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Collin Johnson met with the media at the NFL combine on Tuesday for his media availability. Here is a transcription of his answers to the questions asked by an assortment of members of the national credentialed NFL media: NOTE: Per Johson, he will not test at the combine, he tweaked a hip flexor and will put off his workouts until Texas pro day.
(on Tom Herman's hydration obsession)
We had a hydration test every morning before workouts so I still pound water because it's engrained in me and I know how important it is.
(if you fail are you a bad guy?)
No you're not a bad guy, sometimes you fail the hydration test and it's OK, you just have to hydrate after that because at the end of the day, they are just looking out for you. You want to hydrate because it helps you not to pull your muscles and stuff.
(You're the last class not to get paid for your image on video games, etc. do you talk about that?)
No not really, we all wanted the game back mostly so we could just play it as ourselves ... it will be nice one day for players to get (paid for their likeness) because we bring in a lot of money with these programs, but it's not something that we really talked a lot about.
(You're the tallest WR in the class)
I think that being tall, it's hard to get in and out of breaks by nature, so that's something I've really worked on and I move very well for my size and I'm going to continue to improve that. It's a lot of work, I'm working with Ricky Proehl ... I've been working with him red zone, red zone, red zone. You can't teach height, and I have an advantage over anyone I play. At the end of the day, I have an advantage but I don't want to rely on that, I want to be a crafty route-runner and an all-around player.
(Ever been looked at at TE?)
No. They've never looked at me at TE.
(You missed time with injuries in 2019)
I feel like the injuries probably affected my stock, but at thenend of the day I can tell you that I'm better because of it. I'm a better man and I know to enjoy my time on the field because I know it can be taken away from you at any given moment. So I'm very appreciative of any opportunity to keep playing.
(Will you do the tests here in Indy)
Lately, I've been going through training and I had a hip flexor issue so I'm not going to be working out here except maybe the jumps and aim for my pro day April 1st which hurts because you grow up your whole life wanting to compete at the combine, but I'm going to be ready on April 1st.
(What are you going to run?)
I'm aiming to run in the 4.5's. I'm not going to worry about it, I'm going to give it my best.
(Talked to LJH?)
I've talked to him, I'm always wanting to learn, so I'll talk to anyone who has gone through the process. He's doing pretty good with the Saints now but I definitely can learn from anybody.
(Think about coming out last year?)
I definitely thought about coming out last year, but at the end of the day I thought it was best for me to come back and my senior season went nothing like the way I wanted it to but you live and you learn, I'm a better man and a better person because of it.
(What's it been like?)
It's been unbelievable it's a dream for all of us, you grow up watching the combine, and now you get your opportunity to be here with the best of the best and try to separate yourself from the pack.
(Amazing WR class)
It's tough like you said, a lot of great receivers in the draft class but all I can do is do my best. I feel like my work ethic is really strong and I'm going to continue to get better and better because four years down the road, I want to be one of those guys in the league that really separates himself.
(Being here with Duvernay)
It's been fun and it's huge for that receiver room at UT that we can be here getting something like this started?
(Who's the next star WR at Texas)
It's hard to say ... Brennan Eagles is a freak of nature, I'm excited to see him grow. He's a big guy he can move well though.
(How important is speed)
It's important; but if you look at the NFL it's people who can create separation all the time. A lot of guys who can do that have long careers in the NFL - you talk about Cris Carter, he ran a 4.7. Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, it's about finding that edge and how you can get open even if you're not faster than the guy you are going against.
(How did your hands grow from the Senior Bowl to the Combine?)
At the Senior Bowl, I just went in and gave my hand size. Since, I've done some hand stretches -- that's a real thing apparently so I guess I'll continue doing those stretches (laughs).
(What do you think about Mike Evans?)
One of my favorite receivers for sure, just look at the success he's having in the league and I'd like to model my game after him a little.
(Senior Bowl experience)
First and foremost, it was a chance to get better and prove myself. I'm a football player and I love playing football regardless, but I feel I lifted my stock. Getting coached by NFL coaching staffs and taking in all that knowledge so I can use it to get better.
(If I'm a GM, what am I getting in you?)
You're getting a player on the field but also a great leader and someone who wants to make everyone better. You'll get the best version of me everyday.
(Thoughts on Andre Coleman)
Sometimes you have to make the tough decisions that give the organization the best chance to win and Coach Herman felt that letting Mehringer go was the best decision at the time. Coleman has been around us as an analyst all season so he just stepped right into the role and he's a great coach -- he equipped me with some things I'll carry throughout the rest of my life.
(What comes to your mind when I list these Texas WRs - Brennan Eagles)
Freak of nature.
(Jake Smith)
High ceiling.
(Marcus Washington)
Has hops.
(Joshua Moore)
Fast.
(Al'Vonte Woodard)
Hard worker.
(Jordan Whittington)
Athlete. He's an athlete man. When he gets healthy he's going to be a problem. He can play any position he wants, he's that type of athlete.
(You like Malcolm Epps moving to TE?)
He's a good fit. Big guy, athletic.
(You came into the year projected to be a top WR prospect in this class)
It's frustrating because my senior season didn't go the way that I wanted it to go, but aside from the NFL, I wanted to win a championship and I didn't get that opportunity. I was forced to watch my teammates from the sideline which also hurt. But, at the end of the day, my goal is not just to get to the NFL, it's to play in the NFL for a long time.
(How close were you to just coming out last year?)
Really close. I was torn between the two. Talked to mentors, my dad, I felt the best decision was to stay in school. When you make a decision you have to live with it.
(Would you go back and change it?)
I'd be right here. I'd go back and play my senior season and it takes maturity to say, watching from the sidelines, being in different, frustrating positions, I'm like ... what if this, what if that ... but you have to get out of that mindset because you can only do what you can do.
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
Collin Johnson met with the media at the NFL combine on Tuesday for his media availability. Here is a transcription of his answers to the questions asked by an assortment of members of the national credentialed NFL media: NOTE: Per Johson, he will not test at the combine, he tweaked a hip flexor and will put off his workouts until Texas pro day.
(on Tom Herman's hydration obsession)
We had a hydration test every morning before workouts so I still pound water because it's engrained in me and I know how important it is.
(if you fail are you a bad guy?)
No you're not a bad guy, sometimes you fail the hydration test and it's OK, you just have to hydrate after that because at the end of the day, they are just looking out for you. You want to hydrate because it helps you not to pull your muscles and stuff.
(You're the last class not to get paid for your image on video games, etc. do you talk about that?)
No not really, we all wanted the game back mostly so we could just play it as ourselves ... it will be nice one day for players to get (paid for their likeness) because we bring in a lot of money with these programs, but it's not something that we really talked a lot about.
(You're the tallest WR in the class)
I think that being tall, it's hard to get in and out of breaks by nature, so that's something I've really worked on and I move very well for my size and I'm going to continue to improve that. It's a lot of work, I'm working with Ricky Proehl ... I've been working with him red zone, red zone, red zone. You can't teach height, and I have an advantage over anyone I play. At the end of the day, I have an advantage but I don't want to rely on that, I want to be a crafty route-runner and an all-around player.
(Ever been looked at at TE?)
No. They've never looked at me at TE.
(You missed time with injuries in 2019)
I feel like the injuries probably affected my stock, but at thenend of the day I can tell you that I'm better because of it. I'm a better man and I know to enjoy my time on the field because I know it can be taken away from you at any given moment. So I'm very appreciative of any opportunity to keep playing.
(Will you do the tests here in Indy)
Lately, I've been going through training and I had a hip flexor issue so I'm not going to be working out here except maybe the jumps and aim for my pro day April 1st which hurts because you grow up your whole life wanting to compete at the combine, but I'm going to be ready on April 1st.
(What are you going to run?)
I'm aiming to run in the 4.5's. I'm not going to worry about it, I'm going to give it my best.
(Talked to LJH?)
I've talked to him, I'm always wanting to learn, so I'll talk to anyone who has gone through the process. He's doing pretty good with the Saints now but I definitely can learn from anybody.
(Think about coming out last year?)
I definitely thought about coming out last year, but at the end of the day I thought it was best for me to come back and my senior season went nothing like the way I wanted it to but you live and you learn, I'm a better man and a better person because of it.
(What's it been like?)
It's been unbelievable it's a dream for all of us, you grow up watching the combine, and now you get your opportunity to be here with the best of the best and try to separate yourself from the pack.
(Amazing WR class)
It's tough like you said, a lot of great receivers in the draft class but all I can do is do my best. I feel like my work ethic is really strong and I'm going to continue to get better and better because four years down the road, I want to be one of those guys in the league that really separates himself.
(Being here with Duvernay)
It's been fun and it's huge for that receiver room at UT that we can be here getting something like this started?
(Who's the next star WR at Texas)
It's hard to say ... Brennan Eagles is a freak of nature, I'm excited to see him grow. He's a big guy he can move well though.
(How important is speed)
It's important; but if you look at the NFL it's people who can create separation all the time. A lot of guys who can do that have long careers in the NFL - you talk about Cris Carter, he ran a 4.7. Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, it's about finding that edge and how you can get open even if you're not faster than the guy you are going against.
(How did your hands grow from the Senior Bowl to the Combine?)
At the Senior Bowl, I just went in and gave my hand size. Since, I've done some hand stretches -- that's a real thing apparently so I guess I'll continue doing those stretches (laughs).
(What do you think about Mike Evans?)
One of my favorite receivers for sure, just look at the success he's having in the league and I'd like to model my game after him a little.
(Senior Bowl experience)
First and foremost, it was a chance to get better and prove myself. I'm a football player and I love playing football regardless, but I feel I lifted my stock. Getting coached by NFL coaching staffs and taking in all that knowledge so I can use it to get better.
(If I'm a GM, what am I getting in you?)
You're getting a player on the field but also a great leader and someone who wants to make everyone better. You'll get the best version of me everyday.
(Thoughts on Andre Coleman)
Sometimes you have to make the tough decisions that give the organization the best chance to win and Coach Herman felt that letting Mehringer go was the best decision at the time. Coleman has been around us as an analyst all season so he just stepped right into the role and he's a great coach -- he equipped me with some things I'll carry throughout the rest of my life.
(What comes to your mind when I list these Texas WRs - Brennan Eagles)
Freak of nature.
(Jake Smith)
High ceiling.
(Marcus Washington)
Has hops.
(Joshua Moore)
Fast.
(Al'Vonte Woodard)
Hard worker.
(Jordan Whittington)
Athlete. He's an athlete man. When he gets healthy he's going to be a problem. He can play any position he wants, he's that type of athlete.
(You like Malcolm Epps moving to TE?)
He's a good fit. Big guy, athletic.
(You came into the year projected to be a top WR prospect in this class)
It's frustrating because my senior season didn't go the way that I wanted it to go, but aside from the NFL, I wanted to win a championship and I didn't get that opportunity. I was forced to watch my teammates from the sideline which also hurt. But, at the end of the day, my goal is not just to get to the NFL, it's to play in the NFL for a long time.
(How close were you to just coming out last year?)
Really close. I was torn between the two. Talked to mentors, my dad, I felt the best decision was to stay in school. When you make a decision you have to live with it.
(Would you go back and change it?)
I'd be right here. I'd go back and play my senior season and it takes maturity to say, watching from the sidelines, being in different, frustrating positions, I'm like ... what if this, what if that ... but you have to get out of that mindset because you can only do what you can do.
