DL DaQUAN JONES
(on if this is about where he thought he would get drafted)
Honestly, I had no idea. Anywhere from late second to early third or even on Saturday. I had no idea where I would go.
(on what his strengths are)
I'm going to come in there and bring some toughness. I am physical at the point of attack and can help stop the run. I just want to come in there and compete and have fun with the guys and try to bring the team closer to a championship
(on if he is more comfortable in a three or four man front)
The last three years at Penn State I played 3-4 and 4-3 the whole season. I'm comfortable playing the nose or the end or the three-technique. Whatever they want me to play; I'm comfortable at that position. It doesn't really matter to me.
(on how difficult it is to know what the ideal weight for a defensive lineman is)
It's kind of difficult because you don't want to be too heavy where you are just a nose guard and you don't want to be too light where you go inside and get pushed around. You need to find that ideal weight and that's something that you get during training camp. You play and you work hard and you see where you feel comfortable weight wise. I think you find out the more you play and the scheme you are in, the more you play the better you feel comfortable and what you need to do to your body.
(on what his weight was for games last season)
320 to 315.
(on if him losing weight from his junior year was a help)
Yes, it was. My junior year I played more at 325. It was a big difference for me early on because I felt lighter and felt quicker in my movement. I felt a little more power in my get-offs so it helped me out.
(on him playing against Taylor Lewan and now being teammates)
It's going to be fun. Two Big Ten guys going to Tennessee and getting the chance to help their team win. I think it's going to be fun to really get to know him and play him some and really get to know him and hang out and see who each other really are.
(on how he would describe Taylor Lewan as a player)
We went at each other and we played each other last year pretty good. He is a big athletic guy and very athletic for his size and very nasty and a tenacious player. He is an overall great offensive tackle, so he will be good.
(on his mixed martial arts training)
I have been doing that since I came back from the combine. I think what that is going to help me with is my hand speed and being able to try to catch up to these veterans who have been doing it for years. I just want to work on my fundamentals, so when I do come in for camp I won't be far behind.
(on what other teams showed a lot of interest in him)
I flew to a couple of teams. Minnesota flew me in but there was never a team that I knew I was going there or had a feel for anything, so I was kind of in the dark.
(on if he came to Tennessee in the draft process)
No I didn't not. I visited Minnesota and San Diego and did not visit Tennessee.
(on what he knows about Tennessee's defense)
Not much. I grew up on the east coast and all we watched were Giants and Eagles games.
(on if he is disappointed by not being drafted by the Eagles)
No, I'm not disappointed at all. I'm glad that Tennessee picked me and I'm ready to go in there and put my head down and go to work.
(on if he knows anyone else on the Titans)
No, I do not sir.
(on if he is glad that he stayed at Penn State)
I'm glad that I stayed because I had the best four years of my life. To be able to be coached by Coach (Larry) Johnson was a blessing and I enjoyed every second of it. At the same time, we still had a great team there and a great core value of players and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm happy I stayed.
(on if he has met James Franklin and his thoughts about him as the new coach)
Yeah I met him a couple of times and I think he is going to be a great fit there. He is very energetic and he loves the guys and the guys love him and the practices are very fun to be around. I think it's going to be good.
(on getting to play against his old coach Bill O'Brien)
Oh yeah, that will be fun to go against him and play against the former staff. I think that will be pretty fun and exciting.
