What Tre Jackson Had To Say After Being Drafted By Patriots
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots hit a home run last season when they drafted Bryan Stork in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, so this year, they decided to go back to the well of the Florida State offensive line and select Tre Jackson in the fourth round of this year's draft.
Jackson played alongside Stork at FSU and figures to be in the mix to play at guard for the Patriots as soon as this season. Here's what the 6-foot-4, 330-pound lineman had to say when he talked to New England reporters shortly after being selected by the Patriots.
Question: What was your initial reaction to getting selected by the Patriots?
Jackson: When I first got the initial phone call it was a great feeling. Very, very excited about it.
Question: How do you feel about the chance to play with Bryan Stork again?
Jackson: It's a great feeling to be alongside with one of my old players, one of my old guys that I know so well.
Question: Have you been able to talk to Bryan Stork about what it's like to be in the Patriots organization?
Jackson: We talked a little bit during the process, and he pretty much just tuned me in on everything that you had to do to get to where he was and things like that.
Question: What was the best piece of advice he gave you about the Patriots?
Jackson: Pretty much just being a professional, continue to work hard. The coaches there are going to put you in the best situation possible for you to excel and for the team to excel.
Question: How is your knee?
Jackson: It's well. It's great.
Question: Have you worked hard to get it back to 100 percent?
Jackson: Yes, sir.
Question: Do you have any experience playing left guard or were you just a right guard at Florida State?
Jackson: I played wherever my coaches needed me to play, pretty much.
Question: Did they need you to play left guard?
Jackson: Coming in, I played left and then I was switched to right.
Question: Have you taken a look at the depth chart on the offensive line for the Patriots? It looks like it's setting up for a good competition this summer.
Jackson: Yes sir, there's going to be a great competition on the field.
Question: Where did you think you'd get drafted this weekend?
Jackson: Going into it, I really wasn't pretty much thinking about where I would get drafted. I was just looking forward to being drafted and having the opportunity to get back on the field.
Question: What was your pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium like?
Jackson: It was a great experience, just being able to see the facilities and things like that. Walking through the facilities and talking with the coaches was a great experience.
Question: How did Florida State assistant head coach/offensive line coach Rick Trickett help you at Florida State?
Jackson: He helped me on and off the field tremendously. He molded me as a player on the field, and off the field he molded me to grow into a man – mature my game on the field and off the field. I respect him so much for that.
Question: What kind of coach is Rick Trickett? The impression is that he is a task master and doesn't take any nonsense.
Jackson: No nonsense at all. He's a great coach. He's going to get exactly what he expects, and what he wants he's going to get it from them.
Question: What's your relationship like with Dante Scarnecchia and what did you learn from him about the Patriots program?
Jackson: Well, he just came down for practices and things like that – to watch practices. Being able to hear him tell what you're going to be expected to do. He's a great coach; he was a great coach. Just being able to get advice from him was a great opportunity.
Question: What did he say you should expect?
Jackson: Pretty much, "work hard." He was telling me to continue to work hard and that the coach that I had in Coach Trickett was a great coach. Coach Trickett was coaching the techniques and stuff that he was coaching, continue to believe and trust in the techniques, take them to the field and continue to work hard.
Question: How did the offensive line change for you guys when Cameron Erving went to center and Ryan Hoefeld moved to a reserve role?
Jackson: Cam moved to center, I think he solidified things up a little bit more inside. He wound it together more inside and things played out well with it.
Question: What do you think your strengths are on the field?
Jackson: I feel like I'm a good player. Whatever I'm needed to do, I feel like I can do.
Question: What are the big differences between playing right guard and left guard?
Jackson: I don't really feel that there are differences. The difference in the side is all I see.
Question: What has it been like to watch so many great Florida State players come out of this year's draft?
Jackson: That's been great – just being able to see your brothers that you've been in the struggle with for the last couple of years finally be able to say that they've reached one of their life-long dreams. It's been a great feeling watching those guys excel at what they do. I mean, being on a national championship team, we had a great run. It's been a great feeling. It's hard to explain.
Question: Do you think that experience can help you at the next level?
Jackson: Yes. I definitely think that that experience can take over into the next level. You know what it takes to win and you know what to do to win and what you have to do on and off the field.
Question: Do you feel like there's any added pressure in protecting a guy like Tom Brady?
Jackson: I feel like if you go out and play your game and do what you have to do, there should be no pressure on you.
Question: How much are you looking forward to the task of trying to protect Tom Brady?
Jackson: Yes sir, of course. I'm looking very forward to it.
Read all of the comments from the Patriots' 2015 draft picks by clicking here.
