TCU’s Reagor says playing with true freshman QB ‘made me a better player, better teammate’
TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor has heard nothing but good things about the Philadelphia Eagles organization. His dad Montae spent the 2007 season with the Eagles, and now he’s following in his father’s footsteps.
The Eagles used the 21st overall pick to select Reagor in the first round of Thursday’s night’s NFL draft.
Here’s a few highlights from Reagor’s conference call with local Philly reporters.
On his production dipping last season with TCU starting true freshman Max Duggan at quarterback: “It was just a learning experience. I feel like it just gave me a chance to show what type of real teammate, real person I am. I mean, it was tough, but it was something that I wouldn’t make an excuse for. It was just something, you know, that’s how the game goes sometimes. I feel like it made me a better player, a better person, a better teammate in the end.”
On what his father told him about playing for Eagles: “It’s a family environment. They love football. They love their Eagles. It’s just a sigh of relief, man, like all this hard work you put in for this moment. My whole life I’ve told my people, my family, I’m going to be a first-rounder someday. It’s just crazy. I’m so blessed to have it come true, and then what greater organization to go to [than the] Philadelphia Eagles? I’m very excited and ready to go.”
On himself as a player: “I feel like I can work on my whole game as a whole learning from the older [players], you know, the vets, [WRs] Alshon [Jeffery], DeSean [Jackson]. But I feel like I’m a great vertical threat. I can run any route in the route tree. I’m an electric player. I’ll make an immediate impact when given the chance. I’m coming in ready to work and ready to learn. I’m a great teammate and I won’t be a cancer to the locker room. Ultimately, I just show love, and I’m going to continue to elevate my game and continue to try to grow and become a better player.”
On playing with DeSean Jackson: “Man, it’ll make us way more explosive. Just give another deep threat. DeSean is a great receiver and a great speedy receiver. He can do anything you ask him to. I feel like I’m just another one. I can do anything you ask me, whether it’s in the return game, receiver, whatever you need me to do. I feel like I’m just going to be another asset to just help this team to be even greater than it already is. I am going to be joining a lot great players, great teammates, great men, and I’m looking forward to it.”
On Eagles QB Carson Wentz: “I feel like his name speaks for itself. And just the fact that I get to be alongside those guys now. It’s just a surreal feeling. Like, I watched Carson Wentz. I watched him play. I’m like, ‘Wow, this dude is amazing,’ and now he’s my quarterback. So, it’s just a surreal feeling, and ultimately, it’s a blessing.”
On this year’s WR class: “I don’t look to match myself up against anyone, to be honest. I’m just going to be the best pro I can, continue to elevate my game. I mean, when people say it’s a deep wide receiver class, it’s a reason the Eagles picked me, and that’s because I’m a part of the deep receiver class. So I don’t look to match up against any of those guys or compare stats or do any of that. I’m just looking to be the best pro I can, because ultimately I’m the one wearing the Eagles jersey.”
On what sets him apart: “To be honest, I feel like I’m just the most versatile. I can do everything. I feel like I haven’t even gotten close to my ceiling. I can play any position. Like I said, when I’m on the field it’s more than 11 players on the offense. Really just the way I play my game. I feel like it’s on film and it’s going to be fun and I’m ready to play.”
On his speed, running a 4.47-second 40 at the combine: “I posted another time, too, that I ran in my virtual pro day. I was heavy at the combine; I picked up weight. I dropped weight and I ran 4.2. So all I have to say, man, like coaches tell me, tape doesn’t lie. Whether it’s a 4.47, 4.28, whatever it was, I’m ready to play fast. I’m ready to make plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
