Tony Conty:  You are from Evansville, Indiana.  Correct?

Luke Drone:  No, I am actually form Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  I was just born in Evansville, Indiana.


Tony Conty:  What brought you to Illinois State?

Luke Drone:  It was one of those deals.  I was visiting some schools.  A lot of schools didn't come through with an offer when I was coming into college so it was one of those deals when I was going to walk on.  I visited several schools.  I liked the atmosphere, I liked the coaches, and I liked the offense they ran and I just felt like it was a good fit for me.


Tony Conty:  And, you a person: a lot came out when you were a finalist for the Coach Wooden Citizenship cup.  What do you do outside the community that garnered you attention.

Luke Drone:  Oh, I mean, I just like to use the platform that God has given me to help give back to others and I feel like any time athletes are given a chance to be in the spotlight and help others out.  It's just about being a role model and it's a great thing to do.  I've had the opportunity to go a lot of different places through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, through the football team, and through some service events as well.  It was just great for me to be a part of and to be able to help out.  


Tony Conty: Now, from a football perspective, we've heard a lot since the Combine about a small-school mentality: guys who work a little harder because they feel like the deck is stacked against them a little bit.  Do you buy into that at all?

Luke Drone:  I can see why they say it's stacked against you being from a smaller school.  I think, personally, that the competition, with the #1s against the #1s is near the same.  If you just look at the games we've played...we played Missouri this year.  We played them close for the most part.  The offense controlled the field position and drove down inside the 2 twice and got 3 points out of it.  If you get 2 touchdowns there, it's a whole different ball game.  They were ranked #1 in the country at one point.  Last year, we played Kansas State and lost by one point.  I think that the biggest difference is special teams and the depth chart, but I think #1s vs. #1s is similar and I just think that the competition is the same.  I don't feel like the deck is stacked against me as far as that goes, no, but as far as getting looked at, maybe a little bit.


Tony Conty: Obviously, Illinois State had a favorite son graduate a few (actually, one year) years ago in Laurent Robinson.  Have you had a chance to talk to him about his path to the NFL.

Luke Drone:  Oh, yeah, I talk to Laurent all the time.  We're good buddies.  I got to throw to him for 3 years at Illinois State.  He's a great receiver and he says, "Just work your hardest and stay confident in everything you do and, at the end of the day, it's just about you making a team in September and don't listen to what people are telling you, because, at the end of the day, you have to go out and win the spot".  It's definitely good advice and I am just excited to get out there and try to make a team.


Tony Conty:  You got used to attention pretty quickly.  You threw for 5 touchdowns in your second start against Drake.  Were you ready for the spotlight so quickly?

Luke Drone:  I don't know that it was a really big spotlight at, like you said earlier, a smaller school.  You know, you get some attention, but it's not like it's overwhelming to the point where you got to deal with to the point that someone like a Matt Ryan has to, but I was definitely ready.  I felt like I had the skills to have that kind of success.  I had great coaches around me and great players around me to help me get that kind of success and I attribute all that to those guys and the coaches I've had, so I'd just like to be appreciative to be a part of that.


Tony Conty:  Now, from my perspective as someone who evaluates prospects, the best film I have on you in is probably Eastern Illinois, because you showed your ability to come from behind.  Talk about what you do to motivate the Redbirds or your team in general when you know that you are going to have to come from behind.

Luke Drone:  I mean, it's always been a big rivalry game for us and, when you're playing from behind, I feel like you can't press, especially when you are a Quarterback and you're down, your team feeds off your attitude in the huddle.  I just kept telling guys to keep doing what we're doing and believing.  You keep doing routine plays.  Like me, I don't feel like I need to be forcing balls down the field and trying to get it all at one time.  Just keep taking the checkdowns when they are given to you, and that's what happened.  We kept driving down the field.  They'd roll a safety down to stop up and something would open up.  That was just a testament to our coaching staff and being dialed into what you are trying to do and not trying to do too much.


Tony Conty:  I don't have film on the Indiana State game, but you threw the ball 9 times and completed 8.  You had 3 TDs and even ran 4 times for 18 yards, which, as far as efficiency is concerned, is pretty impressive.  Are you the type of guy who pays much attention to your individuals stats?

Luke Drone:  Oh, not really, no.  That was a game where we were running the ball and it was working.  We didn't need to run the ball and when we did, we threw it down the field.  It's whatever is going to get the win for us, whatever I'm 100% into.  That was one of those games where we kept running the ball and eventually we had a chance to take a shot down the field.  We would and we'd throw some posts on them.  We got a couple of touchdowns out of it.  Obviously, there were a couple of scrambles in there as well.   That's one of those games where they are going to let you run it and your doing well at it, so keep doing it.  


Tony Conty: You say that you don't pay much attention to your stats as far as that goes, because you are a team guy, but it was an uncharacteristically year for you at the beginning.  You had 9 picks in the first 5 games.  Describe what you did to end the season stronger.

Luke Drone: It was a rough year for us.  We lost some playmakers like Laurent Robinson and we had a new offensive coordinator.  We had to fight through some adversity in those aspects.  I think the main thing for me was knowing that it was a different year on offense.  You couldn't just expect to convert all the time on 3rd and long.  You might have to just check it down and punt the ball.  I think that I started realizing that late in the season.  If teams got us in 3rd and long and you are not going to get the 1st down, you just need to check down and get 2 yards out of it and punt the ball.  I feel like I started realizing that late in the season, instead of throwing into the flat and trying to get the 1st down, it's about realizing that it's not there and just checking down and punting.  It's just realizing that.


Tony Conty:  Looking at the Gateway Football Conference as we did, I read a lot of comparisons between you and the (Southern Illinois) Salukis Quarterback Nick Hill.  He's a pretty talented guy.  Do you have a lot of healthy rivalries in that conference?

Luke Drone:  Oh yeah, I think so.  Week in and week out, you know it's going to be a good game.  There are a lot of great players like Nick Hill, like you said.  Every team has a great player.  You looked at Northern Iowa's Eric Sanders and Youngstown State's Tom Zetts.  Every team had a veteran Quarterback to lead them.  They have great defense.  There were a lot of healthy rivalries, week in and week out in the Gateway Football Conference and you have to bring it every week.


Tony Conty:  With the season ending as it did, you said it was a bit of a disappointment.  What are you working on right now and what do you have scheduled?

Luke Drone:  I am working on mostly fine-tuning my skills.  You know in the NFL, everyone is bigger and faster.  I am trying to keep my skills in X's and O's and my knowledge of X's and O's.  I feel like everything is going to be faster.  To be able to learn the offense well, I am going to have to keep my feet quick and my release quick so that, if you are behind on decisions, you have a quicker release and quicker feet in the pocket.  So, I am just trying to improve my game individually in every aspect and everything's going to be a little bit better in the NFL.  I feel like I have the skills.  I'm trying to fine tune them to be ready to compete for a job in training camp.  


Tony Conty:  Based on that, Quarterbacks need to be labeled a little much.  How big a part of your game is your mobility?

Luke Drone:  Oh, I feel like it will help me out a lot.  I feel like when the pocket breaks down, I should be able to feel that and take one or two steps up or sideways in the pocket and still be able to deliver the ball.  I think that's huge.  It's plays into my strengths.  If the pocket breaks down and no one's open, I can take off and run and maybe get a first down: keep the play alive and keep the drive alive.  I think it's a huge deal to be able to move as a Quarterback and make plays.


Tony Conty:  I've read a lot of interviews with Denver Johnson and he has spoken very highly of you as a person: an individual as well as a person.  Discuss your relationship with him.  

Luke Drone:  Oh, Coach Johnson is a great coach.  He was the one who gave me a shot when I first got to ISU.  I came into camp as a 6th string Quarterback.  I was able to get enough reps in camp to work my way up to second string as a Freshman.  It was just him, giving me that opportunity.  It set the pace for me and the rest of my career.  He's a great coach and a player's coach.  He's always there when you need something.  He's going to be honest with you.  To me, he has been a great person as well as a great coach.  


Tony Conty:  Did you notice that you had an offensive lineman as a head coach? Did he have that kind of mentality to protect you?

Luke Drone:  He always had our offensive line right.  He's actually coaching our Offensive Line right now at ISU, because they don't have an O-line coach.  I remember my first year, playing personal protection on the punt team.  He'll get in there and get physical.  He has a little different mentality than an Offensive Line coach.  That's the good part for a Quarterback because you know that he is going to keep you protected back there.  


Tony Conty:  I had the pleasure in the summer of having an interview with Kye Stewart.  Give a shout out to another member of your team.  Who else deserves a look from the pros?

Luke Drone:  Oh, we have several prospects:  Kye Stewart, obviously.  Isaiah Wiggins and Brandon Joyce, both tackles, for doing a good job.  They're big and they know the game.  Raphael Rice and Jason Horton, our receivers.  I have been throwing with him every day.  He's got a great shot and he's got the athleticism, skills, and the hands to do it.  He has just got to put it all together.  He'll get a shot in camp and hopefully he'll do well.  Those guys that I've mentioned obviously are great.  They were great players in college and have a great shot of getting looked at and hopefully making the team.  


Tony Conty:  Elsewhere, in the conference, who are the toughest Defensive Backs that you have had to face in your time?

Luke Drone:  Let's see, Eastern Illinois has always had a good Defensive Back unit.  I remember in my whole career there, they have always had a good unit.  Youngstown State has a good unit.  Northern Iowa has great Defensive Backs.  There are definitely a lot of good Defensive Backs on those teams I've mentioned.  Like I said earlier, in the Gateway Conference, week in and week out, there are going to be great players and you have to play well.


Tony Conty:  What do you think about Roger Goodell's firm stance on off-the-field issues?

Luke Drone:  To end talking about the NFL a bit, off-the-field issues are center stage.  It's all that anyone is talking about and it is Roger Goodell's main focus as a leader.  What do you think about the firm stance he's had on off-the-field issues?

Tony Conty:  I think it's big and I think it's important.  You have to have a guy out there that you can trust off the field, because if you can't trust them off the field, you can't trust them on the field.  At the end of the day, that's the guy you have to count on to win games.  As much as they say it is an off-the-field issue, it's an on-the-field issue as well, just because I think that it carries over and it's important to have good character guys on your team and guys who are willing to work for you and conduct themselves well off-the-field.  


Tony Conty:  Self-promote.  Why should teams consider you higher than you have been projected?

Luke Drone:  I think that teams should consider me higher because I can make all of the plays and I can make all of the throws.  I am tough in the pocket and I am willing to compete, day in and day out.  I feel like I have a good understanding of the game.  I learn easily and, if teams bring me into training camp, I am not going to be behind in the system.  I am going to be ready to compete and ready to make plays.  I feel like I can play at the next level.


Tony Conty:  We greatly appreciate your time.  Good luck the rest of the off-season.

Luke Drone:  Thank you.  I appreciate it.