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Your stock started to rise during the East-West Shrine Game practices and the game itself. How was that experience?
"It was a great experience meeting other players at the FBS level, just getting to know them. Going to the hospital was a great part of the Shrine Game experience, seeing kids that can't even leave the hospital, that just takes it in more. You appreciate more things that you have in your life."
What was the feeling of being the first player to represent JMU at the Senior Bowl?
"It was the same feeling as the Shrine game. Being the first player is a great accomplishment. I know there's going to be other players after me, so I'm just trying to pave the way for those players after me."
"I think they did a very good job preparing us, getting us ready for the game and the NFL experience. They always tell us every day, 'Be a pro.' So, we are pros now. Our college days are over, and we've got to act professionally around everything we do."
How did they compare to your college coaches?
"They're just trying to get us focused on drills. As we know, we're not their players, so just focusing on getting us knowing what the drills will do for the NFL, getting us prepared, and just getting us right for the NFL experience. A lot of guys that were at the Senior Bowl got a lot of NFL Combine invites (and are) higher-rated guys. They were just preparing us for what we're going to experience next."
Did any coaches specifically stand out to you?
What was the biggest difference in their coaching style?
"Just how they handled themselves. They handled themselves, like I said, as a pro, how they walk around, how they talk to people, and how they just handle themselves as an NFL coach."
What was the biggest difference between the North and South squads?
"I don't know what they did on the North team but the South team, I was with them most of the time. We all, as players, were around each other, but being on the South team, the 49ers coaches, they are very cool people. We got to experience the Raiders coaches for one day in a meeting, and they're the same."
"I'm just excited about this accomplishment. I had adversity in my career in college. I brought myself back from that, and I'm just going through the whole process now. It's a blessing. Not many people have this experience. It's like one percent that makes it this far. I'm just blessed to be in that one percent."
Is there anything you are not looking forward to?
"There's nothing that I'm not looking forward to. I cherish every moment. I look forward to every moment in my life."
Any advice for any of the other smaller-school guys who are looking to make a big splash?
- Matthew Barr
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Written by:Matthew Barr has been writing for 49ers Webzone and 49ers Hub since 2018 and co-hosts the 4th and Gold podcast which can be found on all podcast platforms. He can be found on Twitter fighting an endless battle to get the underscore removed from his handle, @MattBarr_.