RCS Baltimore/DC: They said it
By Scott Greene
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WASHINGTON D.C. -- The 250+ athletes who gathered at St. John's College High School had a wide range of thoughts on college majors, favorite NFL players and pregame rituals. Rivals.com gathered their thoughts as they prepared to compete at the Rivals Camp Series.
What is the main reason you chose to participate in this camp?
I want to get ranked. I want to get invited to the underclassmen challenge. And show people that I can really do something. -- Richard Merritt, Offensive Line, Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy
I think I'm underrated. I want to get my ranking up and this is where to prove it. I didn't play last season, I only played five games, so this is a chance for me to prove to these guys and get invited to the All-American game and stuff like that.
-- Nick Johns, Quarterback, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga
I just wanted to come out here and show these guys that my routes got better and that I can make plays, catch high balls. I wanted to show my footwork, and run different routes and show that I can do stuff like a small wide receiver. -- Jabari Greenwood, Wide Receiver, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga
To get noticed, so everybody can see me and know what I'm about: hard work, I'm here to play, and I love the game. -- Dedrion Becote, Defensive Line, Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
For me, I'm kind of unnoticed, so I'm trying to get more exposure and prove myself. -- Tavante Beckett, Linebacker, Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
What's your favorite pregame ritual when you play?
I listen to music the whole time. When we come out to the field as a team, everybody comes out hyped. We have this one leader on the team, he's a senior and he's graduating, John Black. He sets the tone for the game, he gets us off right and then we lead it off with a prayer and then kickoff starts. -- Eric Assoua, Defensive Line, Washington (D.C.) St. John's College
Before my games, I look at Ray Lewis, the thing that comes on before Madden, I look at that before every game. It motivates me. I do it the night before and before the game I just sit in the locker room and watch it before I go out. -- Kareem McDonald, Defensive Line, Washington (D.C.) Woodrow Wilson
I like to get a massage. I get the trainer, I get a massage, 30 minutes gets me ready. -- Noel Hijazl, Offensive Line, Washington (D.C.) St. John's College
When you're not studying or playing football, what do you spend most of your time doing?
Playing music. I play the piano. I like to play Beethoven, any common song right now. My mom got me into it because she played. -- Pat Allen, Offensive Line, Reisterstown (Md.) Franklin
Photography. I took a digital arts class at school and that's what got me started off with it. -- Quarvez Boulware, Offensive Line, Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy
I like to hang out with my friends and I like to play with my keyboard at home. -- Ayron Monroe, Defensive Back, Washington (D.C.) St. John's College
Spending time with my family because during school and practice and all I don't have that much time to spend with my dad and my mom, so that's what I do. -- Darius Johnson, Defensive Back, Brooklandville (Md.) St. Paul's
I like to work on computers because when I grow up, I'd like to be a computer engineer. -- Ryan Vessels, Linebacker, Wahsington (D.C.) St. John's College
If you had to pick today, what would your major in college be?
Business Management. I just want to be able to count my own money just in case I get into business. -- Keyvon Bruton, Defensive Back, Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
Psychology or sports marketing. My dad does a marketing thing, but I like sports, so I want to do sports marketing and then psychology. I like the way the mind works. I want to learn more about the way people think and how you react and things like that. -- Joe Addison III, Quarterback, Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
I think it would be sports medicine or physical therapy. I just love being around sports and I just feel like I know some things about stretching and the muscles and the bones, so I think I can help my fellow athletes out so they can go to the next level. -- Quincy Watts, Wide Receiver, Virginia Beach (Va.) Landstown
Probably sports marketing because I want to stay in the sports field if I don't make it in football. -- Trevion Armstrong, Wide Receiver, Chesterfield (Va.) Matoaca
Architecture design. I like art a lot, and with my dad being a computer kind of guy and my mom, I'm not really on that side, but I know a lot about computers and I like working with floor plans. I like design. I like to draw. I love going down to DC, going downtown, and the buildings and the art work. -- Tyler Green, Defensive Back, Hyatsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic
What is your No. 1 goal for your football career?
To use football, not let football use me. As an athlete, that's my ultimate goal. A lot of players just let the game use them, and I don't want to be one of those players that just gets used up by the game. I want to get my education, get my degree by going to college, and use it.-- Tino Ellis, Wide Receiver, Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic
Just to be the best player that I can be. I just have to keep working at it, work on my flaws and technique. -- Jordan Adams, Wide Receiver, Reisterstown (Md.) Franklin
I know everyone's No. 1 goal is to make it to the league, but I know it's a high chance that you're not going to make it so education is definitely the most important thing for me. -- Austin Clark, Offensive Line, Lexington (Va.) Rockbridge County
Just getting better, being better than everyone else. -- Isaiah Prince, Offensive Line, Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt
Finish with another state championship, that's No. 1. No. 2: I'm trying to break every record at Smith. I'm 1,400 yards away from it, so I'll get it. And 15 touchdowns, that'll come easy. -- Deshawn McClease, Running Back, Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
Who is your favorite NFL player?
Michael Oher from The Blind Side. He's my favorite because, you know that time when he takes someone to the bus down the field? I motivate off of him when I say take someone to the bus. -- Juawan Williams, offensive tackle, Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll
Adrian Peterson. Because I think that every play he goes 100 percent, whether he thinks he can get the first down or the touchdown or not. I think that's really inspirational because he's in the big leagues and he's really setting an example for little kids. -- AJ Turner, Running Back, Clifton (Va.) Centreville
Chris Snee, offensive lineman for the New York Giants. I feel like he can get after it, but he's married to Tom Coughlin's daughter, so that's always a good thing. -- Blake Camper, Offensive Line, Virginia Beach (Va..) Cox
DeMarcus Ware. I like the way he plays. He used to play for my favorite team the Cowboys, now he's on the Broncos. I like the way he plays, he's very versatile, he can play up or down, so I like that. And he's the all-time sack leader, I think, for the Cowboys. -- Darius Fullwood, Defensive End, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel
Tyrann Mathieu. He's my favorite football player because of all the adversity he's been through and he pushed through it and he's a great player. -- Ashton White, defensive back, Forrestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara
Who is your Favorite college player?
My favorite college player was Dorial Green-Beckham, but he just got suspended indefinitely so I have to find a new one. But I like Dorial Green-Beckham because he's my height and he would just dominate corners on the defense. -- Lawrence Cager, Wide Receiver, Baltimore Calvert Hall
Right now my favorite college player I'd probably go Kendall Fuller. I kind of grew up with that guy, working out with him and to see him playing on the field is pretty neat. -- Alonzo Mayo, Defensive Back, Baltimore Gilman
Probably Jadeveon Clowney because of how explosive he is and how much of a playmaker he is. -- Justin Skule, Offensive Line, Clifton (Va.) Centreville
It was Sammy Watkins. I really just like his all-around game. -- Scotty Law, Wide Receiver, Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll
Who do you think will win this year's national championship?
Alabama, baby. Roll tide. They have the best football coach in the country. They got probably the top guys in the country and I think they're going to do it this year. They have two great quarterbacks coming back and that's where I'm going. Roll Tide. -- Richie Petitbon, Offensive Line, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga
Florida State, because that's where I'm committed. I was just up at practice and they looked really fluid and Jameis looked really good with his passes and they have a bunch of linemen coming back so I think they're going to be a solid team next year. -- David Robbins, Offensive Line, Glenelg (Md.) Glenelg