Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Discuss Pro Day
March 12, 2015 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State football team held its annual Pro Day inside the weight room at Boone Pickens Stadium and the Sherman E. Smith Training Center Thursday, with several athletes discussing their experience afterward. Their comments:
Safety Josh Furman
On preparing for Pro Day:
"I've worked for three months for this. It's kind of like a job interview that I've worked all my life for so I had to show out. I just wanted to show people what I've been doing at Oklahoma State - working out with the strength staff preparing for the Pro Day. I just wanted to show the younger kids that came out here that were my teammates that anything is possible and to keep working at it."
On his 40-yard dash:
"I don't even know what it was the first time - the first 10 yards I almost fell on my face. The second 40 I really felt like I was flying. I've been running my whole life, so I was expecting to have a good 40."
On what position teams want him to play:
"I'm going for free safety or strong safety, it really doesn't matter."
Defensive Tackle James Castleman
On his weight management leading up to Pro Day:
"Bowl week I weighed 315 and today I weigh 299. I never did anything out of the ordinary. I was working on my diet and working out. My diet alone took care of my weight. I didn't try to drop weight quickly. I wanted to get below 310 and the diet helped me drop it really low."
On what the scouts told him:
"They were excited to see my athletic ability. A lot of people don't understand that I can do things most people my size can't. I like to be the underdog and show them that I can do that. They said they were impressed with how I did with that and how I came out and attacked today."
On his goals:
"Everybody's goal is to be the best at what they are doing. There is only so much you can do and so far you can go at being the best. There's always going to be someone out there working just as hard as you or harder. You have to use that to push yourself. My goal since I was young was just to make it to the NFL. So whether I'm 20th in the rankings or first or 100th, if I can get my chance to get my foot in the door and show them what I can do, I can say I made it."
Running Back Desmond Roland
On how he prepared for Pro Day:
"I prepared here at Oklahoma State with Coach (Rob) Glass and Coach Diego (Flaquer), the track coach. I feel like that was the best thing for me, to be right at home."
On the nerves of Pro Day:
"It's a different type of nerves for today. This is pretty much your job is on the line. It's do or die. It's a different kind of feeling. I wouldn't even call it nerves, I don't know how to explain it. Once I got started I felt good and once we started running I felt good."
On his football career dream:
"My dream has always been the NFL, no matter how I get there - draft, undrafted or free agency. That has always been my dream and that is what I still believe in and I'm not going to stop until that dream comes true."
Fullback Teddy Johnson
On learning from the team's previous Pro Days:
"It helped quite a bit, especially just seeing the functions. You get a look at the rules and regulations, and you get to see how everything goes down. I think coming out here and being mentally prepared really helped me perform well today."
On the nerves of performing at Pro Day:
"It was definitely nerve-racking. You can never quite prepare for that type of mindset. I was a little nervous coming out here, but once I got down in my stance and stuff, all that stuff went away."
On how Pro Day differs from a game day:
"I'd say the Pro Day is a little more independent. On game days, you're relying a lot more on your team. When you come out here, it's solely on you, although you know you're getting motivation from your peers and what not. At the end of the day, it's all about how well you perform. I got some good encouragement from my teammates today, and I gave some back."
