INTERVIEW SPOTLIGHT NFL Top Draft Pick: Chris Samuels On the NFL Draft See also: Interview with Peyton Manning

Chris Samuels is 6'5 1/2" and weighs in at 325 lbs. but the hulking future NFL star and top five draft pick seriously dislikes bumpy airplane rides. On his way to an interview with the Washington Redskins last week, Chris and Sports Media Challenge president, Kathleen Hessert spoke about the waiting game that he was suffering through, what put him in position to land his dream of playing in the NFL and some advice he offers to young players with hopes ahead of them too. Oh and yes, he made a point of saying that he wasn't going to make the same mistake that lots of other NFL hopefuls had made: spending big bucks before they were actually his! According to Chris, one player he knows had already borrowed and spent $500,000. He suspected the guy might go as low as the 6th round of the draft and there obviously aren't even any guarantees about that. SMC: What's going through your head right now with less than a week until the draft? CS: I'm really anxious. I really can't wait. My goal has always been to make it to the NFL and then the Hall of Fame. I want to be the best tackle to ever play the game and now it's right around the corner. SMC: What's the most difficult part of waiting? CS: I have to be in so many places, traveling for interviews and I still have to maintain my workouts to stay in shape. SMC: How do you accomplish that? CS: I workout whenever I can get at least 30 minutes at one time. Mostly, if I can't do my regular workout I focus on cardiovascular. I'll ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes to build my endurance and burn a little fat. At least I'm not sitting at home being a couch potato. SMC: You're one of only a handful of players invited to be in New York for the draft. I imagine there are a lot of old and new friends wanting to share in your excitement this weekend. CS: You know that's true! There are lots of people I hardly know who want something. There's a guy I met only once and saw once more after that. He actually called my agent to ask for a ticket to join us in New York. It's amazing. SMC: What are you looking forward to most? CS: I'm going up there Thursday morning and I've been asked to go to a local school and talk to the kids. I really like talking to kids. After Friday night's banquet I go to sleep. When I wake up Saturday morning hopefully my name will be called as one of the top 5 draft picks. SMC: Have you planned what you're going to say when they call your name and you walk across the stage? CS: I'm not planning anything. I'm going to take it as it comes and thank God. SMC: What would you tell high school players dreaming of the NFL like you? CS: Work hard, stay dedicated to the game and keep a good reputation. Colleges do background checks just like the NFL does. They'll find out who you are and what you're like. SMC: What should college players know? CS:Make sure you have a good reputation with your coaches. There are guys who cuss out the coaches and miss meetings. NFL scouts ask the coaches all about you. You really need to keep a clean reputation with your coaches. You need to respect them. SMC: Do you think there's more emphasis on character issues today? CS:Yes. In the interviews they (NFL team officials) drilled us. They asked things like whether or not we ever failed a drug test, got in trouble at school things like that. It was nothing to play around with. You have to really be on your P's and Q's because they want to know your personality. One last thing about Chris! He plans to buy a big black Mercedes after he signs his contract and is going to buy his Mom a great house.