Pat O’Connor comments on being drafted by the Detroit Lions
By Zac Snyder
Shortly after being selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Pat O’Connor met with the media. Here’s what he had to say.
On his expectations to be selected late in the draft: “Leading up to it I was kind of worried about it, but I kind of stayed humble for the whole experience I’ve been going through this. Just leading up to every pick, kind of staying humble with my family telling me that everything is all good. You know it will all work out in the end and then being called by the Lions, it was kind of a dream come true, kind of made my dream become a reality. So it kind of turned my downside of possibly not being drafted to being drafted.”
On if he had pre-draft communication with the Lions outside of attending the team’s local pro day: “The local pro day was great. I performed to the best of my ability. Being able to perform in front of Coach Kris (Kocurek) and work with him and just showcase my ability. And then after that I had a visit with them. I was able to meet with the whole coaching staff and then showed my personal side from the football side. It was fantastic.”
On his relationship with Lions WR Kenny Golladay in high school: “Kenny? Oh, Kenny was my dude. Before going off to college we were tight. We were senior classmates and best of friends to be honest. Now it’s just crazy how me and him are together on the same team right now. So it’s wild, honestly.”
On if he has spoken with Golladay since being drafted by the Lions: “We’ve been sending texts before, but not currently. I’m probably getting hit up by him with some texts right now as we speak. As of right now, no.”
On his friendship with Golladay in high school: “Oh, no we were boys. We weren’t best friends, but having that bond on the football team, you know we were good friends. We stayed in contact throughout college and then once he transferred to Northern Illinois we even got closer. We were able to talk and what not, but not best friends. Not like best friends, but we were good friends.”
On being on the same team as Golladay: “I’m blessed with the opportunity. Not many people get to do this kind of thing. Just being able to present my talent to the coaches and take it from there. Going to fight for a position on the team.”
On his relationship with Lions G T.J. Lang having both played at Eastern Michigan: “T.J. was a big advocate for our team. He’s always being supportive for the Eastern Michigan teams, for the highs and lows. As a personal standpoint, I met him a few times, but not on a level where we can like spot each other out, but on a level where I met him in person at Eastern when he was there.”
On why he was able to be a productive college player: “The coaches I’ve been around. Our last defensive line coach, Coach Chuck Bullough, he just wanted us to get the ball out and that’s something that we would always do day in and day out. Practice fumbles, practice swatting the ball out of the quarterback’s hand, that a sack was just an ‘Atta-boy,’ where a sack-fumble was a game changer. So things we practiced day in and day out, so we can transition to the field and I can give that credit to Coach Bullough and the rest of the coaching staff for getting me and the rest of my team ready for that.”
On if he was still watching the draft when he was selected: “No, I was talking on the phone to Coach (Jim) Caldwell and then I got transferred over and I just kind of ran out there after he said, ‘We’re on the clock.’ It was kind of a like a glitch in the moment and I just ran out there and then we saw it all together. It was a surreal moment.”
On what it means to have an opportunity to play in the NFL within the same state he played in college: “It’s a great opportunity. Every opportunity I get I’m going to attack with full force and give it my all. And being close to home for me certainly is a surreal moment as well. I don’t have to move that far and that’s something that means a lot to me.”
On his impressions of the Lions defensive line: “I talked to Coach Kris (Kocurek) for a little bit. He gave me the best insight of what the team has to offer and what I have to do to make the team. I’m just ready to go to work to be able to perform and put myself in the best position to make the squad.”
On what he was told is required to make the roster: “Just work hard, just work as hard as I possibly could.”
On if he has been told what position he would best fit into in the NFL: “I’m not looking at that point right now. I’m just going to do everything I can right now to put myself in the position where I can make the team.”
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*All quotes provided by the Detroit Lions.