CAM SAMPLE
Defensive end, Tulane
What was your initial reaction to getting the call by the Bengals that you were their next selection?
"Man, it's just exciting. I'm just so blessed to be in this situation. I'm blessed to get picked up. It's just a bunch of emotion."
Did you have a lot of conversations with the Bengals before today? You won Defensive MVP at the Senior Bowl. Did you talk to them there?
"Yes sir. I talked to Coach Duffner (Bengals senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner) a bunch of times — about two or three times — after the Senior Bowl. We stayed in contact throughout the whole process."
What are the Bengals getting in you as a player and person?
"As a player, I give my all. I think I'm versatile. I can sack the quarterback from a variant of alignments, and I'm pretty good against the run. But as a person, they're getting a guy that's all in with the city. I'm just happy to be a part of the organization."
Some of the words scouts used to describe you are "bully," "violent" and "loves to hit." Is that a fair description of you as a player?
"Yeah, definitely. Football is a violent sport. That's the only way to play it. So I'm going to be a big bully, I'm going to be nasty and I'm going to hit people, for sure."
What did the Senior Bowl do for your confidence? Did you need that confidence booster?
"I'm very confident in my ability. I think it just reassured things for some other people, but not necessarily myself. It was definitely good to get out there and compete against very highly regarded guys from 'power-five' conferences, just to know how my game translates at that level."
What did you want to specifically show scouts at the Senior Bowl?
"The main questions coming in were, 'Does my game transfer to a 'power-five' level?' And, 'How would I fare against the big offensive linemen?' I just feel like me coming in and checking those boxes, showing I can play with those guys did it for me."
Have you ever met DE Joseph Ossai, whom the Bengals selected before you yesterday in the third round?
"No, I've never met him. I'm sure we'll be in contact soon, though."
People have talked about your outside rush ability, but how often did you rush from inside at both Tulane and the Senior Bowl?
"At Tulane, I stated off my first 2.5 or three years playing an inside, far-right technique. It wasn't really until my senior year I switched out. But at the Senior Bowl, they kind of moved me up and down the line. I don't back away from a challenge, so if that's where they wanted to put me, that's where I was going to work at."
Do you have a preference?
"No sir. I feel like I can get to the quarterback from anywhere."
Do you feel your position versatility is your biggest strength?
"Yes sir, definitely."
What do you feel your other strengths are?
"I'm good with my hands, play with good leverage and just play hard from the first quarter to the fourth quarter. I'm just constantly coming at you."
What was your recruiting story like coming into Tulane?
"I think I was a two-star recruit on one website, and a three-star on another. But at the end of my senior year, my three biggest offers were Tulane, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky. So with Tulane being in the biggest football conference and offering the best education, I just felt it was a no-brainer."
Were there any players as you progressed in football you either admired or emulated on the defensive line?
"Yeah definitely. I kind of watched a lot of guys. Aaron Donald is one of the best, so I always studied him. But I like those versatile guys who can move up and down the line like Cam Jordan, Jason Pierre-Paul, the guys like that. I just study a lot."
How many meetings did you have with the Bengals, and did anything stand out in talking with them?
"I'd probably say about two or three with Coach Duff, and just how genuine he is about the game of football. He's real intentional. You can tell he knows a lot about the game and, the team seems to have a great atmosphere up there. I'm just blessed to be a part of the organization."
What do you need to work on in terms of your game?
"I'm far from a finished product, so I'm looking to get better in every regard. You can always grow as a pass rusher, so that's kind of been the main thing I've been working on."
Your eyes seem to light up at every mention of Coach Duffner. Did you make a connection with him in your meetings?
"Yeah, I think we hit it off well. We talked a bunch on Zoom or on the phone, so we definitely hit it off well."
What's more relentless: Your motor on the field ,or Coach Duffner's pursuit of you as a prospect?
"(Laughs). I'm going to have to go with me, but it's a close second with Coach Duff."
Where are you now?
"I'm home in Atlanta, Ga. with some family."
Do you currently have any friends or guys you know in the NFL?
"Honestly, I'm drawing a blank, but there's a lot of guys in this class that I grew up with. For me, being at Tulane, Darnell Mooney — he went with the Bears. That's probably one of the people I'm closest to in the league."
Did you get the impression from Coach Duffner that some of the things you did at Tulane are going to transfer to the NFL, or is it going to be a big learning curve?
"I think some of the things are going to translate. Coach Duff talked about doing some of the same things I did this year, whether it's maybe dropping (in coverage) a little bit, or rushing from various techniques. I think a lot of the things I did this year will transfer over."
You've gone from two- or three-star recruit to NFL draft pick. What does that rise mean to you?
"It means everything, man. There's been a lot of long, hard days put in on and off the field. It's a blessing to be here but it's just the beginning. I've got my head down, and I'm working for more."
Was there any anxiety for your parents waiting for you to be called and drafted over these past few days?
"Hats off to them. They did a great job raising me. This just as much of their accomplishment as it is mine. I mean, they were there waiting with me and doing all of that, so I'm happy for them. They did a great job raising me."
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