.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Oh yeah, of course the DB's love that.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Or we're all on the field because obviously we're making
plays at that time, but none of that would be
possible without the D line in the front seven, So
shout out to them as well.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
One more thought about your journey to the Rams before
we dig into your ear prep days a little bit.
This is your second season joining us as a college
free agent. As a rookie, it made the team and
then you played a whole bunch on special teams. You're
part of some defense game plans too. What made LA
the right destination for you as a college free agent?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
And how glad are you to be here?
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Oh? I love it here, just the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
My agent felt like this was the best place and
it worked out so far, and I'm loving it. Coaching
Bay has trusted me. The coach staff and just love
playing for the Rams so far.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
So normally those are pretty long odds, but you've made
it look easy.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, that's what they say.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Does it feel like you've belonged from day one?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Oh? Yeah, I feel like that. You got to have
confidence in yourself always.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
All right, let's talk to matha Catholic. For those who
don't know, this is a big deal. I mean, especially
a two sport athlete. But basketball was I guess for
you thrive first?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It sounds like yes for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
So my research correct me. Where I'm wrong is that
you were a point guard on a prestigious, nationally ranked
basketball team. You drew some D one interest. You already
said that, right, Yes, where were you thinking about maybe
playing hoops?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Shoot?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I had a couple, but probably Binghamton, New York. I
was probably looking and I have Pepperdine out here jam U.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And U NBC.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Okay, are you aware of some of the alumni? Let's
talk basketball first, from DA Maatha big names, NBA NA
big names, I mean Oladipo and Folts and we can
go back farther in time. Do you have any favorites
or did you connect with.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Any Marco I have a connection with marcare. He's a
great player. Right when I transferred in. He was kind
of blowing up at the time. So good to know
him and watch him play and beating them one pick.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Good football program too, though, we got Rodney McLeod, Brian
Westbrook OLU went there as well.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Yes, man're all sorts.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Of connections on the field yesterday. That's that's incredible. But
Hunter Dickinson is the one that I zoomed in on.
You guys played together, Yes, Hunter, that's my guy. Still
talk to him to this day. He's not still in college,
right he got on with He's on the Pelicans now.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, so he's on the two way.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
How good was your team that year?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
We were really good at my junior senior We were
top five both years in the country.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
We didn't play in Dicks because of the rule with
the WCAC, but we were pretty good, so.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Good that you didn't even play football as a junior,
right right?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Right?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Was that a hard decision to make?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Just during the time I transferred into the math a
little bit late, so football was already in camp and stuff.
So coach called me, Well, Coach Brooks, he's at Virginia
Tech now, reached out to me my senior year, like right.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Before, and it was like, let's play football, okay, and
it worked out.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
How'd you decide between those dueling loves and passions then,
because it seems like by the time you got to
the end of your high school career, you clearly wanted
to choose the football league.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Growing up, I always played football.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
I guess I would say I liked it more during
the time, but I always thought it was going to
be a basketball.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Star for so really, I mean, it's hilarious because a
lot of the guys that you team with, your peers,
they all want to be hoopers, right, they.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
All see themselves this future NBA Exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
How's this for a Scott Report, a defensive stopper, a distributor,
a glue guy.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Yes, describe your basketball game.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
That's perfect.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Any similarities between, you know, locking down maybe the opponent's
best backcourt player versus going up against a receiver in
the slot.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I feel like playing basketball on defense specifically.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Helped out a lot in my.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Well, my role, my cornerback start in safety guarding someone,
So I feel like I helped out a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Sometimes on this show, going back, we've asked, you know
who's your three on three team? Or someone comes in
and like pick your rams starting five. Yeah, we'd have
to check the tap. I don't know that anyone has
ever said, Josh Wallace. I feel like it's a big miss.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah, it's on the low, but it's fine.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Let's make you the captain. You want a chance to
pick a team?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Oh, yeah, I'll pick a team so three on three? Correct?
Am I the coach in this game? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
You're a coach and player?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Okay, so obviously me.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
I will go Pooka cout me and pookap shot at
the YNC y and c a over here, and it's
kind of tough.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Probably Davante too. Yeah, I'll pick Davanta.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
I mean that's a good squad.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I wouldn't mind seeing Pooka play a little less basketball, right,
if I'm being I think a lot of fans enjoy
the highlights but probably lose some sleep over their fantasy
football teams.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Tell me about your family.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Family, mom and dad originally from Bridgeport, Connecticut, living Maryland.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Now.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I have a younger brother, younger sister. Younger brother is
a freshman in Iowa. My little sister just graduated at
Temple play soccer there as well. She's trying to get
into the dental field now.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Amazing. So an athletic family. Your brother is also a
defensive back. Yes, and you got to connect with him recently,
understand yes, yes, and they're out here playing the Trojans
at the Coliseum.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I was on the field, but I didn't say nothing
to him, let him lock in. So at that game
I shot in a picture that was on the sideline.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
He was just so surprised.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Does he have a chance to be as good as you?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah? I think so, already got a better start.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
And I hear there's an important milestone going on in
your life or that you had a mountaintop moment recently.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Tell us about it.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Darren Week proposed to my well month fiance now and
that was a great event and great moment in my
life as well.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
So the team's riding high home from London. Yes, off
that victory and in the back of your mind you're
thinking what's coming next for you?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Yeah, it was nerve record. Hould you pull it off?
Speaker 3 (13:07):
I had it set up in Boston at a Della
frescoo restaurant, a room set up and everything proposed he
had a family downstairs and she didn't know. It was
a surprise dinner after and we all had dinner, So
it was great.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
What a nice memory.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Thanks for sharing that with us and for sharing some
of your time on this victory Monday. Yeah, can't wait
to see a step into an even bigger role. Those
are huge cleats to fill, but throughout the secondary, I
know there's people in this building who can pick up
what Quinton Lake left behind until he's ready to come back.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
Yes, sir Josh, have a good one.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Thank you.
Well, a game ball to all of you who are
able to be there in person at Sofi Stadium or
were with us in spirit as the Rams got their
fifth straight win, this time of the Seattle Seahawks come
up next. It's Sunday Night football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and this week's guest is one of many candidates to
step in for the injured captain Quinton Lake in the
Rams secondary. I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Josh wats.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Good to stay with you, Josh, and I hope you're
enjoying your victory Monday. How are you enjoying this Rams
winning street?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Oh? Loving this so far? Eight and two? Yeah, keep rolling?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yeah, tell me about the middle of yesterday's game. Quentin
Lake is not only a captain, but he plays every
snap for your defense. And I know you're a part
of the game plan. But when he suffers that elbow injury,
what are the halftime adjustments and conversations?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Like it's tough.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
You know, a brother to me, you know, since I
got here last year, he's been an older brother to me,
and just seeing him go down kind of, you know,
shakes this up mentally. But I was glad we was
able to perform and get to win for him, you know,
if that's all the DV unit was just saying, we
gotta get this Q, gotta get this p Q.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
And we came out and got the W so that
was great.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
How would you describe how your role did or didn't
change over the course of that game based on that injury?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Uh? Just honestly, my role just staying ready wherever it is.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
A star safety corner and another opportunity for the itselves
to do the job.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
And I mean you unless you play linebacker three technique,
I mean how differentiated are each of those responsibilities within
the context of.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
The RAMS defense.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
It's very different, challenging at times, but uh, you know
that's what we're do for a living, you know, challenge
ourselves and get the best.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Of ourselves with our role.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
So which one do you prefer?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Anything? Honestly, just to be on the field, that's the dream.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Uh, let's dig into the preparation a little bit more
than how do you do I don't know, three times
the work or three times the preparation because you don't
know where your opportunity is gonna land on any given Sunday.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I feel like coach Ap and coach b they do
a great job challenging me this offseason. They wanted me
to pick up the safe the role a little bit more.
So I studied that a lot, and you know, getting
the great grass of the defense as well, so that's
been helping as well.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
When did we first see that?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Maybe in the preseason, if memory serves you know, you
had kind of already shown them what you're capable of
in the slot and out wide, and so they were
experimenting a little bit with that.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
What was that August like in your mind?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
It was a challeent for sure, because I never played
safety before in my life, so it was kind of
fun learning a new position in the middle of training camp.
But I picked it up and the coaches have trusted me.
So that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
In a crowded dB room though, especially at safety, that
had to be a good indication that you're heading to
a role in your second season.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I said, bro, I don't want to take that.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
For granted as a former undrafted that they were moving
you around and seeing where else you could supplement. Did
you take that as in an encouraging indications?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Always you know, I trust coach AP, coach B coach McBay,
and wherever they feel like it best, I'm willing to
do it for them.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
As a defense, you had to withstand seventy nine plays
from Seattle yesterday, thirty eight minutes of possession.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Was the cardio test?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Oh yeah, cardios most definitely tested. Definitely. We were talking
about that in the locker room not too long ago.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
What did the four takeaway performance for interceptions of Sam
Darnold feel like?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
How enjoyable was?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It was fun?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
You know, that's the biggest thing with our team, just
having fun out of other people's success. So it was
great to see camp Will just pick d Well Kobe
and just having a blast doing our celebrations at the end.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
It's just fun making turnover.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
What is it with Cam? He probably wishes he could
play the Seahawks everywhere.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I know he had to last year.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
I told him before the TV and on Saturday, I
was like, they didn't play your video today, and he
was like, don't worry, I got it.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I want to ask you about Roger McCreery, kind of
the newest member of your secondary. He can play in
the slot as well, diding his time in Tennessee. The
question is to the effect of, like, what do you
have to do to hang on to your role or
your job knowing that there's other people competing for it?
But like, how does having that many different options help
the Rams account for all the offensive challenges they're going
to face in the back half of the schedule.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It helps the defense a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Roger's a great player, he does some great stuff in Tennessee.
I know he's going to help us out as well.
Me and him build a great relationship. So far we'd
be joking around a lot. So Rogers a great guy
and great person. I'm glad he's on our team. And yeah,
it just brings the better out of us just competing
every single day.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
I like that reaction.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
What were you thinking of in terms of he's only
been here what? Yeah, so how did you bond already?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Just spending time with each other, Like we're always with
each other lifting or you know, joking around.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
And he's a great guy, a great human being.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
So I was watching a line up over a J.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Barno right, a nice day yesterday in the slot for Seattle,
and I'm thinking, wait a second, they go back, don't they. Yeah,
Michigan teammates on the national championship teams.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
How close were you?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Shoot, me and aj real close. We both transferred in together.
I think he was in a couple of months before me.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
But this all scene.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
We worked out together at Proactive out here in California.
So it was great going against him with Jersey Swap
last year.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So that's my brother at Michigan.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
He lived upstairs, you know, but yesterday I had to
not be my brother during the time.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
But I think we hugged each other.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I mean, is there any moment you may not have time?
We were just like standing across from somebody who you
share a past with, and You're like, look where we
are right now, right, I mean we're battling for first
place under the lights.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
At Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Can't get any better than that.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
What was Blake hornlike in college?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Blake, great guy, leader, family man, obviously, and he's just
a great player, always talented. I knew Blake since we
were little, actually, like eighth grade.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
He was the star, you know. He lived up to
that role. Honestly.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Blake's a great guy, a great player, and I'm excited
to see.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
What he has.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
So you guys connected on the youth football circuit or yeah,
a little bit. Yes, interesting, all right, it wasn't all
Anne Arbor, though you did win a championship there, but
the bulk of your college career was spent at U Mass.
That's kind of an interesting college football destination. How did
that come to be? So out of high school?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
My first year playing cornerback was senior year. I had
a couple of basketball offers, but I wanted to play
football and you know, for college, and U Mass offered
me late and I just rolled with them. Ended up
being a captain there three others for four years, had
some extra year because of COVID, end up transferring to Michigan.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
And no kidding, do you go to U Mass thinking, Okay,
I'm going to prove myself here as a football player,
maybe climb the ladder?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Is that your thought process?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Just I didn't have another opportunity during the time, so
I wanted to play football for the rest of my life,
obviously in my future. So I picked you Mass and
it worked out. Started my freshman year after my fourth game,
and just became a captain that next year.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So after you have a good career there, you're thriving,
but if you want to make the lead, either as
a collegiate or maybe to the NFL, you felt like
you needed to play on a bigger stage Or am
I assuming too much?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I wouldn't say that. It was just the opportunity was there.
There was a couple of things going on with the
coaches getting fired. It's a tough situation, leaving my friends behind,
my teammates behind. But at the end of the day,
I had to do what was best for me, and
I felt like that was the best decision.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
At the time.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, you've played for some good defensive minds, be it
at UMass or at Michigan with coach mentor I want one.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
I want to ask you what's it like.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Working with and working for Chris Shula and what's he
like as a defensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
He's a great coach. He's always challenging us, and his
schemes are great. It gets everybody involved, and yet everybody
played at their strengths and does everybody making players that
you can see. He confuses the quarterbacks with different disguises
and just a great guy, great coordinating.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Great coach.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
For you guys to play the way you did yesterday,
with so many sub packages, so many defensive backs on
the field, it takes a lot of chess pieces, whether
it's quintona like or someone like yourself, or guys who
can play multiple roles as a collective group. Do you
guys take pride in that, like, Hey, this is the
type of game plan where we're all going to be featured.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Oh yeah, of course the DB's love that.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Or we're all on the field because obviously we're making
plays at that time, but none of that would be
possible without the D line in the front seven, So
shout out to them as well.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
One more thought about your journey to the Rams before
we dig into your ear prep days a little bit.
This is your second season joining us as a college
free agent. As a rookie, it made the team and
then you played a whole bunch on special teams. You're
part of some defense game plans too. What made LA
the right destination for you as a college free agent?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
And how glad are you to be here?
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Oh? I love it here, just the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
My agent felt like this was the best place and
it worked out so far, and I'm loving it. Coaching
Bay has trusted me. The coach staff and just love
playing for the Rams so far.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
So normally those are pretty long odds, but you've made
it look easy.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, that's what they say.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Does it feel like you've belonged from day one?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Oh? Yeah, I feel like that. You got to have
confidence in yourself always.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
All right, let's talk to matha Catholic. For those who
don't know, this is a big deal. I mean, especially
a two sport athlete. But basketball was I guess for
you thrive first?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It sounds like yes for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
So my research correct me. Where I'm wrong is that
you were a point guard on a prestigious, nationally ranked
basketball team. You drew some D one interest. You already
said that, right, Yes, where were you thinking about maybe
playing hoops?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Shoot?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I had a couple, but probably Binghamton, New York. I
was probably looking and I have Pepperdine out here jam U.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And U NBC.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Okay, are you aware of some of the alumni? Let's
talk basketball first, from DA Maatha big names, NBA NA
big names, I mean Oladipo and Folts and we can
go back farther in time. Do you have any favorites
or did you connect with.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Any Marco I have a connection with marcare. He's a
great player. Right when I transferred in. He was kind
of blowing up at the time. So good to know
him and watch him play and beating them one pick.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Good football program too, though, we got Rodney McLeod, Brian
Westbrook OLU went there as well.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Yes, man're all sorts.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Of connections on the field yesterday. That's that's incredible. But
Hunter Dickinson is the one that I zoomed in on.
You guys played together, Yes, Hunter, that's my guy. Still
talk to him to this day. He's not still in college,
right he got on with He's on the Pelicans now.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, so he's on the two way.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
How good was your team that year?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
We were really good at my junior senior We were
top five both years in the country.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
We didn't play in Dicks because of the rule with
the WCAC, but we were pretty good, so.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Good that you didn't even play football as a junior,
right right?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Right?
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Was that a hard decision to make?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Just during the time I transferred into the math a
little bit late, so football was already in camp and stuff.
So coach called me, Well, Coach Brooks, he's at Virginia
Tech now, reached out to me my senior year, like right.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Before, and it was like, let's play football, okay, and
it worked out.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
How'd you decide between those dueling loves and passions then,
because it seems like by the time you got to
the end of your high school career, you clearly wanted
to choose the football league.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Growing up, I always played football.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
I guess I would say I liked it more during
the time, but I always thought it was going to
be a basketball.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Star for so really, I mean, it's hilarious because a
lot of the guys that you team with, your peers,
they all want to be hoopers, right, they.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
All see themselves this future NBA Exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
How's this for a Scott Report, a defensive stopper, a distributor,
a glue guy.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Yes, describe your basketball game.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
That's perfect.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Any similarities between, you know, locking down maybe the opponent's
best backcourt player versus going up against a receiver in
the slot.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I feel like playing basketball on defense specifically.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Helped out a lot in my.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Well, my role, my cornerback start in safety guarding someone,
So I feel like I helped out a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Sometimes on this show, going back, we've asked, you know
who's your three on three team? Or someone comes in
and like pick your rams starting five. Yeah, we'd have
to check the tap. I don't know that anyone has
ever said, Josh Wallace. I feel like it's a big miss.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah, it's on the low, but it's fine.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Let's make you the captain. You want a chance to
pick a team?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Oh, yeah, I'll pick a team so three on three? Correct?
Am I the coach in this game? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
You're a coach and player?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Okay, so obviously me.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
I will go Pooka cout me and pookap shot at
the YNC y and c a over here, and it's
kind of tough.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Probably Davante too. Yeah, I'll pick Davanta.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
I mean that's a good squad.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I wouldn't mind seeing Pooka play a little less basketball, right,
if I'm being I think a lot of fans enjoy
the highlights but probably lose some sleep over their fantasy
football teams.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Tell me about your family.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Family, mom and dad originally from Bridgeport, Connecticut, living Maryland.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Now.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I have a younger brother, younger sister. Younger brother is
a freshman in Iowa. My little sister just graduated at
Temple play soccer there as well. She's trying to get
into the dental field now.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Amazing. So an athletic family. Your brother is also a
defensive back. Yes, and you got to connect with him recently,
understand yes, yes, and they're out here playing the Trojans
at the Coliseum.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I was on the field, but I didn't say nothing
to him, let him lock in. So at that game
I shot in a picture that was on the sideline.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
He was just so surprised.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Does he have a chance to be as good as you?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah? I think so, already got a better start.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
And I hear there's an important milestone going on in
your life or that you had a mountaintop moment recently.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Tell us about it.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Darren Week proposed to my well month fiance now and
that was a great event and great moment in my
life as well.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
So the team's riding high home from London. Yes, off
that victory and in the back of your mind you're
thinking what's coming next for you?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Yeah, it was nerve record. Hould you pull it off?
Speaker 3 (13:07):
I had it set up in Boston at a Della
frescoo restaurant, a room set up and everything proposed he
had a family downstairs and she didn't know. It was
a surprise dinner after and we all had dinner, So
it was great.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
What a nice memory.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Thanks for sharing that with us and for sharing some
of your time on this victory Monday. Yeah, can't wait
to see a step into an even bigger role. Those
are huge cleats to fill, but throughout the secondary, I
know there's people in this building who can pick up
what Quinton Lake left behind until he's ready to come back.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
Yes, sir Josh, have a good one.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Thank you.
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