Transcript: Linebacker Darius Muasau

Linebacker Darius Muasau

April 27, 2024

Q. Which coach hit you up? We know you have a relationship with Ghobi (Special Teams Coordinator Michael Ghobrial).

DARIUS MUASAU: Yeah, Ghobi is my guy. I was at the University of Hawai'i with him. He was my special teams coordinator. I was on the phone with him just chopping it up and he told me that I was getting drafted. Man, I was just very excited and just happy at the moment.

Q. So I assume besides being a linebacker, you play special teams?

DARIUS MUASAU: Yes, I have to.

Q. Did you play special teams all four years or just the two years in Hawai'i or how did that break down for you?

DARIUS MUASAU: I started playing special teams a lot during my freshman year at the University of Hawai'i. As my playing time on the defense started rising, my playing time with special teams kind of dwindled. I did play special teams all three years at the University of Hawai'i.

Q. What was your contact with the Giants during the pre-draft process?

DARIUS MUASAU: It was very limited. I mostly talked with Coach Ghobi and some scouts at the time. I also had a bunch of coaches over there at the Shrine Bowl who were in contact with me and I was being coached up by them over there at the Bowl game and it was really unexpected for me. I did not expect it until I got that phone call, and then it really just hit me.

Q. What do you know about New York and the Giants? Obviously, you're a West Coast guy.

DARIUS MUASAU: Nothing much but I'm looking forward to adapting to the culture everything and about it. I'm going to be a New York guy from here on out (laughter).

Q. How would you describe if someone asked you to give me a scouting report on yourself, we read everything, but what do you think you bring to the table?

DARIUS MUASAU: One thing that I pride myself on is being the most instinctive and smartest player on the field every time I step on the field. I love to watch film. That's what I do. I spend most of my days in the film room and also on the field but mostly in the film room breaking down film, knowing tendencies, and little details of the offense and I feel that's what I do best. That's why I'm headed to New York, and I'm just ready to showcase my abilities there.

Q. As a linebacker, are you inside, outside, or what?

DARIUS MUASAU: I'll play anything the coaches want me to. But I feel the most comfortable being the green dot of the team, being able to distribute the calls to the team, and making sure everyone is set, and being the leader out there.

Q. You mentioned just the emotions and the nerves for today. What were your expectations? How do you -- how did you set out to kind of balance everything, and what did you expect about who may call you or where it may happen?

DARIUS MUASAU: Honestly, I did not know what to expect coming into this day. I had no idea when I was going to go or if my name was even going to be called in the first place. Just looking forward to any opportunity coming my way, and I know once I got that phone call, I know the first thing that came to my mind is I've got to make the most of this opportunity. Because not too many people are given this opportunity like me. I know there are a lot of other guys that they could have given the chance to, but they chose me over them. They see something in me, and I want to prove them right.

Q. Ghobi is new to us, you know him a heck of a lot more than we do. How would you describe him as a coach and what are the Giants getting in him as a coach as a special teams coordinator?

DARIUS MUASAU: High-energy. Very intellectual football-minded coach. He's great on the special teams side of football. He knows the insides and outs, but also the offensive and defensive side. He specializes in the special teams. When I was playing for him at the University of Hawaii, man, I enjoyed every single time I got on the field for special teams because he just made everything so fun, and because of the way he was able to detail everything down to the minute details, and just made it fun out there every time I would step off on kickoff can kickoff return. Everything was a blast out there.

Q. What does it mean to reunite with him at the pro level and get to work with him at this stage of your career?

DARIUS MUASAU: It's a great feeling, man. He was in touch, actually, throughout this whole process, kind of being my mentor through things. Giving me little tips and pointers here and there. How to relieve the stress and just see things through. Man, I was really grateful for him to be by my side throughout this whole process, and it's crazy that I'm actually going to be on the same team as him, you know, come these next few weeks, and I'm ready for that.

Q. Just to clarify real quick: Did he call you and you were talking and that's when he broke the news that the Giants were drafting you, or did you speak to somebody else first and then he got on the line?

DARIUS MUASAU: I spoke with pretty much all the coaches at the time. Coach Ghobi didn't call me first.