Tight End Evan Engram
October 24, 2017
Q: How would you describe the first seven weeks for you?
A: Individually, the biggest thing I’ve been learning – a lot about myself, about this team, about kind of handling adversity and how hard it is to win in this league. So, definitely a lot of learning, a lot of fighting. This team is really relentless and I try to come in here and be the same with these guys each and every day.
Q: Last year things weren’t going well for Ole Miss and you had to step up. Are you ready to take on that role here heading into the second half?
A: Definitely. I mean, guys are going to have to step up across the board, but personally, I definitely am ready to be whatever I have to be to help this team as much as I can. So, that’s an increased role. I’m going to embrace it. I’m going to attack it. These guys are going to push me and I’m going to push them as well.
Q: Individually, do you feel that you’ve established yourself as something here already?
A: I’m not really complacent. I never get complacent, so definitely I’m always aiming for more. I’m always aiming for improvement. So, I definitely, I’m definitely getting some confidence in making plays and being confident on the field, but definitely some things I can be better at and things I’m going to improve on.
Q: Are you aware of some of the rookie tight end numbers and records?
A: Not really, no.
Q: Will you take a look at them at some point?
A: Are you talking about other rookie tight ends?
Q: Not even just this year, but will you look at Jeremy Shockey’s numbers, etc.?
A: I mean, I get tagged in some tweets here and there, but I don’t really – I just kind of keep my head down, keep putting the work in and then we’ll see what the numbers say at the end of the year.
Q: Do you look ahead and say that you can be a complete tight end?
A: Definitely. Definitely. That’s the big thing I’ve gained this season. Definitely my confidence and believing in myself and definitely looking forward to coming back and making more plays for my team.
Q: Are you taking things hard this first month and a half being 1-6? Individually you’ve played pretty well but overall is that something that you take personally?
A: I mean, it’s tough to be pleased when we’re losing as a team. Big games here and there. With a loss, it’s kind of hard to feel good about it. There’s always things that you can look back on – maybe if I did this better, we score here or if I did this better, we get this first down. So, it’s definitely tough to kind of enjoy playing well but not getting the results we want as a team.
Q: You do wear your thoughts on your sleeve, don’t you?
A: I mean, I try to stay positive and I don’t live in the past. It’s definitely tough in the moment and in situations, definitely in games when things aren’t going our way. But, I definitely don’t let it linger. I kind of throw it in the trash and get ready and get excited for the next opportunity.
Q: Can you believe you still have more games to go than you’ve already played?
A: Yeah. That’s the craziest thing. That’s crazy. I mean, coming into it, people kind of tried to warn me about the length of the season and the rookie wall, but it’s really not that bad. I think it’s kind of a mentality – a mental thing. It’s tough right now for us, but I’m enjoying each and every day coming up here and putting the work in.
Q: How do you think your rookie class here has dealt with the 1-6 start?
A: I mean, we’re all just embracing our role and doing our job. We’re a close knit group and we push each other. We help each other. So, these guys, these young guys are definitely fighting and some things we can get better at, some things we can continue to improve on. But, we’re staying positive. We’re coming up here and working.
Q: What do you plan on doing for the Bye Week?
A: I’m going back to my school. They got Arkansas at home this weekend. Go see some of my coaches and some of my friends and kind of just get away from here and get kind of a reset and a fresh mindset coming back from our off week.
