Mitch Trubisky Q&A
UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky met with the media Monday morning via teleconference to discuss his decision to forego his senior season with the Tar Heels and enter the NFL draft.
Here is the complete transcript of the teleconference:
Opening statement
I just want to start off thanking everyone, my teammates, my coaches, everyone at UNC for the opportunity to come there, and do what I did, a dream come true, to play at the University of North Carolina. I wouldn’t change one thing. And with that being said, I had to make the toughest decision of my life to go ahead and move forward and declare for the NFL draft. It is a dream come true in itself. So, I’m just grateful for this opportunity to not only be able to play at North Carolina but to be able to take the next step, and I’m just looking forward to the next chapter and I can’t wait to go to work.
On if his decision would have been different if he had more of an established supporting cast coming back
It might have, but honestly, it didn’t really play that much of a factor because I know we still have a lot of talent coming back at the University of North Carolina. This was more about me making a decision that was best for me and my family and my future going forward, and I just feel like the time right now, this is my opportunity to jump on this and really take the next leap to the NFL. So, I have all the faith in the world in the guys coming back, and if I came back I know we could have done great things, but I feel like this is my chance, so I’ve got to take it.
On the process in coming to the decision and what was the tipping point in helping him make this decision
After the Sun Bowl, I just really wanted to take a couple of days for myself and not think about anything, not think about the decision and just try and clear my mind and try to see where my heart’s at. My mom was kind of giving noise and she was like, ‘Alright, you’ve got to make a decision.’ So, I started talking to a lot of people – my high school coaches, my quarterbacks coach (from high school)… I talked to my coaches from UNC – Coach Fedora, Coach Heckendorf and Coach Kap. I talked to some of my best friends, whose opinions mean a lot to me. And I really did a lot of research on this: What my numbers are compared to other people, and I tried to take everything to the fact that I did a lot of research, did a lot of prayer and reflection, and after talking with Coach Haniac, my quarterbacks coach (from high school), I just really felt this was what I had to do and it felt right in my heart. If it didn’t feel right, no matter what the circumstance, I wasn’t going to do it. But, this is what it feels like what I have to do.
On if he went back and forth on this or did he just wait until after the bowl game to weigh everything
It was definitely back and forth pretty much the whole time up until the end when I just really felt strongly about and felt really good about making my decision. There would be some days where I would feel like I was leaving and I’d wake up the next day and be like, ‘Maybe I need to come back, I want to come back.’ But, it was back and forth and it was a tough decision because North Carolina is so close to my heart, and it’s going to be tough not being able to come back, but this is what I need to do for my career.
On if the staff had anyone outside of the program that has been in a similar situation before reach out to him to share their experiences and answer some questions
I was able to get in contact with some people. I don’t know if they’d want their names to be shared so I will just leave them out of it, but just like to say Thank You to those people who did allow me to talk to them and get information from them because they’ve been through similar circumstances. But I don’t want to name any names.
On the difference between getting to the NFL and having a long term career in the NFL and if he’s gotten enough reps and he’s ready to take on that next challenge or if his stock is as high as it’s going to get so he needs to go now
I think it’s critical that Coach Fedora and Coach Heck, they’ve done a great job of getting me prepared up until this point and helping me have the season I’ve had. And, even though I’ve only done it for one season, I’ve been prepared enough and am ready to take this next step.
On if it really was a situation where he couldn’t turn down the opportunity because his stock was as high as it was going to get
Just felt like thinking long term in my development, that’s something that definitely went into my thought process, and I thought the best way for me to take the next step as a quarterback to prepare, and if I want to have long term NFL career is to take this opportunity, jump right in, start to learn the NFL offenses and really take that next leap and grow. I knew I could have come back to North Carolina and they would have prepared me and gotten me ready for next year but I feel like since the opportunity is here the best opportunity for my career is to really take the next step and develop and get ready for the NFL this way.
On his plan now for preparing for the draft
I’m going to sign with Rep1 Sports and Bruce Tolner out in Irving, CA, and I’ll be training out here. My strength trainer is Ryan Flaherety and my quarterbacks coach is going to be Ryan Lindley, and I’ll be getting my work out in California, so I’m pretty excited about that.
On if he’s been told a couple of things to specifically work on before the draft
That’s something that we’re going to through in this process, but off the top of my head I would say continuing to work on foot work in the pocket and just preparing r NFL defenses and the terminology of the NFL scheme. I think jumping right into that will be huge for my development and just learn as much as I possibly can.
On when he finally came to this decision
Last Friday. I felt pretty good about it on Friday, talked it over with my family and they were all agreeing with the way I felt and it would be best for my career. I slept on it a couple of days and prayed about it and just yesterday I decided to talk to the coaches and make it official and move forward.
On if he got any new feedback from NFL people after the bowl game
I really didn’t get a lot more feedback after the bowl game from the NFL side of things and I don’t think much has changed. I just think I’m in a good spot right now with this opportunity that presents itself to take the next step. But I did talk to a lot of people who have either been in the NFL or have some type of experience I was able to get some feedback from, and that gave me even more confidence to let myself know that I’m ready for the this.
On if he’s hearing he will be the top overall pick
I’ve seen some things, but you know how it is when you hear stuff, some of it’s true, some of it’s false. I’m going to try and go as high as I possibly can. That’s the goal.
On if he didn’t have this decision looming if his performance in the Sun Bowl would have turned out any different
I’m not really sure, I don’t like to dwell on the past. I know if I would have gone back I would have done things the same way, but that’s just the way I live my life. But there were definitely some distractions in the way that I wish weren’t there for the Sun Bowl, but those are things I can’t control now, but I just have to move forward with it. I couldn’t thank my teammates enough for being there for me and I wouldn’t change the opportunity for anything.
On why he wasn’t able to beat out Marquise
That’s just something that Coach Fedora and his staff thought would be best for North Carolina at the time.
On what he accomplished at UNC and how he can apply that moving forward
I think experience-wise, I’ve had the experience of my life. I only started one year, but being a part of that team and program for four years is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I’ve developed as a quarterback and a person in so many ways, and I’m thankful for all the people and relationships I’ve built, and it’s a dream come true I left a pretty good legacy at UNC in my last year, statistically speaking, I had a pretty good season breaking some records and I hope people will remember and cherish the time I had here as much as I do.
On the QBs that remain at UNC that will battle to take over
Nathan, Chazz Logan and Manny Miles, they’re going to be just fine and I know Coach Heck is going to take care of those guys and they’re going to be ready to compete in the spring coming up. I texted them the other day and said, ‘Continue to keep our quarterback room tight’ because it’s a very special group. We call ourselves the Gun Club and it’s a very unique group, and I told them to compete every day and continue and push each other and hopefully the best guy will play for this team. And I’m going to be watching, I’m going to be back in Chapel Hill, I can’t wait to get back and see those guys. But, next man up, they’re going to be in good hands.