The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine has come to a close as the 326 prospects left their impressions on all 32 coaching and scouting departments in the league. Players flashed elite speed and showed off their athleticism on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf, but how they handled the media and the 15-minute team interviews may sometimes mean more than what was displayed on the field.
Here are some of the notable quotes from the top 2018 NFL Draft prospects.
OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame: "I want to dominate my opponents and take their will away to play the game by each play, and finishing them past the whistle. You have guys dominating the NFL right now in Aaron Donald, Geno Atkins, Fletcher Cox that have been working on interior guys. You need guys to stop them. I'm one of those guys."
RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State: "I don't care if I'm the first pick of the last pick. I'm going to come in and compete. ...I want to try and be the best in the one of the best (running backs/players) in the National Football League."
OG Will Hernandez, UTEP: "The best thing you can do as a lineman is open up holes for your running back and protect the quarterback like he's your own mother."
QB Josh Rosen, UCLA: "I went 16-0 in high school to 6-6. I think I've learned a lot more through the losses."
QB Josh Allen, Wyoming: "If you don't have the mindset that you're the best QB in the draft, you don't belong in this league."
QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma: "Whatever team I go to, I'm not going to settle for a backup job."
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QB Sam Darnold, USC**: "I'm not trying to change my throwing motion at all. I think I get the ball off pretty quick. There is kind of a wind-up, but I think I get it off quick and that's what matters."
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama: "I feel like whoever chooses me, I'm starting on that team. I'm not trying to sound bold or anything, I want to be the humble guy. But I feel like whoever chooses me, I'm coming in and starting, playing right away."
WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M: "(Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald) is a guy I try to emulate, especially off the field."
WR Courtland Sutton, SMU: "I'm a dominating presence and I want to be the guy defenses are always looking for on 3rd-and-five."
DE Bradley Chubb, N.C. State: "I try to take (Oakland Raiders defensive end) Khalil Mack and (Denver Broncos linebacker) Von Miller and put them into one person. Mack's the more powerful guy, probably the best long arm in the game right now. Miller's the speed, finesse guy. Just try to put both of those together, have some power moves, have some speed moves that I go to."
DT Vita Vea,Washington: "I feel like there's been a lot of hype built around me. A lot of rumors that have been leaked out. So just, go out there, do my job and live up to the expectations."
DE Harold Landry,Boston College: "There's no doubt in my mind I would've had double-digit sacks again if my ankle didn't get hurt. My confidence and my talent level have not slipped one bit."
DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA: "What motivates me is really when people say the wrong (school) name. You said 'UTEP.' I go to UTSA. That's a little bit of motivation, I've always got a chip on my shoulder."
DE Arden Key, LSU: "There were a lot of double-teams, a lot of slide protection, a lot of chip blocks, you name it. If they knew if Arden Key was on the field, they had to game plan for Arden Key."
LB Tremaine Edmunds,Virginia Tech : "Deep down in my heart, the NFL is something I've always wanted to do. I was given an opportunity and my inner gut was telling me that I was ready for it."
LB Roquan Smith, Georgia: "I relentlessly pursue. I believe in that. Just take advantage of every opportunity. Tomorrow is not promised. So, if this is my last play that I ever play, how do I want to go out? So, I treat every play like it's my last play and I bust my tail like I don't have a next play."
LB Leighton Vander Esch,Boise State: "You've gotta have a special talent to play eight-man football. You've gotta be a well-rounded player. …you've gotta be able to do everything. You gotta have dynamic players that can play everywhere."
LB Shaquem Griffin, UCF: "The reason I'm so excited to be able to prove so many people wrong is a lot of people see somebody who has one hand instead of two, and they think it's different or it doesn't make sense. ... At the end of the day, you have to show what you can do. You can't set limits on what you can do, whether you have two hands or 30 hands."
S Derwin James, Florida State: "Safety and slot corner (nickelback), those are the two positions most teams are talking about. They moved me around a lot (at FSU). I can do it all - I can play deep, I can play the tight end, I can play in the box, I can blitz, whatever you need."
CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama: "This weekend I can show people that I have the hips and feet of a corner, but I also have the IQ and tackling ability of a safety. I think that's really important to show coaches when I'm out there doing the drills."
CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State: "It's crazy. I just want to be that next guy to come out of Ohio State, to leave early and be that next first-round draft pick and produce in the league."
CB Josh Jackson, Iowa: "I'm a playmaker. Whatever team I go to they're going to be able to rely on me to be accountable. I'm a playmaker."
CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville: "I assure them that you're getting a versatile player, a guy who can lock everything down."
CB Mike Hughes, UCF: "I kind of use my quickness a lot and teams don't know that I'm strong. I use my quickness a lot to get up on guys and I can run with anybody."
