Mobile, Ala.----- For San Jose State University football tight end Josh Oliver, the next step in his dream to play in the National Football League is at the Senior Bowl, the week of January 20-26.
The 2018 first-team All-Mountain West selection arrived in Mobile, site of the Senior Bowl on January 20 and has been constantly on the move between learning a playbook, practices, classroom sessions with league personnel, interviews with teams and the media, and signing autographs for those fans getting to see him up close.
The 2019 Senior Bowl from Ladd-Peebles Stadium will be televised by the NFL Network, Saturday, January 26, starting at 11:30 a.m. (PT)/1:30 p.m. (CT). The game is available to DirecTV subscribers on Channel 212 and to DISH Network subscribers on Channel 154.
Oliver, the Paso Robles, Calif., resident, was able to share a few minutes for a short Question-and-Answer session.
Q: What did you do to prepare for this week at the Senior Bowl?
JOSH: Over time, working hard, working on my craft in the off-season, working for the goal of getting to the NFL, ultimately. I think that's what helped me get a spot here to compete with this level of competition.
Q: Describe your daily schedule so far?
JOSH: I flew in about 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, had dinner and had multiple texts from (team) scouts asking for interviews. I did interviews until about 11:00 p.m.
Woke up Monday at 6:30 a.m. and did weigh-ins. There were position meetings to get a playbook installation, practice, psychological testing from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Had kind of the same schedule the next day (Tuesday). We had formal NFL interviews that night.
Today (Wednesday) was pretty similar.
Q: There are more media reports surfacing about your NFL draft status. How are you dealing with what these reports are saying?
JOSH: No one really knows who is going to pick whom in what round. Only the scouts, the GMs and the owners essentially know that and they aren't going to let that information out to the public. People are just talking and stuff. You just have to take it with a grain of salt.
Q: Describe what it is like to coached by a NFL team and specifically the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff – one that paved the way for tight end George Kittle to earn All-Pro status in just two seasons?
JOSH: It is an awesome experience. It's an offense that definitely feeds the tight end. Seeing their plays, their route concepts, their blocking schemes, it's just really cool to have this opportunity. Watching film on George Kittle and everything he's done there is a great opportunity to see how to be successful in the NFL as a tight end. Their scheme gives you a chance to do that.
Q: Is there anything about the week so far that either has been a surprise to you or something you will remember for a long time?
JOSH: The level of passion the people in Mobile have for the game. You walk around and everybody knows you are here for the Senior Bowl. They're talking to you about it. They're asking for autographs. It's been a surreal experience.
Q: What do hope to accomplish the rest of the week and on game day?
JOSH: I hope to come out and compete with the best of them – the Power 5 programs. To show that I am from a Mountain West school and that I can compete with the best of them. In the game, I want to come out and compete.
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