On the excitement of being selected in the first round by the Jets…
Oh my God, I'm really excited! It's a great opportunity for me. I can't wait to get up there and be part of that team. It's a very exciting time right now.
On what he likes about the Jets…
I think they've got an up and coming program. It's just a great opportunity and I get to be reunited with Mike Nugent from Ohio State. We grew up together here in our hometown of Centerville. It's just an opportunity to play in the NFL and get a chance that a lot of people dream of. I can't wait to be there.
On filling Kevin Mawae's shoes…
I think it's a great thing to have that type of pressure. Going into Ohio State, I had to fill the shoes of some great centers. So I'm looking forward to the opportunity. I don't know where the coaching staff wants me or how they'll use me, but wherever they want to put me, I'd love to be. Just as long as I get to contribute - no matter how that is - I want to be there.
On his biggest asset…
I think it's the intelligence that I bring to the game. I was taught real early in college that I had to learn everything there is to know in football, and I tried to do that. I look forward to getting up to the Jets, learning their system and getting the most out of their system mentally.
On New York…
That it's the greatest city in the world. I haven't been there in a long while, it's been probably 10 years since I've been there. But it is the greatest city in the world and I can't wait to make it my home and become a sort of New York person (laughing). I don't know if they'll ever accept me as a true New Yorker, but hopefully they'll adopt me as one.
On talks with Mike Tannenbaum before the draft…
As we were going through this process I didn't really get a chance to talk to too many people. I did the Senior Bowl and I did the Combine and my pro day. Going through, I think I talked to just about everybody equally. So going into the draft, I didn't really have any idea of what was going on and who might take a chance on a center in the first round.
