NFL Draft 2011: A B/R Exclusive With Quarterback Jake Locker

If you haven’t heard about quarterback Jake Locker by now then you may want to get your eyes and ears checked, son.

Locker had a ton of buzz following his junior year at Washington. He was projected to be one of the first few quarterbacks drafted if he were to leave school early last year.

Yet Locker decided to stay for his senior year and, like my man Matt Leinart, he’s paying for it in draft position and in dollars.

Locker grew up in the town of Ferndale, Washington, a city with a population of just over 11,000 residents. Locker didn’t stray to far from home when choosing a college and he was the school’s biggest star during his four-year stay in Seattle.

This Thursday Jake and his family will patiently wait to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, something that has been a lifelong dream of his. Locker is projected to go as high as the first round to as low as the third round in some mock drafts.

No matter where he falls, Locker is just happy to have the opportunity that so many will never see.

I spoke with the former Washington Husky about his draft position, the NFL lockout and if he plans to pull an Eli Manning on draft day.

Jason Henry: Jake, with the NFL Draft this Thursday, are you starting to get a little nervous about what’s going to happen?

 I’m not nervous, anxious; I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a long process and I’m excited to see where I end up.

In regards to your position in the draft, you were rated the 26th-best player by Scouts Inc. and some mocks have you dropping as low as the second round. Where do you think you’ll actually land?

I have no idea. You know, that’s kind of the crazy part about all of this. I really don’t have any idea. From when the draft starts to when it ends, you don’t know when it’ll be, but I look forward to that time.

Do you have any expectations?

I think that you want to go as high as possible and to a team that’s a great fit for you, but I don’t have expectations I don’t think, and that’s how I’m approaching it and how I’m looking at it.

With your draft position so uncertain, is that something that fuels you? That you’re not guaranteed a first-round spot and that you may fall to the second round?

Yeah, I think so. It’s a great opportunity to go out and compete and prove that you belong with all those other guys.

Jake, if you remember a few years ago when Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers were drafted, Eli refused to go to the San Diego Chargers which, of course, led to him being traded to the Giants. Is there a specific NFL team out there that you just refuse to play for?

 No, no. I’ll play for anybody.

Understood. Jake, is there a team that you have a strong desire to play for?

You know I grew up, obviously, in Washington and watched the Seahawks. But I think having the opportunity to play in the NFL for any organization is a dream come true for me and I’m not going to take favor to this process.

Jake, what are some of the things that you feel you can still improve upon?

Well I think you can always get better at anything you want to focus on in your game. Just being more consistent is something that I focus on in the process and I’ll continue to do so.

What are some of the things that you learned from Gruden’s quarterback camp?

You know, how he looks at film, how he breaks down film, how he goes about the process of it. How he studies the game, the mental aspect of it. I was able to take a lot away from it. Things that will hopefully help me at the next level.

Are there some players out there right now that you emulate your game after?

Yeah, I enjoy watching Aaron Rodgers. I think he did a great job this year. He’s somebody that I enjoy watching because he’s mobile and he moves around well. He didn’t do it too much. He does it when its affective for him and his football team. He does a great job of creating plays, buying time with his feet, and using his arm to hurt people. So he’s somebody that I really enjoy watching.

Where will you actually be draft night?

Ferndale, where I grew up.

Jake, the last question that I have for you, but do you have any thoughts on the lockout technically being lifted?

Yeah, you know, I think it's something that doesn’t affect me now and won’t until I hear my name called. But it's progress in the whole ordeal and for us it's just kind of waiting to see how the whole thing works out and adjusting either way.

Jake, I appreciate you spending some time with me this morning and thanks for being so open to answering my questions sir. I hope you have a great day and enjoy the draft on Thursday.

I appreciate it, Jason.

Jake is taking part in the NFL and Gatorade's "Everything to Prove" campaign. You can see Jake and other NFL Draft prospects in this new campaign by visiting www.NFL.com/EverythingToProve