I recently had the chance to interview UCLA OT Bryce Bohlander. Bryce has the talent to be a mid to late round NFL pick. In this interview he talks about Michigan, Kenny King, and many other things.
1. What was high school football like for you?
Playing high school football for McNary in Salem, Oregon was a great experience for me. I played very successful teams, as seen in the fact that over 4 years of football I only lost 4 games, while winning a state championship my junior year in 1997. It was also a great learning experience being able to play for coach Tom Smythe who coaches the Vienna Vikings in Austria, as it enabled me to become oriented to a pro-style offense
2. What other schools recruited you, and what school was your second choice?
I was heavily recruited by most PAC-10 schools, and some schools in the Midwest, such as Michigan and Purdue. My second choice ended up being Oregon, although the University of Washington was not far behind
3. What is it like playing for coach Toledo?
Playing for coach Toledo has been a blessing in my opinion. He has been like a father to me and has been interested in every facet of my life. As many college football fans may know, coach Toledo is known for having high-powered offenses, and I find it very enjoyable playing for him being an offensive lineman. With an offense aimed at putting a lot of points on the board, as well as the occasional trick play, coach Toledo has set the stage for exciting games, often resulting in more exposure for his players.
4. What do you bench press?
380 LBS.
5. Who was the best player you went up against last year?
Although I did not up against anyone like Andre Carter from Cal this year, I did face many good players. It is hard to say who the best person I played against this year was, Kenny King from Alabama played very well against us in the season opener.
6. What is it like playing in the Rose Bowl, for all your home games?
Playing at the Rose Bowl is an exciting experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. With 90,000+ fans cheering us on a given game can really work to our advantage in gaining and keeping momentum. The history behind the Rose Bowl also makes it exciting to play in. With it being the sight for the PAC-10 and Big-10 champions to play their bowl game (before the BCS was implemented, this game has yielded a National Champion many times) it is a stadium that many teams set their goals to play there come bowl season. Although our goal is always to play in the Rose Bowl as the PAC-10 champions at the end of the year, we are privileged to be able to call the Rose Bowl as UCLA's home stadium
7. Do you plan on playing in any All-Star games after the season?
Yes, at this point in time I plan on playing in the East West Shrine Game.
8. Should you be a top 100 NFL draft pick, and why or why not?
I believe that I should be a top 100 draft pick. Since I did not have the luxury of red-shirting, I have just recently begun showing the potential that I possess. Because of this, I believe that my upside is tremendous. I have a good work ethic, I am very determined, and perhaps most importantly I have great character, and I will be able to contribute to the team that drafts me.
9. What NFL team do you want to play for?
I would love to play for any NFL team, but playing for the Seahawks would be great since I am from the northwest and my family would be able to attend more of my games.
10. What are your strengths as a player?
I have a high motor and don't take plays off. I am athletic which helps me keep the pocket wide in passing situations, and I get good push off of the line of scrimmage, which helps, in opening holes for the runningback.
11. What are your weaknesses as a player, and how are you working to improve these weaknesses?
One weakness is that I can get high on pass protection at times, which takes away from my strength as a player and can put me in vulnerable positions. I am working on this by getting pass set-ups with teammates on a regular basis this summer, as well as hitting the Rae Crowther Cruncher. At the end of games I can get high at times on run plays, which also takes away field strength. To help with lower pad level, I use harnesses for resistance with a partner, as it helps to engrain movements while keeping low pad level.
12. Are you on track to graduate on time?
Yes, I will actually graduate early. After fall quarter of my 4th and final season I will have obtained my degree in political science with a minor in public policy. This will enable me to focus on training for the combine in March and not worry about having to attend classes.
13. Have you stayed out of trouble off the field, if not please explain what happened?
Yes, I have stayed out of trouble off the field.
I would like to thanks Casey one last time.
