Inside the Combine Interview Room | Giants Life | New York Giants

0:00 Do you wear contacts during games?

0:02 No, sir.

0:02 These these aren't opport

0:07 I was at the Georgia.

0:07 You wear them in pregame, too, right?

0:09 Yeah.

0:09 Let me see.

0:10 So, you wear you you were out there like haul some Rex BS

0:15 What do you think?

0:17 We got to rub these get cleaner out

0:19 there in pregame just for Yeah, that's my style.

0:26 All right.

0:41 What's up?

0:41 How you doing?

0:42 Good.

0:42 You as we headed into day two, um,

0:45 you know, we're we're talking through different scenarios.

0:48 It's an opportunity to, you know, acquire more draft picks.

0:51 So, Colton Hood was our our top guy on the board going into day two.

0:55 If he was there, we were going to turn the card in.

0:57 If not, we had, you know,

0:58 a few options to to move back into the second round and acquire some more picks.

1:03 All right.

1:03 So, right now, we'll move back 42 or 41.

1:07 I just want to check back in with you still

1:09 what you were talking if you guys decide to do it.

1:11 I'm just writing some of these down.

1:12 Two fourths and a fifth.

1:14 That's pretty good.

1:15 But you're going back further.

1:16 Hello.

1:17 Yeah, let me uh let me see who's there

1:19 and uh then I'll I'll give you a shout back.

1:21 We're getting we're taking some calls right now.

1:23 So, we're probably going to entertain uh getting out and moving back.

1:26 118 128 157 Las Vegas has traded at pick six.

1:30 Houston is on the clock.

1:32 You got Hood's number ready.

1:33 Okay.

1:34 When we got to pick 37 and Colton Hood was there.

1:36 It was an easy decision for us.

1:37 It's it's a scenario that we had walked through and spent a lot of time

1:40 on throughout the day and you know we're

1:42 we're happy to get Colton, you know, pick 37.

1:45 Houston has submitted a pick.

1:46 The New York Giants are on the clock.

1:51 Okay, let's go.

1:51 Colton, what's going on?

1:52 Joe Shane here.

1:54 What's good?

1:54 What's good?

1:55 What's good, Mr.

1:56 Oh man, I'm fired up.

1:58 We're going to turn the card in here and make you a New York Giant.

2:00 How's that sound?

2:02 That sounds great.

2:02 Oh, shoot.

2:03 A dream come true.

2:05 Yeah, tell me about it, man.

2:06 You you you being there at the uh the fifth pick

2:08 in the second round is a dream come true for us.

2:10 So, we're fired up to uh to get you and I'm

2:13 going to hand the phone over here to Coach Harbaugh right now,

2:15 but really excited to have you and looking forward to getting here tomorrow.

2:18 Okay.

2:19 Yes, sir.

2:20 Thank you, coach.

2:21 All right.

2:21 You're welcome.

2:21 Here's Coach Harbaugh.

2:23 Colton, congratulations.

2:26 Thank you, coach.

2:26 Thank you.

2:27 I appreciate you.

2:28 We're fired up.

2:28 You got Are you there at home with a bunch of family and friends?

2:32 You got people there.

2:33 Is everybody happy?

2:35 Yes, sir.

2:36 They're happy.

2:36 Oh, we were so happy for you, man.

2:39 Hey, that's okay.

2:40 It's all right.

2:41 Let it go.

2:42 Let it go.

2:44 I appreciate you, coach.

2:45 You'll get the best out of me.

2:47 You'll get the best out of me.

2:48 I promise.

2:49 You've had a good road, man.

2:50 You've earned this.

2:50 You've earned it.

2:51 It's your time.

2:52 It's your time.

2:52 We're going to see you soon.

2:53 We can't wait.

2:55 We had a chance to get to know Colton through the process and uh so much class,

2:59 so much determination.

3:00 He's a great fit and uh he's got tremendous ball skills.

3:03 He's a great press corner.

3:04 He's a willing tackler.

3:05 He's fast.

3:06 More than that, it's kind of his grit, his toughness, his uh his determination.

3:10 Those are the things that we really appreciated.

3:13 Try to figure out a way to get back up to our fields somewhere.

3:16 At whichever it cost us next year, it' be worth it.

3:19 Yeah.

3:20 All right.

3:20 How do we get back up now?

3:22 Well, as soon as we got done uh with the pick on Colton Hood,

3:25 right away we were talking about how do we get Malachi?

3:28 We knew we didn't pick again till the fourth round.

3:31 Uh we were all very certain that he was not going to be there when we picked.

3:35 So, we had to start strategizing.

3:38 See how we get back in here,

3:40 you know.

3:40 So, we started calling some teams and, you know, it was no, no, no, no.

3:44 And then, you know, eventually, you know, Cleveland was willing to do a deal.

3:47 Hey, buddy.

3:48 I know you got a bunch of picks here coming up.

3:51 Um, I'm going to run something by here playing our guys better.

3:55 It was really good value for a player that we

3:57 coveted and it was a need and, you know,

3:59 a different body type with a catch radius.

4:01 Uh, that'll certainly help our football team.

4:03 All right, they're good.

4:15 Man, congratulations.

4:15 We're proud to have you.

4:17 I I appreciate it.

4:18 about to be a Giants.

4:20 Yeah, we are too.

4:21 We are too.

4:21 Well, we'll get you uh we'll get you on the horn here a little bit.

4:24 We'll get you fly in here tomorrow.

4:25 That way you can come to the facility

4:27 and look forward to catching up with you tomorrow.

4:29 Okay, sounds good.

4:30 I'll see you all then.

4:31 Is everybody happy there?

4:35 Absolutely.

4:34 The New York Football Giants just got a great player and a great guy.

4:37 Can't wait to see you.

4:39 I appreciate that.

4:39 I can't wait.

4:40 All right.

4:40 Enjoy the evening.

4:41 We'll see you tomorrow to uh to get a chance to trade back up a whole round.

4:44 Uh it wasn't cheap, but it it was definitely worth it.

4:48 and uh we got the player that we wanted.

4:50 Good fit, guy we needed.

4:52 Uh another high character person, just a great fit for our football team,

4:56 what we're looking for in terms of a receiver right now.

4:59 Uh he's got a lot of intangibles.

5:01 He's tough.

5:01 He's hard-nosed.

5:02 He's he's overcome a lot of adversity.

5:04 Uh he's had great success.

5:05 He's a leader, former quarterback, only played wide receiver for two years.

5:09 Above all, he's he's a contested catch, go get the ball kind of guy.

5:12 Made some phenomenal catches.

5:14 And probably the most important thing for a receiver is what?

5:17 You know, catch the ball when it's thrown to you.

5:19 That's really important.

5:21 WOW.

5:22 WHAT AN EFFORT BY FIELDS.

5:35 Good to meet you, brother.

5:36 Good to meet you, too, bro.

5:40 Shoot, man.

5:40 It's It's been crazy.

5:42 Um, just seeing all the love from the fans and, you know, just,

5:45 you know, all the love from family

5:47 members and friends just pouring pouring into me.

5:49 You know, I'm I'm excited to be here, you know, and show show what I can do.

5:53 It's just surreal.

5:54 I kind of still am like in shock, you know what I'm saying?

5:57 Like, I'm about to play for the New York Giants.

5:59 So, I mean, yeah, it's definitely a shock to me still,

6:03 but, you know, I'm also ready to get in and get to work.

6:06 You know what I'm saying?

6:07 I'm I'm I'm ecstatic.

6:11 Show up.

6:11 going on, man.

6:13 Congratulations.

6:14 Good.

6:14 Yes, sir.

6:14 I'll see you.

6:16 You shouldn't pay it.

6:18 Congratulations.

6:19 Yeah.

6:20 Welcome.

6:20 How you doing, Joe Shane?

6:21 Hey, nice to meet you.

6:22 Hey, nice to meet you.

6:27 Fired up.

6:29 Fired up.

6:30 You

6:30 guys ready?

6:31 Smile for the cameras here.

6:32 Do it.

6:33 Did you guys do your press conferences yet?

6:36 Absolutely.

6:37 No, this is crazy.

6:37 just, you know, walking in, seeing the trophies,

6:39 seeing the the guys that have been here,

6:41 that have been through here is just a blessing.

6:43 I'm super excited for it.

6:44 So, let's do it.

6:52 It's important for us to interview these guys at the combine.

6:54 You know, it's a lot of times it's

6:56 our first exposure when we go through the schools.

6:58 We don't have the opportunity when you go to Miami or Ohio State to, you know,

7:02 to get in front of these kids and and have conversations with them.

7:05 So the tape is one thing and evaluating the talent,

7:07 but then also evaluating the person and and knowing the type of, you know,

7:11 football character and personal character that we're bringing into the building.

7:14 How you doing?

7:15 Good to meet you.

7:16 Great to meet you, man.

7:17 Thanks for joining us, sir.

7:18 Of course.

7:19 Appreciate it.

7:19 Yes, sir.

7:20 It's a dream right here.

7:21 Dream.

7:21 It's a dream for us, too.

7:23 We're seeing you play.

7:24 Yes, sir.

7:24 Thank

7:25 How's it going so far?

7:26 It's been good.

7:26 It's been a process, but enjoying.

7:29 Good.

7:29 Football, right?

7:30 Oh, yeah.

7:30 You like football?

7:31 Absolutely.

7:31 Love it.

7:32 Love it.

7:32 It's a better answer.

7:34 Appreciate that.

7:35 All right, just starters.

7:36 What's uh tell me best moment at Ohio State.

7:39 Best moment?

7:41 Yeah.

7:42 Losing my black stripe.

7:43 It's like tradition there.

7:44 That's like when you get fully accepted into the team

7:47 or like earn your way on the team.

7:48 So I say losing my black stripe.

7:50 That was my freshman year.

7:51 I got there in the summer.

7:53 Fall camp started like August 2nd and I lost to blackstripe like August 18th.

7:58 That wasn't long.

7:59 Yeah, somewhere around.

8:00 What' you do?

8:01 Just playing hard and fast.

8:04 Okay.

8:04 There's a lot of things you do as well or better than anybody in the draft,

8:07 but the one that stands out is your ability to stay square in protection.

8:10 Who taught you and how have you mastered the ability to stay co since day one?

8:17 Did I stay square?

8:18 Could be anybody.

8:20 What's your strongest trait as a receiver?

8:22 I would say just big big catches.

8:25 uh you know tracking the ball down the field and making a play on the ball,

8:28 but those contested catches or like yeah a big block this spring running back.

8:34 I'll say you I mean you're one of the best

8:36 blockers I've ever looked at from from college.

8:39 I appreciate that.

8:40 You take really really great pride in the

8:43 Now you always the boundary sometimes to the field.

8:45 Which side do you play?

8:45 Right, left?

8:46 I didn't really play it.

8:47 So I usually just depending on who's the best guy.

8:49 I coach made me go to the best guy.

8:51 You follow the best guy?

8:52 Yes, sir.

8:52 Even in the slot.

8:53 Yeah.

8:53 That's what we like to hear.

8:55 Three things that you like the best about football.

8:58 I like the competition that come with it.

9:00 I like competing in the weight room and just everything around there.

9:04 I like I love the weight room.

9:06 I like the I like the I like the violence of football.

9:09 Did you know it was a touchdown right now?

9:11 Oh yeah.

9:13 But I didn't I didn't want to touch I wanted to hit somebody

9:17 showing up hitting them center mass getting

9:19 the guy down and then do your little celebration.

9:21 You didn't do it on this one, but can you walk us through your celebration?

9:24 Is it ski master or is this is this a hoodie?

9:26 Cuz you know my last name hood, so I throw the hoodie on.

9:31 Sweet.

9:30 Sweet.

9:30 That's ski mask first.

9:33 You thought it was good.

9:33 That's a prank right there.

9:35 That's excellent.

9:36 Do you wear contacts during games?

9:38 No, sir.

9:38 These these aren't secure.

9:40 I just wear them.

9:41 That's my stuff.

9:43 I was at the Georgia.

9:43 You wear them in pregame, too, right?

9:45 Yeah.

9:45 Let me see.

9:46 So, you wear you were out there like hauling some Rex BS.

9:50 Yeah.

9:50 They were caught.

9:51 What do you think?

9:53 We got to rub these get cleaner on there right there in pregame just for

9:59 Yeah, that's my style.

10:01 All right.

10:03 What questions you got for us?

10:04 What do y'all like to do outside of football?

10:07 Nothing.

10:07 Nothing.

10:07 We got nothing all the time.

10:10 Football and family.

10:11 That's it.

10:12 I hear that.

10:13 I love your film, man.

10:13 I love the way you play this game.

10:15 Great.

10:16 Great job.

10:18 Outstanding.

10:18 The scouting system doesn't really change much despite a new coaching staff.

10:23 You know, what change most for us a lot of times is, you know,

10:26 the schematically, you know,

10:27 what the coaches are looking for in terms of specific physical traits,

10:31 you know, certain size requirements, length requirements,

10:34 and then what are you going to ask the athletes to do?

10:36 So, really still just evaluating the football players for who they are and then

10:39 how they'll fit into any type of new scheme that we may have.

10:46 Colton Hood and and Malachi Fields were both Senior Bowl participants.

10:49 The feedback from the scouts was was tremendous.

10:51 Those were two of the better players down there.

10:57 My Senior Bowl experience, it was pretty cool.

10:59 It was fun just being with the best guys in the country all in one spot,

11:03 being able to compete and then having all those different personalities

11:06 from different receiver rooms all over the country in one spot.

11:09 So, it was definitely a fun time.

11:11 I pride myself in being the competitor.

11:13 Um, you know, I probably with my draft so

11:15 I didn't have to go to the Senior Bowl.

11:16 It was something that I wanted to go do and a chance to go compete.

11:19 That's where I want to be at.

11:20 You know what I'm saying?

11:20 Because I want to be great.

11:21 You know, anytime there's a ball out there,

11:22 I want to go show I'm the best and show how I can,

11:24 you know, be the best out there.

11:26 So, definitely that.

11:27 Watching both those guys go up against some

11:28 of the the best players in the country,

11:30 it was evident that, you know,

11:31 they're both very good football players and their skill

11:33 set's going to easily transition into the next level.

11:40 Let me start out by asking you this.

11:41 Why did you decide to take part today?

11:43 What did you want to What did you want to show that you hadn't shown already,

11:46 whether it be on tape or at the combine?

11:47 I decided to um participate today just because, you know,

11:51 it's something that was a part of my game,

11:52 pass rush, that I didn't get to do it at the combine.

11:54 So, I just wanted to knock it out today.

12:02 There you go.

12:13 There it is.

12:14 The benefits of prodays for, you know, myself and my staff,

12:17 if there are players that you haven't seen uh

12:19 move around or catch a ball or hit a sled,

12:22 whatever it may be, you're able to do that at pro days.

12:24 You know, observe the players as as they're working, you know,

12:27 the proday with their teammates and are they cheering them on?

12:29 Are they first in line?

12:30 you know, there's, you know,

12:31 we're evaluating all that stuff and at the end of the day, all that information,

12:35 the culmination of it, when we get to April, you know,

12:37 helps us set our board and and make those decisions.

12:40 Finish finish.

12:42 You know, my resume is my my game film.

12:44 I'm just here to have fun.

12:47 It's so surreal just being in it right now.

12:49 Just being able to, you know, live out my dream.

12:51 You know, that little kid that was in his room looking at the ceiling,

12:54 just thinking about what what it could be, you know, just being here now.

12:57 Definitely.

12:57 Um, it's surreal.

12:59 Turn it.

13:00 Good.

13:04 Come to see it.

13:04 How you doing, man?

13:05 Great seeing you.

13:05 I'm so great.

13:06 Great job out there, man.

13:08 You feel good?

13:08 Yeah, I feel good.

13:09 Got to work on it, though.

13:11 Kind of new to me, but I'm going to work on that, though.

13:13 You always got to work on it, man.

13:14 You got to be working for the rest of your life, right?

13:16 Work on everything.

13:17 Got to That's what you told me on interview.

13:19 Nothing else matters.

13:20 Go into camp and go play football, right?

13:23 Sorry.

13:23 It's good advice.

13:24 Good advice.

13:25 Me, I love the best.

13:28 Oh,

13:29 yeah.

13:29 There's that smile.

13:30 That's it.

13:30 Every day I saw I make him smile.

13:32 It's like he's like, "Go just be yourself."

13:34 You know, go enjoy it, right?

13:35 Enjoy the process.

13:36 You only get to do this once.

13:38 You did like when you came into our place, man.

13:40 You seem like you enjoying yourself.

13:41 You know, just being you.

13:43 Mhm.

13:44 It's all I know how to do.

13:45 Be me.

13:45 That's it.

13:47 Hey, everybody else is taking, right?

13:48 Got to be you.

13:49 Everybody else taking you is good enough.

13:51 You was good enough.

13:53 Yeah.

13:53 last round.

13:55 Well, we had an unusual day three because we had the three sixth round picks.

13:58 We ended up not having a fourth round pick, not having a fifth round pick.

14:01 So, we were we were waiting.

14:03 Las Vegas is on the clock.

14:07 We had talked about trading up into the fifth maybe,

14:09 but it didn't make sense when we were looking

14:11 at the players and who who would be there in the sixth.

14:13 So, we we sat tight.

14:15 Cleveland has submitted a six.

14:17 Arizona is on the clock.

14:19 Day three uh success is really important.

14:20 And I mean, when anytime that those guys make the team or become starters,

14:25 it's just a massive uh influx for your team.

14:27 It just makes your team better.

14:29 Very intentional about that.

14:30 And also about roles.

14:31 You want to make sure those guys have roles

14:34 that you can clearly define where they're going to contribute,

14:38 what they're going to do, how they're going to make the team.

14:41 Uh do they have a chance to start?

14:42 Do they have a special teams role?

14:44 Uh what's their role going to be?

14:49 Bobby, hey, it's Joe Shane with the Giants.

14:51 How you doing?

14:52 Yes, sir.

14:53 Everything good?

14:55 Yes, sir.

14:56 Awesome.

14:56 Awesome.

14:56 Well, you ready to be a New York Giant.

14:58 You know, the three players we were able to acquire in the the sixth round.

15:02 You know, we're certainly guys that, you know,

15:03 we coveted in terms of Bobby Jameson, Travis.

15:06 There's a tremendous uh need for some Dlinemen and, you know,

15:10 we're able to get a big body in.

15:12 Looking at the positional need,

15:13 I understand that it would be nice to bring in a tackle.

15:15 Most talented might be JC Davis.

15:18 I feel better about JC after being around him.

15:20 Davis is has more talent in his body.

15:22 I agree with that.

15:23 Hey, congratulations, JC.

15:26 Hey, hey, thank you.

15:27 Thank you.

15:27 You're welcome.

15:28 We're we're we're happy.

15:29 We're proud to have you on board, man.

15:31 And then, you know, offensive line, you can never have enough of those guys.

15:33 And JC Davis is a guy that that we liked out of Illinois.

15:36 We had in on a 30 visit.

15:37 You know, JC's ability to play tackle.

15:39 We also think he could play guard.

15:40 So, some some versatility there and, you know, developmental upside.

15:44 You guys all like Kelly, right?

15:47 Right, bro.

15:47 Convicted.

15:48 Big big mean guy.

15:50 What's wrong?

15:50 Hit people.

15:51 I mean, based on based on what we got right now,

15:54 I think this dude come in uh he'll compete.

15:56 He'll compete to make it.

15:58 Um you can you can get something out of Hey Jack, it's Coach Harbs.

16:01 Congratulations.

16:03 Thank you so much.

16:04 I appreciate you, coach.

16:05 We're excited.

16:06 We cannot wait to see you get in here and be great.

16:08 How's that sound?

16:09 Hey, that sounds phenomenal.

16:10 Jack Kelly, you know, uber productive player at Weaver State and BYU,

16:15 you know, 31 and a half career sacks,

16:17 plays off the ball, has played off the edge, and then,

16:20 you know, projects to be a really good special teams player.

16:22 It was easy to come up with a vision where you can see those guys, you know,

16:25 making the team and and helping us contribute whether it's 2026 or, you know,

16:29 if it's developmental year, you know, into 2027, 2028.

16:32 So, clear vision for all those players and excited to get them.

16:38 Good job, guys.

16:39 Guys, good weekend.