Troy Pride Jr.

Cornerback / Notre Dame

Ed Hunt:  How do you feel going into your first Senior Bowl practice?

Troy Pride Jr:  Man, I feel great.  I had a great night’s sleep.  I’ve just been moving around a lot.  It is a great opportunity to go out to practice, compete and just be amongst the best.  It’s going to be awesome.

Ed Hunt:  How do you feel about your weigh-in today?

Troy Pride Jr:  It was good.  It was a little bit awkward just being up there.  Being in tights, walking up and weighing in.  It was a little awkward, but I’m good.  Obviously 193 and 5’11.  I’m trying to push for six feet.  I am six feet. 

Ed Hunt:  What is it like to play at a school like Notre Dame with all of the tradition and history and then coming in and playing in the NFL?

Troy Pride Jr:  The Notre Dame tradition never graduates, so it’s always going to be there and I knew that coming in.  Obviously, we started 4-8, but we left with three ten-win seasons.  I think we’re just in the culture around it and I think a National Championship is close for that program.

Ed Hunt:  What can you tell me about your coach, Brian Kelly?

Troy Pride Jr:  Once again, that National Championship is approaching.  He’s setting the foundation for that.  He’s putting the right people in command and has been a nice figure for this program for the past decade and hopefully more to it.

Ed Hunt:  What did you learn the most from your coaching staff at Notre Dame?

Troy Pride Jr:  I learned to be humble and just work.  More of a guy that isn’t about himself, but more about the team.  What you embrace coming from that wall, grinding for your teammates better and doing your job better because you never want to let down the people beside you.  Being a humble worker stays with you. 

Ed Hunt:  What do you think your best position fit is in the NFL?

Troy Pride Jr:  Well, outside corner for sure.  I feel like I’m a guy that can run with just about anybody in the country.  I can cover pretty well.  That is where I should play. 

Ed Hunt:  Can you play in the slot as well?

Troy Pride Jr:  Absolutely, I’m versatile.  I can move around.  I’ve done a lot at Notre Dame, so it’s been good.

Ed Hunt:  What have you been taught about coverage and staying in man?

Troy Pride Jr:  Just so much from press tech to off technique.  It’s been good to kind of see different styles and learn different things from players in the NFL and in college and just learning the entire position.  I didn’t really start playing corner until my junior year in high school.  But just moving forward, I think I have gotten head over heels better till this day.

Ed Hunt:  How many years have you started?

Troy Pride Jr:  I’ve started about four years, but not continuously.  I started two full regular seasons my junior and senior year.

Ed Hunt:  Did you ever get a chance to play special teams?

Troy Pride Jr:  Yeah, I played special teams my freshman year on a core level and then I played special teams this year as well.  Kickoff, some safety and vices this year.

Ed Hunt:  Where are you training for the NFL draft?

Troy Pride Jr:  Michael Johnson Performance in Dallas, Texas.

Ed Hunt:  If you could pick an NFL team that would be a fit for you, what would it be?

Troy Pride Jr:  You know, I haven’t really thought too much into that.  I had a favorite team growing up, but this is the process.  Whatever team brings my abilities and chooses me would be obviously my favorite team.