Willie Colon Press Conferences

Willie Colon Conference Call
Hofstra
Offensive Tackle
4th Round – 131th Overall

Are you happy that a team like the Steelers took a shot on a guy from Hofstra in the draft?

It is a blessing. It has been the longest emotional roller coaster ride of my life, especially since I didn't go to the combine and I didn't go to any all-star games. I am just a guy that tried to make things happen to the best of my abilities. I am a blue collar type guy and Pittsburgh is a blue collar type city, so I am ready to go to work. It is great.

Did you have to sell yourself a lot during this whole process?

Yes, obviously since like I said, I didn't go to the combine and didn't go to all star games. I got a lot of private workouts and my tape got around to a lot of teams. All I could do was just show up on my pro day and get a private workout to show people that I can play.

When did you get the vibe that the Steelers and maybe some other teams in the NFL were starting to catch on to what you had to sell?

It was interesting. Miami was the first one that caught wind of me. They were really high on me and then the ball just kind of got rolling and then I met Coach Grimm in Pittsburgh. We talked for only about 20-25 minutes and we honestly didn't even really talk about football. All we talked about were the crazy fans and how exciting it is going to be there. When I left there, I didn't really have a feeling that Pittsburgh was going to pick me, I just had a feeling that it was a great town and I loved the staff and I loved the way everything was. Here I am today, I am a Steeler and I am proud. I am blessed and I thank everybody.

Orien Harris was considered a first rounder who fell to the fourth. You don't sound disappointed?

I am from D I-AA football, there is always talk about how D I-AA ball is a different. I don't really think there is a big difference at all, especially once again, I didn't go to the combine, I was the kind of guy that fell underneath the radar and then I appeared and just received a lot of love. All I could do was show up when my number was called. To go in the fourth round considering where I came from is a blessing, it truly is.

Is there a party going on in your house?

Yes, there is an absolute mardi gras going on right now.

Where is that?

I am in the Bronx right now. I am from the South Bronx and I had to lock myself in the closet so I can talk to you guys.

Were you recruited much out of high school?

Kind of, I didn't have the good grades to go to a big time school. The reason I had chose Hofstra is because my mother suffers from Lupus. She is disabled and I didn't want to go somewhere and not be able to get to her when she needed me. Hofstra was an hour away from the Bronx and it was an easy assessment for me and that is where I went.

Can you talk about Hofstra's contributions to the NFL?  Is it a short list?

Not really, we had some guys from there. Obviously, Giovanni Carmazzi, Charlie Adams that plays for the Broncos, a good friend of mine that played with Hofstra, Brandon Newton signed with Pittsburgh and is overseas right now playing for NFL Europe. There are a lot of other guys, but my mind is scrambling so I can't think of the names. We have a good number of guys.

Can you talk about growing up in the Bronx?  Are you a tough guy?

I don't take crap, if you want to get down to it. That is the nature of growing up as an inner city kid, I am from the Bronx. I grew up five minutes from Yankee Stadium. My whole attitude growing up is fight for what you believe in and try to make your own way. I don't believe in luck, I don't believe in all that stuff, it is how hard you work is what you are going to get out of it. I have met some great people all my life and had some good coaches that supported and believed that I could do it. Here I am today, it paid off.

Was that attitude something you put into practice a lot, to fight for what you get?

Yes, definitely. Like I said, I have always been looked at as a kid that always had the potential, but people always shied away from for whatever reason. Going to Hofstra started off tough for me, but I just kind of made my own way and worked my butt off in the weight room and learning and understanding what my position and my role was in the Hofstra offense, which was a run and shoot and just go out there and dominate each week, to go after the top guy and whoever was in front of me.

Did you get into a lot of fights growing up?  Was it a violent upbringing for you?

Yes, being an inner city kid, I got into my fair share. Thank God I have never been to jail or done any of that stuff. I have a great family and they have put me in the right path and I have been smart about a lot of decisions that I have made. I have also done some things that I am not proud of. That is part of growing up.

If you throw a big pancake block to spring Willie Parker, will you throw up the "X" like Carl Karauser did for years here at Pitt?

Yes. I will throw up the "X" and I will walk with it like Fat Joe.

Did you know Carl Karauser?

No. I played against him in AAU ball. We don't know each other at all. I know who he is.

Does he throw the "X" in the Bronx, or is that just a Pittsburgh thing?

No, he is representing the Bronx, but he just happens to play for Pittsburgh.

 

 

 

Russ Grimm
RE: Willie Colon, Hofstra
Offensive Tackle
4th Round – 131st Overall

Can he play both the guard and tackle positions?

Russ Grimm: He should be able to. He has enough athletic ability. He strictly played right tackle at Hofstra. He's both. We'll start him out as a tackle and go from there.

Can he play on the left side?

He hasn't been over there. Usually with guys like that we start them with what they're used to and see how much they can handle. Then move them around.

Is his height a concern?

You look at the Division I-AA, any lower level of competition you have to make sure the guy dominates and he's 6-2 ½ and 320-something pounds and he dominated at that level. He showed enough ability with his hip roll and foot quickness and things like that (that) we liked on film. You look at big guys and you see your Max Starks' and your 6-7, 6-8 guys and you say, 'can they bend their knees and get under people?' You look at your shorter guys and say, 'do they have enough power to hold the point?' He's shown that.

Did he play in a bowl game or combine?

No.

How do you know about a guy like him?

At the end of the year we get a list from the scouts and he was on the list. As you're going down through you see guys that excite you. You watch some film on them and put a grade on them and you discuss them and see what they have to say. Then you again into the intangibles and character and things like that. We brought him in and sat him down. I've talked to him, the coaches talked to him so you get a feel for him as a person. You already know what he can do on film and he's a good fit.

Does it speak of your depth by drafting a project player?

Most of your second-day guys are. Very seldom do you find a guy in the second day that walks out there and becomes an All-Pro. There are stories of them throughout the league. With those guys you're excited about one thing; you're not quite sure about something else. That's why they're second day guys. I feel he's a good football player. I don't think we draft anybody that we don't think has a chance to come in and help this football team.

Does he have a mean streak like Chris Kemoeatu?

That remains to be seen. He has shown a little added excitement for playing that position. We'll leave it at that.