2017 NFL Draft interview: Central Missouri QB Garrett Fugate
By Matt Conner
You have a track background and great rushing numbers for a quarterback. You mentioned your confidence in your arm, but do you feel the same about your ability to run at the pro level?
You see the Combine times, and I think the fastest time for a quarterback this year was 4.55. I think I would have been right in that range if I was healthy. I don’t want to be a running quarterback in the NFL. I definitely think I can hurt teams with my arm, but being athletic and being able to throw on the run and move in the pocket and make plays when something breaks down is definitely one of the strongest assets to my game and that will translate to the NFL just fine.
Guys like Russell Wilson or Marcus Mariota will hurt teams a lot when something breaks down and they’re able to get a gain. Aaron Rodgers is so good at throwing on the run. I think my game will translate really well at the next level.
Can you tell us about the pro attention you’ve received so far? Are you hearing from multiple teams?
I’m doing a late pro day for us, where I’m just going to throw for teams that first week of April. Then I’ll go to the Chiefs local day on April 7th. I’m real excited about that. That will be a great opportunity for me to show them how my knee is progressing and my arm strength and accuracy and all that stuff.
I’ve talked to the Raiders and the Packers and the Eagles and the Chiefs. Those teams, right now, they’re just worried about my knee and whether or not I can get healthy. That’s the biggest thing, but that’s going great. My knee is coming along really well, and I’m ahead of schedule, so that won’t be a problem. Right now, I’m getting a little attention and I’m just going to go out and try to crush my pro day and do a good job at the local day and see where it goes from there.
One more question: how are you spending draft weekend?
[Laughs] I haven’t even thought about it. Probably with my friends and family. I’m just trying to focus on my pro day. That’s the next big thing and then I can take the next step. Right now, that’s the last thing on my mind. I’m just trying to get healthy right now.