Higbee, Cooper… transcripts, 4/30 … + Hemingway, Forrest, Thomas

Rams Sixth-Round Draft Pick TE Temarrick Hemingway – Conference Call – April 30, 2015

(On being picked by the Rams)

“I cried immediately after I got the news. It’s like a numbing feeling that I had. It’s such an honor to be able to go play for the Rams. I’m just taking it all in right now. It’s still unbelievable that I’m going there.”

(On if he had any idea the Rams were interested in him)

“I actually was there a couple of weeks ago on a vist there, so I knew they had interest in me.”

(On if he cried after he was selected because it was unexpected or he was overcome with happiness)

“It was just happiness. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that nobody really ever gets. So, I felt like I was blessed enough to have the Rams interested in me and I really, really thank them for it.”

(On how he describes his game and his qualities as a player)

“A lot of people might think of me as a receiving tight end. I see myself as a physical tight end as well. I catch the ball in traffic. I like to get yards after the catch. I don’t look to just fall down to the ground as soon as I catch the ball. Immediately after I get the ball, I immediately look for extra yardage. I have a tough mentality, that’s a really big thing for me. Being that I used to be a receiver at 170 pounds my freshman year, I really have this spirit about me, this never-done attitude. Those are just some of the simple things that become big things, especially playing at the next level.”

(On if interest from teams spiked after his strong performance at the combine)

“To be honest, I kind of had an idea that they were probably interested in me, but I didn’t really know because a lot of teams, they like to keep their thoughts and things to themselves. They didn’t really show a reaction to anything I really did there, but I kind of figured that they showed interest in me. Some of the coaches there would talk to me on the side, like asking me how I’m doing and things like that – checking up on me. At that time I didn’t really know who was really interested in me. So I really didn’t have an idea of who was going to pick me up or if I was going to be drafted or not.”

(On the Rams 2016 draft class being weapons to help Jared Goff)

“It is a really special class. We’re going to come in competing and we’re all really good players, so it should be exciting to watch and be a part of as well.”

(On if he plans to add more weight/muscle for the NFL)

“Yeah, I always feel like I could gain more pounds. I want to gain most of my weight in muscle. I don’t want to be a heavy tight end with no muscle. I feel like if I could gain maybe 10 more pounds, that’d be really great for me. I came a long way from 229 at the beginning of last season to 248 now. So I feel like picking up weight shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”

(On his familiarity with Los Angeles)

“I’ve actually been out to Los Angeles twice. I went there for the NFLPA (Collegiate) Bowl game and I went there to visit with the Rams, but I’m not really too familiar with LA itself because when I went there it was for business purposes. It will be interesting to see how LA is and how the lifestyle is, but I know the traffic is really, really crazy compared to the worst traffic in South Carolina.”

(On his experience and takeaways for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl)

“It was a learning experience. I was glad that I had the opportunity to go there and play there. I really had to get a grasp on the concepts and terminology. The terminology is really different from what I was used to, so that was one thing I had to get adjusted to. Overall, it was a really good experience. If I could I’d do it all over again.”

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Rams Sixth-Round Draft Pick LB Josh Forrest – Conference Call – April 30, 2016

(On what the wait to be drafted has been like and what he’s been doing today)

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’ve been with my family – my brother and my sister, and my mom and my step-dad. We’ve just all been sitting around waiting. It’s been a crazy experience, definitely.”

(On what the feeling was like when the Rams finally called)

“I really can’t even explain…like goose bumps. Everybody in the house had goose bumps, and I’m still in shock right now.”

(On if he ever imagined following the path of starting as wide receiver in college to being drafted as an inside linebacker in the NFL)

“No, that’s unbelievable almost. You hardly ever see receivers turning into linebackers and pan out to be NFL players.”

(On if he can put into words what it was like to get drafted considering he didn’t begin playing football until his junior year of high school)

“Not really. I am just in shock right now. I started off just trying to do something with my time away from basketball season. So football was the thing I was chose to do. One of my best friends talked me into playing. I just fell in love with it from there.”

(On making the transition from wide receiver to inside linebacker and how he added the weight over the years to play linebacker)

“When I first got there I was maybe 205 (pounds). I redshirted and about halfway through my redshirt year was kind of when I switched over to the hybrid linebacker-safety position. Then we got a new coaching staff and I ended up moving from outside linebacker to the ‘will’ position. We had a will that was there. Avery Williamson was there the year before I moved, and after he left my position was wide open. Coach asked me if I thought I could do it and I told him, ‘I can do whatever you need me to do’. It just worked out that way.”

(On what his diet and weight room regime was like when he was trying to become big enough to handle the linebacker position)

“Well at first I thought it was just eating as much as I could, but then I feel like I put on some bad weight a little bit. Then I started eating healthy. I got with a nutritionist, and we sat down and got a meal (program), and I stayed on it. I gained about 10 pounds until I got up to 250, and right now that’s where I am at.”

(On what it means to be the lone defensive draft pick for the Rams this year considering the team’s history for drafting on the defensive side of the ball)

“It’s a blessing. Those are the only words that I can come up with. That’s really it. It’s a blessing.”

(On if he was on special teams in college)

“My first two years I did kickoff, kickoff return and punt return. Then my junior and senior years I did punt.”

(On if he is comfortable enough being on special teams in order to make the roster)

“Definitely, definitely.”

(On if he looked up to any NFL linebackers while he was making the transition from offense to defense)

“Danny Trevathan just because he was a good linebacker we had my freshman year. When I switched over, he went to the NFL, he went to the Broncos. He was undersized. He was like a small linebacker, and I just felt like I was switching over to linebacker weighing 205. So I felt like, I’m a smaller linebacker, too, not height wise, but weight wise. I tried to give myself some things like, ‘OK, he’s small. I feel like I’m a smaller guy. This is who I want to model my game after.’”

(On Kentucky producing late-round successes in Danny Trevathan and Wesley Woodward at the linebacker position and if that is a point of pride for him)

“It is definitely a point of pride. I talked with Danny and Bud Dupree about it about two or three days ago, saying how we have been putting out a lot of linebackers. We like to call it LBU.”

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Rams Sixth-Round Draft Pick WR Michael Thomas – Conference Call – April 30, 2016

(On how it feels to be drafted by the Los Angeles Rams)

“It’s a great feeling. There’s a lot of great people in the organization. They’ve got a great receivers coach, I talked to him earlier. I’m just blessed. I’m thankful. It’s a happy moment for me.”

(On if anticipated that he would go earlier or later in the draft)

“I was anticipating going earlier, but I was just being patient and didn’t let it get to me. I just knew I was going to get picked, but I didn’t know when. Like I said, I’m just so thankful right now.”

(On what it means as a wide receiver to get drafted by a team who selected a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick)

“That means a lot. That means they are looking forward to the quarterback they got and I’m looking forward to it now, the fact that I have been drafted by the Rams. I’m just looking forward to working with him, getting that chemistry going, and then we’re balling.”

(On how much earlier in the draft he thought he would go)

“To be honest, probably second through the fourth, no later than the fourth. But, obviously that didn’t happen. I just stayed patient and kept thinking positive about it and here I am.”

(On why he didn’t think he wasn’t invited to the combine and if he was surprised by it)

“It was really a surprise because…I didn’t get a combine invite. That just motivated me more to keep going. That put a lot of fire in me to keep going, keep working hard, and thinking positive the whole way through.”

(On if he thinks not being invited to the combine affecting where he was drafted)

“No, I feel like that wasn’t the reason because I still had a pro day and I still went to regional combines. I feel like…I don’t know. There was a reason for it, but I just didn’t know why. All the people I talked to said, ‘Don’t worry about not getting invited to the combine, just stay focused and keep working.’”

(On what he brings to the table and what type of game he has)

“I bring dynamic playmaking skills. I can stretch the field, make things happen, make plays, execute plays, and that’s what I’m looking forward to doing with the Rams. Keep making plays, executing, and winning games.”

(On how much contact he had with the Rams before the draft)

“Well, I was talking to the receivers coach (Mike Groh). We FaceTimed a couple times and talked, but I never was in contact with the Rams like that. He did give me a call, so technically I was before. So it’s kind of like, kind of, sort of, but not really.”

(On being a part of the group of receivers that has been drafted to help QB Jared Goff)

“To be honest, I’m looking forward to learning from a lot of the receivers that are already there. I’m just looking forward to those guys helping me out, teaching me things, the ins and outs. Like I said, I’m just looking forward to working, I really can’t explain. I’m just happy. I’m so thankful right now.”

(On if he’s ever been to California and how he liked it if so)

“Yes, I’ve actually been there when I visited San Diego, and I’ve also been to Long Beach as well, but I’ve never been to Los Angeles. The weather is great, it’s way better than Chicago right now, so I’m looking forward to that.”