T.J. McCollum

Linebacker – Senior

Purdue

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?   

 

T.J. McCollum:  My height was 6’1 ¾, weight 234 and a 4.7 at the pro day.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?

 

T.J. McCollum:  I am back at school now after my pro day.  I am training with my strength coaches.  I am trying to stay in football shape.  I was at Landow Performance in Denver, Colorado before. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Were you satisfied with your overall Pro Day results? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  I did pretty good.  I could have been better with the numbers.  I had 27 on the bench press, my vert was 34 inches, L-cone was a 7 flat and my broad was a 9’4.  I could have definitely run faster.  I was in the 4.6’s during training.  I am not complaining.  See my film and how I play. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your overall experience at the NFLPA Bowl?

 

T.J. McCollum:  It was great.  It was an inside look at how things will be run in the NFL.  The practices were good.  I played in the Rose Bowl stadium.  It was an awesome trip to CA.  I did really good in the practices and the game.  There was a lot of stuff.  You would come out of practices and do interviews really late.  It was crazy like camp all over again.

 

Alex Khvatov:  What type of feedback did you receive from scouts?

 

T.J. McCollum:  They want me to be a three-down LB.  They see me in the middle in a 4-3 scheme.  I can play special teams.  They want take me out on third downs.  I know that I can get it done now after my training. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest thing that you took away from that event?

 

T.J. McCollum:  Being consistent with doing things.  Taking care of your body.  You shouldn’t just try to make it in the NFL, but stay in the NFL.  It was great advice.  You have to take a grown man’s job.

 

Alex Khvatov:  Who was the best player you played with or against during the week?

 

T.J. McCollum:  We called him white chocolate.  He was the Penn State safety (Tony Apke).  He showed up and did his thing.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  I played safety in high school.  A lot of teams wanted me to play LB.  I never wanted to play LB.  I wasn’t big enough to play in the box.  I had a lot of teams.  Purdue offered me to play OLB.  There were only two or three schools that wanted me to play safety.  They were UAB and South Alabama. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose UAB?

 

T.J. McCollum:  It was the only team that wanted me to keep me at safety.  It was close to home.  It was a family decision.  I already knew a couple of players at UAB.  UAB got Coach McGee from Arkansas.  I lasted a couple of months at safety.  They moved me to OLB.  They saw that they could put more weight on me.  I had to take it seriously.  I was 200 pounds my first year.  I got on an eating plan.  I got to 225 pounds my second year.  Then they shut the program down.  I hit the recruiting all over again. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you decide to transfer to Western Kentucky? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  Western Kentucky hit me with the phone call.  I met with them at the hotel.  I knew how good their offense was.  I took a visit and committed there with my two other teammates.  I played two years there.  It was amazing to win two conference championships and two bowl games.     

 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your overall career at Western Kentucky and Purdue.    

 

T.J. McCollum:  At Western Kentucky, they started me at WILL LB.  I had a great first year.  I had 106 tackles and 11.5 TFL’s.  It brought the attention.  We went to the bowl game and won the conference championship.  I had a good year the following season.  I had 85 tackles, but I sat out three games due to injury.  I had two great seasons at WKU.  I came to Purdue with Coach Brohm as a graduate student.  I love my LB’s coach, Nick Holt.  I wanted to stay with the coaches’ scheme.  Playing in the Big 10 would give me more exposure.  I wanted to show that I could play against better competition.  It was a great transition.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

 

T.J. McCollum:  I am a guy who can stop the run.  I am smart.  I know what they will do when they snap the ball.  I read stuff quickly.  I play downhill and fast.  I can do it all.  I can be better as a coverage guy.  We ran a lot of zone.  The scouts want to see me guard TE’s and RB’s. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  Man-to-man coverage against TE’s.  I also need to drop deeper into coverage in cover 2 against receivers.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  I had some good games this year.  During the Iowa game, I came on a blitz up the middle.  They had a center who is projected as a first or second rounder.  I ran through him and jumped over him to sack the QB.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  I am from Alabama.  I used to like watching Ray Lewis.  He had the passion for the game.  He still does.  I like to watch Luke Kuechly now.  He has so much athletic ability.  He can cover these athletic players in the NFL.    

 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a LB? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  Being physical, heavy hands and playing downhill. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  Definitely LB Markus Bailey.  He will play WILL LB next year.  He is a great dude.  Look out for RB Markell Jones and QB Elijah Sindelar.     

 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced during your career?

 

T.J. McCollum:  He is from Alabama.  RB Jordan Howard from Indiana.  He was the toughest player to play against.  I played him when I was at WKU.   

 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  Football is a lifestyle.  It helps you grow in life, inside and outside of football.  I love the game.  It is fun to hit people.  I met different people.  I met so many people in Denver when I was training. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  Chill and watch Netflix.

 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about the coaching staff at Purdue, Coach Holt and Coach Brohm.

 

T.J. McCollum:  They make you want to get better.  You want to play for them.  They are so experienced.  Coach Holt has coached some great players in the league.  Coach Brohm is so smart.  You don’t know what you will get from him.  You don’t know what calls he will make.  He is a mastermind with his play calling.  I loved playing for these guys.  They understand players and how the game goes. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over? 

 

T.J. McCollum:  A lot of doors will be open for me.  I just don’t know which door I will go through.  All of my focus is on football right now. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Which NFL player would you compare your game to?

 

T.J. McCollum:  I have been watching LB Todd Davis recently.  He he has been an underdog.  I like the way he plays the game.  He is a thumper. 

 

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, T.J. McCollum is….

 

T.J. McCollum:  Dedicated.