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RCS Chicago: They said it

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By Doug Bucshon
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Special to Rivals.com
CHICAGO -- The Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour Chicago stop brought together a diverse population of athletes to compete at Maine High School, and they had a diverse group of answers when it came to off-the-field questions. Twitter, the Super Bowl and pre-game rituals were all discussed prior to the players competing in the 16th stop of the 2014 RCS tour.
What is the main reason you choose to participate in this camp?
I came to try to get better and see how good I am against the top competition. I play wide receiver and strong safety, but I'm working out at wide receiver. -- Keenen Young, Wide Receiver, Belleville (Ill.) Althoff

The main reason I came here is to show off my talent and hopefully get some colleges to look at me. I just have some small schools recruiting me so far, but coming here I hope to get some more attention. -- Jeremy Kowalski, Offensive Guard, Papillion (Neb.) Papillion-La Vista South

I wanted to show what I can do against top competition. I play center, so I want to go up against some of the best defensive linemen. -- Nolan Kern, Offensive Center, Eau Claire (Wisc.) Regis

I came to the Rivals camp to get better at my position. I'm very young, so there are a lot of things I can learn. I came so I could learn from the best. -- Vederian Lowe, Offensive tackle, Rockford (Ill.) Auburn

I just want to come out and compete today. There are a lot of great players out here. For me, I'll be learning and picking up things from the receivers coaches. One of the things I'm trying to stress this off season is my route-running. -- Miles Boykin, Wide Receiver, New Lenox (Ill.) Providence Catholic

What's your favorite pre-game ritual when you play?
Our team gets in the locker room and we dance a couple of hours before the game. It's usually rap music. Actually, it's always rap music. -- Steven Frank, Quarterback, Oswego (Ill.)

I like to watch highlights of Ray Lewis. He's my idol, so I just like to watch him smashing dudes. -- Jake Hlava, Linebacker, Batavia, Ill.

I always have to put my socks and my cleats on before I put anything else on; before I put on my pads or anything. -- Jamahl Johnson, Defensive Tackle, Savage (Minn.) Prior Lake

My pre-game routine is I just listen to some music and chill out. I will practice some drills, practice my form, stuff like that. And I kind of go through the game in my head. -- Jack Breshears, Offensive Guard, Batavia, Ill.

If you had to pick today, what would you major in at college?
I want to major in civil engineering or architecture. I've been interested in architecture since I was a little kid -- Leon Thornton, Wide Receiver, Lombard (Ill.) Montini

I would like to become a teacher or an athletic trainer. I feel like if I can impact a kid's life, it would be good for them, and good for me to be able to say I helped someone out in life. -- John McNamara, Offensive Tackle, St. Louis Lindbergh

I would major in sports medicine. I like sports a lot, and I'm really interested in science. -- Noah Fant, Defensive End, Omaha (Neb.) South

I would major in business because I know there are a lot of options with a degree in business. I haven't really decided what my career is going to be yet. I'm thinking about going into the culinary field. -- Ross Sealby, Defensive End, Byron, Ill.

I want to major in sports management. Anything with sports. I think it opens up a lot of opportunities. -- Broc Rutter, Quarterback, Naperville (Ill.) Neuqua Valley

When you're not studying or playing football, what do you spend most of your time doing?
When I'm not playing football or studying, I do MMA or just hit the weight room and do speed training on our turf. MMA helps me loosen up my hips and give me quick hands. -- Jesse Cardenas, Linebacker, Lakeville (Minn.) North

When I'm not playing football I'm training, wrestling, or just hanging out with my friends. I won state this year in wrestling in the 220-pound class. -- Alex Hart, Linebacker, Prior Lake (Minn.)

I like to smash bombs at wiffle ball fields. Basically just go in the back yard, get a bunch of guys around, and smash home runs. -- Alec Ingold, Athlete, Green Bay (Wisc.) Bay Port

I like to play X-Box -- probably some Call of Duty. It's a good way to socialize with your friends. -- Sam Plucker, Linebacker, Kimberly, Wisc.

What is your favorite account to follow on Twitter?
Probably Chad Johnson (@ochocinco), ex-wide receiver from the Bengals. He just doesn't have a filter on his tweets. -- Connor Lungwitz, Quarterback, Maize, Kan.

It's JJ Watt (@JJWatt) just because he represented the Woodland Conference, and that's where I come from. It's a great inspiration to see him out there in the NFL -- Tristian Pipp, Linebacker, Greendale (Wisc.)

It's probably Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real). He's always tweeting and making fun of people. -- C.J. Johnson, Wide Receiver, Bellevue (Neb.) West

That's a tough one, because I don't get on Twitter a lot -- probably Tim Tebow (@TimTebow). He's just a good guy, and he tweets about the right stuff. -- Fyn Anderson, Offensive Guard, Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast

I get all my recruiting info from Edgy Tim (@EdgyTim) so I guess I would say him. -- Hasan Muhammad-Rogers, Quarterback, Chicago Richards

Who is your favorite college football player?
I play quarterback so it would be Johnny Manziel. I just like everything about him: how dynamic he is and how he can make a play running, passing the ball, every way. -- Cole Kotopka, Quarterback, Plainfield (Ill.) East

My favorite college football player has to be Reuben Foster from Alabama. He's going to be a sophomore this year, and I Just like him because he's a man among boys out there. -- Bryce Monti, Linebacker, Hortonville (Wisc.)

Who is your favorite NFL player?
I don't really have a favorite player now. It used to be Brian Urlacher. I liked how he played with a chip on his shoulder. -- Boyd Draeger, Offensive Guard, Hutchinson (Minn.) Lakeville North

My favorite NFL player is Calvin Johnson. He's a bigger receiver than me, but I just like how he can dominate a game. -- Kendall Stewart, Wide Receiver, Maize, Kan.

My favorite NFL player is Cam Newton. I used to play quarterback and they would compare me to Cam Newton. -- Darion King, Tight End, Racine (Wisc.) Case

I really like JJ Watt, defensive end for the Houston Texans. Just his drive and his motor that he always has. He's always getting in the backfield and getting sacks. To me, he's the perfect example of what a defensive end should be. -- Daniel Jackson, Defensive end, Plainfield (Ill.) East

Definitely Russell Wilson. He's a just a humble guy and he really knows how to run and offense and win games. -- Marcus Kelly, Defensive End, Waukesha (Wisc.) West

What team will win the Super Bowl this year?
I'll say the Houston Texans. I love the Texans and Arian Foster. I believe in them. -- Ivory Kelly-Martin, Running Back, La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy

I have to go with the Cleveland Browns. We are going to get Johnny Manziel. I have the Ohio connection, and I believe in the Browns. -- Patrick Beckman, Quarterback, Urbana, Ill.

I think the Philadelphia Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl. LeSean McCoy is going to put the team on his back. -- Cedric Fry, Defensive End, Urbana, Ill.

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