OT Spencer Fano and WR KC Concepcion (4.24.26)
For either one of you guys, just how excited are you to be here in Cleveland? I know, KC, yesterday you mentioned that the Browns fans should be getting the popcorn ready. You guys, what are just some of your guys’ feelings just being here?
Concepcion: “Yeah, I mean like it’s a blessing. Honestly, it’s just a dream come true. Honestly, when I heard my name called it was just excitement.”
Fano: “Yeah, I’m so excited. I mean, I feel like I just gotta be honest, one of my first thoughts was I don’t have to play Myles Garrett on Sundays. So that’s something to be excited about in itself. But I mean, just to be here, be with these teammates, to be able to play for these fans. It’s an honor.”
Spencer, to follow up on that. I mean, left tackles who have been here before and talk about going up against Myles and that challenge that it is. How much are you looking forward to getting that opportunity at a training camp practice?
Fano: “I am so excited. I mean, I feel like there’s no way – there’s no better way for me to get better than going against someone like that. I mean he’s just maybe the best player in the world. So, to go against him every day is going to be a blessing.”
Both of you guys, you talk about versatility, positional versatility. How much more important is that becoming in football that you’re not just a left tackle or a right tackle or an outside receiver. How much more important do you feel like it’s becoming in the game?
Concepcion: “You know, it’s much more important now. The more things you can do, the better your value is. The faster you learn, the more plays you get. Just being able to play all across the field it’s just gonna open up many more opportunities.”
Fano: “Yeah and it’s, you never know what’s gonna happen on the football field, like someone could go down. I think it’s a good thing to be able to fill in wherever I need to. It’s a big thing. And then not only that, it’s that knowing how to play multiple different positions just broadens or…I don’t know, it broadens your knowledge on the game itself, on how every play works. So, I feel like there’s nothing but positives that come with knowing multiple positions.”
You were probably playing in games that Shedeur Sanders was playing in. But have you had a chance to watch him play and what will it be like to catch passes from him?
Concepcion: “Yes, sir. So, I actually got a story. So, whenever I had entered the transfer portal after my sophomore season, I had actually went down to Colorado and met Shedeur. He is a great guy, a great leader. I just cannot wait to build that relationship and build that connection with him.”
Spencer, what was it like for you to hear Andrew Berry say to you on the phone yesterday during your draft call that they expect you to be their left tackle, their franchise left tackle?
Fano: “I mean, sure, I’m ready. It’s such a cool thing to be believed in, and I’m not one that likes to let people down.”
Spencer, Andrew told us not to be fooled by your personality. I think he said don’t be fooled by your kindness. Is there a switch that just flips when you are on the field?
Fano: “I guess you could say that. I guess you could say that. There’s just something about, I don’t know, there’s something about just – I don’t know, that’s a little corny, so let me think of something else. It’s like the saying that there’s no greater joy of moving a man from point A to point B against his will. There’s really nothing like it. You know, when you’re just pushing that back, he’s like, swinging at your arms. There’s no feeling like that. And then to be able to put someone in the dirt, it’s awesome.”
You talked about Joe Thomas a little bit yesterday. First of all, has he reached out to you yet?
Fano: “No.”
What drew you to him when you’re growing up watching left tackles? And what stood out about his game when you just called him the best of all time?
Fano: “Well, I mean, I feel like a big thing about him that I saw – it’s a really big character thing too, is the fact that he played 10 years and didn’t miss a snap. I feel like that was the biggest thing at first where it was like…I think that’s insane because there’s no way that he got through 10 seasons healthy. And the fact that he never missed a snap, I think that just when I was younger too, showed me his character and how well he played those 10 seasons too, or his whole career. To me, it’s kind of undeniable that he’s the greatest of all time.”
Reading that letter you wrote to the GMs in the league and you called yourself, you said you were the best receiver in the draft class. I guess what makes you say that? What gives you that confidence to say that?
Concepcion: “Like I said before, I’m very confident. I feel like I am the most versatile. I feel like I am the best playmaker about a group, but everybody is amazing. You know, everybody has their things that everybody does well.”
Well, can you just address the thing that Andrew Berry, when he talked to us, he told us that after he read your letter that he actually picked up the phone and called you to tell you just how much that moved him. What did it mean to you to hear from him in those words when you weren’t even sure if you were going to be here or not? How did you feel about that?
Concepcion: “You know, it meant a lot, having him read the letter and him reaching out and showing love and support.”
This, obviously you’re taking in the experience of being drafted by a team. But how eager are you for the next step of getting to work on these practice fields and taking part of rookie minicamp and really getting to fit into this organization?
Fano: “Yeah, I’m just, I’m excited because I know there’s going to be a learning curve. I mean, I am going against dudes that are bigger, faster, stronger than guys I have ever gone against. So, I’m excited to be able to take that challenge head on and just get better.”
Concepcion: “Yeah, honestly I’m just ready to work also. I’m ready to compete. I love competing. I’m just eager, excited. I’m ready to get to work.”
KC, there was a report that you had a knee scope in March. How are you feeling physically, and do you think you’ll be ready for rookie minicamp?
Concepcion: “Yeah, I had a knee scope March 12. I think, about five weeks out, I feel great. I’m back running. I’m back on the routes, I’m back lifting. So, by the time rookie minicamp comes I’m ready to go.”
You talked a lot about football stuff, but talk about some of the people that you have that you brought in here and the kind of the influence they played.
Fano: “Yeah, I just brought my beautiful fiancé, Sami. I would have my parents here, but my brother’s in the draft as well, so they’re at home with him. But so I’ll speak as if my parents were here as well – both my parents just sacrificed everything, all growing up for me to get to where I’m at today. There was no sacrifice too great for them. And then her (Sami), she’s just been the greatest support of my life. There was some dog days, some days that I was real sick during the season, and she was the one nursing me. So, yeah, I’ve just had a lot of incredible support.”
Concepcion: “Yeah, so over there, I got my dad, my mom, my beautiful girlfriend. My dad, he’s the one that, he put a football in my hand since [I was] four years old. He just been the person who motivates me, who pushed me to my limits. My mom, the sacrifices, she had to make. I got four little brothers in the house, it was just seeing her sacrifice a lot. It meant a lot to me. My girlfriend, she has been nothing but supportive. She’s just been the greatest supporter, a shoulder to lean on and an outlet to talk to.”
I’ve been watching some of your film tape – your route running has obviously been your strength, and you’re joining Jerry Jeudy here, who’s also a great route runner, prides himself on that. Have you watched some of Jerry? Do you watch Jerry film at all?
Concepcion: “Of course.”
So, can you just kind of talk about him as a route runner and how you guys might be together in that way?
Concepcion: “Yeah, yeah, of course. Growing up, Alabama, it was a powerhouse just seeing those guys be there and dominate. So, once I’m finally able to get to meet him and pick his brain, I felt like me and his game are going to complement each other very well.”
Spencer, there’s been a lot to say with some of the offensive linemen coming in this offseason about George Warhop, and what he brings to the table as a coach, just how much were you able to overall interface with him during the pre-draft process, and how excited are to work on that?
Fano: “I was able to meet him at the combine and on my 30 visit. It’s been awesome. It’s been really awesome. It was good to know him, meet him. Just talking to him, I already can tell what kind of coach he is. He’s definitely an old school type of coach, like hardcore type of coach. And that’s all I’ve had. So, I think, yeah, that’ll be awesome.”
I’m sure this has been a lifelong dream for both of you guys, so I’m curious, when you were a kid, what part of it did you dream about? Was it playing? Was it hearing your name called? What was it?
Concepcion: “I would say just playing, honestly. It really didn’t matter if I got my name called or not. Just being able to play the game that I have loved as a kid.”
Fano: “I was just going to say I feel like every part of it has been my dream. Hearing my name called, I mean, even being here is a dream to me. And then getting out to play on Sundays, I’m really grateful because I feel like just every day I’m out here, I’m in this league, it’s gonna be like I’m living my dream, because I am.”
This question would be for both of you as well. And that is, it’s not every year that you have two first round picks. So, I mean, have you guys kind of had a chance to sort of talk to each other a little bit about how you can be a huge part of the evolution or the transformation of this offense. Andrew Berry was saying that you’re culture setters and things like that, so do you feel like you can be part of something big here and get this thing turned around?
Fano: “Let’s do it man. Let’s do it.”
Concepcion: “We really just met. Coming in together and leaning on each other, just help each other out, and just establishing that brotherhood, honestly.”
KC, when you were a kid growing up playing, did you pretend you’re some receiver, like whoever it might be?
Concepcion: “No. So I actually grew up playing quarterback. Honestly, I didn’t start playing receiver until my ninth-grade year in high school. But I mean, growing up, I used to watch a lot of Tavon Austin. Back then his college highlights were legendary.”
What do you make of the big deal that was made about your arm length and in the whole pre-draft process and at any time were you worried that was gonna move you down the board or keep you from playing tackle at this level?
Fano: “Nah, it’s been confusing. We were talking to someone before, it’s like, shoot, I don’t even know what my real arm length is. I mean we had measured like 32 and 1/8. Pro day was different. Here when I came out to visit it was 33. The Steelers it was 33. I don’t know what it’s like to have 35-inch arms and it hasn’t made too much of a difference.”
Do you feel like that is an overrated aspect from the draft combine process?
Fano: “I feel like, I’m sure it has something to do with it. I mean I don’t think people would make such a big deal out of it if it wasn’t a thing. But I don’t think anyone has the athleticism and feet that I have. So, I figured in my case I don’t think it makes a big difference.”
KC, yesterday Andrew mentioned too that they thought you were the best punt returner in the class. Just how have you embraced that part of the game and are you looking forward to making waves here?
Concepcion: “Oh yeah, always. You know, it’s just another way I can impact the game. It just honestly adds on to my value.”
Spencer, how about the fact that you are joining an offensive line that’s in the middle of a complete massive overhaul? And that pretty much everybody at every single position is going to be new and different. How might that benefit you to just kind of be on the ground floor of a startup line?
Fano: “I feel like, I don’t know, it’s going to be exciting. I mean it’s going to be – it’ll be really fun to have all of us come in at the same time so we can all kind of build relationships at the same time. I don’t know, it’s cool not going into a room where everyone’s already settled down to be able to go into a room where we can all build relationships at the same time. And I’m excited to be everybody’s shadow to kind of learn how to be great in this league.”
What about the draft process, talking to the Browns, meeting with the Browns and then being drafted by the Browns – what has you excited about the city, about the organization, what gets you excited to be here?
Concepcion: “I mean, honestly, just the relationships, everybody inside the building. From what I can see, it’s close – it feels like a family environment. So just being able to be in that type of environment.”
Fano: “My two favorite things so far have been first, definitely the relationships. I mean, meeting Coach (Todd) Monken was so cool. He’s such an awesome… he’s a great man, great coach. Meeting with Coach Hop (George Warhop), I’m so excited to play for him. And my second favorite thing has actually just been the traffic here. It’s been unbelievable. I was here at 5 p.m. during my 30 [visit], and there was nothing. There was nothing. There was just straight green lights. I was like, yeah, that was unbelievable.”
Was there a moment for one of you guys during your visit that you thought, “wow, this could be my landing spot”?
Concepcion: “I would say probably my walkthrough. After we had our walkthrough, we shot hoops. It was just bonding more, getting to know each other more. And, I felt like, after that it was a strong possibility that if I was there at 24, I could become a Cleveland Brown for sure.”
Fano: “I drove here straight from the combine, they drove me here. I feel like that alone, I thought it was pretty cool and I could see myself being here.”
KC, the drops have been the one pick on you. How do you ease those concerns when someone brings them up to you?
Concepcion: “I mean I just accepted it. I have had drops. But it’s more so concentration, just focusing on the balls. So, I’ve been working non-stop at it every day. So, it’s going to get fixed for sure.”
Stepping into the quarterback competition, so both of you guys are going to be part of that. You probably haven’t had a whole lot time to think about that yet. But, you know, what do you kind of know so far? A little bit maybe about Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and how exciting is it to you to see this whole thing play out?
Fano: “Well, just as a lineman, I’m excited to play in front of either of them. I mean, it’s so funny hearing Deshaun Watson, it’s kind of like a celebrity name to me. And I was able to play against Shedeur in college, too. We went one-on-one. He beat us the year before he left. But to me, it doesn’t really matter to me. My job is to block for whoever’s back there.”
Concepcion: “I would say both of those guys are legendary. Honestly to me, it doesn’t matter. It’s my job to get open, to catch the ball. So, whoever is back there, I’ll just be happy for those guys.”
# # #
***Visit the for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***