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Safety Landon Collins**
Q: You sound like you're very motivated to show people what you can do?
A: Definitely, I'm very motivated.
Q: What was the whole experience like for you?
A: Yesterday was a disappointment for me missing out on the first round, but other than that, I'll use it as a stepping stone and use it as motivation to showcase that I'm ready and ready to play and ready to step on the field and do what I've been doing since I was playing at four years old.
Q: Do you have preference as to which safety spot you play?
A: All over. I can play sides of the field, strong or free. It doesn't matter. I've been doing it in college. It does not matter which safety I play.
Q: What were your expectations coming in?
A: As a kid, my dream was always was to go in the first round and walk across the stage and be a first round draft pick. But today I flew home to spend some time with my family and watch the draft with them because I only had a few of my family members up there and I wanted to see a lot of my family members and give them kisses and hugs. I just wanted to be around them and then my cousin and I took a drive to the lake and we got the phone call driving back to the house.
Q: Why did you leave Chicago? Did you think it was going to take a little more time for your name to get called?
A: I just wanted to come home and spend some time with my family because I haven't seen them for a while. I had been training, being all over the country.
Q: Between the time the draft ended yesterday and you were drafted today, did you talk to the Giants at all?
A: Not at all. The last time the Giants and I spoke was at the combine.
Q: Did you hear about the Giants trying to move up to get you?
A: No. The Giants called me right after the draft had started. I could hear it in the background that they traded up and everything. It was a fantastic feeling.
Q: Does that put more pressure on you knowing they gave up quite a bit to select you?
A: Not just them moving up, but the player that I am, I'm a baller. All I've been doing is just balling. Once I touch the field, I'm a different animal. That's what they're going to get. That motor is in my blood and in my body.
Q: Were you aware of their need at safety?
A: I knew since I entered the draft. I knew they were in need of a safety, but it's been a while since I knew that.
Q: A couple coaches said you blew them away in your interview with the team. Did you realize you had a good interview with them?
A: No. I was being myself. I was being the person I've always been and it's the mantra that I have. It's always taken me a long way. If they loved me… they picked me up. That's all I can say.
Q: Is this the first time in your football career that you've been overlooked?
A: I was hurt overall. I was hurt because it was just my dream. My dream was to always go in the first round, so I was hurt more than anything.
Q: What went into the decision to go home from Chicago? Did you think about staying an extra night?
A: Definitely. It was a hard decision because it was like should I stay? I can go early. And then I was thinking about my family because if I do go early, I'll fly back into town. So many thoughts were going through my mind, so I was definitely just trying to get answers from my family that was up there to see what I should do. We then decided to come home so we could be together and when I do have to leave, I could leave them and give them hugs and kisses.
Q: Was it tough walking out of there last night?
A: It was tough. It was definitely tough, but I walked out of there with my head held high because I know what kind of capabilities that I have as a player and whatever team gets me, I have a chip on my shoulder to prove why I should have been a first round candidate. That's definitely what I will showcase when I start playing this upcoming season.
Q: How well do you know Odell Beckham Jr.?
A: We know each other pretty well. I met him my freshman year. He was a sophomore when I met him. They were up in Alabama chilling with us during their bye week and then we stayed in touch since then. We're cool.
Q: Have you heard from him since you've been drafted?
A: I have to check my messages. I have over 200 messages right now, so I definitely don't know who's texting me right now.
Q: How much better do you think you can be with this chip on your shoulder?
A: That's in God's hands. All I know is that I'm going to be a dominant player when I touch the field.
DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa
Q: Tom Coughlin said you were emotional when he spoke to you today. Can you explain what that call meant to you?
A: I was definitely very emotional. Just finally getting my name called and knowing that I'm going to be living out my dream and working and playing professional football was a very emotional moment for me.
Q: Is this around where you thought you would go and was there any indication it would be to the Giants?
A: Honestly, I wasn't sure which team it was, but a lot of people were saying different things and I was just waiting it out to see who was going to call my name. But anything goes on draft day, so I was just excited to get my name called.
Q: Do you think your hip issues in 2013 caused your stock to drop a little bit?
A: I'm sure that could have played a part in it. There could be a lot of different factors. You just never know what teams are thinking when it comes to draft day. Regardless of what it was, that's behind me. I'm looking forward to just being a part of this organization and competing and getting ready to play football.
Q: Where do you think your best position is going to be on that defensive line?
A: Honestly, I think I can play anywhere that the coaches want me to play, whether it's strongside or weakside defensive end or even rushing as a three technique on passing downs. I think my versatility in what I bring to the table is an upside for what the coach wants for the defense and for the team.
Q: Could you describe your own game and your strengths?
A: I'm a relentless player. I'm physical. My athletic ability allows me to do a lot of different things, like I was saying with my versatility. I think that's what really helps me as a football player.
Q: How much do you know about Justin Tuck and what he did here?
A: I know he's a great player who was drafted out of Notre Dame in the (third) round and I know that I was watching him my sophomore year in high school when they were playing New England in the Super Bowl and the Giants' defensive line inspired me and made me want to be a better defensive line with Osi Umenyiora, with Justin Tuck, I believe number 94 (Mathias Kiwanuka, who did not play in Super Bowl 42). But I know Justin Tuck is a great player. He's really, really physical and that's a guy that I try to learn some things from, but I know a lot about the Giants' defensive line. I could go all day with what I know about their defensive line play. With Michael Strahan, obviously he's a Hall of Fame player. He won a Super Bowl. He went out on a bang, so to speak. The last year he played, they won a Super Bowl, but he had a great career with the Giants. He was drafted out of Texas (Southern). I believe it was in the (second) round, which makes me put things in perspective with me. For me as a competitor, I want to be drafted as high as possible, it doesn't work out but my thing is a lot of great players come in different rounds and make an impact. I know Michael Strahan was one of them. I know Osi Umenyiora was one of them. I know Justin Tuck is another guy. I know the Giants have a great tradition with drafting great defensive linemen. Jason Pierre-Paul is one of them. I looked up to him coming out of (South Florida). Is it South Florida? I can't remember. I'm very excited about this opportunity that I get to learn. I think it's going to help me develop as a football player. My goal is to just be the best that I can be and take my game to the next level. You've got to start somewhere and learn from guys who've been there and done that. I'm excited about it. I think it's a great opportunity for me.
Q: How did you get to know so much from the Giants out on the west coast?
A: It may sound weird, but I just love football. It's just something that I like to study to get better as a player. When I tell you that the Giants' defensive line inspired me as a player, it's no joke. The way they played is really what sparked my thirst for wanting to be better as a d-lineman. I remember in college watching the year Osi Umenyiora had six sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles. I watched his highlights over and over again. I watched his drills that he did with the d-line coach who coaches guys out of Atlanta. There was a video of him on YouTube and I was watching it over and over again. I was doing every drill that he did. The list goes on and on. I was watching Michael Strahan and how he plays. I studied everything about the Giants defensive line. I studied Jason Pierre-Paul the year he went off. They know their defensive line.
Q: You get to play under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. How excited are you for that opportunity?
A: I'm extremely excited. I've been waiting to be in this situation where I can just be a defensive end getting after the quarterback, playing physical against the run, just playing that traditional four down over, under defense. I've been looking forward to that for a very long time.
