On his connection with the Ravens during the pre-draft process: "I've always been a fan [of the Ravens]. Their defense has always been just a great defense to watch. They have dogs. You've got Kyle Hamilton, and then you just got Malaki Starks, which is someone who I've had a relationship with throughout the last couple of months. We've been working out at the same spot over in Tampa, so we've been competing against each other, making each other better and joking around, so we got close throughout there, so being able to come here with him and getting right back to it is really, really great."
On his impressions of new Ravens teammate S Malaki Starks and their connection: "For me, the connection we have already is just going after everything, just going at each other, learning about each other, the type of players we are, the type of attitude we come in with, so yes, I can't wait to see what it brings."
On what he's going to bring to Baltimore and what kind of player he is: "Yes, sir. You're going to get a dog. You're going to a guy who's willing to play whatever it is that's about winning, that doesn't care what it is. He has to lace up. You're going to get that type of player. You're going to get a dog with a chip on his shoulder. You're going to get a guy who's been through the longest journey, and you're going to get a guy who has fought through every type of adversity you can probably think of, a guy who's seen a lot of different perspectives and is grateful and humble, but at the same time willing to work and ready for that spot at any time. That's the type of guy you're getting."
On if he knows or has watched any of the current Ravens cornerbacks and what he's excited about working with them once he gets to Baltimore: "Honestly, for me, I'm grateful to be working with anybody who's in the NFL, guys who I'm going to be able to learn from. You guys have a tremendous group, [the Ravens have] always been known as a great defensive team, so I'm ready for whoever's willing to help me out, be a mentor in that room. That's all I'm ready for."
On his journey and leading to the moment he got drafted: "Just going from [a] JUCO to Indiana State to Western Michigan, all those flashbacks are definitely reminiscent around these times right now, especially just sitting down and watching it happen in front of me. It is a surreal, full-circle moment, as well, just seeing all this and then having my family here, seeing what I've been through, seeing the challenges I've overcame throughout football. Yes, it's definitely been real."
On what it means to go from the JUCO route to make it to the NFL: "Yes, the JUCO route is where you find out how much you really love football. It's a place where you just put your feet in the dirt and work every day, and if you don't really like football, you're probably gone before the end of the week. It showed me my purpose. It showed me how much purpose I really have. It showed me how much I'm willing to sacrifice, and I found my consistency there, so I'm grateful, for sure."
On how special it is to be drafted the day of his late brother's birthday: "Me and my brother got on the phone [today]. My brother plays basketball over in Australia, so we got on the phone. He told me there's no coincidence about this happening today, and we know that for a fact, and we're just so blessed that I was able to get picked on this day, and it's also my little brother's birthday, so knock two birds with one stone. That's another day to celebrate my brother's birthday. I was thinking about that all morning, honestly. That was more on my mind than a lot of things, so I'm really grateful, and I know he's watching above, just guiding all of us, so I'm appreciative for him."
On the challenges that he overcame in his life and how that has shaped you as a person: "Yes. A lot of challenges. Coming here first from Ivory Coast, I was born here, but I came back to the [United States]. I had to learn English. My first language was French, so picking up English, then going from my freshman year, my little brother passed away, and that's when the motive came [to me]. That's when the purpose came [to me] a little bit, and I had an idea of how great a person he was on his earth, but then that's when perspectives came in, and I grew up a little quicker than most guys had to. So, carrying that on to JUCO was kind of what willed me a little more than the other guys, that kept me around. And knowing that I had something that I wanted to make something out of, people that I wanted to make proud, [including] my little brother. And so, my brother and I always fought like that for him. We always put our best foot in front, not for us, but because of my little brother, and that's what we do every day. That's what my mom does every day, and we live through him, as well. So, going through that, going to JUCO, that's honestly when it started for me. But then in high school, I did end up moving out of my mom's place because we couldn't be together because of financial reasons. So, I moved in with some other people who really helped me out throughout the way, and I was grateful for that, as well. And so, a lot of perspectives have really helped me [up] until to this day, which I'm super grateful for."
On his recovery from the hyoid injury he suffered: "Yes, it was a crazy time. Honestly, [the injury] happened during the game when I was at Indiana State, but I didn't feel it until after the game was over and after, the game was over, I told [the training staff] I could barely breathe, and I could barely eat, so I stayed the night. I think we were in South Dakota, and I stayed the night there instead of flying back with the team, and they told me that I fractured something in my hyoid [bone], I think it was. That took me out for a month or so. But yes, I didn't finish the rest of that season. I could barely eat, so I was on a liquid diet, and it was not fun. I was missing my burgers, I was missing a lot of those types of things that I usually eat, but I bounced back quickly just because I wanted to heal, and I knew I needed to transfer. I needed to get to a new situation, so I bounced back pretty quick."
