Green Bay Packers 2017 Draft: Interview with Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine

Q: As a four-star recruit out of Hendrickson High School in Texas, you had multiple scholarship offers from Alabama, Nebraska, TCU and Tennessee to name a few. Why did you choose Oklahoma?

A: Once I took my official visit, and even my unofficial visit, it just felt like home for me. It felt like somewhere I could really grow and it just felt like family. Once I felt that the first time, I really couldn’t turn in down.

Q: Can you talk a bit about your offense under Lincoln Riley, who is one of the rising young stars in the coaching profession? When he was hired as your new offensive coordinator a couple of years ago, lots of people saw him as a pass-happy Mike Leach clone, but your team continued to do quite a bit of running.

A: Once he came to our campus, he brought us in…the running backs that is. He told us if the run game is working, we’re not going to stop using it. He said we’re definitely going to run the ball from day one. He was a man of his word. It took us a while to get used to the new running style. But once we got used to it, we kind of got on a roll and no one would really stop us. We were still dangerous on the perimeter. You know, with the backs we had, it made us a two-headed monster and we were hard to stop.

Q: What about your former head coach Bob Stoops? There’s someone that could have had a number of NFL jobs if he chose to and always seems to earn double-digit wins every year. What’s the secret to his success?

A: I really can’t tell you. He’s just a no-nonsense type of guy. He’s a fantastic coach…a fantastic person. I feel like the way he runs the program, he doesn’t take anything for granted and he doesn’t allow people to take things for granted. He’s always on edge and he expects the best out of everyone and that just bleeds right down to the players.

They feel that it makes them want to go out and work as hard as they can because they see him working as hard as he can. It’s just a continued rotation of hard work and reaping the benefits. If you don’t work hard, unfortunately it’s going to show on the field. He’s very upbeat. He’s one of those guys that when you come to his team, you’re coming to a top-tier program from the head coach down and that’s how he likes to run his ship.

Q: What are you going to remember most from your years in Norman, OK?

A: Just the family aspect. I just felt like everyone was family from the coaches they have to the players to the assistants. That’s how we did things. No one was above anyone else. If you were a starter, you would get into the same amount of trouble as if you were third string.

Q: Let’s fast forward to the start of your offseason. What were your goals in preparing for the pre-draft season?

A: I really don’t carry any goals into the next chapter of my life. I just go in open-minded, keep my head down and just work. I’m just going to continue to work as hard as I can and whatever happens after that is out of my control. But I’ve really been happy with the progress that I’ve made over these past couple of months. I’m just still continuing to get better each day by working on the little things and I’m excited about it. But I don’t have any specific expectations.

Q: Was there one part of your game that you zeroed in on in preparing for all of the meetings and offseason events that lied ahead?

A: I knew they were going to have questions about my ability to catch, so I put a big emphasis on that. I’m working out in California and just going over some basic passing drills with my running back coach down there. I wanted to make sure I had that down pat. I knew questions were going to be raised about that, so I wanted to put those questions to rest as soon as possible.

Q: You are one of the premiere power runners in this draft class. Can you describe what it feels like to lower your shoulder into another man and just bury him?

A: There really isn’t any other feeling like it. Knowing that you could physically impose your will on a defender and there isn’t much they can do about it…that’s really what I pride myself on. If you’re in front of me, I’m going to get at least 3 or 4 yards no matter if I’m getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage or whatever.

I’m going to get positive yards out of whatever opportunity that I get and that’s my bread and butter right there. I love doing it, but I can’t really explain the feeling because there really isn’t a feeling like it. It just comes so naturally and whenever I do it, it’s just like there’s goes another one down.

Q: Do you feel as if some people may be overlooking other parts of your game, such as your vision?

A: I mean, I thought so, but, you know, at the combine, that’s one of the things that teams saw…my ability to see holes and get to them. As of now, people aren’t overlooking that as much. It’s still probably overlooked a little, but that’s something I’ll have to see when I get drafted.

Q: As you know, I write for a Green Bay Packers site and we just lost our best power back in Eddie Lacy. Is he someone you watched on Sundays?

A: I really don’t watch much football, but I would watch his highlights on YouTube. He’s a very, very physical downhill type of guy, but he can make you miss and that’s kind of what I try to base my game on. If we are in the open field, I’ll try to make you miss, but that’s not my go-to thing. I feel like he’s the same way. If he’s in the open field, he’ll try to make you miss with his spin move, but he has no problems going through you. He’s probably one of the best backs to watch in doing that…him and Marshawn Lynch.

Q: What are your thoughts on being asked to play special teams…at least at the start of your career?

A: My freshman year, I played on kickoffs, punt returns and punts. I absolutely loved kickoffs. It was probably my favorite thing I had to do.

Q: You were absolutely phenomenal is the bench-press event during the combine. Was cranking out 30 reps the plan going in?

A: Actually, during my training, I would continue to do 32, 33 reps, but I strained my pec at the combine at rep 25. So, once I got to 30, I decided that was that. I tried to get one more, but my pec was hurting kind of bad.

Q: So, you could have even reached 35 if not for the pec issue?

A: Oh yeah, definitely.

Q: Were you content with all of your other combine and pro day numbers outside of the bench press?

A: Most of them. I wasn’t really happy with my 40, but I don’t really want to make any excuses. But with a strained pec, I really couldn’t open up like I wanted to. But I got a better time (4.59) at my pro day. It still wasn’t what I wanted, but it was better than what I ran at the combine (4.66). The 40 isn’t everything. Game speed and 40 speed are two totally different things, so I just take it with a grain of salt and I’ll show everything I can do on the field.

Q: Can you share what teams are having you do on your scheduled visits and private workouts in terms of drawing up plays on the white board and breaking down film?

A: It’s real simple stuff. Most of them have said that they’ve pretty much seen what they’ve needed to see on film. They just wanted to sit down and get to know me as a person because football-wise, they think with a little bit of work, I can be special. We’ll typically go over a couple of defensive blitzes to see how I would pick them up and then they tell me how they pick them up. It’s been really simple stuff, so I really can’t complain about that.

Q: What are your thoughts on the lack of attention you’re getting with all that’s being said about your former teammate Joe Mixon?

A: I really don’t want the attention. I know that whoever gets me, is getting a hard worker. I feel like I’m going to get picked up regardless. So, wherever that is, it really doesn’t matter to me as long as I get on a team and continue to live out my dream. It’s all going to work out in the end.

Q: Can you weigh in on the intangibles you bring to an NFL team? How are you as a teammate?

A: That would probably be the best compliment I get from my team is when I hear how good of a teammate I am. I’m selfless. It’s always about team and that’s not going to change wherever I go. Whatever I can do for a team to help it win…I’m going to do it. Whether it’s running the ball on offense, running down kickoffs, getting tackles, running down punts or blocking, I’m going to do it. I’m not going to hesitate. And if I don’t have enough experience, I’m going to go to people from whom I can learn things and just be the best that I can be.

Q: Who are some of the pro guys you’ve admired over the years?

A: If I had to choose, I would say either Marshawn Lynch or Adrian Peterson.

Q: Ok Samaje, I’m going to hit you with some non-football questions. What is your favorite meal?

A: You know, I never had a favorite meal growing up. Whatever my grandmother made was extremely good. My favorite meal was whatever my grandmother made that day.

Q: What is your favorite movie of all time?

A: Either Avatar and Lord of the Rings.

Q: What is your favorite activity away from the gridiron?

A: I love cars. I’m in the shop right getting some stuff done to my car and I love to watch COPS.

Q: Who is your favorite non-football athlete?

A: Usain Bolt.

Q: Can you give me three or four words that best describe you as an individual, a player and a teammate?

A: Humble, hard worker and leader by example.

Ralph: Great stuff, Samaje. Thanks for the time. Hopefully you’ll be in a Packers’ uniform soon.

Samaje: Haha. I appreciate it, man.

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