Raghib Ismail Jr.

Wide Receiver / Wyoming

Ed Hunt:  How did it feel out there during your Pro Day?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  It felt good.  Mentally, I was in a good place regardless of whether I got the numbers I wanted to.  I stayed even keeled emotionally and that was something I worked on really my whole career.  Adversity, not letting little bumps in the road affect how I finish out.  I started good and I finished good.

Ed Hunt:  I noticed your route running has been better today.  Is this something you have been working on with your training center?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  I’ve been working on it my entire career.  I started off as a walk on at TCU.  I had no route running abilities at all.  It was something the coaches always picked on me for.  That’s something, I’ve tried my whole career to try to craft.  You have to continue to work on it.  Today was just a product of what I’ve worked on.

Ed Hunt:  Can you talk to me about that deep catch you had today?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  Oh, the over the shoulder?  

Ed Hunt:  Can you talk to me about what happened mentally there?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  Really that’s just something I’ve been catching since I was real young.  My pops (Rocket Ismael) used to throw to me even before I started playing football.  An over the shoulder catch is not the easiest, but I try to make it as easy as possible with my preparation.

Ed Hunt:  What are your strengths?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  I feel like my strength is my ability to adapt.  I’m coachable. Route running, hands you could say that, but I wasn’t just a receiver.  I was an athlete because I was willing to learn and able to learn.  I never feel like I’ve reached the pinnacle, I’ve reached the point.  Just continuing to get better and better and just adapting.  I’ve played in hot weather in West Texas and cold Wyoming, but I never let that be the focus of how I do on the field.  From high school, to junior college to division I ball, I learned to adapt and this is how I present myself in this environment.

Ed Hunt:  Did the scouts tell you what your 40 time was?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  It was 4.5 or something like that.

Ed Hunt:  What was something you didn’t show the scouts today that you wanted to show them?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  I would want to run some more routes.  Today I ran some routes, maybe 4-5, but give me some more deep balls.  Give me some more complex routes, some digs and some more routes.  Just so I can show that I can be a complete receiver and that I can play on the inside and outside.

Ed Hunt:  Did your father have any particular advice for you on the pro day?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  I called him this morning and he just told me that I’ve been doing this.  It’s nothing new regardless of what the timer says or regardless of height and weight measurement.  I can play football.  I’ve been doing that for a long time. Don’t be overly nervous, take the nerves in.  Know that you are ready and perform.  I think I was able to do that today.

Ed Hunt:  Can you give me underclassmen to look out for?

Raghib Ismail Jr:  Sean Chambers, obviously.  If Levi (Williams) can develop more as a quarterback than that should be someone to watch out for.  Three sophomore receivers two-time (I call him two-time) Alex (Brown) and Devin Jennings. Real tall, real high and when they get their route running down, the sky is the limit for those guys.  Oh, and Xazavian Valladay.