Andy & Ari On3 - Miami's Xavier Restrepo is the most UNDERRATED receiver in the draft | Georgia LB Smael Mondon joins

Episode Date: January 28, 2025

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Welcome to any and are you are three we are here in Mobile, Alabama site of the senior bowl senior bowl practices Begin today are either here the sirens are taking the players to practice right now Can you imagine being on a bus to a job interview where you know, you may have to? Tangle with some 300 pound people, but if you do really really well Like you could make millions of dollars. Like Carson Wentz, I was here a few years ago when he was here, made millions of dollars at practice. Aaron Donald made millions of dollars from a couple of good practices.

Yeah, like if we had to do one podcast, and if it was like the best podcast we ever did, you get like a huge signing bonus, that would be pretty- I think we have one of those coming up. I don't know if you know. I'm scared. Are we allowed to talk about it? I don't know you tell me you're the boss We're going in we're going to New Orleans for for a little special episode next week. So, I don't know Maybe that's our episode. Maybe maybe somebody's gonna be watching it like well

We'll see how ain't already performed during that episode. And if they blow up, if they ball out. Yeah, I've got a little take file on here to try to keep some of those things warm for next week. You better. Super Bowl media party is going to be fun. I can't wait to get out to New Orleans with you. But I'm super excited to be here in the deep south of the U now.

Update, Ari did not try the turtle soup last night. We went to Felix's fish now. Um and uh update. I already did not try the turtle soup last night. We went to Felix's fish camp. It was delicious. I had red fish. I'm going to level with you here, man. And I want to say it to you while you're eating.

Mm hmm. It smelled terrible. Oh, it's delicious. It smelled like turtle. It's turtle. Yeah. I mean, it's like, yeah, hey, you want to stick your head into a scorpion cage and smell that and then eat whatever it was. It was incredible. They give you the little bottle of sherry and you dump it on there

Oh, I don't even know what that is, but I'm happy that you enjoyed your meal I enjoyed my watching Julia child with this Yeah, uh, I wish I knew what that was but like yeah just the the fact of Like just like eating a reptile when you put it that way kind of freaks me out. And you know what, I guess I'll miss out on some things in life, but if that's what I'm missing out on, it'll be okay. But you know, hey, you know who you got in business with here. That's right. And that's right. I'm happy that our long and everlasting relationship of eating out will just be me just endlessly disappointing you in terms of what I should have ordered and what I got. As I always say, you're not disappointing me, you're only disappointing yourself. And that's fine.

I got steak and grilled shrimp at a soup food restaurant, which I think is very appropriate. You did fine. But my Redfish Maneri was... it was spot on. So we're about to watch these guys practice and the, we got one team practicing this morning, another team will be practicing this afternoon. We'll talk about it on tomorrow's show, what we saw. But got some of the guys that we've talked to so far heading into practice. We're gonna be talking to Miami Xavier Strepo, who are you, you said it to him, maybe the most underrated receiver in America. I am so excited to see what this We're going to talk to Miami Xavier Strepo, who are you, you said it to him, maybe the most underrated receiver in America. I am so excited to see what this guy does against the level of competition because he just dominated in the ACC. You know, I do think that like in the

discussion this year of players who got to showcase their ability on big stages because of the expanded playoff, if Miami would have made it, he would have been one of those candidates of like, hey, the whole country's watching, this guy's incredible. And like, there's just certain people who are just a joy to watch, Andy. And I thought that he kind of falls under that category of just like, you know, he's not some big Jeremiah Smith dude who's going to jump over somebody or whatever, but like, he just has a constant knack of getting open. And when the ball is delivered to him, he makes the catch. And you asked him in the interview, if he's going to jump over somebody or whatever, but like he just has a constant knack of getting open. And when the ball is delivered to him, uh, he makes the catch and you asked him in the interview, if he's ever had a drop.

And it's like, yeah, I had a drop this year and like, it bothers him so much, but he is, he's somebody who I believe will have a, I don't know like what his round projection is. And I'm sure that that will largely be based on how he runs, uh, you know, in the pre-draft, you know, a bit like places like here in the combine, but he, he's going to have a long NFL career. Well, I like Pukka Nakua had a, had a big week here and then wound up. He still didn't go super high in the draft, but has wound up being one of the best receivers in the NFL. Yeah.

Same thing, same team, obviously. But I just like think route running and not just route running but like the freelance ability to get open. He illustrated like just like okay a play's not going the way it did, another receiver ran the wrong route, where can I get open and how can I make a play? And like that to me is like you could coach a million things. I don't know if you can coach that. And you'll hear him talk about this in the interview. The straight line speed is fine and the 40 yard dash is fine. And all those things are important. I mean, you just saw Zevi Worthy who ran a blazing 40

at the combine. You're seeing him help the Chiefs. And you know, I just think that the getting open part is the more important part though. It's like a different position, but isn't that what they say about Travis Kelsey as we wind up for the Superbowl? Like that guy has just got an innate ability

to sense where the defense is and just find a pocket and get open. Like, I mean, I just think. I think also that Patrick Mahomes helps with that too. I heard somebody talking about Travis Kelsey and Patrick Mahomes and they were asking about Kelsey's ability to just even without saying anything to Mahomes say, hey, I'm going to do this thing and I'm just going to

get open and you're going to find me. And I thought about it and I was like, oh, these people didn't watch Mahomes in college. So like they don't understand that he comes from an air raid offense. Like that is the air raid. The air raid is the receivers are supposed to find open grass and the quarterback needs to repetition at practice needs to kind of get an idea of where they're going to find them. Yeah. So like when Pat Mahomes played for Cliff Kingsbury that's all he did was that was rep that over and over and over again and that's something that that Cam Ward did at Washington state. The offense in Miami is a little, it is a more evolved version.

So what Andy's basically trying to say is that cam war is the next my homes. Stop. Stop. Although Xavier strepo had some very nice things to say about cam war. Uh, you know, again, I'm so, I just got so mad about all the Kim Ward discourse after the Pop Parts bowl. Idiots thinking that the guy would go in and quit at halftime. Like, that's not what happened. Murray Criswell has now come out and said that's not what happened. They planned it that way. He was going to play a half, and they were going to look at Emory Williams. But Kim Ward is a dog. is a dog. He is. And Restrepo was talking about, I was listening to him as he did another interview here, he's talking about getting up at five o'clock in the morning every every morning with Cam Ward,

meeting up to throw in the offseason. Like this is not, this is not a guy who is worried about, you know, oh, I had a break, I'm gonna break the record and then just dip out. No, he's a dog. I mean, part of that record should be at least on the mantle of Restrepo, too. Because without him, that's not happening. And Jacoby George is very good. Miami's offense was absolutely incredible this past year. It's a shame that they weren't able to beat Syracuse at the end of the year and showcase their ability in the playoff. How frustrating is it when they're... Because we saw it with LSU in 2023.

When you have an offense that's that good and a defense that just can't do anything and you've seen other teams like I remember 2013 Florida had a defense that was amazing and an offense couldn't do anything. They went 4-8. Like how frustrating must that be to be a fan of one of those teams or to be on one of those teams where you've got a group that just lights out and another group that just can't do anything. It's like weird because it's like you're never out of a game but you're never able to put a game away. Right. You know, like it's like that weird uncomfortability of just like no matter who we're playing

or whatever they're going to be able to score and it's just like that's something that Miami is going to have to figure out and I'm sure we'll get into that but you know I think that offensively speaking that was everything that you possibly could have asked for and I do believe that you know Miami in the playoff would have been able to at least hang in games they might have given up a ton of points but they would have been able to advance and great and win some of them you know I don't know that I would say now with the information that we have that SMU was was actually more equipped from a right from a top to bottom standpoint.

But then again, maybe Penn State would have scored 60 on them. I have no idea. But these players are going to be players that we are familiar with in the NFL for a long time. And I wonder if this is the first step towards Miami taking the next step of being a consistent player. Because they had a good season. They didn't make the playoff, but they had a good season.

They did have a good season. They're willing to spend in the portal. They're willing to spend on recruits. And now we can say that, and we don't have to feel bad about it. Miami's going to have a good roster. With Mario Criswold there, you always know they're going to have a good offensive line.

We'll see what happens with Carson Beck. And Carson Beck is coming off a pretty tough injury. It's gonna take a while for him to get back ready to play. So, but the guy we're gonna talk to is Avery Restrepo. I think replacing him's probably the more important part of it, cause Carson Beck's healthy. Like he's gonna be able to deliver the ball. The question is, will they have somebody like Restrepo?

Restrepo's numbers are crazy. 69 catches for 1,127 yards. 11 TDs. Like, the man's a machine. Yeah. Yeah. And not a household name. Should be. He will be. Well, that's the thing. I think you get him in the right system. You get him on the right team. You know, like the Rams always seem to find somebody like that. The Rams may be full up on people like that, but there's a bunch of other teams that do need reliable receivers and he's... I mean, he's the kind of guy that could have like a Cooper Cup.

I don't know. I don't like to compare, but like he could be like a puka type season next year. Yes, because he's incredibly productive. He's been incredibly productive at a high level in college. Short hands can get open, good routes, quick. I mean, that's the combination. I wonder if a team is going to reach for him because they know how much value those guys bring to the offense. Or they don't reach and he becomes one of the biggest values in the draft. But we'll see. I mean, he has a great week here. Everybody's going gonna notice. So let's hear from Xavier Strepo, the most underrated receiver in the draft, the guy your team should be picking, and not just because he's a great interview,

but yeah, we love him. We are here with Miami receiver Xavier Strepo, who said, I woke up this morning, I'm already one step ahead, which is a great attitude to have, great way to look at the world, but didn't you guys, I mean, this morning. I'm already one step ahead, which is a great great attitude to have way great way to look at the world But did you guys I mean this is early, but weren't you and cam ward up? Earlier than this most mornings. Oh, yeah, this is definitely sleeping in

I mean me and camera first ones in the building every single morning. So Yeah, I'm kind of used to waking up early Andy, I'm sorry for my co-host. He introduced you wrong. This is Xavier Restrepo, the most underrated player in college football this year. I mean, how do you feel? I wanted to warm it up to that. No, no, I mean, I actually I mean, I've said on the show. No, you're right. A million times watching you play this year was a pleasure.

And I'm just wondering, like, when you have a knack for getting open and like never dropping the ball, like I know routes and all the things that you have to sell hard work and stuff. But like, is there a natural ability to just get open? You think? Like if you possess that, is that something that puts you ahead of the game? Or is that something you have to really work on? Yes, sir. Great question. I actually think what you're

talking about is just I mean, I've grown up in South Florida my whole entire life, you know, been going to, you know, premiere athletes with Coach Sly and, you know, out there at Goafy with Tevin. And I mean, if you don't have the urge to, you know, get a rep even, you'll be there for two hours and not get a rep. Yeah. You know, and then I mean, at that it's like, you have 80 guys around you and you better not embarrass yourself. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie. I did embarrass myself a couple of times, but that just all led me up to, you know, the guy I am today and the competitor I am today.

Well, so I've been to like seven on seven team tryouts down in Miami and in Broward and it's like, you're right. The fight for reps is real. And you see the kids, you see the guys that are kind of like the shrinking back and they'll get eaten alive. And what is it like for a young receiver, when you are going as the level of talent that you have to go against down there in terms of the DBs and the speed and that you got these long rangey dudes who can run? Right. No, for sure. I mean, I just think it gets you ready for the next level, you know, when you go out to all these college camps and you just consistently see, you know, South Florida guys going rep after rep. It's not surprising, you know, because we do that in training. We don't even have to have a camp to do that, you know. So I think it just gets us ready for the next level. Honestly, I mean, I think that there could be like a way to coordinate people getting reps. No, it is. They want it to be a survival of the fittest. It'll be like a way to coordinate people getting reps. No, it is. They want it to be a survival of the fittest. It'll be like that out here in the senior level practice.

It's the same thing. Whoever can fight to get onto the field. Who wants to take the rep? That's good to hear that. Yeah. So we were talking about getting open. And I was thinking about, you know, watching you play this year. There's so many times when things broke down, cams obviously great at improvising. But when things

broke down, do you just kind of smile because like that's always the time you'd see you kind of move a little bit and then just Hey, like leaking behind the the secondary and finding a spot. Right? Yes, sir. I mean, um, again, I know it sounds crazy. But we work on all these things, You know, yeah, me and, uh, Kim and the other receivers, Jacobi, Zahor and Sam Brown, all those guys, we, uh, we work scramble draw after practice, you know, um, and we always end the practice off and our extra work after

practice off with the scramble drill. And that'll be times where, you know, Kim is a character, you know, so some days he'll try to troll you and stuff. I mean, there'll be some days I practice after practice, after we put our work in where he'll turn six, seven times, wait for you to get all the way to the other side of the field. He's that type of guy. So, I mean, but again, it's all for a reason, obviously, you know, because you see guys running behind people and wide open, him making throws and stuff like that. because you see guys running behind people and wide open, him making throws and stuff like that.

So yeah. So I gotta ask you, one of the play like that, because he's trolling you, but he's also practicing for real situations. The touchdown catch in the Duke game, where he runs around for like 10 seconds and then throws it through two sets of hands. And how did you see that ball?

So originally I knew he was throwing the ball to me. We were a little bit off page or whatever with the other receiver and Cam or whatever. Cam just came to the sign when he was like, I was waiting for him to go the opposite way. But sometimes it ends up like that. And I mean, when you practice things so much, it's kind of just like golf.

You get lucky sometimes. Yeah. Well, the ball comes because did it touch the DB's hands or did it just kind of go by it? Yeah, it touched the DB. Okay. And I was waiting on the tip. Had it not been tipped, it would have probably been a harder catch. But I knew it was going to get tipped or something like that.

I was just waiting for the revenge. Yeah, I guess it is. Sometimes you get lucky. I don't know. I don't think that was luck. I don't think there's any luck involved. I was catching the ball perfectly in the air. I don't know. I don't know if that was luck, but that's nice of you to say. You know what I think is interesting is that Miami's trajectory as a program has been something that's been, you know, debated and talked about for quite some time. And I feel

like you guys took a major step in the right direction there. What was it like getting together with Cam, getting that team together and having the year that you guys had? And what do you think about hurricane football moving forward in terms of where Mario's got it going? No, I feel like our DNA took a tremendous jump this year. In the step of, you know, being that program again. I feel like, you know,

cause Chris Ball is a great coach, an elite recruiter, you know? So, I mean, guys are going to come down here, guys just, I mean, it's kind of scary how, you know, the NIL stuff is working now and stuff like that. Just need some, you know, loyal guys and some guys that just really want to play football and not want to do it for the fame and stuff like that. And uh, yeah, I mean, I think Miami is back, you know? So you're a South Florida guy who chose Miami and I'm curious about that because you know, down there, everybody knows the you. I'm sure there are, cause you were born in what 2002? Yes sir. Okay. It's a hell of

a year to be born by the way, Miami football. Yeah. Well, they they you know won their last national title in January 2002. So those stories were that was that passed down from parents from relatives like because you didn't get to see that. So yeah I mean um I kind of grew up watching like Duke Johnson and Stacy Cole those guys. Oh yeah. So uh I mean I mean, I didn't really get to see, you know, quote unquote, the glory days, you know, but, um, being from South Florida, I mean, I'm a South Florida fan, you know, whether it's hockey, baseball, basketball, football, whatever. I was always a South Florida. So Kachuk's your guy. Uh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Is that a hockey thing? That's a hockey thing. He's been getting it done. Uh, I mean, an, amazing player but yeah, I mean, I've been a Miami fan my entire life. Um and again, I would, I didn't want anything other than to run out that smoke. It's Keith Kachuck's son. It is Keith Kachuck. Yes, there you go.

Keith Kachuck. There you go. Uh but running out the smoke, that that's the thing like I wondered if that was still what does that feel like? It brings me if I'm being honest, it brings me chills every single time I do it. I like to go in the back, like the last one, just to like, I don't know, it's like a mind thing. It's like, all right, like all my guys are ready.

Like I see all my guys already. Now it's time for me. You know, it's just kind of that mental thing. And every single time I run through the smoke, it's just, you know, just know Just brings complete chose so guys have different some guys want to be the first out some guy So who will always want to be the first out? um, I Mean usually the captain for that game. Okay And then you know, there's always guys that love to sprint out there linebackers running back stuff like that

It's guys that are crazy. I like I like to just soak it all in, you know, because it did go by fast. I think there's this like notion that because Miami is in South Florida and, you know, Miami, not the college, but the place is a pretty crazy place that whenever anybody goes on a recruiting visit there, that it's like some insane experience. Like what is a Miami recruiting visit like, and does it ever go on the NIL? Yeah. Yeah. I mean like, do we, like, what are weIL or Yeah, yeah. I mean, like, do we like what are we talking about here? Right? I mean, I mean, we go to some restaurants on Kiva

scan. Kiva scan is kind of where you know, we go for like official visits and stuff. So you're speaking already. So I just like I don't understand like, what looks like? Yeah, like, you know, no offense, because I get in trouble when I when I do this, I got in a bunch of trouble with what Oklahoma fans a few years ago, because I said I'd rather I got in a bunch of trouble with what Oklahoma fans a few years ago because I said I'd rather live in LA than the Norman but it's just like like I don't know like what for me like I'm a very superficial human so like I was

like being able to keep his game in 15 minutes seems like a little bit of an advantage. There's a yacht. I'm gonna come here like yeah. Although it has been a little chilly, you know, in South Florida lately. I mean, again, December 25th, Christmas, it was 70 degrees outside. We know, you guys bring the heaters out when it gets to 60. I've been at those restaurants where they bring them. I'm double jacketed up, double sweatpants up.. I'm all that double sweatpants. Oh, yeah comfortable

Yeah, it sounds pretty miserable. It's to me. I'm a Floridian too. So I do double sweatpants sometimes I've never heard of that blood is very thin now are it's very What do you want to get out of this week here I just want you know, um, honestly some respect, you know, um this week here? I just want, you know, honestly some respect, you know, not only to prove others wrong but to prove myself right. I believe in myself a lot. It's always been that way. And again, I'm just here to create relationships, build bonds with, you know, guys that I'm playing with that, you know, I haven't been able to play with, you know, for the last five years, meeting great dudes, and just enjoying the entire process. This is an event that not everybody gets to be invited to and soak in, so I'm just super excited for the opportunity.

I know you're not, you can't say just watch the tape, but aren't you a kind of person who can say watch the tape? I'll leave that for you guys to say. I mean, I just like, I'll leave that for you guys. I mean, like, I just like I do think that the draft process at times from an outsider looking in like gets too fixated on how well did he do the cone drill and not enough about like the tape like the tape is there for me but you said not just to prove people wrong but to prove yourself right. But when people are negging your game, what are they saying? What are the things that you feel like you need to improve on and

what are the doubters criticizing? I mean, someone's always gonna have something to say. When you're doing things right, you're always gonna have those guys that are criticizing you in every single which aspect. I don't really, if I'm being honest, that are criticizing you in every single which aspect. I don't really, if I'm being honest, I don't really pay attention to all the negativity. I know there is some negativity out there.

I'll jump on Instagram every once in a while and see a negative comment, stuff like that. That's the only reason why. I know there's negative things being said, but I don't really pay attention to that. I just try to fill myself, fill my mind with positivity and good vibes. Well, not just the trolls who say things online, but like, you know, coaches and people that you're prepping for the draft with, like, what do they think that you need to prove

as a receiver? Because catching and getting open isn't one of them, in my opinion. I don't know. What else is there to prove? I guess, you know, I can always improve my speed aspect. You know, I don't think people understand how fast I am. Just because, you know, in a game, I'm really never running full speed. I'm working my way through defenses and stuff like that. So I think speed is definitely a question out there, which is completely fine.

Because, I mean, at the end of the day, I'm a football player. I think I get open sometimes, you know, and I'll catch the ball and the ball's thrown at me. Yeah, sometimes. And all the time. Yeah. And catch it every time.

That's what we were arguing. Did you drop a pass all season? I dropped a 50-50 ball, Duke game, actually. The record-breaking game, I dropped a stupid pass. I won't live myself up with that one, but. That's alright. You got all the other. It's a 50-50 ball. You got the soccer pass. I won't live myself up with that one but uh that's alright. You got all

the other it's a fifty fifty balls. You got the other 70. Yeah. It's just my both both of my hands. So, it's definitely a drop 100%. Yeah. Uh what are we what are we forgetting to talk about right now because like you seem like an

interesting human. Tell me something that I mean that uh I know I referred to golf earlier. Um I love the golf. I'm addicted to golf. Really? When did you did you do it in high school? Did you pick it up during college? I picked it up uh COVID year. Okay. So,

actually um my old quarterback Tyler Rendite. Mm hmm. He got me into it and uh I just learned the hard way going out losing a thousand balls and just finding out. Are you actually pretty good now?

I'm a 5.3 handicapper. What does that mean? Does that mean you shoot 77 on a par two or a par 72? The handicapped system is weird. It's like I shoot from like high 70s to like low 80s. Okay.

So I shot 77 on Friday before I came here. Very nice. I mean, that's not sure. I shot 77 on Friday before I came here. Very nice. I mean, that's like not something that you're supposed to be able to do that.

So, you're going to be the quarterback's best friend wherever you go because they all play golf. Yeah, for sure. But there's a few guys like so like Brandon Dorless last year was an Oregon D. He's a Breuer guy but his dad was a golf pro.

So, he's a huge golfer. Really? So, if you wind up playing with him, you know, I mean, that's just the funniest thing about athleticism too is just like, I've tried to play golf before. It's like, I think it would take me like more than 4 years to shoot that well because you're not an elite athlete

like this one. Is that what happens? Is that does that translate the golf? Yes. I mean, I've learned more of a incredible hand coordination, incredible hand coordination like, I don't know. There's a ball bouncing off of Duke DB's hands way over here but I'm going to catch it. It's no problem. Yeah, I don't know. I guess maybe you're not a six and diet coke guy but maybe you

and I shouldn't play together with that. That's hilarious. Well, Xavier, good luck this week and uh I'm not worried about you. I think I think it'll be just fine. It's great to have you on. Thanks for being here, Xavier. Appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you. That is Xavier Restrepo from Miami. He's going to make some team. He's going to make some team. He's going to make some team. He's going to Thank you. That is Xavier Estrepo from Miami. He's going to make some team very happy. We have a request from Mike in the chat. Is it possible to get bonus footage of Andy and Ari versus a blocking sled at senior bowl practice?

Unfortunately, they don't have sleds out there. It's all it's all player to player stuff. And you don't want us versus any of these actual players because I think we learned that yesterday when we're talking to Walter Nolan. Our sleds outdated or they still use them. Oh, they still use them. Okay. Yeah, it's just where they so they practice on the field at University of South Alabama's stadium and there's not really room for for that. I'm excited

to go see that I've never been to the University of South Alabama. This is my first time in the lovely Mobile, Alabama area. It's a nice stadium. It's pretty new. Major Applewhite's got a nice little set up there. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, Restrepo's my guy. And you know what?

I'm with him, I can tell. Well, the thing too is just like, he picks up golf two years ago and is shooting 77. It's insane. Like there's just those people out there that just aren't good at everything that they do. I'm a 5.3 anti-gaffer. Yeah, well the fact that it was like that precise too,

like 5.3, it's like, all right dude, we get it. You're good at golf. But yeah. But that's the thing, you have all the jokes about Cooper Cup and Matthew Stafford being really big buddies and they had a breakfast every morning and that's why they have the connection they have. Yeah, they're like twins.

Rastreffo is going to have that with whatever quarterback he plays with because all of those dudes play golf. I was thinking about this, so with Luke Fickel taking over the Patriots, Josh McDaniel is coming back as the OC. They're getting the whole band back together. Luke Fickel is not taking over the Patriots. That'd be Mike Braybill. Why do I do this with Braybill and Fickel every time? They're best friends. That Luke fickle is not taking over the Patriots baby Mike Brable and fickle every time they play best friends. Yeah, I know they're best friends So but Mike Brable is taking over the Patriots. I some Wisconsin fans like really wait Well, how would the reaction to that be you think you think they'd be like, okay, or they'd be like devastated right now, right? I'm fans. I don't think it'd be dead. Yeah So with Mike Brable taking over the Patriots, Josh McDaniel's

coming back as the OC. Is this your Wes Welk or Julian Edelman type? Well, here's the thing you need to know. And I judge sentiment on current players through the football card market. Yeah. You know who's like kind of expensive right now? Who's that? Joe Milton. No.

People saw the game. Come on. People saw the game last, like what was it? They were supposed to lose. I know. Did he go like 18 to 20? Five spots in the draft. There are a lot of people out there

that are convinced that Joe Milton is like going to be a guy in the NFL and they're falling in the same trap that we fallen in. And you know know what maybe he'll figure it out. I don't know. I don't want like Joe Milton slander, but like Joe Milton's a very nice guy. That's a bear trap that that as college football people we fallen into twice. I mean, I'm ready to fall into it again if you go 1820 in the league, you know, but like yeah, like Restrepo does kind of like fit into that same type of like Wes Welker mode. Yeah, absolutely. I think he's that type of player. And so I would Drake may be happy about that.

Yes, Drake may be. And Joe Milton might too because Drake may jobs not safe according to the football card. No, I'll just Drake may Joe Milton Restrepo. And then you got to find your fourth. And that's that's your foursome. Yeah, well, you got to get a big ass tight end. That's true. Yeah, that's true. Get open. I don't know that would be in this draft. Well, speaking of the draft and where people are going, we our next guest is smile. Munden the

Georgia linebacker and he's a fascinating one because came in as a freshman to that national title team. And then as a sophomore started for that second national title team. And now he's going into the NFL. We joke with him that, are you already preparing to be an eagle? Cuz it feels like the Eagles are the Georgia defense, but it is. I mean, that doesn't feel like it, they literally are. They got Keely Ringo.

Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis. Nolan Smith, Nolan Smith, Nacoby Dean. They've got everyone. It's incredible. I mean, it's worked out really well for them, too. Speaking of the Eagles and the Georgia defense, we do need to talk about our friends at PricePix, best daily fantasy game in America. Download that PricePix app, use the code staples,

play $5, get $50 instantly. So all of those former Georgia defenders are going to have to deal with Patrick Mahomes. Now you only need to worry about Patrick Mahomes throwing for a yard if you take the almost free square that Price Fix is offering for the Super Bowl. If he goes more than 0.5 passing yards, you win that square. The way Price Fix works, you pick multiple squares, as few as two. The more you pick, the higher the potential payout. So you got Jalen Hertz, 215 and 1 half passing yards,

more or less. You got your Travis Kelsey, 62 and 1 half receiving yards, more or less. You got your Saquon Barkley, 112 and 1 half rushing yards, which is an insane number for an NFL. That's more than Ashton Gentry in the college. I mean, every single time he plays a football game, he breaks off an 88 yard run. So, I mean, it's it's,

you know, had this debate yesterday and I'll have it again. It's just like, is he the best running back of like my generation in the NFL? Like in Derrick Henry, the other the other one in the in the mix. Yeah, I think very different players. Take one's probably the more versatile one. Derrick Henry is probably other one in the mix. Yeah. I think- Very different players. Saquon's probably the more versatile one. Derrick Henry is probably, I don't know, Derrick Henry might be better overall. I mean, I don't know, if you have super individual seasons like LaDani and Tomlinson when I was

a kid and stuff. Because Derrick Henry has done it again and again. Now, it may be because when Saquon was at the Giants, he didn't really get to do, we didn't get to see all Saquon could be. Maybe it took going to the Eagles for us to realize what Saquon was at the Giants, he didn't really get to do, we didn't get to see all Saquon could be. Maybe it took going to Eagles for us to realize what Saquon could be. Now, look, we saw him at Penn State. He could do all those things there too. The Giants booth is like right there, dude. So just relax. He's gone. Okay. Okay. Also, I think he'd agree with us.

It's too soon for them. I think he'd agree with us. Yeah, I think so too. We watched the GM decide to give Saquon away. You know what they're doing right now though. It's like the Girl the dudes there's a dude right there and you're talking about how hot his ex-girlfriend is right now. We are absolutely doing that So sorry Giants, so sorry, but he probably would agree in that scenario doesn't mean it's not hard That price fixed number of a hundred twelve and a half rushing yards does not feel

that price fixed number of 112 and a half rushing yards does not feel extravagant. It seems likely. Yeah. Or the Super Bowl. Yeah. So download the app, use the code staples, play $5, get $50 instantly. All right. Let's talk a little smile, Mundan, because he played on one of the most talented Georgia defenses or, well, one of the most talented defenses we've ever seen. 2021 and 2022. This is you, and we've talked about this a bunch on the show, we talked about it in relation to Ohio State this year, that we may never see a team stacked like that talent-wise. And I think Ohio State's defense was probably the better example, because they were absolutely

loaded top to bottom at starting 11. The Georgia defenses of a few years ago weren't just loaded in the starting 11. The 2D was all high NFL draft picks. That's the difference. It's like the second stringers on that Georgia defense came back and formed a completely different team the next year that also had an awesome defense. So it wasn't just like one year, it was multiple years of depth kind of coming out and doing it and then of course it led to national championships. So like that defense, I mean I don't even know if I would say that Ohio State was that.

No, they weren't. Next year they're not going to be that. If we look at where these guys are going to get drafted, it won't be the same as the Georgia. Well it's not even the draft, it's Ohio State's defense next year also being awesome because all the players who did not play this year came back and were awesome next year, which is like, that's the depth that we're talking about. Even though Georgia was not as good as it has been

in the past three years, this past season, it wasn't really the defense's fault. Right, so they couldn't move the ball enough on offense and that was something that became pretty clear very early on in the season and they still made it to the quarterfinals. Yeah, no, I mean, I love the thing that about this event that is always and I'm sure it happens to you way more than than me because you've been doing this longer but like he was

a recruit yesterday. I know you know what I mean? Like now it's just like he's a five-star kid who's just like oh yeah everybody was excited about him and it's like oh we're sitting here talking about how he's going to prepare for the NFL draft. And that's kind of how it goes. And, um, you know, certainly the players who, who went through Georgia have my respect because they went to a place that was already loaded, knowing that it was loaded. Yeah.

And they play right away and they, that's a hard thing to do. That's also like when you've been great in high school and been the best player on the field at all times. Yeah. It's like going to a personal trainer that knows you're going to, he's going to kill you, but it's probably how you get the best result. Like I think it's a normal, uh, a normal thought process that isn't so normal anymore.

And you know, the fact that Georgia can continue to carry out the way that they coach and the way that they develop it, obviously the way that they stack is why that team and program have staying power under Kirby Smart. Let's talk about all of that with Smile Mundan. It's probably just because he's addicted to the order. I don't know if he sees it or somebody shows him, but his eyes don't get on it though. We are joined by Georgia linebacker smile Monday and we were talking before we started recording about how Kirby smart season hears everything in the Georgia program. Did you have a tweet or an Instagram post or anything that got called out in a team meeting or that it got called got you called in the office? No, I wasn't really like big on like, because I don't post a lot anyways.

Yeah, when I post like, I'm trying to be like extra careful because I don't want to be that guy that's like, you know, posting on crazy. You know, I know you're way younger than us, but like if we would have had social media in college, like we, I would be dead right now. So it's probably, I wouldn't have a job. I know that. Cause we don't have to think about that.

What is that? I am curious what that's like. Cause you're okay. Athens is a small town. Everybody knows who the football players are how how on high alert do you have to be? When you're in public that just all eyes are on you I mean Yeah, it's the thing you got to be like aware of for sure just cuz like you don't want to be doing like the wrong

Thing and you know somebody catch a clip of it or somebody records you and you're probably not even doing the wrong thing But yes looks like that well just even even you know if they catch a clip of it or somebody records you and you probably not even doing the wrong thing, but it just looks like that. Well, it's just even, you know, if they catch you talking like in a rude tone of voice, like they're like, I'll see what we got. I can't even imagine that fish bowl, but also the flip side of it is,

it's a pretty great place to be when you're winning football games. Yeah, sure. Yeah, it was the great, my last four years, they were like the best four years ever. What was it like, so your freshman year was 2021. Yeah, the first 90 years. You get in there and you look,

like you're looking at the defensive line in front of you and it is Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Trayvon Walker, Nolan Smith. Does it amaze you that there's that much talent like in one place? Yeah, now for sure. Like me, uh, time, the other JD line. Yeah, we were just laughing about that the other day. Talk about like how when we came in, we thought we was going to like play as freshmen.

Ty was talking about he seen Trayvon and I was like, I seen Quay. I was like, yeah, I'm going to get the guy. Quay Walker was your wake up like, oh, that's not not a human being. I was like, man, I gotta say this here. Yeah, I mean, it's just like I can't even fathom like just even with the way that the sports headed of having that many good players. But like being a part of the teams that did some really special things at Georgia.

I mean, what was it like just to kind of be on that journey, even if some of them happened before you were, you know, at your prime there? Oh, no, it was good for sure. Like the first night of your life to see them go in there, like see how they went about their business, see how they like went for a week. We like every week was like a new week. They didn't really try to look past nobody like I feel like that helped us a lot the next year.

We went 15 and 0 and then won that next one. Did it feel like the second time there was more pressure on you guys? I wouldn't necessarily say more pressure because it was a different team overall. We had like, it's kind of like a new defense. A lot of the big faces that was on there, Jordan Davis, a lot of them left out, like Nicole Uquay,

a lot of them left out. And then on offense, a lot of those guys left, like Nikobi, Quay, a lot of them left out. And then on offense, a lot of those guys left out. So it kind of felt like a new team. So it was like refreshing. What is it like when you're taking on the, like, you know, Nikobi and Quay are gone and you have to take on a leadership role? So when my sophomore year, I wouldn't necessarily say I took on a leadership role. I was kind of more so just trying to like, be like, get my own feet right and like, you know, focus on myself because I like my first year starting first year playing and everything. Like, I feel like I had a lot more to worry about, like on myself to like, before I could start like trying

to pour into others. But my junior and senior year, it was, it was easy, you know, seeing them, it was like good examples. So it was easy to like learn from them. You know, Andy and I were talking about yesterday on the show of like, usually when coaches win at the level that Kirby Smart has won kind of like when Saban was doing it at Alabama that like the general public starts hating that person right because that's what people do they hate on success yeah what is it do you think about Kirby Smart that because like I don't really think people hate him it's the

speeches yeah we're gonna have to ask I play the speeches for him all the time. Oh yeah, yeah. But the ones that get leaked out, we don't bleep them. What is it truly like to play for Kirby Smart? And why do you, and like, just like, what is his actual coaching style outside of the two minute pregame speeches with the effort in it?

Oh, so the two minute pregame speeches, that's pretty much like a lot of practice. Like, y'all probably heard about the microphone, but it's good though. Like, it kinda, it's tough. He knows how to like, tell people. Like, he plays like mind games. Like, he does it like on purpose. Like, he a real smart dude.

So, like, he'll do that and it'll like, he builds you up through that though. So, it kinda makes you stronger. It makes you, it like gets you ready for like game day. Do you remember one that he did with you? What? Like a mind game or like a lesson or a motivational tactic or something that he did you know maybe early in your career or something that you know you'll you take with you i don't know not off the top of my head but uh translation not that i can do on a podcast yeah but now he was

real good to me though like he's he's somebody like i credit a lot of my success to like him and coach shuman for sure well it's interesting i I, because I talked to Will Muschamp about this a few years ago. And I said, you know, everybody says that, that people are changing, players are changing, you can't coach them hard anymore. I'm like, I watch you guys and you coach them hard, still. What is it about? Is it, is it you guys? Is it that, that you particular guys who pick Georgia want that? Or is it that they they managed to do it without it without crossing a line? No I mean they definitely let you know that like before you come to the school and then if you ask around to the players like when I was a recruit and I would ask the players that were there or

like the players that again recruited in high school they would ask me about what Georgia was like like they know that coming into it and they accept that because they see the results of it. So like a lot of guys know that coming into it. I mean, they accept that because like they see the results of it. So like a lot of guys know that going into it. Yeah, I mean, well, when you see how many draft picks are coming out, you understand too that like a good players are going in, but great players are coming out. You know, you kind of like know that's part of the deal. Do you think that's the reason why George has been able to maintain maintain, excuse me, it's a success over the years? Yeah for sure I think like consistency like and everything like

Coach smart like I say every year is a new year like it's never the same team so it's always like he always kind of like not necessarily like reinvent it but like it's like a different I don't know I want to say like a different approach but like it's like a different team right you can't just try to do the same thing you did every year but um it is like a formula we use though if that makes sense i kind of like said two different things but like oh yeah um andy always plays whenever i'm like what we do we do friday or monday pick show where we're picking the games i was like yeah george is playing a team that's really good and it's a one point spread and i don't know what he just goes

he hold the phone out and just play like a pregame. It's always it's always the I want to say in my first one of the offensive lineman break somebody. That's rig that's I just that fires y somebody. He want to break somebody. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. That's that mentality he instills in this for sure. Yeah, that's I just that I

mean, it fires you up though. Well, no, I live in Gainesville. I went to Florida and when Florida's when Florida fired their last coach, I wrote that the athletic directors just listen to that speech over and over again and realize that's what you're up against. Yeah, single day. Probably. So

smile. I gotta ask you this. So with this pre-draft process, it is it has it. Are you just ready to move to Philadelphia? Have you already started? I was gonna say that you just go on Zillow in Philly. Nah, I mean, it'd be like a dream, you know, for sure, like to go up there with like a lot of the guys. Just recreate the entire Georgia football program in the NFL. And they're also doing what they're doing.

No wonder they're the Super Bowl. Bringing the defense back over there, Georgia over there. Yeah, but really any team I go to, it's like, yeah, for real. Like, I don't really have like a, you know what I'm saying? I mean, I actually do think about this though. I know you're at a job interview right now. So, but it's like, what's it like that your home could be LA?

It could be Seattle. It could be Cleveland. It could be Miami. Like you have no idea. Like it could be literally anywhere. And like, and that's gonna happen what? Three months, two months. So like, what's it like being in your position of like,

well, it's gonna be good no matter where I go. But like also having zero idea of the type of city you're going to be good no matter where I go. Yeah. But like also having zero idea of the type of city you're going to be at the area of the country or even like the climate. Yeah, I ain't even thinking about that. I kind of got my stomach turning. Oh no,

I'm sorry, man. Uh I mean, it's a good thing. Yeah, that's a good thing though for sure. And then you'll probably have a nice place no matter where it is. That's exactly. Yeah. But I haven't really like, I mean, personally, I didn't travel

like around too much in like this. Uh in the US. So, I don't really like a new person. I didn't travel like around too much like that. Uh like US. So, I don't really like I've been in a couple of cities but like a lot of NFL teams. I never been to that city though. So, it's like it's going to be somewhere new like for sure.

Yeah. I'm trying to think of like Georgia like in the SEC you're gone. Well, and you're from you're from Dallas, Georgia. So, you know, Atlanta is not far away. So, it's not like you hadn't been around a big city but but but I can

imagine that he's never been to Seattle or right and And, and, you know, San Francisco. Yeah. I grew up in the south and didn't travel much. And like, didn't, I didn't see New York until I was 25 years old. Like it was wild seeing all that stuff for the first time and how different people live. So yeah, that is, that is Ari. Now you got him. I mean, I think that's a really super exciting. But it is like you're going on a new adventure here. So it is crazy though, but I've been excited. Yeah, really excited. So what's before we let you go? What's your goal here in Mobile this week? I go out there and do the best I can. You know, I have some some foot problems. So I just really got there and showed them like my foot not an issue.

You know, I finished the season good on it. I felt the best I ever have, you know since my sophomore year if not better than that So just go out there show him the foot not a problem and just have fun fly around Yeah, do you call Kirby right before practice like coach coach I need like 30 seconds worth just go I was texting the other day though when I was on the way to the airport in the uber and then like he kind of says I'm not going to break these I mean, it's everything. Smile, appreciate it. Thank you so much for being here. The look on Smile's face when you mentioned

you're gonna have a new hometown and you don't know where it's gonna be and somebody's just gonna tell you where it is. Like that is a wild concept. I didn't mean to like give him the anxiety. But I never thought about it that way. It is a strange concept of, cause most people when they leave college, they do interview for jobs, they have a general idea, they may not be

able to exactly choose where they want to live, because the best job might be, you know, in one place, but you kind of know where that's going to be. It's not like the difference between you living in Seattle and you living in Miami is who Cleveland takes. Yeah, exactly. And let's be honest, some cities are better than others. And also let's be honest, if you're an NFL player

who's drafted pretty high in the draft, you're probably gonna have a pretty good situation where you end up. Well, the thing is you're gonna go to a big city, so you have all the big city amenities, unless it's Green Bay. But almost everywhere else- Where do people in Green Bay live?

Appleton. Is where all the Packers live? I don't know where they live. I don't know where Appleton is. How far is Green Bay from Milwaukee? It's about an hour, I think. Oh, okay, so people aren't living in Milwaukee. Yeah, that's, I never even thought of that.

So thank you for bringing that up. But I do think that it's like, well, could you go play in Miami or LA or like somewhere where that money could be really enjoyed in a way but but you can enjoy it. But also think about if you if you get it, you get drafted by the Cowboys versus getting drafted by the Rams, like, imagine the size of the house you can buy on your new salary.

Oh, Dallas is a terrible example. Yeah, cheaper than LA. We yeah, if we just experience buy a house in Dallas in the zip code or the area code that you want your kids to go to school before buying a house somewhere else and then having to sell it two years later to move into that zip code. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I've hit a nerve. Yeah, no, Dallas is a nice place to live.

And the thing about Dallas is to you can, you can, there's a lot of different areas to choose from in that area too, because they're training camps up in Frisco, but they're also playing in Arlington. It's kind of a right. You can, you can basically decide how close to the city. But what's the what's the worst NFL city? Is there a worst one? Everybody always goes Cleveland, but Cleveland's a fine town. Like Cleveland's a big city.

There's nothing wrong with Cleveland. What about Cincinnati? I like Cincinnati. I know what it's like. Northern Kentucky is a wonderful place. Northern Kentucky is a wonderful place. Yeah, but I feel like if you are somebody like smile, who's basically just been

a Southern kid who hasn't gone to a lot of places, like the idea of moving to Cleveland or Seattle is probably pretty intimidating. But also to playing at Georgia, they played in a lot of neutral site big dome games. So he's been around. I was going to say, environments aren't, there's no NFL environment that is going to intimidate a guy who played at Georgia or LSU. No, I just mean from a personal life. Like living in Cleveland.

Yeah. It's always got to be Cleveland. It's funny, and as we showed Detroit. Yeah, Detroit's another one. Yeah. It's always got to be Cleveland. It's funny. And as we showed Detroit, so Detroit's another one. Yeah, so nice suburbs in Detroit. Yeah. Oh, Scott Aldrich, Buffalo, Buffalo. Buffalo is probably the worst place. Everybody loves Buffalo. Like that. The people at Buffalo are wonderful. I'm saying from a cultural standpoint, a weather standpoint, it's probably not.

Yeah. That would probably be like this probably be the worst NFL market for like a southern kid to just have to move to get dropped into. Yeah, but it might be the best team to go to. So that's the other thing too. It's like with that Oliver and Josh Allen, did you want to go to a good team in a crappy market? Or would you rather go to a bad team in a good market? I don't know. DB said I made first impression judgments that Brett Bielma and Miami players were world class heels. Two

Andy and Ari interviews this week have proven me completely wrong. Cheers. That's the thing when you get to know some of these guys, like I love that everybody is as passionate about the teams they love and the teams they hate as they are. And I think it helps us. It gives us a job and it gives us a way to make a living. But the thing is, on the hate side of it, just remember, these are all people. Like, and there are gonna be some players

who play for the team that you might not like a whole lot, where you love the dude. And if you play for the team, you would absolutely love him. Yeah, right. It's always, but like that's also too, like we're gonna do the hate rankings at some point next week. I think, um, you know, the hate rankings are a lot to do with the colors on their uniform than it is about the actual people. But it's like Brett Bielema is a big personality. Yeah. But also to it's like, I don't think if you hung out with him and had a beer, you'd be like, Oh, this guy sucks. No, I know. This guy's awesome. Yeah. So like that's but you know what? I don't ever want to talk people out of hating people because that's like 80% of the sport. The passion is is the biggest. I mean what's more important in college football the actual hate of your opponent or the love of your team it's the only sport where yes

take I know but I don't know like if like a Pittsburgh Steelers fan like goes to bed at night happy because the Browns stink like that's not the way I think it works yeah it works. Yeah, it works differently in college where there's personal satisfaction gained by what's schadenfreude right? Like that's the whole thing. It's like it's more prevalent in college. Fans are happy when Alabama is suffering vice versa. And there's like an output or a feeling that is associated with it that doesn't exist in other sports, pro sports. Well, if you would like to not suffer and just be happy all the time,

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Don't go on sale very often. So load up. Code staples, 10% off your first purchase. Speaking of loading up, we talked to SmileM Munden about getting to Georgia as a freshman and seeing all that talent. Imagine you're Mason Taylor and you walk into the locker room at LSU as a freshman in 2022.

Jaden Daniels, Malik Neighbors, Brian Thomas, Jr., Will Campbell, Embry Jones, Like that's insane. I mean, this guy has been around from high school to the pros to college, I should say. And then now going into the pros, a lot of not just good football players, like transcendently good, like pro bowlers, from a very early age.

And dad's a Hall of Famer, Jason Taylor played for the Dolphins. Uncle is Zach Thomas, Hall of Famer who played for the Dolphins. Uncle is Zach Thomas, Hall of Famer, who played for the Dolphins. Is Zach Thomas married to his dad? Jason Taylor is married to Zach Thomas's sister. OK, right, right. Yeah. Or was married.

Yeah. But yes, that's how you create a great LSU tight end, who is hoping to become a great NFL tight end. Here is Mason Taylor. You're here with LSU tight end Mason Taylor. All right, I'm gonna start just right off the bat. You're a freshman. You catch a two point conversion to beat Alabama in Tiger Stadium at night.

What are the next 48 hours like after that? Definitely crazy. I mean, taking in that surreal moment definitely life-changing moment and just I was blessed to be in that position and be on that on that play call on the other side of the field So I mean it was a blessing. It was definitely a great great time Are you like this college football stuff's easy like this is I? Wouldn't say all that yeah, I definitely made my confidence shoot up a little bit and definitely made my game a lot better

I'm gonna be a little bit more definitely made my game a little better. I'm going to be a little bit more specific on Andy's question. What were the next four hours after that? Just, I'll just say a great time. It was a great time for sure. I do not, I do not recall that. So you've got obviously some, some people you can lean on in this process. You know, your, your dad played, you know, Hall of Fame career, your uncle is a Hall of Famers, Zach Thomas. What have they said about this part of it, the job interview piece of it?

It's very important. Like you said, it's the biggest job interview of your life. And I think just being where your feet are and just being yourself was the biggest thing. Don't go change who you are, you know, display yourself, you're selling yourself. So being are and just being yourself was the biggest thing. Um, don't go change who you are, you know, display yourself, you're selling yourself. So being yourself and just being the natural you is, is what, what they told me to do. When people are very interested whenever somebody has a very famous dad and uncle, right. Um, how much in actuality do you feel like you lean on them or need them in this process? Or how much of your, just own experience at LSU and doing everything that you did in college is enough for you to feel comfortable going through this. I mean yeah like you said

I mean going through college just building up that confidence and and just knowing who I am yeah I can go through this process by myself but definitely having the opportunity to see what it's like a little bit beforehand and just all that has definitely been great and them telling me like you like I said be yourself and just be your natural self is great and them telling me like you like I said be yourself and speed your natural self is a is definitely important. Alright, so three part question, we're not supposed to ask these but I got to most amazing thing you ever saw Jaden Daniels do game or practice? Most amazing thing you ever saw Malik neighbors do game or practice? Most amazing thing you

ever saw Brian Thomas Jr. do game or practice? neighbors do, game or practice? Most amazing thing you ever saw Brian Thomas Jr. do, game or practice? I couldn't tell you all three, but if I were to give you one, the Jayden, I mean, I think that Florida game, what's people call his Heisman game? Yeah, my sophomore year was pretty extraordinary.

The way he ran that one, I don't know, it was maybe 70 yards, 60 yard touchdown, and then that one, I don't know, maybe 70 yards, 60 yard touchdown. And then another one. I mean, he's he's fast and he's he can move lateral. I mean, it's incredible to see. It's amazing to me, like I was watching him play against the Lions in the playoffs. And I'm like, this is the Missouri game from last year. It's the same thing. And you're not supposed to be able to do that in the NFL. But I mean, like that Missouri game that y'all played your sophomore year, like that was a really good defense. And he couldn't get off the field because of him. Yeah, I mean, like I said, I mean, he's a great quarterback and you see on the next level, I mean, the things he's doing, I think what really stands out to him was his work ethic. And I mean, the type of guy he is. So.

what really stands out to him was his work ethic and I mean the type of guy he is so So your dad was born in Akron, right? You're from Akron. Yeah, Pittsburgh Pittsburgh played at Akron. Sorry. Yeah my bad. Um, but Midwest How happy are you that he got picked by the Dolphins in South Florida? I mean, I love for Lardo South Florida. So, yeah, I'm very happy that God put me down there for sure. You've been in some factories, though, like, just because you played football at St. Thomas Aquinas. And for those who don't know St. Thomas Aquinas in Broward County, maybe the best in terms of populating NFL rosters, high school. What is the competition level like, just at like a 10th, when you're a 10th grader and you go to practice, is it like, whoa? Yeah, I mean, it's like a lot of guys from South Florida, if they're willing to go to the next level

and really make it to the NFL, they're going to St. Thomas Aquinas. So I mean, I was there, won three state championships there my time, I think they're on their sixth or seventh in a row right now. And yeah, I mean, like I said, I didn't start until I was a junior there at St. Thomas Aquinas. And I just thought that was how the development process was.

You started at LSU faster than you started in high school. Yeah. So I'll just say that's how it is. I mean, we had 20 guys go in D1 every single year. Our senior year, I mean, senior class would like go 20, 20 guys defensive D1. So I'm just like, that's just how it is whenever wait your turn and then college came a little fast. The first time I went to a St. Thomas Aquinas game, the two running backs were Giovanni Bernard and James White and it was like what are you

doing here? Yeah, I mean it's like is interesting too because how many high schools in America are even like that? Like what? Like Bishop Gorman in Vegas? Well, IMG and they, but they, they're set up to do that. Yes, St. Thomas has been doing it forever. Yeah. Do you think that just in terms of development and stuff, like going to a high school like that's part of the reason why you're able to play so early in your career and why sitting here today you have as much experience as you do in terms of playing time? 100%.

experience as you do in terms of playing time? Oh yeah, 100%. Roger Harriot, Coach Harriot, at St. Thomas Aquinas does a great job of just holding us to that standard and that accountability standpoint to just be organized and be on top of your stuff and be consistent. So the transition to college when you when you came from high school like that, it makes it a lot easier to just know that you've done such a hard, strict schedule before in high school. So, but you've been around those good athletes in high school. Was there a sense when you got to LSU that the guys you were playing with on offense were as special as we found out? Maybe like, could you tell right off the bat? Or was that something that took a little while to realize, Oh, my, like, these guys are special, special. I mean, it is the SEC and it is a jump from high school

for sure, a big jump. But I mean, like I said, I mean, I play with guys like Dallas Turner and guys like that in high school. I mean, I could see them on TV when I'm a senior in high school and see them dominating in the SEC. So I knew it was definitely possible. What was it like trying to block Dallas Turner in high school? Cause I'm sure you had to

every once in a while. Yeah, definitely had to do it. Um he's I mean he's a great player uh long and strong and he's he's a great defensive end. So, I mean, did he ever kick your ass or did you just not that I could recall but but he probably did. I mean, but it's the battles must be incredible. It must be absolutely crazy though and like I know going back to high school all the players you played with, but like.

Did you watch the the playoff game with the you know Washington and the Lions a few weeks ago? Like are you in your or are you just too busy right now? Like are you like seeing all the players that you literally played with doing things that you're aspiring to do right now? Yeah, I mean I watched the watch Washington close throughout the whole playoffs because of Jaden and I just I

mean the way they played in the way they connected this year I mean it's just extraordinary for sure. So who's next at LSU? Who are we not talking about who next year we're gonna be talking about for LSU? I think Garen Nesmeyer for sure. I mean he's getting some talk already but I think his potential and the way he throws the ball in his IQ and his leadership role for LSU is huge. So I think he's going to get those guys on board and make some changes. And he had a, like he had the more traditional career where, like, he stayed at LSU. He waited as a backup and well, how was he when when you know, he moves from backup to starter taking over the offense Was it like okay? We were very comfortable with this guy We know him because it seems like in a lot of places you're getting a transfer coming in to start

But this is a guy you you guys have been with for a while. Yeah, I mean he's I mean he's that just speaks to the Type of person he is staying in a program like that He loves LSU and he he had dreams and aspirations of playing and starting and leading the team to a program like that. He loves LSU and he had dreams and aspirations of playing and starting and leading the team to a national championship one year. So that just speaks to the person he is and the quarterback and leader he is. And now that it's his turn, I mean,

even when he was sitting on the bench with guys like Jayden Daniels above him, he's taken all the knowledge from them. He played Georgia in SEC championship my freshman year and he threw for 300 yards. I mean, what backup quarterback's throwing for 300 yards the knowledge from them. He played Georgia on an SEC championship my freshman year and he threw for 300 yards. I mean, what backup quarterback's throwing for 300 yards on a great Georgia defense. So just things like that, we knew when it's his turn, he's going to take a shot.

What's your view from the inside at LSU in terms of the direction that it's headed and what can LSU fans who's listening to the show expect for the program next year moving forward? Yeah, like I said, with Nuss staying for another year, I think they're in a really good spot and he's, he's getting those guys. I know he's taking that leadership role, uh, very seriously and getting those guys, uh, collected for this year, for sure. All right. I'm going to, I'm gonna let you recruit a little bit for LSU.

Why is it the best college football environment in America? It's our fans. You got to give credit to our fans. They're crazy. But when you're doing good, I mean, it's great. And our stadium is loud and it helps us win games. So I mean, if you want to play for a big SEC team, big SEC football team, you come to LSU.

You know, that's the one place or one of the few places I've still never seen a night game at. We're going to fix that for you. Yeah, I've seen a few of them. Yeah, I've seen a few of them. What? Okay. Are there environments like are there environments that you've played in on the road that you

think can rival it? There's definitely good ones. Texas A&M is a cool one to go to. Yeah, for sure. Night game in Texas A&M is really pretty extraordinary as well. Who was the best, you know, cause you, you have to play the edge guys sometimes. Who is the best edge guy you went up against in college? If it wasn't, I would say if it wasn't Dallas Turner and my teammate,

maybe, maybe someone like Will Anderson or, Oh, I forgot you went up against Will Anderson. All the players that you've already gone up against are like players that were like in the rookie of the year running. So I think you'll be okay. And I know him. I mean, Jared verse was good too. From the rookie of the year.

And the first time you're playing him, it's like, oh, this dude from Albany. Oh crap. It's like, it's how you're going to rethink it. All right. Since Ari never been to a night game and LSU, I'm going to let you tell him like first couple of times running out of the tunnel, hit the wind bar. What's that like? I mean, it's, it's just a crazy feeling. My first time actually running out at LSU was my first time playing or like my first time being in the stadium was my first time playing. I didn't I didn't take an official visit a day game or anything like that so my first time actually seeing it crowded was me running out the tunnel. So I mean that itself was just an unreal moment. It's just, it's a crazy atmosphere, loud. I mean, they got, they bumped the music in there. They scream. It's

it's, it's a crazy environment for sure. I've never heard that before. Somebody who had never been there for a visit during a game, saying it like that. That's what you need to see. They put guys in the NFL. I know, I know. I know. They win national championships like check, check. The most important thing. Let's just get right. I'm driving home through. I know. I know. They win national championships like check, check. The most important thing. Let's just get right to it. I'm driving home through Baton Rouge because I live in Dallas and I drove

here. Mm hmm. What should I get for dinner? Baton Rouge. Okay. I've been to the Chimes before. Okay. But I don't know if that's like uh LSU. That's it. These guys all have canes. But um I think I think Phil's oyster bar. I love oysters and love like Louisiana seafood, all that stuff. I don't know. I

tried to get him to try turtle soup last night and he wouldn't have you had turtles. No, I've never had. Would you want to eat someone's pet? I mean, I'll try it. Thank you. Thank you. Well, like I just like, I don't know like what's your take on

eating at a nice seafood restaurant in Louisiana alone. That's the thing. eating at a nice seafood restaurant in Louisiana alone? That's the thing. The nice place you can do that. They get a bar to. Oh, okay. Veteran right here. This is the guy who's ready for the NFL. He knows when you're on the road by yourself and just sit at the bar. Yeah. Like do you eat alone? Are you like to go to the restaurant alone guy? I sit at the bar and read it, but no, I don't read

a book, but yeah, I book. I travel for work a lot sometimes I'm eating alone yeah but you sit at the bar sometimes you make a friend there's a game on usually so you watch little hoops or something yeah see Mason is a is an old soul I can tell already that's what happens when you're playing against first round out of college down 11 your asses off over 15 yeah Mason thank you so much thank you appreciate it thanks for being here I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your

success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your

success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your

success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm a big fan of your success. I'm gonna try some stuff, smoked turkey leg. I don't know if it's gonna be shrimp alfredo, dirty rice stuff, but there's a place in Mobile that does the stuffed turkey legs, which there's a place in Houston that does those that I really liked a few years back. It seems like it's taken off. I'm good with that concept.

Yeah, you're a very adventurous eater. What is so adventurous about stuffing a turkey leg? No, I'm saying like you go out Yeah, you're that you're a very adventurous eater. What is so adventurous stuffing a turkey? No, I'm saying like you go out of your way to find different things. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'm kind of a what's the best burger in the city? Let's go smash that kind of guy. But like I do think that, you know, traveling with you, I have tried some things and have gone to places that I wouldn't have otherwise gone

that I mean, I do like we were talking about it at the restaurant last night. It's like if I were in Mobile without Andy I would not have gone to Felix's fish camp like I wouldn't I wouldn't I would have known to go touristy places there but sometimes the touristy places are still good and it's one of those yeah and the touristy places are just like kind of like a flavor of the place and I like the other option was Olive Garden so like I'm happy that we went we went with like the local I like Olive Garden. So like I'm happy that we went, we went with like the local, I like going to local places,

but I do need to be more adventurous with how I order at those places because I do tend to like get the same 10 things. You did send me the chicken parm on the menu when I sent you the menu online. And I was like, that's fine if you want to hear your usual Carrabba's order at a place that's overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Chicken parm is like, I mean, I don't know like where you are spiritually, but like I'm more likely to believe there is a god because chicken parm exists. You're telling me that's random that came from the Big Bang. Okay. All right. Let me know.

Let me know what you think about that. It is magical and there are certain things that are that are are simple but beautiful and I think chicken parm. Yeah, fried chicken with cheese and marinara sauce on it was with over some noodles. Yeah. Yeah. And if they have if they offer it on the menu,

then it means that there's a reason for it. Like there's a lot of really good football players walking by us right now. One of the senior bowl teams has just walked in. There's one team already headed to practice. The team that practices a little bit later is walking in now. We're watching some future first, second, third round type picks. And they are much larger than you would imagine.

Let's go look at Dylan Gabriel's custom helmet for the senior bowl. Remember, he played at UCF at Oklahoma and at Oregon, so he's repping them all. He's got the OU on the side, the UCF on the back, and the duck wings on one side, too. That's pretty cool, yeah. Pretty sweet.

Yeah, it is interesting in this new era where they used to put the logos of the duck wings on one side too. That's pretty cool, yeah. Pretty sweet. Yeah, it is like interesting in this new era where they used to put the logos of the other teams on it and now you just have your own. Yeah, because the guys used to trade. Like their equipment manager would send them down with a bunch of helmet stickers and they would trade and so you'd see the guy with like five different logos on his helmet who he traded with.

Now it's just the five teams you played for. Speaking of guys who transferred, Caleb Love, transferred from North Carolina to Arizona a few years ago. Did you look that up? No, I just knew that. But Caleb Love hit a buzzer beater last night that was like half court doesn't do it justice. This is one of those I woke up this morning and I'm like, do you see the half court doesn't do it justice. This is one of those I woke up this morning. I'm like, do you see the half court shot? That's a three quarter court buzzer beater. Like that is spectacular. It tied the game against Iowa State. Arizona goes on to win.

By the way, I don't know what you are. Like Arizona, Iowa State playing in basketball feels weirder to me than any of the big 12 football matchups that were new this year? Last night when I got to the hotel, Andy, I thought, you know, I'm here alone. I got a private space. I'm going to bet on this game tonight because all my friends are talking about it in the group chat. I'm going to watch it. And then I just fell asleep. I kind of wish I would have stayed up to see that. You'd have been dying though.

Yeah. Well, I would have been dying, but also I would have been Arizona. I'm a course you're proud. I'm a proud alum What is that? Wow cast? Let's go But yeah No I think that like that that those types of moments are really cool and it was it's kind of cool to see the highlights this Morning when I woke up and the thing is like usually you only see that is like the desperation heave at the end of a half That doesn't really affect the game all that much like the desperation heave at the end of a half that doesn't really affect the game all that much. Like the biggest one of those I that ever was launched and it didn't make it but it almost it was the Gordon Hayward shot against Duke in the national title game.

Yeah. And I remember watching that one. I was at the game. I was covering the game and I'm on press row and I don't think because it all happened so fast. I did not fully appreciate like oh my god if that had gone through, Butler wins the national title over Duke. Like, for that to happen in that setting would have been one of the five most iconic moments in sports history probably. I will never forget watching the Duke players watching

one shining moment. So they're standing on the stage. They got their pieces of net. Yeah. Watching one shining moment. And half the Duke team, when they they show that shot looks at it and goes oh god you came that close to losing so college basketball getting ramped up we want to talk about a little more on the show as we get toward March Madness because I love college basketball you're

just gonna have to teach me college basketball for the next few months. It's fun. It is it is fun. And you know, we had like the Tennessee Auburn game the other night that I watched the Jani Broom coming back for Auburn. He was fantastic. So totally. It's time. It's that time of year. But right now, Ari and I are going to go watch some people try to make themselves some money at a football practice. We'll talk to you about it tomorrow.