WR Jamari Thrash (5.10.24)

So I know it’s still very early but what’s this last week, week and a half been like for you adjusting from being a draft hopeful to a draft pick to now in rookie mini camp?

“I really just try to take everything a day at a time, to be honest with you. We got here yesterday. Flight got delayed twice, so kind of late getting up here but right now just taking it a day at a time and try to study the playbook. Try to make sure I stay in shape. Just keep the ball rolling.”

 

Knowing the role that they have in mind for you with your ability to separate all the things that you do so well for them. Are there certain NFL receivers that have you grabbed some film on: Cole Beasley or Julian Edelman or Wes Welker or anybody like that to sort of start to get a feel for what they want?

“No, ma’am. Like I said, it was my first day out here, so we did walk thru. Just seeing what coach does with his offense, just seeing what he does on offense, knowing that he came from Buffalo, seeing what he did with those guys, and just really just finding my role and just finding my fit in offense.”

 

What have they told you that they expect out of you?

“They haven’t told me anything. Right now, I’m just going to play my role, doing everything a day at a time, just making plays when the opportunity presents itself.”

 

There are personnel guys that talk about really liking your ability to separate. What allowed you to do that?

“Just study film. Being able to know who I’m going against, and just intake information each place.”

 

Do you think that skill, obviously, that translated to Louisville. Do you think it can translate to this level as well?

“Most definitely. Yeah. I definitely do.”

 

Coach McGee, I talked a week or so ago and he talked about your ability to adjust to whatever, your willingness to do whatever it takes. When did you kind of first establish that mindset that, hey, whatever the team needs me to do, I’m willing to do?

“Pretty early. Probably say go back to my Georgia State days, knowing when an opportunity comes, like I said, when the opportunity comes to present itself, you know, just make the most of it. And when I went to Jeff Brohm’s offense, I was just one side in coach Brohm’s offense, but when I went to the Senior Bowl, just showing my versatility and showing that I can play inside or outside definitely helped me.”

 

Did you know when you went to Louisville that you would be able to make that jump as seamlessly as you did?

“Sort of, because when I got in the portal, when I got in the transfer portal, I just did a lot of research and just seeing what Brohm did with Charlie Jones and when I played the same position as Charlie Jones, you know, it made a lot of sense to me. So I guess you could say that.”

 

Well, the ability to go from Georgia State to Louisville and have success, does that give you a lot of confidence coming at this, to this level that you can make the same type of jump?

“I haven’t really thought about that. Well, yeah, I’d probably say yes, sir.”

 

Have you been introduced to the special teams coach here yet?

“Yes, sir. I just did a couple gunner drills.

 

That’s what he was starting out at. How is it that you didn’t return much in your college career?

“I can’t answer that. I don’t know why.”

 

You must’ve had a good returner ahead of you.

“Yeah, or like sometimes, you know, coaches might already have the guys that they want back there.”

 

How about any of the current Browns receivers? Have you heard from any of those guys yet? Have they reached out to you?

“I talked to James Proche. I talked to Mike Woods. I haven’t talked to anybody else. I just talked to those two guys.”

 

You looking forward to kind of learning under Amari?

“Yeah, most definitely. Hopefully, you know, when I get in the room with those guys, him, Jeudy, Elijah Moore, I’ll be able to dissect and learn different things from those guys, different techniques, different strategies when it comes to playing football.”

 

How tough is it going to be cracking that group to get some playing time?

“I mean, they’re all great players. Like I said, you know, I’m the type of guy, you know, I don’t mind waiting my turn. I don’t mind playing my role. So whatever the coach need me to do, whatever those guys need me do, I’m willing to do it.”

 

Why do you think you didn’t have any Power Five offers coming out of high school?

“I don’t know. I don’t know. Like I said, I always feel like I produced good numbers, but I don’t know. I don’t know. I can’t tell you.”

 

Was that really frustrating for you back then?

“Sort of, but at the same time, I know God got me, and so, you know, just taking my time and my head coach always told me, don’t be afraid to be a big fish in a small pond. So that’s something that always stuck to me, too. So, like I said, my opportunity came. I just made the most of it.”

 

Do you like the fact that your hair kind of proved everybody wrong?

“I still got a long way to go. Still got a long way to go. Like, my job’s not finished yet, so I still take time to learn and dissect stuff and different players.”

 

Jamari, throughout the pre-draft process, there’s a lot said about your route running. Just how much pride do you or more so how much of a strength is that for you? And off of your comments, just about getting a chance to pick the brain of Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, guys who also sort of pride themselves on that, how excited are you to kind of learn even more techniques with that from them?

“I’m really excited. I think just being in that room, it just speaks a lot of volumes. Got a guy like Amari Cooper, Coach O’Shea. He did a good job of day of just showing a lot of film of Amari Cooper showing how well he runs his slants in his route running. So I’m just really excited just to be in a room with those guys and just learn from them.”

 

 

What does versatility look like for you?

“Being able to do whatever my coach need me to do. Playing inside, outside, whether that’s running down, being a gunner on special teams, being a punt returner, whatever they want me to do.”

 

Skill wise – what is it maybe you feel like, I still need to work on this.

“Definitely my contested catches. I think that was something I struggled with in my Georgia state days and my time at Louisville.”

 

Is there a receiver in the NFL that you most closely identify with in terms of a comp?

“No, ma’am.”

 

No?

“No, ma’am. I watch a lot of film on guys. Like, I watch a lot of Davante Adams, Devonta Smith. Jamar Chase is probably one of my favorite receivers. But I don’t really just try to idolize my game after those guys. I just try to be me.”

 

You talked about adjusting from the lower level college football to the Power Five. Now you’re making another adjustment to the NFL. I know you haven’t been out there to really experience it yet, but what are you anticipating? Maybe are some of the biggest adjustments you have to make at this level?

“Definitely playbook. Playbook. Just understanding my assignment and my alignments, like playing in NFL, the hashes, they’re a lot closer. You got more field to play with. So just understanding the alignments and assignments. All right, thank you.

 

 

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