Senior Bowl 2019 Interview – Garrett Bradbury

Garrett Bradbury – C (North Carolina State)

Measurables:  Hgt:  6’ 2 ⅞”    Wgt:  304 lbs.  Hand:  10 ⅝”   Arm:  32 ½”     Wing:  76 ¼“

PROFILE: 

SENIOR (2018): The 2018 recipient of the Rimington Trophy – given to the nation’s top center…A consensus All-American, he earned first-team nods from AP, Walter Camp, AFCA and the FWAA. He was a second-team choice of the Sporting News and Pro Football Focus…A first-team All-ACC performer…A semifinalist for the 2018 Outland Trophy – the only center on the list…Did not allow a quarterback pressure in 961 total snaps in 2018…A team captain for 2018.

JUNIOR (2017):  A first-team All-ACC choice by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA), he won honorable mention honors on the official league team…Named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance vs. UNC, where he helped pave the way for 292 rushing yards…Played 98% of the Wolfpack’s offensive snaps in 2017 (1,000 of 1,022 gradeable snaps).

SOPHOMORE (2016): Earned his first career start in the season opener and started every game of the season…Saw action in 87% of the Pack’s total offensive snaps in 2016.

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2015): Missed spring workouts of 2015 with an injury, then moved to offensive guard during fall camp…Suffered an injury in the opener and missed the next two contests, he saw action mainly on special teams for the remainder of the season…Named to the 2014-15 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

REDSHIRT (2014): Redshirted the season at tight end.

PERSONAL: Played tight end and defensive end in high school…Came in to North Carolina State as a 250 lb. tight end in 2014… Earned his degree in business supply operations management in December of 2017…Pursuing a graduate certificate in youth development and leadership…Father, Tim, played football at Eastern Washington.

On all of the North Carolina State players at the Senior Bowl [in addition to Bradbury, the North Team roster includes Germaine Pratt (ILB), Ryan Finley (QB) and Jakobi Meyers (WR)]and if they feel like they were part of a group that took the Wolfpack to the next level

Yeah, we had a lot of talent. Back-to-back 9-win seasons. Hasn’t been done there ever, I don’t think. Seeing the success, the individual success we’ve had come from being a good team is special. Several guys were here at this event last year, seven drafted. Four guys at this event this year. Hoping to have a lot of guys drafted as well. It’s a testament to the work we put in, the coaching that we had.

On who was the best player he ever faced in his college career

B.J. Hill, nose tackle (his former teammate at NC State). Practices were competitive! We made each other better. Missed those competitions – they were awesome.

On his athleticism and how many see him as being better suited for a zone blocking scheme as opposed to a power run scheme

We were an outside zone scheme center so I competed my butt off to be a great center in that system. Whatever system I’m in, I’m going to compete my butt off to be the best center for that system. I’m athletic, but that can come in a gap scheme as well. I’m an offensive lineman. Put me in a scheme, I’m going to learn to play both and compete.

On what he thinks he will bring to an NFL organization on day-one

A competitor. Someone who is going to work his butt off. And my goal to help contribute to win games right away.

On what he hopes to showcase to scouts during the Senior Bowl process

Just match everything together. Match my film from the season, match my interviews – everything should add up. For the teams to understand who I am.

On whether he got any advice about the process from the NC State players who were at the Senior Bowl last year

Yeah, just take it a day at a time. A lot of people say it can get overwhelming, but the great advice I heard was to think about yourself a year ago. If you tell yourself you are here now. So, a year ago, if you told me I’m going to be at the Senior Bowl, preparing for the NFL draft, it would have been a dream come true. Keeping that perspective about how awesome of an opportunity it is has been huge for me.

On getting the opportunity to pursue his dream and what it is like trying each day to make it happen

Yeah, it’s just a testament of everything. You have a goal for yourself and you go about the process daily of working to attain that goal and the closer you get, the more special it gets. The more real it gets. Like I said, it’s a testament of all the hard work and all the days throughout the process that add it up.

On what it is going to be like to wear the NC State helmet one last time for the Senior Bowl game

It’s special. Last time I wore it, didn’t go out the way I wanted to (lost to Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl), so hopefully I can represent the Wolfpack Nation great one last time.