2015 NFL Draft Interview: CB/S Eric Rowe

Eric Rowe – S/CB (Utah) – Interview Senior Bowl Week

Measurables:  Hgt:  6’1”

Wgt:  205lbs.

Hand:  9 1/2”

Arm:  31 1/2”

PROFILE:  A four-year starter at Utah, he played in 47 games (missed three games with injury). Was moved to corner his senior season after starting at free safety his first three seasons. Had 34 career pass breakups, which tied him for the third-most in school history. Was a two-time honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection, including this past season after making the switch to corner. Made four different Freshman All-America teams as a true freshman in 2011. Was also named to the PAC-12 All-Academic team twice.

On what it means to him to be a part of the Senior Bowl:

Means a lot. I think it’s like 80 years tradition here. Being noticed as one of the best seniors across the country, is not an easy task. So, I’m very blessed to be here.

On what it’s like working with an NFL staff and the advice he has gotten from them thus far (Tuesday):

Really, working with an NFL staff is no different than working with my coaching back in college. I think there’s a lot of similarities between my college career and what they are saying. So I guess the coaches (in college) did a great job of getting us pro-ready. The advice they gave me are just like little hints – some different terms you know that I may not have heard before.

On who was his toughest match-up in college and what he may have gained from that match-up in terms of recognizing something he needed to work on:

Nelson Agholor, from USC. He was a pretty tough match-up. Quickness.  He was really quick and explosive. I’m pretty quick, but he got the best of me. 

On what type of advice he has gotten from his college coaches to help prepare him for entering the draft process:

Just to keep working hard. Tell me like – you have a shot to try and go to the NFL. So just keep working hard but don’t focus on too much. Just play your game. They didn’t want me to be all up tight and everything.

On what are the two main traits that he thinks he can bring to an NFL team:

Explosiveness and speed. I can really bring that, especially to the corner spot. Especially on the run support.  I can come down and hit or set the edge.

On the fact that in the NFL today, defensive backs are put into a lot of different positions and asked to match-up with different types of receivers and how ready he is to take on the variety that will be thrown at him:

I think I’m ready because it’s not the first time. I went 3 years at safety, then corner this past season. Then right in mid-season, they put me at starting safety, so I had to hurry up and adapt real quick within the week. Then I played the game at safety. So, I feel like it’s nothing different than what I have been going through.

On what his goal time is for the Combine 40-yard dash and other things he is doing to improve for his Combine workout:

I’m expecting to run in the 4.4s – in that range. (he actually ran a 4.45 – the second fastest time in the Safety group). Right now I’m at EXOS (athletes performance training facility) in Pensacola and there’s a great speed coach. He’s teaching us very detailed techniques in the 40 and I feel like once I put that all together, I should be able to probably run faster than I ever ran.