Jacob Ramsey Interview

Running Back - Cincinnati

By: Alex Khvatov

 

2/18/10

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

Jacob Ramsey:  I am 6’0”, 220 and I run a 4.5 forty.      
 

Alex Khvatov:  What schools showed interest in you during the recruiting process?

Jacob Ramsey:  I was looked at by Ohio State, Cincinnati and Minnesota.  Those were my top three schools.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Cincinnati?

Jacob Ramsey:  I had an opportunity to get to know Coach Dantonio.  I decided to roll with his coaching staff.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  What were you team and personal goals heading into the senior season?

Jacob Ramsey:  As far as personal goals, I wanted to be efficient when I got my chance.  This was a spread offense, so it is not exactly a RB friendly system.  As a team, we tried to repeat as Big East Champs.  We looked at the junior year and evaluated the mistakes that we made.  We tightened up a few things.  We wanted to go undefeated.
 

Alex Khvatov:  How would you rate your senior season?

Jacob Ramsey:  I would have to give it a 9.9.  It would have been a perfect 10 if we won the Sugar Bowl.  We accomplished a lot as a senior class.  It was great.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Were you disappointed to see Brian Kelly leave for Notre Dame? 

Jacob Ramsey:  It was an opportunity of a lifetime for him.  We wished him the best of luck.  We would have had a better chance if we had him for the Sugar Bowl.  We tried to compete.  He is an excellent coach.  He had this amazing personality.  He gets the most out of his players.  He might have the ability to recruit more talented guys at Notre Dame.  I think that he will do a great job. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe to me your Sugar Bowl experience against Florida. 

Jacob Ramsey:  Florida is a great team.  They have great playmakers and a great coaching staff.  We didn’t come out and play our best game.  It was the most disappointing part because we didn’t play our best game.
 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths on the football field?

Jacob Ramsey:  One of my greatest strengths is my knowledge of the game.  I can breakdown defenses.  I know where the defensive line pressure is coming from.  I know where the hole might be because of the linebacker’s gap discipline.  I also play a physical game and I pride myself on it.
 

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

Jacob Ramsey:  I need to show more of open field speed.  I need to show that second gear.
 

Alex Khvatov:  What will you miss the most about Cincinnati?

Jacob Ramsey:  Just being a part of a rebuilding tradition.  Cincinnati didn’t do that well in the conference before.  But we got better each year.  We played in the Orange Bowl and then the Sugar Bowl this year.  It will be exciting to see what happens next. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most memorable moment of your college career?

Jacob Ramsey:  My most memorable moment is the Pitt game at the end of the senior season.  I believe that it was in the third quarter when it wasn’t looking good for us.  We have come so far.  We bonded and pulled out a victory.  We showcased our character.  We got the job done.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about your senior teammates QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard?

Jacob Ramsey:  Tony Pike is basically the best leader that I have ever played with.  He was fifth on the depth chart.  Then he became the starter and he was in the race for the Heisman before he got injured.  He never complains.  He leads our team.  He knows the assignments.  He is an awesome leader.  Mardy is a playmaker.  ESPN showed his clips all the time, and he was well-deserving of that.  I love watching him return kicks.  He always made the big play when we needed it.  He is a very humble player.  He deserves all of the publicity that he is getting.  He earned it.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Jacob Ramsey:  It is Adrian Peterson right now.  I love his physical running style.  He is at the top of my list.
 

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

Jacob Ramsey:  Believe me there is a lot of guys.  We have experience at the QB position with Zach Collaros and Chazz Anderson.  At the running back position, there is a lot of experience with Isaiah Pead and John Goebel.  WR Armon Binns is a great player.  He catches everything.  Defensive line has Derek Wolfe and John Hughes.  The secondary has Dominique Battle who has matured a lot.  The Florida game inspired him to get better.  I think that the team could go undefeated next year and win the Bowl Game because there is a lot of talent. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the greatest lesson that you have learned in life? 

Jacob Ramsey:  There are two lessons that I learned.  I became more mature.  Second, I have grown closer to Christianity.  I learned this in Cincinnati.  Those are some of the things that I would be able to take with me after I leave here.
 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Jacob Ramsey:  Mainly, I relax and attend a lot of Bible study.  I am a member of several organizations on campus.  I also spend a lot of time with my daughter.
 

Alex Khvatov:  How has fatherhood changed you?

Jacob Ramsey:  It opened up my eyes.  I was trying to have fun before, but now I have responsibility.  I sacrifice for her.  I have become more mature.  She keeps me focused on the future.
 

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

Jacob Ramsey:  I want to continue to go further in my education.  I want to get a Master’s degree and possibly a Doctorate.  I want to give back to the community.  I want to help D-I athletes.  I want to inform kids of the opportunities that they have in this life. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Is the NFL a dream or a reality at this point?

Jacob Ramsey:  It is still a dream.  It would be great to suit up for one of those NFL teams.  But it is still definitely a dream.     

Alex Khvatov:  How are you preparing for your Pro Day?

Jacob Ramsey:  I am mostly working on my forty yard dash time two times a day in Cincinnati.  I am still enrolled in classes because I want to get my Bachelor’s in communication.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, Jacob Ramsey is….

Jacob Ramsey:  A professional.