Linebacker Azeez Ojulari
Q: A lot of people thought you would go a lot earlier for you. How has this process been for you and how is your knee?
A: This process was a great process, just talking to teams, building those relationships and just being able to be a Giant. I'm just happy to be here. I'm just ready to get to work. My knee is good. Everything is good and solid. Everything is perfect.
Q: Hey Azeez, congratulations. Just caught a little bit of a snippet when you were announced on TV from an old buddy, Andrew Thomas, who is now your teammate again. What was that like tonight? The wait? Did you know it would be the Giants? What was your reaction - describe it when it happened.
A: It was crazy when I got the call, man. I saw a New York on it so I just picked it up. I was just so happy to be on the phone with the Giants. It was electric. It was a great moment for me and my family and Drew (Andrew Thomas) being in the house, too.
Q: You and Drew were pretty close, right? Did I read that?
A: Yes, he was my roommate.
Q: He was the toughest tackle you ever gone against?
A: Definitely. Definitely was.
Q: Hi Azeez, congratulations. Sorry, I'm sure you thought you got away from me down here in Athens. Was it excruciating at all having to wait? I guess you ultimately don't really know when you're going to go, but projections were really high for you. Were you hurting there for a while or confused?
A: No. I just know I'm blessed to be here. I'm blessed to be a Giant. I just waited my turn and wait for my opportunity to come and now it's here. Now, I'm just happy and ready to be a Giant, for sure.
Q: Azeez, I know (Georgia Head Coach) Kirby Smart and Joe Judge have connections. Have you heard anything about what you'll be coming into?
A: Definitely. Georgia has some similarities to the Giants defense. I've been through it a lot. I feel like I'll be good with the scheme and everything coming in. I'm just ready to get to work and learn - learn from the best.
Q: Hey Azeez, congratulations. There are some people who say you are the best past rusher in this draft. First question, what do you think about that?
A: Definitely. I mean, everyone has their own opinions, but definitely I believe that. I'm just confident in my game. I'm just ready to go to work with the New York Giants and show everybody what I can do.
Q: Second question, real quick. If you are the best pass rusher, they don't normally last to number 50. What does that say to you? Does that kind of anger you or do you care about that at all?
A: I'm just blessed to be a Giant. I'm ready to work. When I get there, I just have to go get in the playbook to learn the scheme and everything. I'm just ready to show them what I can do. That's it.
Q: Hey Azeez, what does it mean to you to go to a team that has your college roommate in Andrew Thomas, Tae Crowder is there, Lorenzo Carter is a Georgia alum - what does it mean to you to be joining up with all these guys that I imagine you're pretty familiar with?
A: It's just great just having my brothers up there already. They're people that I have conversations with. It would be great for me to come in there and learn from them. They've been there, so they can teach me and tell me things. So, I just can't wait to get up there with those guys and be ready to work.
Q: How would you describe what type of player you are to Giants fans who maybe aren't familiar with you?
A: I'm definitely relentless. Effort is never a question. I'm an all-around player. I can rush the passer, stop and run, drop in coverage or whatever I have to do to help the team, I can do it.
Q: Azeez, congratulations man. What did you think - I mean you're a guy who has played, you practiced, and then they tell you, or did you even know - that your knee was going to be a problem for teams?
A: No. I didn't know at all. I was fully healthy the last two seasons at Georgia. I didn't know anything. I just didn't know. I'm blessed to be a Giant. I'm happy and ready to get to work.
Q: What was your interaction with Kevin Sherrer? Was he your coach? Did you work for him a lot? How well do you know him?
A: Oh yeah, Coach Sherrer. He recruited me when I was coming into Georgia, so our relationship is already there, for sure. I've learned things from him, from watching film and tape and coming into Georgia. We really have a good bond going in, for sure.
Q: Hi Azeez, congratulations. I just got in a little late. I apologize if this is a repeat, but could you describe your pass rushing ability and how you feel it'll translate immediately in the NFL given what you've seen?
A: I have good speed and strength. I can convert speed to power. I can beat the guy off the edge and beat him inside. I can affect the quarterback a lot. I'm just coming in knowing I'm ready to work and contribute and I'm ready to do whatever I have to do.
Q: Just as a quick follow up, in your conversations with Coach Judge and what not and whomever it is you spoke to, what amount did you speak to him about how much they are in need of pass rushing help? How aware are you of that?
A: It was one of the needs, for sure. We definitely had conversations throughout the whole process, daily. I'm blessed to be here. I'm blessed to be a Giant today. I'm ready to get there and contribute.
Q: Azeez, congrats. A lot of the best players in Giants history, most revered players, are pass rushers - Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, etc. What do you think of trying to live up to those expectations and live up to those kinds of names putting on this jersey at that position?
A: Seeing all of those great Giants that came through there, I just know I have to come in ready to work and put it all on the table to give it all you got. Give it all you got for those great guys that played before us. I just have a lot of respect for those players, so you have to give it all you got and do what I can do.
Q: Real quick, Kadarius Toney, did you - I didn't have time to double check on this schedule - but what do you think of him as a player and a fellow SEC guy, offensive weapon? What do you think of him as a player and a weapon?
A: Man, Kadarius Toney is a beast. He's shifty. He can shake anything. He can beat you. He has speed. Man, I can't wait to see him play. Just know he's a dog, for sure.
Q: Azeez, you said you knew the Giants needed an edge rusher. When they're on the clock at number 42, are you waiting for your phone to ring right there?
A: I was waiting. I was waiting on it all day.
Q: When in your conversations with Andrew did you guys start talking about becoming teammates and when did it become more and more realistic for you guys?
A: Just basically when he got drafted. When he got drafted, we thought about it. It could happen one day. So, we were like, 'It would be cool for us to be teammates coming from Georgia. That would be nice.' And look at us now, teammates.
Q: Hey Azeez, just on a personal level, what do your friends call you? Do they call you Z? They call you AO? They call you Zeez, or what?
A: Yes, they call me Z. Sometimes they call me vibranium. No, they call me mostly Z, though. It's what it is the most times, Z.
Q: Okay, and the other question I have is, one of the guys you'll probably be competing with for time is Lorenzo Carter. How close are you with him?
A: Lorenzo is my brother, definitely, for sure. He played at Georgia. I'm ready to get there and work with him and just learn things from him and just ready to get to work.
Q: Hey Azeez, congratulations man. Azeez, I noticed you have that one signature move that you love to go to, to get the quarterback. I'm curious, who helped you develop your moves in rushing and what's one part of your game that you feel you need to improve at?
A: I'd say my time at Georgia, just working there every single day since I was a freshman. I was finding the move that worked for me and I just kept doing that. Once I found it, I just kept going to it and adjusting off of it when I had to. Thanks to Georgia and my time there, it just helped me with everything I need to do. I will definitely be using it for sure.
Q: Azeez, quickly, did you get better competing with Andrew Thomas in practice a lot?
A: Definitely, every day. Every single day competing. Good on good, everyday.
Cornerback Aaron Robinson
Q: Saw that tweet from [Safety] Xavier McKinney. I guess even though you transferred, you're still viewed by some of these guys as an Alabama guy. Just curious, what's it like to reunite with a lot of guys with Alabama ties?
A: You know, X specifically, I remember him when he first got up to school just trying to connect and bond with him. He's a great guy. I'm ready to get up there and get to work with some great dudes, get around some great coaching, pretty much just set the standard with the brotherhood up there and go to work.
Q: What do you think you bring to the table?
A: Definitely a competitive edge about myself. A guy who's willing to take it from every angle, vets, coaching and excel at it in my own game. Really just want to bring guys along, including myself, to create something special.
Q: Hey Aaron, I think one of things the Giants really like about you is how physical you are and that you can play man-to-man. That's something they weren't able to do as much last year. What does it take to be as consistently physical and effective as you are at that position on the outside?
A: Yeah, you know that pretty much comes with the game of football. I feel like I always favored the defensive side of the ball a little bit more growing up playing it. And that's pretty much a plus in my game that I take advantage of and come with to every play 150 percent. That's pretty much it.
Q: Aaron, how important was it for you to get to the Senior Bowl and have that opportunity to meet with the various teams? And to follow up on that, what do you remember about your meeting with the Giants?
A: Having that opportunity to get up there in Mobile to compete against some of the best in college football this past year was a great opportunity for me to pretty much expose myself a little bit more, and have that great opportunity to earn those reps, get those reps on the outside and showcase those skills as well during those practices. So it was definitely a great opportunity for myself. What I remember from meeting with the Giants was the laughs through conversation, pretty much just enjoying that moment with those coaches up there and pretty much coming off natural, it felt like.
Q: Were you on [Wide Receiver] Kadarius Toney's team at the Senior Bowl or did you go against him at all?
A: I was on Kadarius's team. We pretty much had one great rep of one-on-ones and a couple more reps during team reps. Pretty much just competing against one another trying to earn something, so respect to him as well.
Q: The fact that the Giants traded up to get you, does that mean something extra to you?
A: Yeah, definitely, just another great opportunity. Thank those guys up there for believing in me and that just pushes me to want to get up there and work 10 times harder for some guys that definitely believed in me. I'm going to take advantage of that and run with it, for sure.
Q: Hey Aaron, you'll have to kind of forgive me for doing my scouting report on the fly, but did you play mostly in the slot in college?
A: Correct.
Q: And so you were saying playing at the Senior Bowl gave you the chance to play outside?
A: Correct.
Q: So, do you feel like you can play both at the next level? Are you more comfortable at one or the other?
A: Wherever I'm needed. Wherever I'm needed, I'm willing to learn that playbook, get in with my coaches, spend a lot of time around those guys, around those guys in the locker room as well to really learn it and go out and perform to the best of my ability.
Q: Did you guys play a lot of man or zone in college?
A: We mixed it up. [Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Randy] Shannon definitely mixed it up for us, gave a lot of looks and pretty much helped us a lot as well.
