By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK–The hype surrounding Lions rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay has continued to grow with each passing day of this year’s training camp. And after the third-round draft pick out of Northern Illinois scored two touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts in his first preseason game, it has now reached newfound heights.
Golladay, 23, is aware that the hype exists, but he chooses to ignore it, he says.
“Really, I’m just blocking all that out to be honest,” he said after practice on Thursday. “That was one game, you know? We got three more preseason games left and then a whole regular season. I’m just trying to get better every day. Like I said, that was one game.”
ESPN Fantasy Football guru Matthew Berry mentioned Golladay on “The Fantasy Football Show” on Wednesday, discussing the rookie’s average draft position and giving advice on where he should be drafted. This was brought to Golladay’s attention and his answer gave proof to what he said about blocking things out.”
“I don’t even know who Matthew Berry is,” he said, which drew laughter among reporters.
As to why he blocks out the hype, Golladay says that’s “the type of person” he is.
“I’m a guy that’s just pretty much flew under the radar all my life,” he said. “And then, a guy who you haven’t heard of starts making plays, of course, you are going to create some buzz. Like I said, I’ve been doing it my whole life, so I know in my mindset that’s nothing. Confidence in myself is extremely high.”
Golladay’s path to the NFL wasn’t an easy one. After playing his first two seasons at North Dakota he made his own highlight video, and with the help of his old St. Rita High School coach in Chicago, shopped it around to different schools before transferring to Northern Illinois in 2014. On those days, he said he “took it as a challenge” rather than getting mad and frustrated about the path he was on.
The Lions rookie wide out was asked if he had a private moment of reflection after scoring a touchdown in his first preseason game, which he quickly dismissed.
“I really didn’t feel like, ‘Man, let me take time out and say, man I really made it.’ Not like that,” he explained. “I just thought, ‘On to the next play.’ I was happy to put the first points up for my team, but I didn’t feel like I’m the big man or anything like that.”
“I think he came out and showed the world what he’s capable of,” Said Golden Tate, assessing Golladay’s performance against the Colts. “I think he set a very high standard for himself. And now that’s the standard. That’s how he needs to show up and play every single game and he needs to get a little bit better each game.
“Expectations are high for him. He’s a young guy that’s making plays quickly and showing that he can help us right away. I was pleased with his effort. I was pleased with his blocking. I was pleased with his body control, his catching, obviously. Now let’s just see what can we expect from him this week.”
The Lions play the Jets at Ford Field tonight in their second preseason game, and all eyes will be on Gollday–who as started to earn reps with the starting offense this past week–once more.
“When I was in Seattle, [former wide receivers] coach Kip [Kippy Bown] always says you should have the most progress between preseason [game] one and preseason [Game ] two,” said Tate. “So, I’m expecting big things. He’s already set a high standard.”
Golladay, though, has much simpler goals.
“Well, first it starts off with practice and doing my job,” he said. “That’s all I’m looking forward to.”
While Tate is very high on his new teammate and thinks he will make an immediate impact on the Lions’ offense, the veteran wide out gavea reminder that Gollday is still a rookie in the NFL.
“I mean, he hasn’t even played a [regular season] game yet. I wouldn’t say he has it figured out. I think he’s well on his way. I think if he keeps the drive that he has, the confidence that he has, and stays healthy he can be a dominant player in this league for a long time. He has great hands that are always getting better. He’s being coached critically by me, coach [Rob] Prince, Jim Bob [Cooter], Matt [Stafford], [Brad] Kaaya, [Jake] Rudock. So if he just keeps showing up, he’s going to be good.”