Green Bay Packers 2017 Draft: Interview with South Alabama TE Gerald Everett
Q: You’ve had a whirlwind journey since graduation high school from Hutchinson Community College to UAB and then hooking up with South Alabama. Could you ever imagine all this movement a few years ago?
A: I knew nothing would be definite, but I had no idea I would be transferring so many times. I’ve been to so many schools in a short time span, but I got my degree.
Q: You went from being a skinny 215-pound basketball player to now weighing 240 to play tight end. What is so appealing about the game of football that made you want to commit to it despite all the physical punishment it entails?
A: I just love the intensity of the sport. I just love the competitive nature on offense to go out there and make each and every play.
Q: Can you talk about your background as a basketball player at Columbia High School?
A: We were a basketball powerhouse and I was a shooting guard. We won a lot of games, but making that transition to football definitely helped me with my versatility and explosiveness especially coming out of a two-point stance.
Q: Lots of people up north and in other parts of the country have never watched South Alabama play. What was your role in the offense and what was your favorite route?
A: My role was to be the vertical threat guy. I was trying to get my teammates open, as well as myself. I was the leader of the offense so to speak. But to talk about my role, I would do it all. I would even run the Wildcat out of the typical 11 or 12 personnel. My favorite vertical was the Y-Vertical or the Y-Shake. It’s really a reroute of how you run it based on the defender’s leverage and the linemen in position.
Q: In previous interviews, you gave a lot of credit to your position coach Richard Owens at UAB and then at South Alabama. What type of difference did he make in your transition to football?
A: The difference he made was telling me the expectations of what it takes to be a pro day in and day out…how to take care of my body. He showed me the intensity and the effort to play with on every play. He showed me how to be hard on myself on everything that I do in order to become a better me. He showed me what it takes to be successful.
Q: You were at the Senior Bowl recently. What was that experience like and which defenders gave you the most headaches?
A: It was definitely a fun experience being down there for that week practicing and scrimmaging against the top players in the country. I definitely had an exciting time and being in a pro-style offense and being able to huddle up wasn’t something I did much in college. I definitely had a great time with that as well. But some of the greatest players I saw down there would be Ryan Anderson from Alabama and Tre’Davious White from LSU. Ryan was a good coverage linebacker. He was one of the bigger guys that played in that Alabama defense. Those two were definitely some very competitive guys.
Q: Talk about the meetings you’ve had with coaches, scouts and GMs. What types of question were they lobbing your way?
A: They wanted to see my knowledge of the game like if I know the over or the under front, reading coverages, defenses and shuffling pre-snap. They tried to figure out who I was as a person. I’ve never been in any trouble off the field outside of school or in school for that matter. They wanted to figure out where I came from and how much I love football and things like that.
Q: You ran a 4.6 and you put up a 37.5-inch vertical in Indy. Were those the types of numbers you expected going in?
A: Honestly, I thought I would run faster and jump higher, but things don’t always work out the way you want it. But I’m working hard and I’ll get another shot at my pro day.
Q: How is your blocking coming along?
A: My blocking is actually coming along great. Putting on those extra pounds definitely helped me with my explosiveness coming out of my stance and striking the [opponent]. I’m starting to get my muscle back . I started at 240, but it fluctuated during the season. Doing a better job with that has helped me with my blocking.
Q: In a typical week, how many hours of film study would you put in?
A: About an hour outside of meetings every day. We would usually meet for about an hour and a half, two hours and then after practice, I’d get on my iPad and I would watch all the routes from there, my blocking technique in competitive situations. I would watch that stuff all over again and critique myself, as coach Owens instructed me when we first met. After a game, I’m watching myself in my apartment on my iPad as well just trying to grade myself on my technique.
Q: What’s part of your game are people not talking about as much as they should?
A: My explosiveness. I feel like I can make a play at any time in the game—no matter the coverage, the matter the concept. If my job is to open up a teammate, I’m going to do that to my best capability. If my job is to score a touchdown, I’m going to do that the same way. I feel that’s an underrated part of my game because most tight ends are solely blockers or solely receivers and I feel like I’m more of a complete tight end.
Q: How do you stack up against the top tight end’s in this year’s class and what makes you unique?
A: I try not to worry about the other tight ends in this class. I’m being a professional now. I’m just trying to focus on bringing out the best of me…getting my brand out there and continuing to create and build on myself. But again, I have the ability to be a complete tight end. I feel like I’m the best of both worlds. I give my best effort and willingness to block and also I’m going to run away from dudes and score. So, to put it simply: I feel I’m the total package.
Q: I saw the name Eric Ebron up on you bio. Is he the guy you study most when you’re watching NFL games?
A: No, he’s not. I watch mostly the NFL Hall-of-Fame tight ends Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez. Ebron is a good athlete, but I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite. He’s been in the league what? Three years? I study more proven tight ends in the game collecting those national honors, pro bowls, etc. But overall, I do study a lot of tight ends. I try to emulate a lot of guys.
Q: I’m sure you heard about the Packers signing a new tight end that just won a Super Bowl title. What are your thoughts about Marty B.?
A: I think Martellus Bennett is a great tight end. I feel that was a great move for Green Bay to make. Martellus, he’s been traded a bunch of times too. Hopefully, when I get drafted, I can stay in one spot if I can. Martellus is definitely a complete tight end. I was watching some game last year where he was scoring 3 touchdowns and then some other games where he was just blocking.
Q: I read somewhere that you’re a Seattle Seahawks fan. Is that accurate?
A: I did grow up a Seahawks fan, but I really don’t know who my favorite team is at this point.
Q: How many teams have reached out to you?
A: I’ve talked to just about all the teams since the Senior Bowl.
Q: What is your greatest college memory?
A: That would be graduating college.
Q: Ok Gerald, this is the segment where I’ll ask you some non-football questions. First up, what is your favorite meal?
A: I’m a pasta type of guy. It could be rollatini; it could be [Fettucine] Alfredo. I like all kinds of Italian food. I would say some sort of flat bread and pasta combination.
Q: What type of music do you listen to before game time?
A: The morning of the game, the playlist is selected along with my roommate. We got a compilation of what we want to hear when we’re waking up and getting going before the start of the day. It could be a mix of things. Some Kid Cudi and some R&B. Whatever we’re feeling that morning.
Q: What is you dream vacation spot?
A: Probably either South America or the Dominican Republic.
Q: Who is your favorite non-football athlete?
A: Usain Bolt.
Q: What are three or four words that best describe you as an individual, a player and a teammate?
A: Outgoing, intensity, competitive and relentless.
Ralph: Thanks for giving me a few minutes, Gerald. Good luck on your pro day and good luck on your career in the NFL.
Gerald: Thank you, Ralph. Thank you for having me.