NFL Draft Blitz

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

Casey Brockman:  6’2”, 220 and I think last summer I ran a 4.75 and a 4.85 the second time.  I guess that I am right around 4.80 range.     

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

Casey Brockman:  There were quite a few.  Murray State, Illinois State, UT Martin, Lindsey Wilson in Kentucky, Harding University in Arkansas and Southwest Baptist out in Missouri.  Memphis also told me that I can walk-on.      

Alex Khvatov:  What made you choose Murray State?

Casey Brockman:  I grew up here.  I lived here in this area for 15 or 16 years.  My brother was on the team at that time.  My parents went to school here.  I wanted to stay close to home.  I was hoping that they would give me a scholarship.  They gave a scholarship at QB to another guy.  They told me that I can walk-on.  I had decent grades coming out of high school, and it was the same money situation if I came here.  I was hoping that I would earn some playing time when I chose to come here.  

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your career at Murray State up to this point.

Casey Brockman:  I wasn’t expecting to play my freshman year.  I was expecting to redshirt since I was a walk-on.  We weren’t doing well that season.  With three games left in the season, my coach said that I would start the rest of the season.  You have to take that opportunity when things like that come your way.  You never know when you will be asked to play again.  Then that staff got fired, and coach Hatcher came in.  The following spring, I battled the incoming senior for the starting spot.  He actually won the job coming out of camp.  He started five games.  Then I started the last six games.  We ended the season pretty strong that year.  We got a lot of momentum coming into this past year.  We went 7-4 last year.  We still didn’t play as well as I had hoped for.  In that respect, we still have some things to accomplish.  We didn’t win the conference.  As a team, we still have a lot of goals.  We didn’t reach our full potential last year.  I didn’t accomplish the goals that I had set out for myself.  I hope to come away with the conference ring.

Alex Khvatov:  What have you learned about your team coming out of spring practice?

Casey Brockman:  I feel like we needed to fill some holes on the offensive line and defensively.  We filled the left tackle spot and left guard spot.  I feel really comfortable with those two new guys.  Our all-conference running back left, and our backup from last year was outstanding in the spring.  Offensively, we will be just fine.  We have a few transfer guys coming in on defense.  Our team speed defensively has improved dramatically.  It is great to see how everyone just flies around.  It is our third year in that defensive system, and everyone knows where to go.  There is no hesitation on the part of the defense.  This is my fourth year and this is the fastest defense that we have ever had.                

Alex Khvatov:  What are your expectations for this upcoming senior season from a team and individual standpoint?

Casey Brockman:  We expect to win the conference and make a push in the playoffs.  We haven’t won the conference or made the playoffs in 10 years.  We want to make some noise in the playoffs and surprise some people.  Individually if I can live up to all of the preseason awards and accolades, it will be plenty for me.  If all of those preseason awards do come true, that means our team was successful.  It means that our team did well.  Our team would be awarded with even more awards and more accolades.                    

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

Casey Brockman:  I have had a few really, really big games.  But they don’t even come to mind.  I remember when I got to play the final three games my freshman year.  My brother was a backup fullback on the team that year.  He never really got to play.  During the last game of the season, I completed two passes to him for 26 yards.  We never completed passes to each other.  We never played on the same team together except for the freshman year of high school.  It was pretty neat to complete those passes to him.  It was his last game in college. 

Alex Khvatov:  Casey, what qualities should a quarterback have in order to be successful on any level?

Casey Brockman:  First thing, you have to know the offense.  You need to know where everyone needs to be on every play.  You need to know the playbook.  You have to be the leader of the team.  I am still working on that.  I am sure that even Peyton Manning and those guys are still working on their leadership skills.  You need to know when to get in everybody’s face and when to pad guys on the back instead of yelling at them.  You got to know everybody.  You need to be able to relate to everybody.  You also have to be one of the hardest workers on the team.                                   
 

Alex Khvatov:  What separates you from all of the other players at your position?

Casey Brockman:  That is a good question.  It has to be my competitiveness.  I am pretty competitive.  It doesn’t matter if we are playing the game called “racer ball” with 10 people or it is the fourth quarter of the game.  I hate losing.  I will do anything to not lose.  Also our offense is very unique.  We play very fast and quick.  We have a hurry-up offense where we run about 100 plays a game.  It is hard for defenses to prepare for that.  It makes me that much better as a quarterback.  I also have good weapons around me.                              

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Casey Brockman:  My ability to keep plays alive when the play breaks down.  I can get outside the pocket when the play breaks down or when the DL is able to get through on a rush.  I can still complete a big pass downfield or complete a big third down.     

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game do you need to improve upon?

Casey Brockman:  I still could improve my arm strength.  I also need to improve my body language.  When things don’t go well, I often come to the sideline and get down a little bit.  I improved a lot on that towards the end of last season, but I still need to improve on it.  I need to stay positive, upbeat and keep my chin up the whole time.  I need to remember that everyone is looking at me.                  

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Casey Brockman:  The Arizona Cardinals, as weird as that is. 

Alex Khvatov:  You are from Kentucky, why is it the Arizona Cardinals?  

Casey Brockman:  My brother was a big fan of Larry Fitzgerald when he was coming out of Pittsburgh.  They also had Anquan Boldin who had that 1,000 yard rookie season.  He played a little bit of QB in college.  I started liking them when he had that big season.  I was a big Fitzgerald fan when he was coming out of college as well.  I have been rooting for them ever since they got those two guys.  They had that good run with Kurt Warner.  I am still kind of devastated when Santonio Holmes caught that pass in the corner of the end zone for a TD in the Super Bowl against them.  But I won’t go there because I might start tearing up.  The Arizona Cardinals are my favorite NFL team.   

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Casey Brockman:  Probably Fitzgerald, not even a quarterback.

Alex Khvatov:  Is Larry Fitzgerald the best wide receiver in the NFL right now?

Casey Brockman:  I can’t say no to that.  It would be like backstabbing him.  But you can’t go wrong with Calvin Johnson as well.                   

Alex Khvatov:  Which underclassmen on your team should we keep an eye on in the future?

Casey Brockman:  Our RB Duane Brady showed a lot of good things last year when he played.  He did really well in the spring.  He will be a junior.  Our junior safety Brandon Wicks had over 100 tackles each of the last two years.  I think that he might have led our team in tackles last year.  LB Qua Huzzie only played in nine games, but he led the conference in tackles for losses.  He transferred from Kentucky.  WR Walter Powell had a big year for us last season.  He should catch 60 or 70 passes for us this year.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Casey Brockman:  I like to relax.  I like to hang out with the rest of the guys on the team.  I play video games.  Golf is number one.  I love to golf.  During the summer, I work a lot.

Alex Khvatov:  How good are you at golf?  

Casey Brockman:  At our local course, I shot a 76.  That was my best score. 

Alex Khvatov:  If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?   

Casey Brockman:  Maybe Katy Perry.  She is really good looking.  It is the only person that comes to mind. 

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

Casey Brockman:  I might want to coach or get into a sports front office.  It could be either a football or a baseball front office.  I hope to work my way up to be a general manager.                               

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about college football?

Casey Brockman:  Just being around everybody.  I have made friends with a lot of guys on the team and the relationships that I have built with them.  No other sport gives you that opportunity.  Football has the most people on a team.  Going in the locker room an hour earlier, talking to them and watching TV before the game.                

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you a unique individual?

Casey Brockman:  I guess that I have red hair.  Matt Bonner and Scalabrine are the two most famous red-headed athletes out there.        

Alex Khvatov:  How does it feel being a small fish in a large pond?

Casey Brockman:  Last year, I got some recognition, but I kind of got used to it.  I tried to play out of character last year.  I will try not to put as much pressure on myself as last year.  I have gotten used to this attention.  Most of the people around town already knew me since high school.  It hasn’t really changed much.  At the same time, it is neat getting this recognition and have excitement around the football program.  We haven’t had that in a long time.         

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, Casey Brockman is….