Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about your experience at Furman.

Jerome Felton:  It was a good experience.  It was actually a great overall experience.  I met a lot of my best friends there.  I was able to accomplish a lot of different things.  I was able to play football and excel at it.  It was a very good academic school and it challenged me. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  How will Furman do this season?

Jerome Felton:  When I was there my senior season, there were a lot of young guys.  Now those guys are juniors and seniors.  They have a lot of playmakers.  They are solid up front.  They should do well.  They have a good coaching staff.  I will be rooting for them.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Were you happy with your draft position (5^th round) or do you feel you should have gone higher?

Jerome Felton:  I was satisfied with it to be the first fullback selected in last year’s draft if you don’t include Jacob Hester.  If you do include him then I was the second FB.  I felt like I could have gone higher.  Unless you are the number one pick, I guess you can never be satisfied because you feel that you could have always gone higher.  I am happy that Detroit selected me. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  You had a great 40 time at the Combine, do you think you’re the fastest FB in the NFL?

Jerome Felton:  I don’t know.  I might be in the discussion.  There are a lot of athletic fullbacks in the NFL.  Peyton Hillis and Jacob Hester are fast players.  I wouldn’t mind racing them in a forty one day. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your rookie season for us.  How tough was it to go 0-16?

Jerome Felton:  I tell everybody that I feel like a rookie again.  Last year was tough, not winning a single game.  At the same time, I have learned from it.  I have grown from it a lot.  I am excited about this year.  I look at our new staff and give high marks to both of our coordinators and our new great head coach.     
 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you played against as a rookie?

Jerome Felton:  Minnesota linebackers were solid, A.J. Hawk is very good.  Everyone is good in our division.  But the one guy that sticks out above the rest is Patrick Willis.  He is a big time linebacker.  He is the best. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Last year you were used mostly as a blocker, now you will be running the football more like you did in college, are you excited to show what you can do best?

Jerome Felton:  Yeah, the one thing that I didn’t really get to show last year was how effectively I can carry the ball.  This year, our coaches are putting us in the best position to succeed.  They want to utilize our strengths.  I feel that I can run and be the best blocker for the team.  I am excited for this season.  I am excited to show what I do best. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us the difference between this year’s training camp compared to last year’s.

Jerome Felton:  There is a difference.  When they showed us the schedule this year at training camp, everyone thought that it would be a cake walk.  It has been challenging.  It has been a physical camp.  We focus on the day at hand.  It is pretty competitive.  Everyone is fighting their jobs and trying to earn a starting spot.  Last year was a physical camp, but I feel that this year is more intense and guys are more focused.  We brought in some veterans in the off-season that have won the Super Bowl in the past.  We are going in the right direction. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your expectations for this season personally and from a team stand point?

Jerome Felton:  Personally, I want to make the Probowl.  When I entered the league last year, it was a goal of mine.  It is not going to change.  I would like to make Kevin Smith the leading rusher in the NFL.  I aim high.  As a team, we have to take it one game at a time.  We also have to aim high.  We want to make the playoffs.  We all saw what Arizona did last year when they made the playoffs. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Who are some of the players that have stood on offense and defense during this year’s training camp?

Jerome Felton:  Kevin Smith looks sharp.  He has slimmed down a little and looks quicker.  Calvin Johnson is a freak of nature.  He makes plays every day in practice.  Our line is physical.  The quarterback battle is interesting.  Culpepper has looked good and has shown that he is a leader.  Stafford has a cannon for an arm.  Our offense as a whole looks good.  We added Larry Foote on defense.  He has added stability on that side of the ball. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the toughest player to block on Lions’ defense for you?

Jerome Felton:  Ernie Sims is not a big guy.  He is about 225 or 230 pounds.  But he brings it on every play.  He is really explosive.  He will slip past you and you will miss him.  Then on the next play, he will blow you up.  He is a great player.    
 

Alex Khvatov:  How good is WR Calvin Johnson and how does he compare to the other top WR’s in this league?

Jerome Felton:  He should have a big year.  He had a huge year last year.  It is amazing because we used 3 or 4 different QB’s last year.  We should receive more stability out of the QB position this season.  He is definitely a top 3 receiver in the NFL right now.  He is so physically gifted and he is a hard worker.
 

Alex Khvatov:  With a FB becoming a dying position, do you think that you really have to show that you can be both a great runner and receiver to stay on the roster?

Jerome Felton:  A lot of people say that to me.  But there are only two or three teams that don’t carry a FB on the roster, the Colts and New England.  Majority of the teams still carry fullbacks.  To stay in the league, you have to be versatile.  I hope that my versatility will help stay in the league for awhile.
 

Alex Khvatov:  If you were not playing football, where would you be?

Jerome Felton:  Probably I will be at law school.  I want to become a sports agent and it will be a way to stay close to the game.