Tevis Bartlett
Linebacker
Washington

 

Ed Hunt:  What were your Pro Day measurements? (height, weight and 40 time)

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I’m 6’2 3/4, 230 pounds and my trainer calculated me at 4.70 40.

 

Ed Hunt:  How did you feel about your Pro Day performance?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Pretty good honestly.  My second 40 was one of my best.  My agility was a better time.  They were pretty smooth, but not as crisp as I have done.  I felt really good about position drills.  I definitely felt I performed pretty well and I am glad it is done with.

 

Ed Hunt:  Would you say you are a better fit in a 3-4 or a 4-3?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Probably a 3-4 just because a lot of teams would take me as an inside backer.  I feel I can play in any of the linebacker spots.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is your best position on the defense?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I played three years at OLB.  Probably outside.  But my senior year, I played inside linebacker.  Definitely weak side.

 

Ed Hunt:  What can you tell me about Taylor Rapp?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Taylor is an awesome dude.  One of the nicest guys you have met.  On the field, he is a beast.  He is definitely a difference maker.  He is a guy that does his job and does it really well.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who is the best player you have faced on an opposing team?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Right tackle from Ohio State who was really solid.  I think his name was Prince (His name is Isaiah Prince).  I think Dwayne Haskins from Ohio State was one of those guys too.

 

Ed Hunt:  Coming out of high school, which schools showed interest in you?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  My sophomore year, Wyoming offered me to play QB.  Colorado offered me after going to camp.  Oregon, Cal, Missouri and Iowa were the other big schools.

 

Ed Hunt:  What made you ultimately choose Washington?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  It was a mix of the prestigious school and the coaching staff.  I have faith they would get us back to big games.

 

Ed Hunt:  What are your strengths?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I’m really fundamentally sound.  I am a student of the game and watch a ton of film.  I think that has allowed me to play above and beyond my skill level.  Coaches have a lot of faith in me to get the job done.

 

Ed Hunt:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I think the game is totally changing.  They are asking linebackers to cover wide receivers and tight ends.  Coverage is a big one.

 

Ed Hunt:  Describe your overall career.

 

Tevis Bartlett:  My freshman year, I played a lot of special teams.  I had to learn to pass rush and set the edge.  Sophomore to senior year, I got a lot better.  Junior year was my best season.  Senior year, they asked me to play inside.  Definitely, team-oriented.  I didn’t miss assignments.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is the highlight of your career at this point?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Winning the PAC-12 twice and playing in the Peach Bowl.  Most people don’t get to say they got to do that.  Those as a team.  I’m very academically oriented and was first team all-academic in the PAC-12 too.

 

Ed Hunt:  I noticed you have a quick first step.  What do you attribute this to?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  It’s funny, I used to have a terrible first step and I worked on that every time on warmups and I did a lot of film study.  I got a feel for the cadence and snap count.  It definitely comes down to studying and that football IQ.

 

Ed Hunt:  What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  On a philosophical level, coming in every day with that deliberate mindset.  Everything I did was for a purpose.  I came in as a quarterback and a safety.  I didn’t understand the position (linebacker).  I implemented these practice techniques.  Then I focused on the little things.  How to strike a blocker, how to practice.  We supplement the playing scheme with learning the fundamentals. They taught me how to play football.

 

Ed Hunt:  You played next to Ben Burr-Kirven.  What can you tell me about him?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Ben’s awesome.  He’s a great guy.  He reminds me of the energizer bunny.  That guy has played inside linebacker since junior high and he has great instincts.  He is a super smart player.  He was a guy I was always asking questions.  He was a guy we looked to, to set the tone for the defense.

 

Ed Hunt:  Is there a role you have played on special teams thus far in your career?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I actually take a lot of pride in special teams.  Love being the disruptor on kickoffs.  One of my favorite things I like is locking the guy up on punt returns.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is your favorite NFL team?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Growing up, it was the Denver Broncos.  I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I think probably Von Miller.  He is a beast.  He is a technician.  We watch tape where he is just beating guys off.  He is a guy we have studied being an inside backer.

 

Ed Hunt:  What’s the most important trait for a linebacker?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  It’s kind of a combination of intelligence and having the tenacity.  Just having that mentality.  Fearless is a good way to put it.

 

Ed Hunt:  Before the ball is snapped, what tendencies are you looking for in that offense?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Usually, I start with the O-linemen.  I look at the whole formation.  Then you look at that back set.  Based off of that, I look at the linemen and I can get a feel for whether it is a run or a pass.  There is usually a tell.  Then post-snap, it is just reacting to whatever you see.

 

Ed Hunt:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Elijah Molden, Jacob Eason, Ty Jones, Aaron Fuller, Brandon Wellington and Benning Potoa’e.

 

Ed Hunt:  What do you enjoy most about football?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  To be honest it’s just fun to me.  I was a wrestler in high school.  You are working for two hours and then running after for 30 minutes and you are always cutting weight, so you are hungry.  Football has an element of just fun.  Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve been drawn to it.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who is your biggest role model and why?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I would say probably my parents because they have taught me to be a great leader.  Finances, education and family is just stuff that I have learned from them.  There are coaches along the way that have gotten me to where I am now too.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is your definition of a leader?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  My definition of a leader is helping a group of people reach a goal.  Usually, they set the standard for the group of people.

 

Ed Hunt:  What do you want to do with your life after football?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I’d love to teach and coach.  My degree was in education.  I just love being around it and to give it back.  I want to give younger kids the impact that it has had on my life.

 

Ed Hunt:  What five words best describe you?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  Family, athlete, competitive, loyal and education.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who will win the Super Bowl next year?

 

Tevis Bartlett:  I think the Saints have a good shot if they don’t get hosed by the refs again.