Nolan Smith on Eagles Super Bowl, What Makes Georgia Football Special & More | Exciting Mics Ep. 6

Summary

Podcast Summary: Exciting Mics Ep. 6 – "Nolan Smith on Eagles Super Bowl, What Makes Georgia Football Special & More"

Release Date: June 19, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 6 of Exciting Mics, Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Nolan Smith joins hosts Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean for an in-depth conversation about his journey from Savannah, Georgia, to becoming a Super Bowl champion. The episode delves into his athletic career, experiences in the NFL, personal anecdotes, and philanthropic efforts, providing fans with an authentic glimpse into his life both on and off the field.

Personal Background

Nolan Smith begins by sharing his roots in Savannah, Georgia—a place he fondly describes as "a great place" despite its perpetual heat ([08:40]). Growing up, Smith was a multi-sport athlete, engaging in football, basketball, baseball, and track. However, his passion truly ignited when he decided to focus solely on football during his sophomore year of high school, marking the beginning of his dedicated pursuit of the sport ([11:44]).

Athletic Career and Transition to Football

Smith's transition from playing multiple sports to concentrating on football was influenced by his competitive nature and desire to excel where he felt he could make the most impact. Attending IMG, a prestigious preparatory school, provided him with the platform to showcase his talents. Reflecting on his high school years, he recalls the challenges and triumphs that shaped his athletic prowess.

College Career at Georgia Bulldogs

Choosing to stay close to home, Smith committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, realizing his dream of playing for his hometown team. During his tenure, he was part of two championship-winning squads, although his senior year was marred by a torn pectoral muscle that sidelined him for several games ([11:16]). Despite this setback, his time at Georgia under Coach Kirby Smart was transformative. Smith emphasizes the strong coaching and team culture, highlighting Coach Smart's ability to build a formidable football dynasty ([20:43]).

Draft and NFL Career

Smith's hard work paid off when he was drafted 30th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. The draft experience was a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. One memorable moment he shares is the story behind his green socks during his draft celebration—an unplanned choice that became a symbol of his unique journey ([27:25]). Reflecting on his draft day, Smith recalls the surreal moment he received the call from Howie Roseman, marking the official start of his NFL career ([24:32]).

Life in Philadelphia

Adjusting to life in Philadelphia has been a smooth transition for Smith. He appreciates the city's vibrant culture and the unwavering support of Eagles fans. Despite his fame, he maintains a low profile off the field, often likening himself to the "Clark Kent" persona by wearing glasses to blend in ([30:26]). Smith enjoys exploring local spots like Chinatown and indulging in the city's culinary offerings, though he admits to being more of a homebody, preferring quiet nights in with family and teammates.

Super Bowl Experience

A pivotal moment in Smith's career was his participation in the Super Bowl, where he made a significant impact despite an injury. Describing the intense emotions, Smith recounts the play where he had to make a split-second decision to kick the ball back after suffering a pec tear, preventing him from making a tackle ([00:23], [00:58]). This moment encapsulated the unpredictable nature of football and the resilience required to perform under pressure.

Training and Minicamp

Discussing his preseason preparations, Smith highlights the importance of minicamps in building team cohesion and honing skills. He shares anecdotes about training with seasoned players like Fletcher Cox and Lane Johnson, whose mentorship has been instrumental in his development as a defensive back ([38:18]). Smith emphasizes the rigorous drills and the collective hunger of the team to succeed, fostering a competitive yet supportive environment.

Philanthropy and Foundation

Beyond the field, Smith is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He founded a camp in Savannah that provides free resources and support to local children, focusing on education and athletic development. Through his foundation, he has helped secure scholarships for young athletes, ensuring they have opportunities to pursue their dreams ([57:03]). Smith believes in leaving a lasting legacy by empowering the next generation.

Super Bowl Reflections

Reflecting on the Super Bowl, Smith shares his feelings of responsibility and the weight of expectations. Despite his injury, he felt compelled to contribute to the team's success, embodying the tenacity and spirit of the Eagles. The camaraderie and support from his teammates during this time reinforced his dedication to the sport and his role within the team ([47:38]).

Rapid Fire Q&A

In a fun segment, Smith engages in a rapid-fire Q&A with the hosts, showcasing his personality and rapport with teammates. From humorous anecdotes about celebration dances to insights on his favorite players and personal preferences, this segment highlights the lighter, more relatable side of life as an NFL player.

Conclusion

Episode 6 of Exciting Mics offers a comprehensive look into Nolan Smith's life, blending personal stories with professional insights. His dedication to football, commitment to community service, and authentic interactions with teammates and hosts make this episode a compelling listen for Eagles fans and sports enthusiasts alike. Smith's journey embodies the perseverance and passion that define the spirit of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Notable Quotes

• On Choosing Football: "High school. Around my sophomore year, I tried to talk my mom, man. I was like, mom, please, I'm done playing basketball." ([11:44])

• On the Super Bowl Injury: "When I caught that pick... I just came out, like, 'Let's go, baby. We in the Super Bowl.'" ([50:30])

• On Team Culture: "Coach Smart is going to be a part of my life and my time throughout here, just because he's one of those people I could call." ([34:16])

• On Philanthropy: "I started my camp off like I just needed $5 to pay for the cleanup and I had a bunch of kids come out." ([57:03])

• On Draft Day: "I wanted to prove my mom right and prove Mr. Lurie and Coach Sirianni and everyone that I should be here." ([24:32])

Key Moments with Timestamps

• Introduction of Nolan Smith: [01:19]
• Growing Up in Savannah: [08:40]
• Transition to Football: [11:44]
• College Career at Georgia: [17:16]
• Draft Experience: [23:31]
• Super Bowl Incident: [00:23], [00:58], [47:40]
• Training with Veterans: [38:18]
• Philanthropic Efforts: [57:03]
• Rapid Fire Q&A: [59:17]
• Closing Remarks: [61:15]

Final Thoughts

Nolan Smith's appearance on Exciting Mics paints a picture of a dedicated athlete with a strong sense of community and a commitment to excellence. His stories resonate with fans, offering inspiration and a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of professional football.

Transcript

[Nolan Smith]

So I landed, and he jumped on my back, and all I heard was a pow.

[Reed Blankenship]

I said, whoo, dude.

[Nolan Smith]

And then, you know me in my mind, get the sack. I see my hose rolling out. I'm like, get up. And I started running, and my arm just. It wouldn't come up. So I was literally, like, running like this.

[Reed Blankenship]

That's when it happened. Like, the fumble happened. And you were saying, like, telling somebody else to pick it up.

[Nolan Smith]

Yes, I was talking to Milt, and I was saying, milt, can you please pick the fumble? Like, I was yelling at him.

[Reed Blankenship]

I had no idea, bro.

[Nolan Smith]

So when the fumble was between. Between my legs, I couldn't, like, hyper extend my arm. And then I just kicked it back. It was one of the funniest moments. I would never forget that moment. Just because JC Punched Mahomes in the face, Milk got the strip sack, and then he's laying on the ground with the offensive lineman on top of him, and he's trying to, like, scrum near the ball. And JC Standing there, he told me. He said, man, I thought you was gonna pick it up and take it to the house.

[Cooper DeJean]

I thought you were too.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Before I found out that you did.

[Nolan Smith]

That, I was like, what is it? Like, do you not think was trying to do that? Like.

[Cooper DeJean]

Welcome back to Exciting Mics, presented by Vanda pharmaceuticals. I'm Cooper DeJean.

[Reed Blankenship]

And I'm Reed Blankenship. And today we have another special guest episode featuring one of our great teammates, Nolan Smith.

[Cooper DeJean]

Stay tuned for that, and remember to follow Exciting Mics on all platforms. Don't forget to, like, comment, share, and subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Let's get it started. We're gonna start the podcast out just like we do every single week with what's exciting us this week.

[Reed Blankenship]

Well, I had the greatest opportunity this past week. Mr. Luke Bryan's concert.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

Me and my fiance, one of my teammates, Ben, and Pete the equipment guy. Shout out, Pete.

[Cooper DeJean]

Shout out, Pete.

[Reed Blankenship]

Got to hang out with Luke Bryan. Like, on his bus, like, backstage. And after he stopped singing each song, bro. Eagles chance.

[Cooper DeJean]

Every single time.

[Reed Blankenship]

Every single time. And then, you know, I'm getting pumped. Like, I'm getting juice. Like, yeah, let's go.

[Cooper DeJean]

Do we got a video? Let's. Let's see the video. Look at that boy. He looks like he's having a great time. Yeah, of course, that was Randall time with the tip of the cap, too.

[Reed Blankenship]

Happy, man. So, yeah, when he looked over to me, I thought he thought he saw me, but I guess he didn't you.

[Cooper DeJean]

Got to meet him, though?

[Reed Blankenship]

I did.

[Cooper DeJean]

That's sweet. That's sweet.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, we enjoyed it. We enjoyed our company or he. And I think he enjoyed our company a little bit, you know?

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah. Well, you were there.

[Reed Blankenship]

I should have told him to tune into the Exciting.

[Cooper DeJean]

My fault.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, exciting, Mike.

[Cooper DeJean]

You should have told him to tune into exciting.

[Reed Blankenship]

What'd you do then? Where were you? Well, you weren't with me. Where'd you go?

[Cooper DeJean]

I wasn't with you? No, unfortunately.

[Reed Blankenship]

Where'd you go?

[Cooper DeJean]

Not unfortunately, but kind of. I missed you.

[Reed Blankenship]

Where'd you go?

[Cooper DeJean]

I was in New York City, UFC 316, I believe.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, it was 316.

[Cooper DeJean]

Sugar Sean O' Malley versus Marab.

[Reed Blankenship]

Who'd you have.

[Cooper DeJean]

I had Sugar Sean.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

But didn't work out for him, but it was still. Still a good song.

[Reed Blankenship]

So how does. How does that work? Did you stay the whole, like, the time, like, the prelims and everything, or.

[Cooper DeJean]

Well, I got there right at the end of the prelims going into the main card.

[Reed Blankenship]

So that was like, what, 9, 10 o' clock?

[Cooper DeJean]

It was probably like 9, 9, 30. We had a good time. A lot of good fights.

[Reed Blankenship]

Was there any fights in the crowd?

[Cooper DeJean]

Fights in the crowd? No.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah. I didn't know, like, people get juiced up for that.

[Cooper DeJean]

And then saw our former teammate, Kenny Pickett. Oh, yeah, Good dude. He was there.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Went with a couple of the guys. Saw some of the guys there as well. Saw a lot of cool people. So it was a. It was a good time.

[Reed Blankenship]

I didn't get out to the UFC fight.

[Cooper DeJean]

You do. Got to get you to a UFC fight.

[Reed Blankenship]

Now we're getting back to the quick hitters, so Coop just finished up. Minicamp.

[Cooper DeJean]

Minicamp.

[Reed Blankenship]

Minicamp.

[Cooper DeJean]

Good day. Minicamp. Got some more meeting time.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Knock some things out before camp. Good practice.

[Reed Blankenship]

How'd it go for you?

[Cooper DeJean]

It was solid day.

[Reed Blankenship]

First. No, it was actually your second minicamp.

[Cooper DeJean]

My second mini camp, but this one was a little shorter than last time. A little shorter, but it was good just getting back out there and having everybody together who was gone and just getting ready for. For the summer. And now. Yeah, now we got to continue to stay in shape and work out on our own throughout the summer and get ready for camp.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, it was good to see, like, you know, AJ and Smitty back out there, too. You know, they obviously felt a little bit more com. Like, complete, in essence, a little. Little deep ball down the sideline of Smitty. You know, everybody saw that. But, yeah, it Is what it is, you know, and good to get back. You got Saquon yelling, saying, yeah, wait till training camp.

[Cooper DeJean]

Wait till trash talk.

[Reed Blankenship]

A little trash talk to you. Mini camp. But it's part of it.

[Cooper DeJean]

Mr. Lurie donating 50 million to children's Hospital Philadelphia for. So that's like autism research.

[Reed Blankenship]

So that's. Is that going to be another segment being built?

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, I believe they're building. They're adding on to the.

[Reed Blankenship]

The hospital itself.

[Cooper DeJean]

To the hospital.

[Reed Blankenship]

Dude, that's insane.

[Cooper DeJean]

I know. It's awesome.

[Reed Blankenship]

I love that, too, because, like, learning, especially now, you get to learn more. And coming into this organization, you learn a lot more about the. The foundation itself. And then.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, you.

[Reed Blankenship]

You become more a part of it, too.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

You know, I love. I enjoy it every chance I get to go to the events like that. So.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, we got to play in one on. On Monday. Oh, yeah, the golf tournament.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Me and Reed, we weren't on the same team, but you were in front of me, though.

[Reed Blankenship]

I watched you tee off.

[Cooper DeJean]

My first tee shot was pretty ugly, but.

[Reed Blankenship]

All right, man, you gotta get warmed up.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, I got warm.

[Reed Blankenship]

That's one of the. Dude, I'm telling. That's one of the hardest courses I've ever played on.

[Cooper DeJean]

We played at Marion.

[Reed Blankenship]

Marion?

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, over by Villanova. It was probably the most beautiful course.

[Reed Blankenship]

It was beautiful. It was a beautiful day, too. It wasn't, like, hot.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

The sun wasn't out, though. Like, it was a slight. Slight drizzle of beginning, but we got through it.

[Cooper DeJean]

I got to play with Coach Stoutland and his son.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, yeah. I think he picked you. I know his son Stout. Son is good.

[Cooper DeJean]

Son's good. Yeah. Shout out, Jake Stout.

[Reed Blankenship]

What did. What did he.

[Cooper DeJean]

Church Outland?

[Reed Blankenship]

What do you personally shoot? You know, I don't know what he shot. Did he, like, carry off real.

[Cooper DeJean]

We used a lot of his shots. Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

I tell you what, I got to watch Coach Stout drive.

[Cooper DeJean]

He can swing it.

[Reed Blankenship]

He can swing it.

[Cooper DeJean]

He can.

[Reed Blankenship]

Surprised me, and it went far. It wasn't one of those, like, out a little bit.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah. And now it is time for exciting bites, presented by Cooper Cheese. It's not just any cheese. It's Cooper.

[Reed Blankenship]

Today we have patty melts from a place called Bob and Barbara's in South Philly.

[Cooper DeJean]

South Philly.

[Reed Blankenship]

I believe it's a dive bar. So let's try it out. I got.

[Cooper DeJean]

No, we got a little mystery sauce here, too. I love. This is my favorite segment.

[Reed Blankenship]

It is.

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh, look at the bread. Look at the bread.

[Reed Blankenship]

No, the sauce is already hitting.

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, no. Sauce first.

[Cooper DeJean]

Look at that Cooper cheese. I'm going with the sauce. I'm going with the sauce right away. I'm getting all of it.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, my gosh.

[Nolan Smith]

Mm.

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh, my God. I love me a good patty melt.

[Reed Blankenship]

I'm going eight, eight, four. Wow, dude.

[Cooper DeJean]

Wow. That was aggressive.

[Nolan Smith]

Very.

[Cooper DeJean]

What I love about this sandwich is the toast. It's perfectly toasted. Got some butter on it. And the Cooper cheese. I'm gonna go 8.3. Hey, that's a really good. That's a really good patty melt. It is really good patty melt. Shout out Bob and Barbara's.

[Reed Blankenship]

Check them out.

[Cooper DeJean]

Go check them out in South Philly. Go have fun with them and go order the. Order the patty melt. I need to go there with the mystery sauce.

[Reed Blankenship]

With the mystery sauce. Mystery sauce is phenomenal.

[Cooper DeJean]

Shout out to Cooper Cheese. CooperCheese.com finding an indie deli section. Check it out. Cooper Cheese.com. get the merch, too.

[Reed Blankenship]

We're excited to welcome one of our many former Georgia Bulldogs teammates to the show.

[Cooper DeJean]

He's primed for another big time season with the Birds. He set an Eagles franchise record in the playoffs last year with four sacks. Let's give it up for Nolan Smith.

[Reed Blankenship]

Nolan.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

Appreciate y' all having me on the show, brother.

[Cooper DeJean]

All right, let's. Let's. Let's get into it. Let's talk about where you grew up. Savannah, Georgia.

[Nolan Smith]

Savannah, Georgia is a great place. It was always hot. And you know, one thing we eat down there a lot is a lot of seafood. I love seafood, and catfish is my favorite. Like it fried catfish and with a little grits, catfish. Some of the best.

[Cooper DeJean]

You fish for your own catfish?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. Usually use hot dogs. Surprisingly, you put hot dogs on.

[Reed Blankenship]

Wait.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. And you listen. You put the hot dog in the microwave for about 10 seconds, then you cut it, then you throw it in there on the hook. Catfish. Love it. And then you could cut up some little niblets and just throw them in there, too.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yo, I've never heard of that before. What was it like growing up down there, though? What'd you do when you were a kid growing up in Savannah, Georgia?

[Nolan Smith]

Man, I played a lot of football, basketball, baseball, and track. I hated basketball, though, so I usually transition to play baseball.

[Cooper DeJean]

Fall ball. Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And that was really fun. I got into it and, you know.

[Cooper DeJean]

You got siblings?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I got two. Two younger brothers. One of my brothers getting recruited, Cameron. So, man, shout out.

[Reed Blankenship]

Where's he getting recruited?

[Nolan Smith]

He going to UNC today. And you Know he getting recruited by Auburn, Georgia, you know, a couple. Couple schools.

[Cooper DeJean]

So got coach Mark to get on that.

[Nolan Smith]

Hey. Hey.

[Reed Blankenship]

He probably already knows.

[Nolan Smith]

He already knows. He already knows. Hopefully.

[Cooper DeJean]

What position he play?

[Nolan Smith]

He play offensive guard.

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh, he's. How big is he?

[Nolan Smith]

He way bigger than me.

[Cooper DeJean]

Really?

[Nolan Smith]

No, he bout sick. He bout right now. He going in his senior year. He's 6 4, and he bout. I'd say about 3, 305. He tall, though. He big. Nice offensive guard, Nice size. He got quick feet. Let me sell my brother real quick. Let me sell my brother real quick. Good feet. You know, Coach Belichick loves him and you know.

[Reed Blankenship]

Drop the huddle. Tape the huddle. Link.

[Nolan Smith]

The huddle link right here. Hudd. Coming.

[Cooper DeJean]

What about your other brother? What does he do?

[Nolan Smith]

My other brother going to school for Georgia Southern for civil engineering. So he's smart. He was the only one that wasn't an athlete. You know, he. He pitched for a little bit in baseball, but he stopped that.

[Reed Blankenship]

What did you go to school for?

[Nolan Smith]

I went to school for engineering and then I switched over to mathematics, so.

[Cooper DeJean]

Mathematics?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, math. Math, man. I'm a mathematics man.

[Cooper DeJean]

You got your degree?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. No, no. I'm close, though. I'm close. I tore my pec coming out, so I couldn't finish side language, a couple electives, so I was in a cast in a sling. I couldn't sign that good with one hand, so I told.

[Cooper DeJean]

So they wouldn't let you finish?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. I exempt.

[Cooper DeJean]

What?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

That's crazy, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

They had to pull some strings for that.

[Cooper DeJean]

What about your parents? What'd they do? Were they in sports?

[Nolan Smith]

My mom, my everything, she was in sports. She played basketball growing up. And that's the reason. That's really the only reason I got number three is because my mom. That was my mom's number playing basketball growing up. And I just dedicated, you know, this first season to her. Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah. When'd you. When'd you decide you were gonna lock in on. On football and kind of pursue that path?

[Nolan Smith]

Man, I'll say. High school. Around my sophomore year, I tried to talk my mom, man. I was like, mom, please, I'm done playing basketball. Like, I hated it. I always was too aggressive. I got fouled. I kept getting fouls. I was a. Imagine a linebacker playing basketball.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, I see the way you play football.

[Nolan Smith]

I couldn't imagine, like, I got 10 rebounds a game now. I was good. Now I could get you 10 points, 10 rebounds, and my five fouls. I'm done. I came six. Man of the Year. But, nah, I stopped doing that. Went on sophomore year, and then I went to img, and I couldn't play basketball down there with them boys. Couldn't play baseball with them neither.

[Reed Blankenship]

How was it down there?

[Cooper DeJean]

It was a life.

[Nolan Smith]

It was.

[Reed Blankenship]

That was like, the big thing, like, for me growing up, like, you see ing, it's like, oh, yeah, the big dog, man.

[Nolan Smith]

When they went to play Grayson, I say, that's when I really found out about img. And when they beat Grayson, I said, man, I want to go to img. And that's what I did.

[Cooper DeJean]

So Grayson's like, is it, like, the top school in Georgia?

[Nolan Smith]

I say Grayson. Grayson is one of the top schools. Buford is number one to me. I don't want. No. I don't want to cause any animosity with anybody. Buford's the only school that has a stadium around it. They have three turf fields, and their coach. Their coach doesn't like their players to play on, you know, turf. So he. The stadium is grass. It's nice.

[Cooper DeJean]

Wow.

[Reed Blankenship]

So would you like which one's better? Obviously you're gonna say Georgia football, probably. Is that Texas and Georgia.

[Cooper DeJean]

You think Georgia football is the best football, or you think Florida? Texas.

[Nolan Smith]

Let's be real. Per capita, like, people say, per capita, Georgia's the best.

[Cooper DeJean]

Really?

[Nolan Smith]

Florida has a lot more people. Texas. It takes you, what, about four or five days to drive across Texas? It takes me one in the end to get across Georgia.

[Cooper DeJean]

I like that. Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

What do y' all think? That's my question.

[Reed Blankenship]

What do you think? I know down south they got the best. Best football. Regardless. Yeah, Regardless of state. I know. I don't know about Iowa, but dang.

[Nolan Smith]

Why he doing like that?

[Reed Blankenship]

Cool.

[Cooper DeJean]

I mean, Iowa doesn't compare to. To Iowa doesn't compare to Georgia. Easy thought.

[Reed Blankenship]

You just throw EMT in there, bro.

[Nolan Smith]

Easy.

[Reed Blankenship]

No, Tennessee's got some spots, too.

[Cooper DeJean]

Tennessee.

[Reed Blankenship]

Bama's got something.

[Cooper DeJean]

What about Bama?

[Reed Blankenship]

Bama's got some spot I like.

[Nolan Smith]

Every place got good pockets. But I say, man, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

[Reed Blankenship]

I mean, Texas so big. Florida's so big now.

[Nolan Smith]

You know, basketball, Midwest. I'm so. I just want to say this, boy, you could hoop.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, appreciate that.

[Nolan Smith]

Like, you could really. Ball boy. Like, I'm gonna break myself.

[Reed Blankenship]

Well, like your parents were.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, my parents played basketball in college, so I. I mean, I grew up wanting to play basketball, so.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

So would you put this at any point, if anybody reached out? Would you go be a point guard in the NBA?

[Cooper DeJean]

If I could do both. Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

If you could do both.

[Cooper DeJean]

100%.

[Reed Blankenship]

I go, dude, there's no way.

[Cooper DeJean]

Drop some dimes, get a couple layups. You know?

[Nolan Smith]

I like you. Yeah. That's my next question.

[Cooper DeJean]

How many points do you think I get?

[Reed Blankenship]

How many points could you think you.

[Cooper DeJean]

Could score the game in an NBA game? I think I could get you. I could get you 8 to 10. And I'm gonna get you at least 5 or 6 assists, too.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, assists are assists.

[Nolan Smith]

So. So right now, like, I can do that. You versus Bronnie. Would you get a point on Bronnie? That's my only question.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

Okay.

[Cooper DeJean]

Well, I get one.

[Nolan Smith]

I. I like you. I like you versus him.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

I like you versus a lot of NBA matchups.

[Cooper DeJean]

Thank you. Come on, Re. Re.

[Nolan Smith]

I'm being for real. Re.

[Cooper DeJean]

Just can't hoop. That's what you mean, I can't hoop?

[Reed Blankenship]

Just choose not to.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I've choose not to.

[Reed Blankenship]

It hurts now, bro. That core hard.

[Cooper DeJean]

I'm surprised you didn't, like, wrestle or something growing up.

[Nolan Smith]

No, no. I mean, you look.

[Cooper DeJean]

You're like a cuz. Watching you play football. You look like you just.

[Reed Blankenship]

What did you. What did you run your 40 in and stuff?

[Nolan Smith]

I ran four, four flat. And then, you know, they came back and said, I ran a four three, nine, bro.

[Cooper DeJean]

So do you. Do you count four, three, nine, or do you count four, four.

[Nolan Smith]

Ow.

[Reed Blankenship]

I count 439. If I get.

[Nolan Smith]

I count. I count 439. I like to say. I like to say I'm a fast guy. You know, I like to be moving.

[Reed Blankenship]

You challenge it. Like, in minicamp. He's always trying to.

[Cooper DeJean]

He's always trying to race me.

[Reed Blankenship]

That's what you do.

[Cooper DeJean]

Even during OTAs.

[Reed Blankenship]

That's what you do.

[Cooper DeJean]

You get off during what?

[Nolan Smith]

Y' all are working fast. Like, when you look at DBs, you be like, DBs are fast. Like, my funnest race was me, you, and Isaiah last year, and you was right behind us. And I almost lost. I was, like, almost in third. And Isaiah. Isaiah was just rolling. So.

[Reed Blankenship]

Isaiah's fast, too, though. No, you can roll, bro.

[Cooper DeJean]

Good gosh. What was the recruiting process like going? Because obviously, you started in Georgia, and then you went down to IMG number. You were the number one overall recruit in your class, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

You had a speed dial.

[Cooper DeJean]

Really? It's crazy.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. I mean, not really, because I always wanted to go to Georgia. It was like a dream, you know, growing up. And then when I first went to Georgia my freshman year, I talked to Coach Rick. Coach Rick said I was. You know, that's when he told me I was too small. You know, Coach Rick was recruiting guys like Leonard Floyd and like, six, six, six, five guys.

[Reed Blankenship]

He told you you're too small?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. I mean, but, you know, it's all right. And then I still wanted to go to Georgia. Either way, I didn't care. I was a hometown kid and just always, you know, supported the state.

[Cooper DeJean]

Who were your top schools when you were coming out?

[Nolan Smith]

It was Georgia, Bama, and surprisingly, Penn State.

[Cooper DeJean]

Really?

[Nolan Smith]

Wow. Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Did you ever go on a visit to Penn State?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I went on a visit up there. I took. That was my only. I took three OVs, not actually four. So I went to Penn State, I went to Georgia, I went to Bama, and then I went to Clemson.

[Reed Blankenship]

So you were in two championships at Georgia.

[Nolan Smith]

Two championships. I was blessed to be a part of, you know, the second one I counted. But, you know, I only played 10 games, so that's when I tore my pick. That was my senior year.

[Reed Blankenship]

I mean, you guys won.

[Cooper DeJean]

You guys won it, right?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, that was.

[Cooper DeJean]

Was that when Keely had that against Bama?

[Nolan Smith]

No, no, that was the first one. That was the first one. That was. That was the most insane moment because you can see all our coaches yelling like. We did not. Situational football was horrible.

[Cooper DeJean]

This one play.

[Nolan Smith]

Situational football was horrible. We yelling at Keely to get down, and all you see is everybody waving him and start blocking. Well, I say, well, he look like he ain't going down, so. And then all you see is coach Smart doing this to this.

[Reed Blankenship]

Go, go, go.

[Nolan Smith]

And it was so funny. It was so, like. I was like, dang, this is a real moment.

[Cooper DeJean]

That was when. Cause Bama was, like, on a. On a little roll there for a little bit, and then you guys kind of. That was like, the first year you guys won it and kind of kind of took over.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I mean, Bama always been on that road, man. You would never. You would never knock Bama as a school and what they built. Yeah, but that was just like, you know, our first little start of a little success.

[Cooper DeJean]

What do you think makes coach Smart and Georgia football so great? Like, what?

[Reed Blankenship]

Y' all are passionate about that, like, every time. Obviously. We got a whole squad of Georgia players. That's all I hear. Especially Nicobi. He's always talking about Georgia this, Georgia that. I got, whatever. I'm like, dude, man, you're so passionate about what's so.

[Nolan Smith]

Man, I say that place. That place we do this thing called Four quarters. Your freshman. Like, your freshman year, your first time doing it. You and all your friends are really just throwing up together. That's really what it is. We run 110s and so many 53s that you literally, like, we have trash cans around the indoor and you holding on, throwing up to each other, and eventually, like, you know, you build and bond, and we live in the room together and stuff like that. I mean, it's a lot different in the league just because, you know, guys have, you know, families and stuff like that. And it's a mark. It's a lot more respect in the league. Like, you playing with actual grown men.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And back then, you just, you know.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah. You just hanging out.

[Nolan Smith]

You just hanging out. You just having a good time. I mean, we do that now, though. Like, we sit in a locker room and hang out and stuff.

[Cooper DeJean]

No doubt.

[Nolan Smith]

But it's I together, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

It builds a different type of relationship, for sure.

[Nolan Smith]

Most definitely shout out to box drills. We're most definitely done. The suffering just finish.

[Cooper DeJean]

He says he loves. I love that shit. I love box drills.

[Nolan Smith]

I love it, too.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, here we go.

[Nolan Smith]

I mean, it brings us together.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh, no. Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

After every time we do box drills, especially what the last one, when they let the D line lead the db.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And that's when we started saying, I. I told him, like, it's a marriage on the team now. Y' all take care of the dbs and the dbs take care of us.

[Reed Blankenship]

If Rose reversed, I. I ain't trying to kill you, bro. Yeah, I know we're gonna work well. I ain't trying to kill you.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, we got. We did our full good work and we got out of there, and we got a good breaks, you know, so make sure y' all good.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah. The Georgia Bulldogs, you think, like, right now they're building. They're building one of the top dynasties in college football. Would you. Would you put them up there with.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, Bama Saban era? Oh, man, Smart era.

[Nolan Smith]

I'll say the Smart era is going really good. And I kind of like his. Even the playing field, but come on now. Nick Saban, he was still winning championships with his statue outside. If that's not greatness, then I see.

[Cooper DeJean]

That's crazy.

[Nolan Smith]

I can't. I can't go against my. My coach, but, man, Coach Saban has done something for NCAA that no one will ever replicate.

[Reed Blankenship]

No, he was done for a long time, too.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, he did it for a long.

[Reed Blankenship]

Time, cuz he had some dudes on them teams, man.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I just think. I think about all the linebackers that he had or really the DBs. Like a lot of DBs, like Pat Santan. Like a lot of guys that, you.

[Reed Blankenship]

Know, had ha And Dick Mark. Be. I. Dude, I can name him. Like, that was. That was my school growing up, you know, but no, that.

[Nolan Smith]

That was your school going up.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah. You was either Alabama, Auburn fan.

[Nolan Smith]

Wow. So you just.

[Reed Blankenship]

You just like that.

[Nolan Smith]

You just don't like me at all, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, this Philly heat, no joke.

[Cooper DeJean]

So I got like 10 bags of ice and made my own ice bath just to cool off.

[Reed Blankenship]

Coop, why didn't you just turn on your ac?

[Cooper DeJean]

Because I was trying to be energy efficient. You know, go green, go birds. Right.

[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

So no more ice?

[Reed Blankenship]

Nah, man. Unless it's the ice around your neck.

[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

That's pico.comwaystosave welcome back to exciting mics presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals. All right, let's get into your draft experience here. You were picked 30th overall.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

By the Philadelphia Eagles. I think. I think we got his draft call here. Hey, Nolan, Congrats, man. You know, Nakobi, Jordan, Jalen, and yourself. It's crazy.

[Nolan Smith]

Hey, coach, I'm ready. We about to have fun, man. We gonna make. We gonna make this worth, y' all. Wow.

[Cooper DeJean]

We're used to working hard and we win big. I think you know that.

[Nolan Smith]

Hell yeah, coach. That's what I want. Hell, yeah. That's what I want. Yeah. Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

Hey, Coach Sean, I know you busy. I'm fired up. But I want that playbook. I want it. I want a. PDF hey, Coach. I want to be on that fucking field. I want to show y' all why y' all should pick me number one. I'm being dead ass serious. I got you, coach. I would say Coach Ceriani was, you know, one thing. You know. You know, when you go on your top 30 visits, he was asking me. He asked me a question with, like, are you soft? And I was like, nah, Coach, I'm not soft. And that's one thing I just wanted to remind him on the phone. Rick, I'll never be a soft person for you.

[Reed Blankenship]

Serious. I didn't ask you that.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. And then the first thing that went through my head was like, man, I'm about to be in the NFL. This is crazy. Like, even thinking back on it, watching the call, like, you still, like, it's so real. Like, it's like you don't believe it. Like, it's happening.

[Cooper DeJean]

So that feeling was insane. Like, just because that's. That's it. I. I mean, I watched it as a kid, you know, and then, like, all the stress of, like, going through the process, the meetings, all that stuff, and then finally getting the call and figuring out where you're gonna go is, like, such a huge.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah. What do they do in the movie off your.

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, you didn't go. You didn't go into meetings. Oh, you. Were You a covet?

[Reed Blankenship]

No, I was on draft.

[Nolan Smith]

It. Oh, man.

[Cooper DeJean]

Did you go to the combine?

[Nolan Smith]

You didn't go to the combine?

[Cooper DeJean]

You didn't go to the.

[Reed Blankenship]

Go anywhere.

[Cooper DeJean]

You got out the mud.

[Reed Blankenship]

I just went straight up on the street.

[Nolan Smith]

That's what we talk about. That's heart and determination, baby. That's what love for the.

[Reed Blankenship]

I'm just living through y' all, man. Yeah, cuz. I don't know, dude.

[Nolan Smith]

I have. Yeah, I just. I say when I got that call, really, my phone was on do not disturb, cuz all I was thinking was, I don't want nobody to call me during this moment. And then I seen. I seen the notification. It was like. I said, 215. I was like, I don't know. I don't know nobody from the 215 area code. And I said, let me. So I took my phone off do not disturb. And then they called back. Then I said, hello. And then, you know, Howie said, this is Howie Roseman. I was like, oh, My goodness. It's happening. It's happening for real. And I couldn't. I couldn't. Thank you. I couldn't think anything else other than my mom saying, baby, you gonna be in the NFL. And I just wanted to prove her, you know, prove her right and, you know, prove Mr. Lori and Coach. Coach Sirianni and everyone right that, you know, I should be here.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

Did you celebrate there, or. Where were you?

[Nolan Smith]

We were at a winery. So we were at a winery in Georgia. It was, like, 45 minutes away from Athens, and it was Chateau Holland. It's a nice winery. And I took. I took my family on, like, a little wine tasting during the day, and we just hung out and just really got prepared for the night. Cause I just thought it was. It was my big opportunity. It was my big day, and I was just. I was nervous. I didn't want to do anything. I sat in a room. I treated it almost like a game day.

[Cooper DeJean]

Like a game?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. Like, I sat in the room, you know, I took a little bit of time to play on my phone. I put my phone down. I ain't had a playbook to go through, so I decided to watch movies and sit down.

[Cooper DeJean]

Got a video, though, I think your draft celebration right here.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

You got champagne, red bottom.

[Reed Blankenship]

The green socks.

[Nolan Smith]

Man, that is a funny story, man, that I have to tell y' all.

[Cooper DeJean]

About this, but Nicobi, because Nakobe was already here, right?

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, Nakobe was here because we're the same class.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, that was. I would say, man, my whole family came, and it was fun. Like, all my. I say that's why I had it 45 minutes away from Athens, because I wanted all. All my teammates to be there. Like, you know, that's Pop. That's Marvin Jones, and then that's Jaden Walker right there. He just went 11th. And, you know, they always ask, do you want to go to the draft? Do you want to go to the draft? I tell people, like, you know, do what you want to do. But ultimately, for me, it was about, you know, family and being with my guys, being with my family and my friends, because, hey, just want to be.

[Reed Blankenship]

Around the people that supported you and was there through it all. For real.

[Cooper DeJean]

What's the story behind the green socks?

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, man. The story behind the green socks. So I grabbed. I was leaving the house, and I was in a rush, and I. I packed my socks, and I'm thinking, man, I ain't grabbed the right socks. I didn't grab the right socks. And then I was like, man, I got these green socks on with this red. I hope no one sees it. And I was like, I think it's a reason I grabbed green socks. And when I put them on, I was just, that's crazy. I was like, oh, my goodness.

[Reed Blankenship]

Meant to be, though.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

That's sick, though.

[Nolan Smith]

And then Nakobe was there. Nakobe? Just my roommate. He was my guy. I hung out with him all. All his three years. He left me and went. Went to the. You know, the NFL.

[Reed Blankenship]

So did you fly out the next day? Is that how it works?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. Yeah, I flew out out of Atlanta the next morning and got on a plane with my family, my girl and my dad. My dad's a Cowboys fan. Sadly, I'm gonna put him on blast right now. So when we went, that's the first thing I told everybody when I got to the Eagles organization, just to call him out. And every game, just to let him call him out 100%, every game. He does not wear my jersey if he comes up here. So if y' all see a man walking with a woman with a three jersey on, just bumpy. Just bumpy for me.

[Cooper DeJean]

What was your first impressions of Philadelphia? Did you know?

[Reed Blankenship]

Did you even get to go out a lot?

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, man, I. I don't go out, like, that much. I just usually stay in the house. I go order food and come back in the house, play the game.

[Reed Blankenship]

Quinon.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I just. I say I drive around. Like, I went to, you know, Chinatown. Like, growing up in Savannah, we didn't have a Chinatown. I went to the Roll it up ice cream. It was summer. Like, that's the only time I had sweets because I seen the lady cutting it up with making the s' mores ice cream. I said, oh, yeah, I'm really gonna eat this. I was playing at first just to go with my girl. You know how your girl sign you up to do something? And I was like, oh, yeah, this is. This is actually going to be pretty good. I'm actually like this.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Have you had any crazy experiences with. With fans around here or.

[Nolan Smith]

No, man, I. I had no crazy experiences with fans. But I say, you know, they tell you this, Philadelphia fans, they'll jump in front of the bullet for you.

[Cooper DeJean]

So. Oh, yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

So I believe. I believe that. And, you know, I haven't had anyone come up and be like, oh, my goodness. Oh, my gosh. Like, no, no, I usually. And people don't know me with my glasses on, so I kind of like, you know, the Clark Kent look. I could go out.

[Reed Blankenship]

That's A good way to describe it.

[Nolan Smith]

I put my glasses and my hat on because I wear my contacts during the game. Most people don't know I'm in contacts. People like, how do you see?

[Reed Blankenship]

I didn't know that either. Yeah, you just don't like wearing them.

[Nolan Smith]

I mean, I can wear them normally, but they just. I can read perfectly clear without my glasses. You know, God created glasses for a reason. Yeah, I'm one of those people. I'm not a candidate for lasik. I don't do none of that. No, I wear contacts and glasses.

[Cooper DeJean]

Speaking of. Speaking of looks, we gotta. We gotta. We gotta take off this hat real quick and.

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, the reveal.

[Cooper DeJean]

Look at that, the fresh chop.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

What makes you got cut up, man? I just. I would say I'm on more of my business. My grown man look. I just. I felt like I was a kid with my hair growing, going everywhere, and I kept having to get it, you know, you know, like done and twisted and stuff like that. I was like, man, I'm just sick of it. Sick of it. So this is. This is the reveal. Chop the head off. The waves coming soon. Waves coming soon. Hopefully the next time I'm on the podcast, I'll be having waves. Y' all hold me to that.

[Cooper DeJean]

All right, let's talk about your time here in Philadelphia so far. What was the adjustment like coming from Georgia to Philadelphia and college, the NFL?

[Nolan Smith]

I'll say, man, it's more of, like, you know, self governed. And I'll say I watch film way more than I did in college just because, I mean, that's like our homework now. We go home and watch film. I'm watching cut ups, run cutups. I mean, I know y' all probably watch, so y' all probably watch more film than me. Honestly, the DBs, the route concepts, all that stuff.

[Cooper DeJean]

We probably got a lot more stuff that we need to understand maybe than D line it.

[Reed Blankenship]

I don't know.

[Cooper DeJean]

I mean, you guys. I mean, you got to play the run. Yeah, yeah, but you also get to just run free at the quarterback. Not free, but, I mean, it's a.

[Nolan Smith]

Little art to it, but it's almost like.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, you probably. You're probably studying more like the dudes you're going against, right?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I'm studying him all week.

[Cooper DeJean]

What they do.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, like studying him all week. I'm looking at what he does, his hand placement, you know, the different. Really, you know, you try to pick up tails too on the line. Like a lot of people talk about, like the flying V and, you know, I know. I really know when it's passed, like, most of the time, it's really a 50, 50 shot. And then usually you'd be like, oh, pass. Just run. And, you know, sometimes you get caught with. You don't never want to get caught guessing too bad.

[Cooper DeJean]

What was the culture like when you first got here? Did it feel similar to college?

[Nolan Smith]

I would say it felt a lot. A lot like college. One. One thing that I was surprised of, but it was mostly, like, to really see, like, grown. Grown men like Fletcher, Cops, like, guys have been in the league, like, slay. Like, guys that really been in the league 10 years, and soon as they put a pair of clicks on, they start doing drills and stuff like it's second nature.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah. So I forgot that you were in Fletch's last year.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

And you got to come in with. With a lot of your former teammates. What was it like being around bg? Because I know you. I know you talked about BG quite a bit. I've seen you talk about him in press conferences and stuff. What is. What has he meant to you throughout your. Your time here with. With him?

[Nolan Smith]

Man, I mean, I think BG is going to be a part of my life and my time throughout here, just because he's one of those people I could call, you know, when we have. When we have good days, call B. When we have bad days, call B. That's what I say, man. Just call bg. He'll talk to you.

[Reed Blankenship]

He'll talk to you. He don't change.

[Nolan Smith]

He don't change ever. And he's really just been calm, cool, and collected. Especially during retirement. He comes and works out a little bit.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And. And, you know, get his little list.

[Reed Blankenship]

He's always smiling.

[Cooper DeJean]

He's fun to see.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That little laugh, man, his little laugh is funny.

[Cooper DeJean]

What do you think sets us apart from. From other teams in the way that our defense plays?

[Reed Blankenship]

Y' all got a close RD line in there.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, Coach Wash. Yeah, Coach Hurt.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, Coach Wash, Coach Hurt, man. We all a close link group. And I say. We always say, you know, we the engine of the defense, the tip of the spear, you know, and then I always remind y' all that we. The marriage, like, we may not see it, and actually, we may not near each other, but, you know, and that's why I take coverage so hard on myself, because when. When I drop back, it's a surprise. So I want to be in the right spot at the right time. I'm only asked to do it, what, twice Three times out of the.

[Reed Blankenship]

Knock the guy off his rap for me.

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, yeah, man. Reroute, reroute. Man. We ain't gonna talk too much about it, but I got you, man. I got you most definitely. And I'll say one of the biggest things that I think that sets us apart, man, we all hungry.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And I say we always talk about being hungry and running to the ball.

[Reed Blankenship]

How much has that changed? Like, obviously you lost well known guys in the room. B.G. you know, Fletch, Hoss. Like, how do y' all still keep that same mentality? Or has it has like, you like the younger guys stepped up to.

[Nolan Smith]

I say that a lot of the younger guys stepped up, as in, like, you know, I'm not a young guy no more. So I lead the group. I lead most of the drills. And, you know, I'm going. I'm going full speed anyway. I like, just because it's. This is like our job that we sign up for every day. And I ain't gonna have my job. Cause then when I want to go out there for the 18 games now, then I'm gonna be looking like, OMG, like, what have I put myself into?

[Reed Blankenship]

Right?

[Cooper DeJean]

Did you have a welcome to the NFL moment your first year?

[Nolan Smith]

Man, I say my first preseason game was a welcome to the NFL moment. Cause you don't know how many special teams you're gonna play. A lot of people. A lot of people don't tell you that. And I say, I'm going to be ready. I'm going to be in shape. I'm going to be ready. Coach, like. And it was just kickoff after kickoff return after all of this. And I was like, man, because the rules haven't.

[Reed Blankenship]

Didn't change.

[Nolan Smith]

No, it was normal.

[Reed Blankenship]

It was normal.

[Nolan Smith]

It was normal.

[Reed Blankenship]

Kickoff you had to run down.

[Nolan Smith]

I had to run down on kickoff. And I had to do all of that stuff. And I didn't mind it. Like, I don't mind doing it. But after, like, it gets on your back, though, nine reps, it started to wear on your legs.

[Reed Blankenship]

Then you got to play defense.

[Nolan Smith]

Then you played every defense is now, yeah, that's tough. But playing defense, I say playing defense, it's just like you say a C ball, get ball. Like you don't think about it. And I 100% either thinking run pass. And then when I got a drop, how can I help Cooper Reed out? And how can I be at my spot and don't be the fish?

[Reed Blankenship]

Hey, man, all, I'll tell you to take on the blockers. The pullers and get to the quarterback. That's all.

[Cooper DeJean]

Watching you take on the blockers and pullers, though, that's a whole nother slice. Blocks, bro.

[Nolan Smith]

I mean, I say gotten better throughout the game. Like, tight ends aren't really trying to. Like, some tight ends come and just cut you. That's when it starts to get serious, when you start taking it personal. Because my acl, like, in one second, if I'm looking this way, and he come and cuts me, my whole knee. My knee's gone. We done seen it happen to a lot of guys in the league, and I just think, you know, they should take that out. Just come hit me, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

They took it out on our side of the ball. They didn't take it.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, but you're right. They say, if he's in the tackle.

[Reed Blankenship]

Box, I mean, what's the tackle when the play goes on? I'm not gonna say, okay, here's the tackle box. Yeah, I'm not looking at that.

[Cooper DeJean]

Who knows? You think, obviously, our lines, like, great. We got a bunch of legends on our. Do you think. Do you think that's. How much do you think that's helped you your first three years now?

[Reed Blankenship]

Because you pick.

[Nolan Smith]

You go against in practice, I would say. And Lane and Mulatta gives you two different types. I don't want to tell everybody about their secrets, but going against Lane Johnson, he's the best offensive tackle in the league, hands down. Like. And I wouldn't be half of the rusher I am today without Lane. And then the other half of my rushes goes to Mulatto, right? Like, going on the other side, changing it up and talking to those guys after each pass rush rep. And then, you know, I started to learn a lot about pass rushes when we started doing those joint practices. And then Lane will come on our side and say, hey, Nolan, look at this, this, this, and this.

[Reed Blankenship]

So that's sick, though.

[Nolan Smith]

Like, he's teaching you. He's teaching you the game.

[Cooper DeJean]

I feel like a lot of people.

[Reed Blankenship]

Don'T do that a lot, you know? Yeah, a tackle doesn't want to tell you how to beat them.

[Cooper DeJean]

That's like, you know, talked about connecting and making each other better. That t. That's what it does. Makes us better.

[Nolan Smith]

But, like, when, you know, Smitty talked about it with Slay, when him and Slay, he started talking about him at the top of his routes and stuff like that. That's really what. What pass rushing is. I've run the same route tree, and I'm trying to make Everything look the same and everything. You know, I'm giving him a presentation, but I'm actually trying to do this or I'm making him think this, so I'm actually trying to do that. And I say, lane, He. He points it out. He helps you. He tells you what you need to do. He say, man, you need to try this one. You need to try this. And, you know, he helped me build my bag as the time went on. And, man, he's year 15, so why wouldn't he give me, like.

[Reed Blankenship]

And why wouldn't you listen?

[Cooper DeJean]

A lot of rushes.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, might as well.

[Nolan Smith]

I mean, Joey Bosa. Like, I could start naming a couple of guys that he's seen, like T.J. watt. What? We played the Steelers. Who else? We played the Bengals. Trey Hendrickson. Trey has What? Trey's got 30. 30 sacks?

[Cooper DeJean]

30 plus sacks, something like that.

[Nolan Smith]

Who else?

[Reed Blankenship]

I mean, he's been doing these guys.

[Nolan Smith]

All years, for years.

[Reed Blankenship]

So, I mean, I go. He had to go get his Haas too, before.

[Nolan Smith]

So, I mean, I like rushing on. I just. I mostly rush on that side during practice, and I switch sides and a half of practice because him and Mulatta, they go perfect off each other. And I say, like, Meloda, you can tell when he grabs you. He has rugby strength. Like, I be like, no, Meloda, I can't let you grab me. Like, please keep your distance, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

Taking care of my health so I can perform on the field is my top priority, and that includes my oral health. I want to introduce you to my other favorite team, the Do Dat dental group. They make sure I have the most advanced dental care and, of course, a great smile.

[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

In fact, I'm working on getting ready for my wedding next month with Ron Goldenberg at the center city location, Walnut Street. Smile. When I was younger, I was in an accident that severely damaged the front tooth. But for my wedding next month, I want to look and feel my best and just updated my smile for the big day. Visit my [e-mail] and see what they can do for you. Smile like the birds.

[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

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[Reed Blankenship]

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[Cooper DeJean]

Mike's presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals. Last season I feel like was kind of your coming out party. If, if you would say, I feel like you started to get just rolling like throughout the season.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, what game?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I was just like, click. Yeah, man. I'll say about game six. I say when game six, they started to click just because, you know, I was getting more opportunities out there on the field and you know, I love playing with you guys. I love celebrating with y' all.

[Cooper DeJean]

Roll that dice.

[Reed Blankenship]

Roll the dice.

[Nolan Smith]

Where did that come from, man? I'll say rolling the dice, man. You just gotta take a chance on yourself. Like you always, you should always bet on yourself and just keep pushing, keep going and never stop betting on yourself. It has nothing to do with gambling. I don't want anyone to think about that. It's literally about, you know, betting on yourself and thinking, you know, you're gonna be the best. And it also stemmed from Jordan. Like, you know, I used to get a sack and just held my hand up and wave at the people. I just thought it was funny. And Jordan was like, stop doing that. You look stupid.

[Reed Blankenship]

And I was like, you gotta do something better.

[Nolan Smith]

I was like, my bad, bro.

[Cooper DeJean]

My favorite part is when everybody gets in on it too. Yeah, we all roll it.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, that's the best you have yet to do it.

[Cooper DeJean]

You gotta get in there.

[Nolan Smith]

We gotta get in on the 1. We a share sack this year I'm calling.

[Reed Blankenship]

Oh really?

[Nolan Smith]

Hopefully. Hopefully we A share one this year.

[Reed Blankenship]

Shout out. Vic, come on.

[Cooper DeJean]

Come on, man.

[Nolan Smith]

Or when you get. When you get you. I cause an interception and you pick. We can do that. Yeah. No, I want to do your celly, though, instead. Don't do mine. That's like, I don't care.

[Reed Blankenship]

I like doing everybody's.

[Nolan Smith]

What's up with y' all in the WWE thing? Because the. Easy. The question is, why don't y' all just do John Cena? John Cena's the easiest to do. Like, you can't see me and I. He's a famous wrestler.

[Cooper DeJean]

I mean. Yeah. But me and Q are both, like, big WWE fans, so we. We are always trying to find, like. Cause we're always. We're always talking about celebrations, and every time it comes up, he wants to do some sort of WWWE move.

[Reed Blankenship]

So DX, that's.

[Cooper DeJean]

That's just what we come up with and decide.

[Nolan Smith]

Or like the fake sweet chin music. That's what we were.

[Cooper DeJean]

We were supposed to do that in the Super Bowl.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

But I got too excited and sort of running all over the place. Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

I would say that moment is crazy, man. It's your birthday. How did that. That time out? How did that really feel? Your birthday? You catch a pick six?

[Cooper DeJean]

I, like, blacked out. I blacked out. I don't even like. I.

[Nolan Smith]

So when the ball touched your hands, what were you thinking when you was.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, score, get the end zone.

[Cooper DeJean]

Score? Because it worked out perfectly almost because they were rolling out this way and everybody.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

And they threw it backside and I was coming back. Coming back across the field away from everybody.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

And I think it was Jalex and Morrow.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. Jaylon.

[Cooper DeJean]

Tomorrow throughout a couple blocks and I was. I was in there.

[Nolan Smith]

What is it? My question is, when you catch an interception, is it easier than punk return?

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh, 100.

[Reed Blankenship]

You almost had one, right?

[Nolan Smith]

When?

[Reed Blankenship]

What game was it where you just.

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, man, you talk about Dallas. That does not count. Do you know how hard it is? First of all, it's hard to catch interception, to track the ball. He is not intentionally throwing it to you to track the ball out his hands. Okay, so tracking the ball out his hands, then JC bats it down, and you want me to track it off his hand? I don't know. Into my hand?

[Reed Blankenship]

I don't know. I. I believe you can do it, man.

[Nolan Smith]

Okay. I appreciate. I appreciate the belief athlete, man. Yeah. And you see why I dropped it? You see why I went straight on the ground. That is so. That's hard.

[Cooper DeJean]

Let's talk the super bowl and those moments that. That we had there in your. Your entry. I didn't even know about your dream until nobody knew. I saw you again with. I think you were in, like, a sling or something.

[Nolan Smith]

I had the brace on. When. That's when you saw me. I say, man, it was one of those moments. Like, you're in the Super Bowl. Like, okay, let's say we go back a couple more times. Yeah, let's go back a couple more times. Even if I still win this, my first one will haunt me forever. Like. And also, I feel like a quitter. Like, I just worked all this time. Y' all counting on me. My mom's looking. Looking for me. How can I just go out there and be like, man, I'm just gonna let my guys. I did enough.

[Cooper DeJean]

Like, yeah, dude, did you know you did it right away?

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, immediately.

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh, really?

[Nolan Smith]

So I. When I. When I. So I landed and he jumped on my back, and all I heard was a pow.

[Reed Blankenship]

I said, whoo, dude.

[Nolan Smith]

And then, you know me in my mind. Get the sack. I see my hose rolling out. I'm like, get up. And I started running, and my arm just. It wouldn't. Like, it wouldn't come up. Like, it wouldn't retract. Like, it wouldn't do this. So I was literally, like, running like this. And I was just like, well, you know, something wrong. It's only 30 seconds left. Soon as we go in, I'll be all right. No, he was shaking his head at the doctor. Like, no. Like, when they shake it not up. Yeah, no, it just wrote. It rolled up a little bit. And then I was just. The whole time, I was just trying to rub it down. And then I told him, there's no way possible I'm coming out this game, so either y' all can give me a brace and I can go out and play, or, you know, we're gonna have a legal battle back and forth. Yeah, we're gonna have just a whole conversation, and I don't want to debrief or sit here and delegate all of. All day about this, because that's when it happened.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, the fumble happened. And you were saying, like, telling somebody else to pick it up.

[Nolan Smith]

Yes, I was talking to Milt, and I was saying, milk, can you please pick the fumble? Like, I was yelling at him.

[Reed Blankenship]

I had no idea, bro. Yeah, I legit had no idea until I got back.

[Cooper DeJean]

I saw this tape on your. Like, you had tape on your arm?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, I had. I had a brace. A little soft cast brace, and I taped it up, and they locked it. So, like, the most I can do is up and down, like, right there. And so when the fumble was between my legs, I couldn't, like, hyper extend my arm. And then I just kicked it back. It was one of the funniest moments. I would never forget that moment. Just because JC Punched Mahomes in the face, Milk got the strip sack, and then he's laying on the ground with the office alignment on top of him, and he's trying to, like, scrum near the ball. And JC Standing there, he told me, he said, man, I thought you was gonna pick it up and take it to the house. I thought you were, too.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Before I found out that you did.

[Reed Blankenship]

That, I was like, what do you think?

[Nolan Smith]

Like, do you not think I was trying to do that?

[Reed Blankenship]

I figured you were.

[Cooper DeJean]

I was like, like, what's going on? Picking this ball up.

[Nolan Smith]

That's right. Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

But he couldn't grab it.

[Nolan Smith]

I couldn't grab it. And then I just. I said, man, I'm gonna just kick it back. I just seen Milt kicked it back. I was yelling, milk, Milk, get the ball.

[Reed Blankenship]

So what would that. So what was your favorite moment through it all, man?

[Nolan Smith]

My favorite moment through it all, genuinely, you. I'm not. I'm not like. Cause you're here when you caught that pick. Because I just. And that's when I just came out, like. Like, I just came out the locker room. They told me I was good and stuff like that. And I'm hitting the sideline like, let's go, baby. We in the super bowl. Like, you. You can be hurt after this all your life, if you want to be. And you caught that pick. And I say, double threes, right?

[Cooper DeJean]

Double threes.

[Nolan Smith]

And then Jalen picked up that block.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And then Moro. Moro's sitting there escorting you. And I said, oh, yeah, we. We good now. But we got the Drew.

[Cooper DeJean]

But the sequence, though, the way it worked out, like, the two plays before that pick, six picks, like, that's. That's like the story of our defense all year. Just working the way we work together, you know? And then the parade a week later.

[Nolan Smith]

Oh, my goodness. That's what I say, man.

[Cooper DeJean]

You had a time.

[Reed Blankenship]

You want to go into detail.

[Cooper DeJean]

Just.

[Nolan Smith]

It's kind of like what, you know, Q said, I woke up that morning, I had my chick fil a biscuit, and I go all. You know, I run to the ball a lot, and I do a lot of rushing, and I do a lot of covering. So I try to make sure. My body's right during the season, so I ain't doing nothing but drinking water. And then that morning, I just. We were chilling. We were chilling outside, and I took a couple shots, and then by the time I got on the bus, I was like, oh, yeah, I'm loose. Then the beer started coming, and so when. When the beer started mixing with the tequila, oh. And I was like, all right, I'm done.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, well, you didn't. I don't know if you was telling yourself no, but you. You stayed with it the whole time.

[Nolan Smith]

No, I just had the LV on.

[Cooper DeJean]

Here the whole time, man.

[Nolan Smith]

I had that fit. Just because, you know, how many times could you say in your first two years, like, soon as you win a Super bowl, like, I would say that was one of the funnest moments ever. Just running up and down the street with the city of Philadelphia, like, it's nothing that I would ever regret.

[Cooper DeJean]

What do you think your biggest takeaways from this minicamp and OTAs was? Like, what do you think the mindset is right now within our team going into this next season, coming off of the Super Bowl?

[Nolan Smith]

Man, I say our mindset is really good right now. I thought we finished amazing, especially, you know, guys doing box drills. Guys are in shape. You know, guys been running to the ball, doing the right things, and ultimately, you know, it's really how guys learn the playbook. And I think we have a great gist of it because, you know, for some of us, it's year two.

[Reed Blankenship]

It's year two, man. Year two means a lot.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. And it's kind of like a refresher for me. Like, anytime we bring up new plays and say we're gonna do this and that, I say, oh, refresher.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, yeah. I instantly go to, like, the what ifs, the big what ifs that we talked about during the season. And it's like, I'm going getting ahead of myself a little bit. Especially not gonna happen.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. Especially when I'm in coverage. That's the only time I think about what ifs.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

Like. Cause I think about the Tampa route when I was covering, too, and they ran that slant. And then you came up and talked to me after that. You made me feel better, man. Reed, I appreciate that. You know, you don't forget moments like that just because, you know, y' all always cover, and.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, it's a different thing for you. So it's just.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

It's got to let you know where I'm at.

[Cooper DeJean]

It's nice to be in A defense? Yeah, like the same defense back to.

[Nolan Smith]

Back years, you know, I say so now. My question to y' all is, what is. What is the hardest position on the field? Outside of quarterback? Outside of quarterback. What's the hardest position on the field?

[Cooper DeJean]

I mean, I think it's. I think it's playing DB corner.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

Just.

[Nolan Smith]

I mean, y' all going backwards 24, 7.

[Cooper DeJean]

Going backwards, trying to. Trying to cover someone who is running full speed. Full speed. And knows they know where they're going and what they're doing.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

And you're just sitting there trying to match them.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah. Because, like, Slay used to do it a lot. He used to run routes for the guys.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

At times. And it's just like, once you get.

[Cooper DeJean]

That, you gotta study.

[Reed Blankenship]

You got to study it.

[Cooper DeJean]

Study and be able to anticipate.

[Reed Blankenship]

And it's.

[Cooper DeJean]

But a lot of. It's. A lot of. It's like trying to see the full picture.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

And that's tough when you're on one side of the field. Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

And understand the full picture of everything.

[Nolan Smith]

That's always the hard thing to figure out. Like, how do I know when something coming from the other side of the field, Coach? Like, I never know that. And, you know, y' all study route concepts so y' all know when it's happening.

[Reed Blankenship]

And we're like, for me, for my position, I can kind of look across the field and based on, like, splits, can kind of guess or determine what about, like, what's about to happen.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

You know, and we communicate across the field at times, and.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

Just kind of get on the same page in that essence.

[Cooper DeJean]

And, you know, I think, yeah, DB's probably one of the hardest corners especially.

[Nolan Smith]

My favorite time, though, is, you know, when you come to the hotel, we never get to talk to y' all, like, ever, once the drive starts. But when. When Reed first comes up and standing. All right, here we go, baby.

[Reed Blankenship]

Here we go, boys.

[Nolan Smith]

This is what we signed up for. I say, oh, yeah. Long as I hear Reed say that, and I look back and I say, okay, as long as the DB's going, I got to do my part.

[Cooper DeJean]

Everybody just gets locked in right at the beginning.

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah. And I'm looking. I'm looking at Zach and Nakobe. Hey, hey, come on. Call, call, call. Please call now.

[Reed Blankenship]

Sometimes Jacoby could be in a hurry, and I'll be like, what?

[Cooper DeJean]

What is it?

[Nolan Smith]

Yeah, man.

[Cooper DeJean]

What are you trying to get better at coming into this next season following.

[Nolan Smith]

The super bowl, man, I say, you know, play good football. I know everybody says that. And I want to be the complete, like, you know, you hear he's a pass rusher, he's this and that. But, you know, I want to play. I want to be a complete football player. Play good football, run to the ball, do everything that I'm supposed to do when it's time for me to drop, reroute, do everything, the little minute things and just be a good football player and then be. Be the guy for my teammates. Yeah.

[Reed Blankenship]

So I feel like you've already started on a good foot, like just from. From me seeing you grow, dude, I'm excited. Yeah, I'm so excited for you, dude, continuing to grow.

[Nolan Smith]

I appreciate that, man.

[Reed Blankenship]

You're one of those dogs, man, that. I'm glad you play for us, you know.

[Cooper DeJean]

I know. Like, thank God I'm not on the offensive side trying to take on them or make blocks on them.

[Reed Blankenship]

You have that, you have that. I have a headache after that.

[Nolan Smith]

But man, it's. It's mostly, man, you take on. You use your hands a lot.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Nolan Smith]

And I play with rice a lot during the season, so I got like a rice bucket at my house and I literally do that run that Grip.

[Cooper DeJean]

Strength, grip strength, grip strength.

[Nolan Smith]

You know, I already got D line fingers as it is, so I might as well just, you know. You see sweat?

[Reed Blankenship]

Sweat.

[Nolan Smith]

Have you seen sweat?

[Cooper DeJean]

He's going like this.

[Nolan Smith]

His pinky's going out to the side.

[Reed Blankenship]

Crazy, bro.

[Nolan Smith]

But man, he got a me amazing long arm because his pinky is perfect under people fast. It can lift. I say, man, I wouldn't break my pinky at that cost, but you know, it's pretty alright.

[Cooper DeJean]

So you got a foundation?

[Nolan Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Cooper DeJean]

What does your foundation do? What do they support?

[Nolan Smith]

My foundation really gives back to kids. So I've been ever since. When we started the nil thing in college, I just started doing a camp for kids. And I started my camp off like I just needed $5 to pay for the cleanup and I had a bunch of kids come out and then I gave them free book bags and stuff like that. And then the next year I was able to make my camp free. And every year I know I add more kids and I do more and we feed the kids for a day and it gives them something to do in Savannah and teach them. You know, there's also other avenues. You don't have to be a rapper or you don't have to be this and that person. And you also can go to school. And that's what made me start my golf foundation stuff is trying to help kids that actually play golf go to school. Like, I signed two kids to school this off season. We were able to pay for half and half of their scholarships. The one girl name was Maddie. She's going to Georgia Southern.

[Reed Blankenship]

I saw the video.

[Nolan Smith]

Yep, Maddie. And then the other guy, the other guy actually name is Q. Q's going to Kennesaw. So I thought that was funny. And I just try to give back, man. I just try to do my part and give back just because, you know, you leave a legacy. And a lot of people leave and be like, oh, yeah, I'm from there. I'm from there. Well, don't go back. You're not going back doing stuff. So my camp and the field that I grew up in, every year, this is my fifth year running.

[Reed Blankenship]

Wow.

[Nolan Smith]

Well, I cap it off at like 200 kids, and it's just fun.

[Reed Blankenship]

Nolan, we. We appreciate you for joining us today on episode six of exciting Mics, man.

[Cooper DeJean]

And had a blast.

[Reed Blankenship]

Had a blast, bro.

[Cooper DeJean]

Had a blast. Make sure you go follow Nolan on all social medias. Nolan Smith with a 00. Make sure you go follow him.

[Nolan Smith]

And appreciate y' all for having me. Thank y' all, man. It was fun. I was excited about being on this. Excited.

[Reed Blankenship]

A lot of excitement.

[Nolan Smith]

I begged. I begged to be on his. Made jokes in the locker room subtly, but they really wasn't jokes. They were kind of hurting my feelings. Was like, bro, we signed with the same people.

[Reed Blankenship]

Like, here we are. You got your wish, bro.

[Cooper DeJean]

We're back with our fan rapid fire Q and A today. Our first guest is Ms. Sarah Bacon.

[Reed Blankenship]

Sup, Sarah?

[Cooper DeJean]

What's your question for us?

[Nolan Smith]

All right, my question is, what player on your team would you not let date your sister?

[Reed Blankenship]

Probably you.

[Cooper DeJean]

What? Me? A lot of great guys on the team.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah, I'll go.

[Cooper DeJean]

Sydney Brown. Oh, Sydney Brown is my choice.

[Reed Blankenship]

Shout out Sid.

[Cooper DeJean]

Shout out Sid. Awesome guy. What's your choice, Q?

[Reed Blankenship]

You.

[Cooper DeJean]

Me. I don't know what he's talking about.

[Reed Blankenship]

Thanks.

[Cooper DeJean]

Thank you for joining us. Thank you for taking time out of your day to come be on the show. We appreciate it.

[Nolan Smith]

You're welcome.

[Reed Blankenship]

Thanks for having me.

[Cooper DeJean]

Of course.

[Reed Blankenship]

Jinx.

[Cooper DeJean]

Our next guest for the fan rapid fire, Q and A, Ms. Julia Scarfone. Welcome.

[Reed Blankenship]

What do you got for us?

[Cooper DeJean]

To exciting mics? What do you got for us?

[Nolan Smith]

Do you guys have any post game rituals after a loss or a tough game?

[Cooper DeJean]

Oh, sit on my couch and go.

[Reed Blankenship]

Home and just go to bed. Think about all my.

[Cooper DeJean]

The bad decisions I made on the.

[Reed Blankenship]

Field, especially if it's like a really bad game. You're like, God, dude, I don't. You just. You don't want that film day to come. You just want to skip over it.

[Cooper DeJean]

I'd say. I'd say just go home and re. Watch the game over again and.

[Reed Blankenship]

Or play the game or just relax.

[Cooper DeJean]

Like, I like relaxing with my family after, too, because I don't get to see them. You don't get to see them that often, and it kind of keeps. It kind of takes your mind off of it.

[Nolan Smith]

It.

[Cooper DeJean]

But there are points where you just want to go watch the film and figure out.

[Reed Blankenship]

I was gonna say punch a hole through a wall.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah, that too. And figure out what. What you did wrong and talk to your coaches about it.

[Reed Blankenship]

But you just need to separate yourself, I think.

[Cooper DeJean]

Yeah. Just get away from it a little bit because it's so frustrating.

[Reed Blankenship]

Yeah.

[Cooper DeJean]

You know, that's a good way to put it. Yeah. But that's a great question. Thank you for joining us.

[Reed Blankenship]

Thank you.

[Cooper DeJean]

Thank you for tuning in to another episode of exciting mics. Remember to follow exciting Mics on all platforms. Don't forget to, like, comment, share, and subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.