Packers 2017 Draft: Interview with LSU DT Davon Godchaux

Q: What can you tell me about yesterday’s pro day? Word is you moved around pretty well and you also improved your bench reps from 18 to 22.

A: It was pretty good. It felt good to be on the football field. I was feeling comfortable moving around coming off my hamstring pull at the combine. It was really good to go out there and compete. My combine wasn’t my best performance. I wasn’t all the way healthy, but it felt good to be back at LSU yesterday.

Q: Would you say you’re more of a power player or speed player?

A: Kind of both. I think I have the tangibles of both speed and power. That’s the difference between me and other linemen in this draft class. I think I have speed and power, while the others only display one. I think I’m a three-down player in the running game and the passing game.

Q: You played in a lot of different positions, including 3-technique, 5-technique, nose tackle and even a bit on the outside. What can you tell me about your versatility?

A: I can play any position. I can play shade 1 technique or 5-technique in the 3-4…it really doesn’t matter. I’ve been taught many techniques.

Q: How was it like growing up in Louisiana? Was football your first love?

A: I just used football to get away from trouble in my life. I had a rough background growing up, so football was my escape to help me get away and stay focused. I just wanted to do the right thing.

Q: You missed almost your entire senior season while you were at Plaquemine High School. What triggered that?

A: I tore my ACL and LCL in my senior year and didn’t play any football.

Q: Do you feel that a lot of the big names from the SEC at your position have overshadowed you during the pre-draft process?

A: Definitely. I think I’m just as good as those guys or better. So, that’s my mindset towards what I do. If you ask me who’s the best defensive lineman in the draft, I will say it’s me. That’s the type of competitor I am and that’s how confident I am in myself. I’ve always been overlooked and underrated, but I use that as motivation. Once it comes time for us to start playing again, put the pads on and do what we do, I will use all that as motivation. I’ll use that as a chip on my shoulder.

Q: How would you normally prepare for an opponent when you were playing at LSU?

A: I look at tendencies. I look at formations. I talk to the linebackers to see what they think and I’ll communicate my thoughts and ideas to my defensive line coach Pete Jenkins. I’ll tell him what I see and he’ll tell me what he sees. We’ll talk about my stance and pad level. We’ll talk about rocket calls and heavy sets. We’ll try to look for the other teams favorite formations and what they like to run out of those formations. So, we look at all that and break it down.

Q: What was it like playing with so much pro-level talent on defense with guys like Tre’Davious White, Jamal Adams, Kendell Beckwith, Arden Key, etc.?

A: It made my job easy playing with guys like Arden Key. You know, when you got a guy like Key coming, it made it easier to get a little penetration. It was fun having guys like Jamal, Kendell, Tre’ Davious…all guys that are going to be playing in the league for 10-plus years in my opinion. But, at the same time, we were all competing. We all wanted to get the best out of each other.

Q: What can you recall about playing those night games in Tiger Stadium?

A: Oh, there’s nothing like it. It’s the best stadium in America. There’s no stadium like it in the NFL or college. It was a blessing to run out there with the coaching staff. We had a lot of great times. I’m going to miss walking out of that tunnel and getting those goosebumps in those night games versus Alabama, Ole Miss or in any of those big rivalries. Just walking out and hearing 102,000 people screaming your name…it’s crazy. You remember running out there and playing with your brothers in the great state of Louisiana…that’s what I’m going to miss the most.

Q: How have you improved overall from your freshman year until now?

A: Maturity. I would say by taking care of all my responsibilities and understanding my role and accepting it. It’s just knowing that I have to do my job because I have 10 other guys out there depending on me to do my job. It’ll be the same way at the next level. I will have 10 other guys depending on me to feed their families and I’m here to feed my family also. You have to be accountable and responsible.

Q: How much fun was it playing under head coach Ed Orgeron?

A: I loved it. It was exciting. I loved every moment of it. I remember him always pushing me. When I first came to LSU, I thought he was crazy…I kid you not. I remember the stuff he had us doing, but you know, it made me who I am today and it made those guys that left a whole lot better. I practiced under 100-degree Louisiana sun, but we were out there gettin’ it and it made us better. It made us all machines. What we did yesterday in pro day…we would be doing the same things in 95-degree weather. Outside in Louisiana, we did that all the time in practice. Coach “O” always pushed us and always wanted the best for us. He treated us like his kids.

Q: Who are some of the guys you like watching in the pros?

A: I like Gerald McCoy; he’s a pretty good 3-technique. I studied a lot of Michael Bennett’s pass-rush moves when he was playing inside. I really don’t study a lot of people. But then you also have guys with an insane motor like J.J. Watt and Fletcher Cox. I don’t see a lot of guys, but those are a few.

Q: Now that you’ve been through the long process of all the training, the combine and your pro day, what are your expectations?

A: I think I’m a Day 2 guy…probably a mid-to-late third-round guy. These next couple of weeks, I have some visits. At the end of the day, you’ll only need one team to fall in love with you.

Q: Ok Davon, here comes the fun part where you get to answer some non-football questions. The first question is, what is your favorite meal?

A: Seafood pasta.

Q: Who is the person you admire most outside of football?

A: My mom considering all the things she’s been through and all the things she’s overcome.

Q: Who is your favorite non-football athlete?

A: Russell Westbrook.

Q: What is your favorite movie of all time?

A: Friday After Next.

Q: Is that the second of the series?

A: No, the third.

Q: There are so many, I keep losing track. What do you listen to before a game?

A: I like a rapper called Lucci. I like a little bit of Kanye; a little bit of Young Thug and Drake…of course Drake, the best rapper around. I listen to Lil’ Wayne, but for the most part Drake a lot. I’m a huge fan of his and I can’t forget about Future.

Q: What is your dream vacation spot?

A: Dubai. I’ve never been there, but everybody talks about how great it is.

Q: Which female celebrity would you love going on a dream dinner-date with?

A: Jennifer Lopez.

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

A: Confident, passionate, responsible, a leader and hard-working.

Next: 2017 NFL Draft: Consensus rankings for every position

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