Green Light with Chris Long - Jonathan Taylor! Melvin Gordon III! James White! Montee Ball! NFL Draft Stories, Wisconsin Badger Football & Life As An NFL Running Back!

Episode Date: May 2, 2025

Wisconsin Badgers UNITE! Four of the most prolific college football running backs... and Beau Allen. Montee Ball, James White, Melvin Gordon III and Jonathan Taylor join forces in Green Bay, Wisconsin and talk all things running backs, NFL and Wisconsin. The five NFL studs were in town for the 2025 NFL Draft, each announcing the day 2 pick for their current and former NFL clubs. The conversation ran through their overlapping time with the Wisconsin Badger football program, NFL and Pro Bowl memories, the NIL landscape and their own draft day stories! (00:00) - Intro (2:08) - 2025 NFL Draft (4:30) - Draft Day Stories (10:45) - Wisconsin = Running Back University (30:15) - NFL Pro Bowl Memories (34:25) - NIL Landscape in College Athletics Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: ‪[phone]‬ In need of sweet threads to vibe like Chris and the fellas? Check out ⁠⁠the website⁠⁠ for everything merch wise and enjoy for 25% off your entire order in celebration of the 2025 NFL Draft! sitewide! Also, check out our paddling partners at ⁠⁠Appomattox River Company ⁠⁠to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. Green Light's ⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠, where you can catch all the latest GL action: Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You guys are Fligens, man. Like some of the most humble dudes, too, great guys. Like, you guys are unbelievable football players, but great dudes, too. So I appreciate you all coming on. Looking forward to the draft tonight. When you get up there on the stage, just remember, you just need a piece of that ass. Welcome to the Greenlight podcast presented by BetMGM. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code Greenlight.

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Hey, appreciate you jumping on. If you're a fan of running backs in the NFL, eat your heart out. Because look at this lineup. We got Monty Ball, Melvin Gordon, James White, and Jonathan Taylor. They all happen to go to Wisconsin. Bo Allen interviews the four of them. They were all in Green Bay, Wisconsin, prepping to announce the day two picks for their NFL teams.

They talk about being some of the most dominant college football running backs of all time. Their fun memories from Badger Land in Wisconsin, the changing college landscape, and all announcing draft picks for the 2025 NFL draft. And it is a blast and a half of an NFL. episode. Enjoy it and we'll catch you when we catch it. Welcome to a special edition of the Greenlight Hot. Jesus Christ. Welcome to a special edition of the Greenlight podcast. Draft Day 2, gentlemen. Joined here by some of UW's best players of all time. We got Melvin Gordon, James White, Monte Ball, Jonathan Taylor, and Bo Allen. Your boy and, you know, the best running backs in the

history of college football, man. I'm honored to be in your presence. It's a great crew. So yeah, we're out here in Green Bay for the draft. We're all announcing for our teams. How are we feeling that, boys? You're nervous. I'm feeling great, man. We had a great first round pick, so I'm expected, Indy to keep the train rolling.

You're still playing. You really got to pay attention, yeah? Shout out to Tyler Warren, man. I can't wait to get to what. I'm definitely excited for it. Just hoping don't get one of those tricky names, but excited to be back in Wisconsin getting in front of the fans,

even though I'm a little bit on that. opposition right now, but it's, it should be a ton of fun. Yeah, looking forward to it. It's a blessing. It's a blessing. It's really good to see all the guys and, of course, be back in Wisconsin and then just talk to football. So I'm happy to be here.

I mean, for me, it's just like a blast from the past really just kind of going through this as a player and then now being on the opposite side to where, you know, you're getting your name called. Now you're calling it. His name. And I don't know, I'm a little nervous because I remember I did like our third round pick. when I got drafted and I like got in front of camera and froze and Michael Irvin

texting like hey you are you're like you're good I'm like looked at the the red button and I just like froze in front of millions of people I was like so I got a little trauma but we don't get it done today so we were just at a roundtable talk all the legends came by and it was funny I was the last one in the door everyone was circled up I was the last guy in there I felt like I was walking in my own fucking intervention. That'd be for me, Bo. That'd be for me, Boat. That's what I want to ask Roger is like,

what's it feel like walk up there and get booed? And he just takes it. I mean, it's got to kind of respect the guy. Like, he'll, like, joke around about it and he seems a lot more personable, like, meeting him. You know what I mean? Compared to, like, what you expect out of the commissioner. So hopefully he'll guide us a little bit tonight, fellas,

because I don't want to fuck up up there and get absolutely booed. Let's talk draft day a little bit. We were all kind of drafted. You know, we were in the same era. Young Buck, still playing. Walk me through what it was like to get for you guys, like on your draft day.

Like, what's the biggest thing that sticks out for you? Well, for me, my draft day is a little different. This was in 2020. So this was during COVID. So really, I was at, similar to the setup you got here, this is the setup that we had for the draft. And then you got people hiding in the back because you can only have a certain amount

or they cut your live stream off so everybody peeking in hiding. in the back. So for me, this is special because I didn't get a chance to walk across the stage. So to be able to call a guy's name, be up on the stage, get that experience. That's going to be awesome. But draft day was, you know how like when you're on your phone or when you're chilling throughout the day, you'll get email notifications, dumb stuff. That day phone's silent. Not one notification. You're like, all right, so you're telling me I don't got no, no company trying to sell me something. The phone is completely silent. And every time you hear some iPhone,

going to go up, you looking over you, like, that's yours? Nothing. And then when you finally get that call, really, your heart drop when you get the call because you're like, what's his area? Yeah, yeah, should I answer it? And they're like, man, how you doing? It's Chris Ballard from Indianapolis. Call to him, like, Appalice.

Like, I had no idea. That wasn't even on our radar. So it's just, I'm just mad. My phone was dead all day when normally you get those dumb alerts all the time. Yeah, it was a crazy day. Like you said, I had this banquet all in Madison, Wisconsin. I had friends and family there and literally everybody's having fun. And I'm just like Jonathan Taylor said, I'm nervous, anxious, staring at my phone, hearing buzz is behind me, faking its mind.

But of course, when my phone started to vibrate, 303 number, Denver, Colorado. And I grew up a Broncos fan. So it was a dream come true. Well, definitely. I was at your draft party. That was pretty sweet. We were definitely at that one. For me, mine was a little bit different.

I actually threw a party for the second and third round. didn't get drafted in that round. So I had a bunch of family friends over. You know, I'm watching. No backs went in the first round that year. Then the back start coming off in the second round, third round. I think naturally as a competitor, you're like, not that those guys are a good football,

but like, I'm a little bit better than that dude right. Maybe I should have got picked, you know, a little bit earlier. But, you know, it was definitely a tough feeling throwing a party and not get picked. And, you know, everybody, when they're leaving the party, like, you know, it's going to be all right, man. You're going to get, you're going to get to tomorrow. So it was a little sick feeling for me on that day.

They ended up getting picked early, the fourth round that next day to New England, got that call from Bill Belichick and Kraft, a pretty bland phone call. You know, like, this is Bill Belichick. We're going to draft you here. Don't say anything to the media, like all this stuff. Got the quick prepping those five-minute conversations,

but definitely was exciting to, you know, actually get your name called on draft day. Mine was kind of crazy. I do remember Yoja, I think, because I remember we got the lanier and I hung it, like, on my bed, and I just kind of kept a different motivation. But my mind was, it was super dope. It was the first time they had moved it out of New York.

We had it in Chicago. So my family got to come. And it was cool because my best friend from high school, we got drafted on the same day. So that was, it was like a, it was an amazing experience for me. But it was a shitty experience from the start, though. So that year, I think James Winston went first. So he went to Tampa.

So it was a Florida number. So, I don't know if you, I mean, you probably don't remember George Russian. You remember George Russian? Right. So I'm sitting at the table. His dad pissed me up. So I'm sitting at the table. I'm sitting at the table, right?

As soon as the draft open, I get a Florida number that calls my phone. I say, ain't no fucking way I'm going. Number one. My nerves is like, I'm like, no, I'm like, no, I'm talking my agent. Like, ain't no way. I know I ain't, I'm not going crazy, but I'm not going to want. As soon as the draft, it, like, went down. Call for the number.

I say, ain't no way I'm for it. Number one, you, bro. I'm sitting there. I'm talking about it. I don't want to pick it up. Because if it ain't, damn, I'm going to be pissed. Ford Jackson's, I'm going to be pissed. So he's like, no, just pick it up.

I pick it up. George, Dress and dad, like, hey, man, I see you on the camera. You look good in your suit. Bro, my mind. Bro, he, like, stole my life. You know, that call, like, that drilling. Like, he stole that from me, bro. I was so pissed.

Bro, I was so, I was so pissed, bro. Bro, bro, what made me mad is, how did you even get my number? I never thought. I never even talked to a day in my life. How did you have my numbers? George. Oh, now, I thought he was the best in the reaction.

Yeah, I was going number one. I'm going one, so, you know, that's a, and then when the charges called me, I was happy, but I know, I mean, yeah, guys, like, I was, I was, I mean, it was a blessing, but they kind of, George's dad kind of stole my thunder with that, though, because when they called, bro, my nerves, my adrenaline, I was, I'm going for it. That's a question. And it was his dad just telling me how nice my suit look, so, even at this point.

All the undrafted. Yeah, seriously, that was my story. Dude, I was in your boat, James. Like, I was a late round pick, seven round pick. And those, like, I knew I wasn't going to get drafted one overall, Melvin. And they're just sliding by. My whole family's like staring at me. You know what I mean?

Like, looking at me, I get my phone. I got a call from the American Red Cross looking for a blood donation. Kind of, but then, like, in the seventh round, teams start calling you to be an undrafted free agent. Like, I was on the phone with, uh, Harbaugh in Baltimore. He's like, yeah, I promise you. Like, you're going to make the team. Like, you're going to do it. I'm like, dude, like, it's fucking the seventh round. Just draft me. I'm literally on the phone then. I'm like, hold on.

I got another call coming. It's a 215 area code. It was Chip Kelly and the Eagles. I was like, thank God, man. Like, all right, see you, Harbaugh. I got drafted. I'm just so happy about that. But like you guys said, it's cool to come here full circle.

Obviously back in Wisconsin, like we got to talk about Wisconsin football. And this is like, you know, people talk about like tight end you, like Iowa and like all that shit. But like running back you? I mean, what do you guys think? Like you're the experts here. Like, is Wisconsin running back you? We got the fucking the core group here. Like, these are all the legends.

What do you think? Running back you for sure. With all the conviction, every fiber in my body, running back you for sure. You got Jonathan Taylor right here. Six thousand yards of me. Come on now.

Come on now. I did some good things. See, any tough. Yeah. Y'all did more to me. Don't point in me. It's triple ten. You're just a Yorkie over the back.

He's all over the past. But let me tell you, he's just a chill. God. Absolutely. I mean, this cat came in, of course, this, this cat came in from Florida, my sophomore year 2010. Put me on the bench. Put me on the bench. Rush for a thousand yards. I mean, great career, of course. And I think Melvin Gordon, obviously, right? $2,500 in the season. Should have won the eyes, man. I mean, this running back here. It's running back you. We are missing one guy, though, Ron Dane. I gotta bring up this fucking story. I got to bring this up. People always ask you, like, what's something that sticks out? What's one of your main memories

of like playing college football at Wisconsin. And like, they're expecting you to be like, oh, jump around at Cam Randall. Bro, I'll never forget. Ronde was an honorary captain one game. So for you guys that don't know, our locker room atmosphere pregame at Wisconsin was like fucking pretty quiet. You know what I mean?

Like pretty serious. Like not a lot of music. Like people could listen to music on their own, but like guys kind of chilling their lockers. Like it's a little tight, you know? So Rondade, like one of the best running backs in the history of college football is that Henri a captain in the locker before the game, and he is going off.

You guys remember this? He's like, hey, we got to get a piece of that ass today. We just got to get a piece of that ass. We don't need the whole thing. Bro. It's dead silent. Dead silent. And everyone's like, it's like one of those moments where you're kind of looking at your boys.

Like, this guy fucking for real right out. And I'll say that, like, I told you last night, Melbourne. I'll, like, say that in conversation with people, like, randomly like, like, Hey, we got to get a piece of that ass today. I'll be like, oh, my God. I don't know y'all remember because we made jokes about it. That was one of the funniest college football experiences of my career. That was definitely a classic there.

Because, I mean, we were pretty serious before games, but I feel like that loosened everybody. Everybody, like, looking like, this motherfuckerucked dead ass shit. He had to been blitzed. He definitely was drunk or something, but it worked. He had a night for show. I was looking like, boy, what the hell is? he talking.

I just remember like, what is he talking about? We don't want the whole ass. We just want to piece of it. I'm like, all right. That ain't it. We don't go to upstairs with that shit, don't. We don't want to be a whole ass. We just want a piece of.

I was like, I don't know what you. We, we ain't on that. We ain't on that. We don't. Never forget that, man. I was dying to bring that up today. Okay, but, yo, Moni, you mentioned when James came in and what that was like, you guys were all in the same room. Like, how competitive was that? Because you guys are battling for carries and obviously good friends, but your competitors, too. Like, was there tension or was it, you know, was it friendly? No, no tension whatsoever.

I think that starts from the top. We had a really good coach, obviously, that would set the standard for us at the tone early on. And again, it's a lot of easier, of course, when you're, competing with guys with good character, right? We all understand we want to be the starter, but we knew, of course, that we had to work for it, work hard for. And so, honestly, it's something that I take with me for the rest of my life, grinding with these guys here, calling them, texting them, and just, yeah, we just wanted to literally just impose our will,

to the best of our ability, honestly. We knew that it started with us. Yeah, it was just highly competitive. And as Monty said, I came in and I put him on the bitch. He did. That next year, he put me on the bench. My money was up for the highsman next year, and I didn't play that much,

but it was just great competition. And nobody hated on one another. We were obviously happy for any success that each and every one of us had. A run-in-back coach, like he would purposely try and pit us again. That was just like his motivative tactic. You know, when somebody does something that was good, it probably, you know, shit on the next person or something like that.

But we always stood together. We competed, whether it was, you know, lifting weights, you know, freaking workouts, when coaches couldn't really watch the condition that he would be hovering over from his office. office looking, seeing who coming in first, who coming to last, and all that stuff. So it was just kind of a natural progression for all of us to get better and compete against one another, and it worked out for us.

Yeah, I mean, Hemmick definitely tried to have us go at each other. I remember when I came in as a freshman, and, you know, that was the last year that NCAA was before they stopped making it. And I put myself first string. We got in the meeting room. Like, Monty, look at Monty James, look at this. You remember putting itself first string? I'm like, man.

So, I mean, they stories is, I mean, they stories is lovely. I mean, he was the guy when we got there. But it was, it was tough. You know, I had no choice but to compete. I knew with the running back position, you know, what came with that? What came with being a dog? And I just came in. I'm like, you know, I got like my pitcher set up on the wall when I came in the region.

I'm like, I'm going to start. man, here to start. Man, this dude got the score of so many touchdowns. And then when he came back and killed me. He came back. He came back, and I was black, because I learned a lot for money. I mean, I got stories for days. You know what he's money.

But just to start. Bro, you know, he's balling. He's doing his thing. I'm like, bro, bro. I mean, who are you? You second in the husband? Would you? No, I can't be fourth.

But you was up there. Yeah. Right. And then he came back. I knew I wasn't playing. I knew. I'm like, bro. It's just, you know what I'm saying?

I'm like, damn, bro. Like, you know, you counten up the rest. I know he's leaving. He's up there with the Hizman. And then my dog, my dog came back. Oh, my goodness. I'm like, bro. I ain't going to play, bro.

And it's going to be tough. I got two years to try. this shit work you know what I'm saying but I mean it was a blessing like the way the way bro kind of you know I'm saying took every day um for what it was bro you I mean you I mean you I mean you was grind bro you used to kick I mean can I tell a story real quick is it is it is it cool so we in winter conditioning though um I'm going up against I was I was like the young guy that like going up against the best players so they matched me up with money I'm talking about money dog me though.

So what he would do was at every station bro would run to the front of the line and I'm like and I look at bro I'm like this motherfucker ain't even tired

he is killing me like bro I'm like dead bro and he'll run up I mean as soon as the station start because usually you know you try to get in the back of the line and he's getting the middle

getting the middle yeah I'm trying to get that little breath like okay you know what I mean he run to the front of the line. It doesn't matter. We could just be getting done doing the drill. He'll run to the front of the line.

And then after Hamick was like, yeah, I've seen that film. We're not going to act like money and kick your ass. So he let me hear, of course, if you know Hammack. And then Monty talked to me, he was like, bro, I was dead-ass tired. Like, but I just showed no weakness. Like, I just kind of just stood up

and he was just like, I just muscle through it. And I took that formula and kicked everybody ass that next day. I like, God. Okay. Everybody. The best people, I ran. ran to the front of the line, do the same thing. I'm looking at them. I'm just, I'm dead-ass tired.

Same shit, bro. And just standing there. Fighting. Fighting. Fighting. Yeah. And I'm just watching them just melt away. And I'm like, oh, yeah, I got him.

Got him. So it can really get that. So it can really get, like, because I know, like, some of like, even in the league, veterans and just older guys, like, it gets to a point where, like, that mental warfare can really like, change the game for y'all? To me, it definitely does. I think even in the league, a lot of battles are lost before the ball even snap. Like, dudes defeated, maybe it's off their name.

Maybe it's based on what they've seen on film or somebody. I truly, truly believe that. I think as a competitor, you got to believe that you either match up with a person or you feel like you better than that person. Otherwise, you're going to lose that battle. I think the game, as they say, is 90% mental, whatever they say, because if you mentally defeated, you're going to lose that rep. So I truly do it.

Like, because he kind of did, you kind of, you and Jill kind of do the same thing. Training with Adam? Yeah. Doing that warm. Y'all know. Y'all don't know. That woman is Adam will tell us, hey, go get a break. Water break.

Man, Jill, you and Jill standing up, grab your little water, go right back to the water. I said, oh, I don't think it's a time. Hold on. Like, so I'm just looking at y'all. And mind you, I was still in school. I'm like, man, so it's just what it is to be a pro? Like, you don't get tired. Like, you are so great a shape of condition and you're not tired.

Like, that was. kind of what I took away from that in training with y'all, I'm like, yo, like, I got to, I got to take it to another level. I got to take the tradition to another level. I got to take the training to another level to really show people like, this is what I do. I do this. Absolutely. And I want to say this as well. Like, I know that, you know, what Melman said, thank you, man. I appreciate that. These guys, you know, say the things about me, but I want to say for sure, like, the way that these gentlemen have carried themselves, right, in the pros, right, with the cameras and lights on them and crushing it, of course, with the cold.

So exciting to watch you, man. Obviously what you did with the Patriots and, of course, you with the charges and then the Broncos, got so much respect for these guys, right? Just the way that they carried themselves, carried the brand. So I've looked up to these three seriously. Since they got drafted to once they retired, how they're raising their families,

and then just some good dudes, man. I mean, it's cool you say that because you're the oldest. You're kind of the old head. JT, you're younger. So, like, did you hear kind of, you know, this running back trio is pretty legendary at Wisconsin? And so when you're coming up after them, like, did you hear legends of these three, like in the running back room and around the building? Oh, yeah.

Well, so Corey Come in. Yeah. Corn dog. There's from a corn dog. Boy, you rock, man. He rocked. Shut on, you rap. So he grew up in my area.

Like, we were like 20 minutes, 25 minutes down the road from each other. So in me and eighth grade, I'm watching him terrorized South Jersey. Like, he's killing everybody. And so I see him go to Wisconsin and have the success. Then it's, then it's you, Corey, and Melvin. And I'm like, yo, how did they get, how did y'all just keep having a center free? But at the end of the day, it's like when I started getting recruited by Wisconsin, and I'm starting to look at the lineage.

So like for you, Monty, like, when you got there, the guys you probably looked up to, you probably saw like Calvin, Dane, John Clay, you know, guys like that. So it's just like, it's without a. question without a shadow of a doubt R.B.U. Because even, let's say if we go to Monty, now he even had Tris and people to look up to like, it's insane. That's really insane. So I don't really care what nobody has to say. Wisconsin is without a shout of a doubt.

Yeah. Well, hey, I feel like a big part of that, too. It was like, listen, I was a noseguard. I was playing guys like Travis Frederick, Kevin Zitler, an absolute animal who's still playing out. Ziportes is. Relaxed. Every time, I played.

Zyte, like three or four times the NFL, before every game, he'd come up to me and be like, good luck up out there, go. Like, have a great game. I'm like, yes, Kevin, we, I will see you on the battlefield. There's like a formal thing because he's just, you know, he's wired like that, but you can't really talk about the success of the running backs at Wisconsin. I feel like without talking about, you know, the offensive line. Like, how, how nice was it that run of offensive linemen that that we had there? Well, I know for me, like growing up in South Florida, I thought I was a big player. I thought I was a big dude until I got to college. I saw myself on training camp film for the first time. I said, I'm like, damn, I actually look little. We got these six, six,

three hundred plus pound dude all across the board. And they all can move too. They can pull, get out in front of you and block. So to have all those type of guys blocking for you like consistently, whether a couple guys leave that next year, you got the next crop of people that are up and ready to go. And that was a shout out to, you know, coach Bose then. He was mastermind. Coach Bo recruited me and he was so nice. I'm like coming into my house, my mom loved him. My mom was like, how's Bob doing?

I'm like, are you talking about Coach Bo? Right? You know, like, I'm like, are you talking about like the most feared coach on our staff right now? Psycho, but he- He didn't know about him. I think he came back with you, right? With you linebackers, though, linebackers, though.

And then we had him, but y'all probably didn't have Coach Rudy. Yeah, we had Rudolph, yeah. Them too? them too They were talking crazy You know He told me He told him

That was a beast Look you'll see Rudy You'll see Rudy You'll see Rudy Playing with his kids picking him up You go to a practice And he and somebody

He was in one of the owner I'm like Dang that's crazy Talking to him like that Like that Like No Ain't nobody

Wors than boast Yeah Some of this stuff He would say I remember I took an inside Zone run I thought it was wide open

I ran to the right old Clearly You fucking cheese dick I was like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, dude, I'm talking with anything. I remember one time Ryan Groh, like, good, very good player, like playing the NFL.

He's like, you can fucking take that. You can fucking take that O-line play down to Whitewater because that's not going to fucking do it. Murdering him. I'm like sitting there like, I'm a freshman. I'm like, bro, what? Like, what the, this is the guy that was in my house, like drinking coffee with me and my mom

trying to get me to go to UW. My grandma got a pitcher up with him and coach B in it. So he was the nicest dude. I got there. He threw me for a loop with that. Like, this ain't the same. Yeah.

I think that's the craziest thing. Like, just all of the coaches coming to your house, going on visits, recruiting, and then the switch up. Like, when you get there, it don't matter. Like, you don't matter that they came to your crib. They were telling you this and that. It's like, yo, let's go. We're going to work.

Like. That's all that's all right. I was just going to say that. Do you think it's a little water down? I mean, asking them, obviously, you're in it. So a little water down because he's casting just. Yeah, it's definitely different. I think, you know, those coaches that coach hard,

they still coach hard, but I think it's monitor, though. You got to coach them hard, but then you got to level them up afterwards, you know what I'm saying? And ain't know, just letting it simmer for a week or two. It's like, I'm going to get after you there as we walking out of the field. You know, hey, me.

Yeah. Hey, he's sitting in the corner. That's my apartment staring. Whoa, I don't know. My first mirror, boy, I'm going to quit. Hey, look, you had an amazing career in Wisconsin. If you had a hand, he had, 8,000.

How was Hammock? Because every time I always see y'all don't talk highly of Hammock. Like, he was a great coach, though. Like, once you get past and once you learn out of work, he cool. But, bro, almost quit. My first day. You can't make that. Like, no matter what, Coach Hamick is going to try to break you mentally.

Even if you're playing well, he's going to be like, hmm. Way he didn't know. Yeah. We moved juice. We don't care. We don't understand. Remember the game after Nebraska?

Even like when y'all put up 70? No, it was, I think it was the first time. First time I played in my hole. Yeah, yeah. We, you know, we put it on them. And then the next, you know, next practice, of course, I'm, I thought I was going at a big deal. And he said, no, go back.

Go back. He ain't going to do this. Just because you had a good game. You ain't going to do this. But, I mean, I got crazy stories about him when he broke me for missing class. Long story short, I tried to call his bluff. He said, all right, me. meet me in the indoor at 5 a.m.

I said, I had me do 600 yards of up downs and then 600 yards of bear crawls, but I got midway at the bear crawls and my body locked up. I said, I'm done. He got down and he said, you're going to quit on your team like this.

You're going to quit on your team? I said, coach, I'm done. I'm done. He said, you're going to quit. He's like, you're the Monte Ball. They talk about. I mean, he was in my ear, five. And he did that for me and Jones because I was not

missing that. I wasn't going to. And then I was all we need to say. That's all I need to hear. He was a beast, though, J.C., I ain't going to hold you. You touched the cone, this rope right each. Go back. Go back.

He's trying to break you as a freshman. Go back. And when you start, when the other freshmen going there, hey, you'd be good. Hey, go back. You know what he's, man. You've been helping him. Bring that out.

I don't know. And then about time you go through, you sluggish, we zoom it. You're fresh. Yeah, yeah. You know, he wanted to make us as tired as possible, literally super fatigued after Indy. Yeah. And just wanted to see how well we can practice,

of course, when you're literally dog tired. He would literally run us through the ring right at the beginning of practice. Y'all are Indy going crest. He killed me. That's all he used to talk about. If we get through Indy, like, you're good. We're good. We're good.

We're good. We're talking about it. Indie practice with an AI practice. We just had to make it through Indy. We're going to be a right, bro. I mean, as long as you ain't had that first rep a team or first record, you go through that indie, like, hey, I got the first rep the day. Oh, man, I got to save a little bit, but.

I was the Jet Sweet King. They used to kill me in practice. We not going, we not just not going to. Every other rap is. I used to get killed in practice, bro. And he didn't give, he didn't give a, fuck, bro. It was, I mean, it was bad. Like I said, when Jay's went like this, that's how Hemmick pulled me to the side.

Like, hey, man, like, you got it. He's seen it in my eyes. I was out of there. It was never going to be a Melvin Gorson. Many reps he had me take, though? I fumbled in practice. I did a thousand reps, bro. These boys, chilling.

I did a thousand reps. He, like, finished. He used to have his cone. I wasn't finished, and I'm tripping. Finish, finish, finish. I'm going on with it. I came. I was so tired.

Fumbled the ball. He was like, what? Made me lap the hole. As soon as I came back, get back in. I said, Nick, I'm a hundred. I'm going to have to be. But now.

I was a great coach. You know, he was on us, bro. He was a good coach. Can I ask a question? Can I ask a question, man? Because, like, how was the, I was the Pro Bowl, man.

I was the girl. I was the pro. I mean, I'm telling you, every time you all on TV, I'm telling you. Out in Colorado, I'm like, I know that. Hey, that's the best. Hey, that's right. The pro ball.

The Pro Bowl is cool. I had a chance to play both ways. So when we had pads on and when we didn't have pads on, we was just actually having the conversation about this. When we had the pads on, and it was kind of, that was kind of the last year. So it was kind of on the downturn and you got the coaches in your,

you know y'all can play, right? You don't know it's a game, right? So it took the fun out of it because my mindset was, hang, like, I get to play against the best. Like, you're talking about you in the league and you're playing against the best. Now you end up, you're playing the best of the best.

You know, this game might go crazy. And then you see, of course, everybody like, listen, we ain't trying to tag all this and that. So now recently gone with, like, the flag football, the dodge ball. It's still a time to compete. You know, just play a little athletic games. But really, I think it's all about the camaraderie,

just being able to chop it up with the people that you went against all year and some of your favorite players, you like watching, you watch their film. I think it's a great time. I actually enjoy it because it's a time to connect. You know how it is after a game. And so you go for 150, 180.

Hey, hey, Monty, a little, look, we need you to come over here and talk to them live. I'm like, well, can I chop it out with it? You know, something? Come on, do they? Why can you pray in the circle front? Right. So I actually like the Pro Bowl.

I actually like it does dope. I enjoyed it. I mean, like he said, It was, I came there one time. I had that knee brace on. I knew I wasn't getting any game. I got to go there and get that. I got to go there and get that.

I had that brace on and shout out. What was it to, what was it, Kyle Jersey? I think of the name. Oh, is your check? You said, you said, he, he, he, he played running back for me. I was, I ain't getting in there, my boy. I got down, need that check. I need that, I need that check, God.

But I am not playing. But, I mean, I wish I got to do the 707. I think that's dope, bro, and it's dope for you. You know, hopefully with the Olympics in, what, three years maybe, three, four, right? Yes. But try out.

I mean. Yeah, we were talking about that today in the town hall with the commissioner. We were all at it. It was really cool. But it's like, it was awesome. But I'm a nose guard. I'm like, what the fuck? Like, is there any offensive and defensive line?

Like, if the flag football, like, I have no understanding of how. how that's structured. So what we did, the only thing that they had was Tuck of War. That was, or a little, like, obstacle course. That's the, and they had a lot of them in Dodgeball, too. It wasn't as many skill players in Dodgeball, but there definitely can be a bit more. Because once you start taking away the physical aspect of it, it's like they're just there, chilling, walking around, signing stuff, just, just cooling.

That's it. They should let you all line up and play receiver and stuff. Because every time you guys get the ball in the league, y'all, you hold it like a low player. You know, out of all out of them. Or like, remember how we used to do badger drill in camp, like, every day and then you move up. Run some badger drill at the Pro Bowl. But I feel like, really with that, bro, it's the only way you can do it.

Because let's just be honest. You got Miles Garrett in front of some guy from Japan. That's like, yeah, five, four, stop it. I mean, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm not, I'm not sound enough for that. I'm just being honest with you. I'm not solid. We look at Miles Geard and be like, hey, damn.

Yeah. So I can just imagine someone from like that's 5-5 going to band that weighs. I mean, unless you get some sumo wrestlers or something out there, but let's be for real. Like, it ain't happening. So you have to do the 707, but to me it's dope because you probably have a chance to be able to play in that, bro. And to put off of the country, bro, like, we'll never, we'll never be able to experience that. It's just, I mean, hopefully you keep playing and, you know. Try to get a medal. Yeah.

You know, I need to tell you. I got a medal. You can't tell me nothing. I'm walking around there like, my shit, do not stay. If you get to talk to Craven, just slap that metal on you. We know it's going to be gold. Yeah, boys, I want to go back to college stuff real quick

because I think college football is changing so much, and we've got a pretty good spectrum here. Like, with NIL these days, you guys ever see some of these deals? Like, you would have gotten paid? Are you pocket-washing a little bit? I don't know all the numbers. I keep saying numbers.

They're saying dudes is getting in. You got a little bit of the NIL stuff, right? No, no, that was right after. Right after. They're saying they're getting M's. Like, buddy is putting, Bijon said he's pulling up to, uh, what is it? He's pulling up to Smith Hall and a Ferrari or a Lambo. I'm like, this is kind of like, this crazy.

Bo, of course, they don't know the numbers. They, they played enough. I know some of them. I know you know what you know. I know what you're talking about? No, what's the other thing? Oh, what's not I'm saying? I was going to say, because they know, they played, you know, some time in the league.

So me, two years, a cup of coffee with the Broncos. I'm pocket watching these players. Hold on a second. I'm in Wisconsin. Oh, no. They need a back to say you a little bit. But it's crazy, though. I mean, I mean, happy with the kids, for sure.

But it's interesting. Like, you guys are talking about the, the, uh, the, uh, competitive running back room that you had and how you guys had a fight for playing time. You were a freshman coming up under these, you know, vets who were fucking great players. And it just seems to me like it kind of the college experience that we had where we had to really fight for playing time. Like it doesn't feel like the same college experience for these guys, you know. Especially with the transfer portal rules.

Now, now you could just up and leave. Like, one of the biggest stories I've seen, this was like when I was still in school. This guy was trying to transfer because, like, he was trying to be closer to a sick grandmother. Legit reason denied him. Buddy was playing quarterback. Somebody else started over him. I'm transferring. He gets approved.

So it's like, okay, once they open the doors to that, so now anybody can transfer, now they ask them somebody just trying to sit out. Was it from Tennessee? Like, yo, I was just a great. I'm back, but, and it's like, dang, now these kids are, they're trying to move, like, pros. Like, pros, you have agents.

You got, like, real professionals to tell you, like, how to move, how to navigate this space. Now you've got players with a bunch of different people pull at them, like, yo, you should do this. this. You should ask for that. And you a kid, so you're like, are you telling me I can get this much? Okay, well, let's do this. And then now, you know, I saw there's 2,500 players

in the transfer portal, though. Like, James, I'm sure you guys have meetings about this kind of stuff. It's honestly pretty crazy because, I mean, kind of got to make roster cuts now because the roster is going from like 120 to 105. So there's going to be a lot of kids on the outside looking in. So college football is pretty much becoming professional

football in a sense. Roster cuts, kids making money is kind of wild. I mean, I just hope for the kids like great that they're making money. Hopefully they're saving it. And hopefully you're choosing the school, you know, not just for about the money. Hopefully it's about, you know, maybe it's the coach.

Maybe it's the offensive system. Maybe it's the players you met on your official visit. Maybe it's academics. Whatever you want to be. Whatever you want to be that you feel is important. It can't just be strictly about the money. Because I think that's the beautiful part. Probably about all of us,

the relationships that we built, you know, that we still. I didn't play with Jonathan Taylor, but you went to Wisconsin. So I know what type of person that you are that went there. So I think that everyone. relationship factor starting to get a little loss, I wouldn't say, for every program is like that, but the players or the systems or the organizations that they can maintain as many players as possible, I think don't to be the best situations for players to go to.

They even got general managers now. Yeah. That's the voice. Like, GM in college is crazy. They get paid, too. Rolling up in ursuses and shit, I'm like, dude, I had a fucking moped in college. It was sick, yeah. Everybody, everybody got cars now.

Everybody got cars. Wait, that moped gets you where you need to go. That's you. Hey, let's get it. Rain sleet of snow. You've been to campus lately? You've been to campus?

Yeah, ain't no moped's no more, my boy. I pulled it up, everybody in Mercedes. That's here for F. BMW. Yeah, B&Ws, all that. Tenet, the whip, C, wheels. We first got there.

They got us in Regent. All the freshmen, we all went to the mopets. You see us all right. Yeah. Those days are over, my boy. You couldn't give me this. that money in college though. Nope.

I would have been on a yacht out there on the late. I got Brexit in Tennessee. Oh, my gosh. Go to understand. You're the only player I've seen on a city bus. He can't. On the bus.

On the bus. I walked out of class. I was like, oh, my gosh. On every bus now. It was ridiculous, though. His prestige in college was OD. I mean, I, I, I need some of that money.

He needed it now. My money and I want it now. Wait, so y'all won't be eligible for the... Nah, that Glenn. They planned in the games. It was like 2016. I'm hurt.

They try to say, man. I don't even know how it's calculated because there are some people that I'm like, wait, hold on, you got like six figures, and I was going crazy. And I'm below that. So I don't know how... It don't make sense.

I don't know how it. They're trying to make it make sense. You got to come out of their pocket. They ain't trying to make it make sense, my way. I'm trying to short you because you're in the league. It's not all right. Let me get that, sir. All right, I got one more question for y'all boys.

You know, we got four legends, obviously all Wisconsin guys. Is there a reason why you guys haven't had your names and numbers retired and put up at Camp Randall yet? Because some of these rookies coming out there, they already got their numbers retired. They're up there in the ring of honor. Probably because they're donating money that they're making. I was broke. Still broke? No, no.

I'll speak for it because all these dudes right, not me. These three right here, they definitely deserve to have their numbers to be retired. Definitely in Wisconsin history. All have a special place. You know, definitely in my heart and the fans' heart and the coach of staffs and everything. Put a lot of hard work and grind into it. All of them were the focal point of the office. Like literally, I was that, nah, no, no, no.

Highlights, you know. I didn't see them. I didn't see. I didn't. No, I did what I need to do, but it wasn't, what these guys do. Like, I watched them, like, I got to work with these dudes. Like, I seen it firsthand, man.

Like I said, literally the offense went through these dudes. And the game playing on defense was a stop 28, top 25. Like, that's what it was. And each and every week these dudes performed. I said, more than deserving of it. Like, I don't know when the hell, like, Wisconsin players on doing it. I mean, we see, like,

Shadora and Travis getting a step retired. We need to get to us. We need to do something. I mean, I don't even know the requirements that it takes to get the jersey retired. I thought it was Heisman. That was my assumption. That's what I thought.

When I didn't do that, I was hurt. I almost cried. That's, I still can't believe that. Can't believe you didn't win. I never even got invited. So I'm like, you're 2,500? I can't believe I didn't win it. I was practicing my speech the night before.

It's here or not. It was like slow motion for me, but I knew that was, I really wanted it because I knew that was going to be like the slingshot to get in your name on. But, you know, you see, you know, and I don't want to discredit any person that get their name put on anything because the end of the day you had to go out there and make some type of place to get that recognition. So I ain't going to be no hater, but damn. It's time.

Come on talk to us. A run-in-back section up there, you know what I mean? I mean something, you know what I mean? Like, thousand yards, bro. You guys are fucking legends, man. Like, some of the most humble dudes, too, great guys. Like, you guys are fucking unbelievable football players, but great dudes, too. So I appreciate you all coming on.

Looking forward to the draft tonight. When you get up there on the stage, just remember, you just need a piece of that ass. We don't need a hold.