but my gut told me, 'Oh, no. Here we go again.' I didn't want to come out. I didn't want to let my dream go. |
Everybody was kind of skeptical |
He could have quit, especially after what coach said about him in the paper. Nobody wants to hear their coach talk about them like that. But at the same time, if it's the truth, it's the truth, and you have to acknowledge that. He acknowledged that, and he took it the best way anybody can take it. |
I decided they better hope they never got to play against me. That's why this is like a dream come true to me. I haven't forgotten that day. |
I definitely want to show everybody what I got, but I can't do nothing but wait until I'm ready. |
I really wanted to show everyone Jones was right to believe in me. First of all, nobody wanted to recruit me out of high school. Then here comes June Jones walking into my high school. He took a chance on a guy who just tore his ACL. I think I weighed, like, 145. He offered me a scholarship. I felt I owed him a lot. I was going to give him everything I have. |
I think (Jones' comments) opened Nate's eyes, ... I told him we needed him. He's probably the overall best football player on this team. |
I think everybody knows we're trying to win. I don't think anyone thinks we're going 6-10 again. That's why this first game is so important for us. |
I thought of my knee, ... and I jumped. He missed me, but I landed directly on my (right) knee. When I first landed, I didn't feel anything. I was happy. I was relieved he didn't hit my leg. But when I got up, I instantly felt it. When I got in the huddle, I looked at Davone (Bess, the left slotback), and I told him my knee hurt. |
I was heartbroken at first. But as soon as they told me I was too small, I just crossed them off my list, quick. Anyone who tells me I'm too small, they don't know me. |
I'm looking around, and the coaches are screaming for a returner, and I'm like, 'Put me in! Put me in!' ... After a second or two, I popped in my mouthpiece. I kept walking on the field, and nobody stopped me. You could tell (Jones) didn't want me out there, but nobody was out there (as a kick returner). He gave me the look, and I knew it was OK. |
I've been doing this since I was 10. ... You watch film, but a lot of it is natural. It's vision, and doing what your body tells you to do. I don't think. I just react. It's hard to explain. You follow your blocks, but at the same time, in the open field, you try to make people miss. |
I've got a tattoo that says 'no fear' going down the right side of my leg, |
It doesn't surprise me that he's back. It doesn't matter if he's hurting. He sucks it up. He's a soldier. |
It was emotional. I'm not afraid of crying in front of my brothers. Men don't communicate like that, but I love those guys. Those guys will be my brothers the rest of my life. |