Late Friday night Kenrick Ellis, the New York Jets third round pick, addressed the media. Here is the transcript courtesy of the Jets.
On general thoughts on being drafted by the Jets…
I’m just happy to be a Jet.
On being a third round pick…
I was kind of surprised. I was hoping and praying that I would get a chance to play football. I really did not mind. I just really wanted the opportunity to play football.
On his past being a challenge…
The stuff that I got into is in the past now. I was young. I have learned from my mistakes. I was praying that hopefully I would be picked up.
On whether his pending legal matter is a concern…
That is a pending legal issue. I cannot really talk about that right now. I apologize it is (still) pending.
On if he has a pending trial…
I cannot get into it if there is a trial or anything. I’m sorry sir.
On whether he is confident his issues will be behind him…
Yes I am. I am very confident. A lot of things happened when I was younger. I am not proud of it but I have learned from it. It was a learning experience and I have learned from my mistakes.
On what happened at South Carolina…
At South Carolina, I thought I was someone I wasn’t . I was very young and immature. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd and made some decisions that drastically impacted my life. I have learned from them.
On if he is over his past…
I am human. I have made mistakes. I feel like from me making these mistakes I have learned from them and have grown as a person. I have moved on from the mistakes I have made in the past that I will never do them again. I am a different person from who I was then.
On the turning point in his life…
I am not perfect. I have made some mistakes. At a point I realized, life is too short. From everything I do to every mistake I made, I learn from it. I just try to use that to make decisions in the future and make me stronger. Given that I did make those mistakes makes me the person that I am today. Which is a better person, much smarter, and more mature.
On joining the Jets and where he fits into the defense…
I feel really excited to be a Jet. It is unbelievable. I feel that I fit in real well with the defense. I’ll play whatever position, nose (tackle) or defensive end. I feel that I will work as hard as possible to try to make the team better. The goal is to win and I want to win.
On if he is confident to take part in offseason…
I am going to do everything in my power to play.
On how he knows Marcus Dixon…
I speak to Marcus maybe once or twice a month. Just for inspiration. He’s a Hampton graduate and kind of a big brother to me. I look up to him. He’s a really good person. He’s been through a lot and gives me advice on little things to help me mature in a time I needed to mature.
On how much investigating the Jets did into his background before the draft…
They talked to a lot of people. They went back as far as high school. They talked to my high school coaches to check my reference just to see what type of person I am. I believe that by them doing that, (the Jets) know I have learned from my mistakes and that I am a hard worker. I’m just happy they spent some time (looking into me) to make me a Jet.
On what his strengths are…
I think my willingness (is my strength). I’m going to do what it takes to win.
On playing with a hurt ankle…
It was a high ankle sprain. The trainers took care of me. I had really good trainers. I just played through it. When you are on the field, your adrenaline is pumping. Everything is out the window, you just want to make plays.
On if he has family in New York…
Yes, I do have family here. I have a sister and an aunt that stayed up there so I have some family there.
On if his family will keep him out of trouble…
They will definitely help me out. Just having a place where I can go that is home and comfortable to just relax with my family. Family is always good.