Indianapolis Colts rookie cornerback JuJu Brents spoke with the media following his first practice in the NFL after missing the first six days of training camp practices and all of the offseason program. (Video by Jake Arthur)
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00:00 >> So what is it like to finally get out here and practice?
00:03 >> It was great, it's been a real action to get out here for
00:06 my first actual practice as an NFL player.
00:09 It was a good day to get acclimated, get my feet underneath me,
00:11 to be out there and be able to compete with my guys.
00:13 So it was a good first day.
00:14 >> I know you're probably just, you're being precocious, you're trying to get ready.
00:17 I'm just curious, do you have people in your ear just being from here,
00:20 like when are you gonna practice?
00:21 Just people in the community?
00:23 >> Probably my mom the most.
00:25 [LAUGH] Just my biggest fans.
00:28 She's gonna make sure I'm all good and everything.
00:30 But it's been all love from everybody though, so
00:32 I'm trying to pay a whole lot of attention to all of it.
00:35 But once I do get out there and feel good, it's gonna be fun to see.
00:38 >> Did your wrist feel healed?
00:39 >> Yeah.
00:40 >> What did you do to hamstring?
00:42 >> That was something that happened a little bit during RTAs,
00:44 but it's gonna be all good.
00:46 >> What do you think is just the speed, as far as NFL practice,
00:48 how does it seem to be able to tick quicker with everything?
00:52 >> I would say it's a little bit, you gotta be a little bit more intentional with
00:55 pre-snapping, wearing these little things, just saying like that,
00:58 which will slow the game down for you.
01:01 But right now, just saying, just first day, just seeing speed wise,
01:04 I feel like I'm a pretty fast guy.
01:05 But it is a quicker tempo, so
01:08 just making sure you're reading your keys and being locked up fast.
01:10 >> You played football a long time.
01:12 Was this different because it was your first NFL practice session?
01:15 >> Football, football.
01:16 I mean, especially when you're a guy like me, you gotta have that confidence,
01:19 especially being a defensive back, keeping that chip on your shoulder.
01:21 Just went out there to compete, and that's the way I try to look at it.
01:24 Football is football, obviously, different stage now.
01:27 But just having that same mentality I got.
01:29 >> What were you gravitated towards just to kind of learn from a guy that
01:32 spends hours, I could go to this guy and ask him a bunch of questions?
01:35 >> Honestly, everybody, all the vets, even guys outside of my position group,
01:40 like Quentin Nelson, just seeing his work ethic,
01:42 the little things he's doing before practice.
01:44 He's being in the mood like a DB, it's just ridiculous.
01:47 So just picking his brain on why he's doing this.
01:49 Obviously, Kenny Moore in my room, just small things,
01:53 pre-snap awareness, what is he seeing?
01:55 And just taking care of your body, I know that's a big thing at the next level.
01:59 That's a good, you know, that.
02:01 >> We talked to you about this since you had drafted.
02:03 It's gonna be a young quarterback room.
02:05 Does it feel like it, or do you guys not worry about experience or lack of?
02:10 >> No, we just take it one day at a time.
02:11 Just come in here one day at a time, get 1% better every single day.
02:14 It's something that we try on our board.
02:16 So regardless of how old we are in our room, we all have that confidence in each
02:19 other, one another.
02:20 It don't matter who's gonna be out there, we're all competing for the best fatigue.
02:23 >> Gus says that you cannot play for Ron Myles unless he absolutely trusts you.
02:28 Without being out there yet,
02:29 what have you done kind of behind the scenes to earn that trust?
02:32 >> For me, just diving into the playbook,
02:34 making sure I'm taking care of the little things, just being intentional with my
02:38 guys, getting to know one another.
02:40 Obviously, I'm not being able to be out there on the field,
02:43 build that type of chronomy.
02:44 So in the locker room, getting to know everybody around me and just doing my job.
02:48 So right now, previously, it was just diving into that film room,
02:53 learning the playbook.
02:54 So once my time does come out here,
02:55 I don't have any new errors, things like that, just play fast.
02:58 >> You got a lot of family out there today?
03:00 >> Not today, I got some, I know I'm coming tomorrow.
03:03 Actually down in Alabama right now, I'm at a reunion, so they'll be back here soon.
03:07 >> So you got an excuse for coming here after summer?
03:09 You got a safe pass from Mr.
03:10 Harnon, all good?
03:11 >> [LAUGH] My mom did actually call me last night,
03:15 like everybody was getting over here, I wasn't there.
03:17 They understand, jobs and got handled things.
03:19 >> And I know that even though you weren't able to get those physical reps
03:23 throughout training camp up to this point, you've been able to get those mental reps.
03:27 So for you, what would you say are some of the biggest things that you've learned
03:29 over the past few weeks?
03:31 >> For sure, definitely, like a lot of people say,
03:33 some people say like 90% mental, 10% physical.
03:38 I would say for me, it's just obviously learning our playbook, and
03:41 then taking that next step forward, like making those plays happen before they even
03:45 happen, so just little things, little awareness,
03:47 it's just cut split by this extra receiver.
03:50 And I got cut split by number three to the field,
03:52 knowing I may be getting some type of crossing route.
03:55 So just little small things like that, so looking more into those things,
03:59 not just exactly what my job is.
04:02 >> Nervous at all about Quinton coming for your TV spot?
04:05 >> [LAUGH] >> He didn't even be nervous about me
04:08 coming to play some tackle or some good or something.
04:10 >> I see you at left guard, my boy.
04:11 >> Nah, it's gonna be a problem.
04:13 I ain't take no take that serious.
04:14 Quinton's a great dude, just talking to him, just learning about just
04:18 little things that he knows, small ways I can apply them to me, it's been great.
04:22 A lot of guys like that on the team, though, I'll be honest.
04:25 >> You made it back to Birdie since being over here.
04:27 >> Say that one more time?
04:28 >> I said you made it back to Birdie since being over here.
04:30 >> I have, I drove past it on my way coming up here for camping and everything.
04:35 I was like, I definitely gotta show some love, slide back through there at Birdie.
04:38 I got some good food or something.
04:39 >> [LAUGH] >> It's a crazy thing, though,
04:41 that that's where you were trying to find out which of the 32 teams you play for,
04:45 and now it's right behind it, it's the training camp?
04:47 >> No, definitely, I know, it seemed like it was just yesterday.
04:51 It moved fast, but yeah, just had the opportunity to be in my hometown,
04:54 share with my family, all those close ones here.
04:56 And then just right around the corner at Birdie, so it was a great feeling, but
05:00 that's behind me now, it's time to get to work.