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NFL Draft: Interview With Miami (OH) DB Quinten Rollins

By Sayre Bedinger

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When you think of basketball-football converts, you think of guys like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, and Julius Thomas — big time power forward type guys who are able to catch touchdown passes and create mismatches in the passing game.

What if I told you the next great basketball player to transition to the football field would create mismatches in the passing game, just on the other side of the football?

If you told the casual college football fan that Quinten Rollins of Miami (OH) only played one season of college football, you probably wouldn’t believe it. This is a guy who finished this past season with 72 tackles, a whopping seven interceptions, and took home MAC Defensive Player o the Year hardware along with All-conference honors.

This wasn’t just an experiment, this was a remarkable discovery.

After playing basketball the majority of his time on campus, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year on the hardwood (no kidding) decided he could make a career out of football, and that’s just what he is about to do.

But let’s rewind for a second. Where did all this come from? What was Rollins thinking a year ago at this time? He was kind enough to talk with NFL Mocks while promoting his Speed Stick ‘Defy the Doubt’ campaign, a video that you need to watch before you go any further…

“This time last year I was in Spring ball so just getting my feet wet back in the football world,” Rollins said. “I came straight from basketball, took about a week off and was just trying to earn a spot.”

Rollins has certainly had an incredible journey to football, but one thing that you notice about this guy is that unlike most basketball converts, this is a player who plays with physicality. He doesn’t shy away from contact, and for the most part, was incredible active when it came to chasing ball carriers and making plays in that regard.

A lot of that background comes from his basketball playing days, where Rollins says he was always in foul trouble. He says that it’s not uncommon for people to question his toughness because of the basketball history.

“I get that a lot. That’s a funny question because that’s just my nature. Growing up I was always outside playing in the yard with the kids down the street. It was never soft. If you were soft, you didn’t get picked up. It’s kind of how I’ve grown as a person mentally and physically. I was always more physical than guys on the basketball court as well so it was easy for me to go to the football field and be physical. You can be a lot more physical on the football field…I was always in foul trouble in basketball…It kind of just allowed me to be my natural self.”

Rollins has a remarkable story of his upbringing, not having met his father until he was 15 years old and being raised by his mother and grandmother. In an article at the Combine, Rollins talks about how he is thankful for the way he was raised by two Godly women, and that he’s been the ‘man of the house’ for as long as he can remember.

Now with a daughter of his own, Rollins has had to grow up quickly. He was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Miami (OH) in his junior year of high school, and he quickly accepted, feeling like that would be his best chance at getting a college education. It wasn’t until later that the school hired Chuck Martin from Notre Dame that Rollins would get his shot at football, and even then, he says it was only on a trial basis.

The rest, as they say, is history.

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Rollins got his ‘tryout’ with the Redhawks football program, and had the choice of being either a running back or defensive back. He made a wise decision. He told me there are plenty of different things that translate to the football field having been a point guard for the rest of his college athletics career.

“Just being a basketball player, there’s a lot of things that you do that correlate on to the football field…Being a point guard and seeing the whole floor, that allows me to open up in zone coverage and see the whole field…”

According to Rollins, teams aren’t giving him any indication of where he will be drafted in terms of round or pick range, but he feels like the demand has been high, and that some team is going to give him a shot sooner rather than later.

“A lot of teams can want me but they might not need me. I’m just hoping one team falls in love with me.”

Rollins couldn’t disclose the names of teams he’s visited with, but the list is extensive. Teams are looking at him as almost a blank canvas as a defensive back. He certainly has the measurables and ability to play all over a defensive formation, which is why he feels he best compares to this future Hall of Fame player…

“I’m always trying to learn and find something to put in my tool bag from other players…As far as one individual I would say Charles Woodson.”

That comparison begs the question — are teams looking at Rollins as a free safety?

“Yeah, some teams are interested in me at safety. Some see corner, some see nickel, some think I’m versatile enough to play all three. I’ve been hearing all of ’em, it’s just a matter of what team drafts me and what they feel I’m best suited to play. I’m up for getting anywhere on the field.”

Getting on the field can come for a rookie in a variety of ways. Rollins might not likely be immediately the centerpiece of some team’s defense, but he can make an impact in the game’s third phase right away.

Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Ohio defensive back Quinten Rollins catches a pass in a workout drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

“I’m definitely looking forward to being on special teams. That’s a vital part of the game…I’m looking forward to helping the team whatever way I can. That’s getting on the field, that’s the ultimate goal. As long as you’re on the field you can contribute to the success of the team so I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

NFL teams want to know what a guy is like before they make a significant investment in him. For someone like Rollins, there is a bit of a mysterious factor there. He hasn’t been playing college football for three or four years like all of his peers in this draft. He has an incredibly interesting upbringing and history that teams are going to want to know about.

I wanted to know what Rollins tries to show teams about himself the most as he approaches interview and visits with his prospective employers.

“Honestly, I go in there and just be myself. I feel like the fact that when I go in there and be myself, they see what type of person I am already. They see how I am on film so I don’t need to sell myself as a player, it’s more about me as a person. One of the most important lessons they gave me was we’re not coaching the player, we’re coaching the man, because if you coach the man the man will take care of the player…I just want to go in there and be myself, show them how mature I am as a person and my hunger to get better. I’m not satisfied by any stretch of the imagination with the college season I had because that’s history. It’s about what I do when I get to an organization and they see that I’m willing to come in and learn right away and to get better.”

Rollins is an incredibly hard worker and a focused individual. It was a privilege talking with him and he had this to say in parting.

“I would just say that I’m blessed and fortunate enough to be in this position. Hopefully the journey is far from over. I’m definitely not trying to be some guy who came in and was gone with the wind. I want to play 10 years and be successful, hopefully be a household name in a couple of years. I have some more things to get better at and a long way to go, but I’m looking forward to the path and getting better every chance I get.”

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