Kizer Chats With Dan Patrick
Written by Alec Swain
This morning, DeShone Kizer joined the Dan Patrick Show just hours before the start of the 2017 NFL Draft. Kizer is one player who seems to be all over the place in mock drafts. With all the possible scenarios, Kizer could easily be a first-round pick, but could just as easily slip to the second or even third rounds.
Patrick was quick to ask DeShone about his schedule on Thursday and he acknowledged Kizer could have a long wait ahead of him.
“This has been an awesome process,” Kizer said. “It is an honor to be invited to Philly for the draft.”
With the obvious stress of the NFL Draft and where he might be picked, Patrick was curious if Kizer was given any advice heading into tonight.
“Enjoy the moment,” Kizer said. “The experience itself is absolutely amazing”.
It’s clear Kizer is trying to prevent the negatives and uncertainty of the night dictate this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Still, the tumultuous 2016 Notre Dame season and the inconsistency shown by Kizer has given some teams pause. Kizer also didn’t have his best day at the NFL Draft Combine, which leaves teams wondering if a high draft pick is worth the risk.
When Patrick brought up the 2016 season, the former Irish quarterback was quick to address the disappointment the team faced.
“We like to win those games in the fourth quarter and we didn’t,” said Kizer, who also mentioned Notre Dame was in a position to win seven of the eight games the Irish ended up losing.
However, he believes the experience of adversity will only make him better.
During the draft process, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made comments suggesting Kizer entered the draft prematurely. This made some people question the relationship between the two, something Patrick asked about.
Kizer said he “embraces those comments” and others while adding the two have an understanding.
“The decision had a lot to do with personal development,” he said with no sense of second-guessing his decision.
Kizer clearly knows what he wants.
“My goal is to win a Super Bowl,” he said.
He recently took some heat with remarks related to Super Bowls with his comments that seemed to be comparing himself as a blend of Tom Brady and Cam Newton.
Patrick offered Kizer the chance to explain those comments and Kizer was quick to explain.
“I hope to prepare my intellect with what Tom Brady does,” he said, adding he wants his body and athleticism to reflect Cam Newton.
“It came out as I am Tom Brady’s mind and I am Cam Newton’s body. That’s absolutely ridiculous.”
He acknowledged that people should have been laughing at that notion, because it’s so obviously false.
“Go look at any picture of me, everyone knows I don't have Cam Newton's body,” he chuckled, while admitting Brady would have done far better in his final year at Notre Dame than 4-8.
But Kizer believes if he can chase that combination, he should be able to one day achieve greatness.
Patrick ended the show asking Kizer if he has any idea where he would get draft tonight.
“No idea,” Kizer replied. “It’s not fun.”
Obviously, Kizer is anxious with the uncertainty of the draft tonight, but wherever he ends up, his goals are clear. The best situation for Kizer would probably be going to a team that could allow him to sit for a year or two behind a polished veteran to allow him to reach his full potential without being pressed into duty before he’s ready.