Jalen Reeves-Maybin comments on being drafted by the Detroit Lions

Shortly after being selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Jalen Reeves-Maybin met with the media. Here’s what he had to say.

On his draft experience and who he expected to select him: “You know, it’s a long process and you don’t really know who’s going to contact you. So just kind of sitting around with some family that’s close to me, waiting on that call and when the number popped up I kind of knew who it was.”

On how much contact he had with the Lions during the pre-draft process: “I had some contact with them through the process. It wasn’t like anything, a straight number of visits or nothing. I never came up there. I definitely thought they were interested in me and I was very fortunate.”

On the status of his recent shoulder injury: “It’s doing really good. It kind of bothered me this past year, but it’s behind me now and I’m just looking forward to the season and getting to play football.”

On why he insisted on playing special teams in college: “My freshman year I struggled a little bit kind of breaking it in on defense. I started making plays on special teams and I feel like that was something that our whole team identified with over my four years. It was kind of all fall in on special teams. It just feels like something that was a part of me. On certain units I feel like there was no one that could play the position better than me.”

On if special teams experience gives him an advantage when trying to win a roster spot in the NFL: “I’m hoping that it will pay off, but it’s going to be a new experience. So I’m going to have to learn new things, but I definitely have the mindset and the willingness to be on all specials stuff.”

On which linebacker position his defensive skills match best: “It doesn’t really matter to me. I’ve always prided myself on just being a well-rounded football player, no matter what it was. I don’t know how much you all know about me, but I was a high school quarterback, so I just always prided myself on being able to play everything on the football field. Wherever position they put me in, no matter what linebacker spot, I feel like I can compete.”

On the impact his father had on his athletic development having been a former Louisville basketball player: “It’s really funny. My dad’s whole side of the family is athletes. My cousin is actually Cameron Maybin, who the (Detroit) Tigers drafted coming out of high school. I guess they got rid of him.”

On if he ever made it to Detroit for a Tigers game: “Me and Cameron, we have a really good relationship. He’s from North Carolina, I grew up in Tennessee, but we’re still pretty close. He actually sent me a text, so I’m definitely going to have to hit him up to tell me about Detroit.”

On if he played baseball growing up: “Yeah, I played baseball my whole life growing up. I was a pretty good baseball player, but I just stopped playing because my love for football was so strong. I definitely played baseball my whole life.”

On what it was like being with his family after he was drafted: “Just relief, I just know that I can’t take anything for granted. Just seeing my dad, how he dealt with his life and things like that, I’m really a person who always stayed focus. I try not to get too down on myself and I’m obviously going to put my best foot forward. I think my mom and my dad both have prepared me for any type of struggles in life.”

On the positions he played in baseball: “I played third base and outfield mostly.”

On how he feels about playing with another SEC linebacker in LB Jarrad Davis: “I love it. I’m a fan of Jarrad Davis. We played them every year at Florida. I can definitely tell it’s going to be a lot of competition between me and him, probably. Not even on the field, just off the field stuff because of the Florida-Tennessee thing. I’m definitely excited to get around him more and develop that relationship.”

On where he gained his football intelligence: “Man, I don’t know. I’ve studied the game. I’ve always been a fan of football more so than a football player. I was studying, watching the game. Playing quarterback in high school allowed me to see a lot of things. Some of it I just can’t account for, just instincts and some of it is just my gift. I definitely think I pay attention to the game a lot closer than a lot of people around me and it allows me to stay ahead.”

On which football player he was a fan of growing up: “I was more so a college football fan, I would say so. My favorite football player growing up was actually LaDainian Tomlinson.”

On what his relationship with his cousin and former Detroit Tiger Cameron Maybin has meant to him: “It’s been a lot, just seeing him, his success. I mean, even since high school he was the kind to always coach us to stay out of trouble, always hung out with me. He wasn’t like the cool, older guy who was just too good for me. Whenever I came to town he always spent time with me. Probably the coolest thing, actually, was one time it was a workout for some MLB teams when I was younger and he was like hitting and stuff and I got to go out on the field, field balls and stuff. So that was cool when I was at a young age. I’ve definitely been watching him my whole life and just trying to get to his level of success.”

On where Cameron Maybin’s tryout was: “It was in North Carolina. It wasn’t really a tryout. I guess it was more so just a workout.”

On if he was a Detroit Tigers fan because of Cameron Maybin: “Yeah, I’m a fan of wherever he’s at.”

Next: What to watch for on day three

*All quotes provided by the Detroit Lions.