Andre Price: Football is much more than simply a sport. The opportunities that come with it on and off the field have been life changing. Football has always been my escape from everything I’ve had going on at some point in life but when I step on the field it all goes out the window. The multiple life long friendships and relationships that come through football is another beauty in this sport. Football was my first passion so every single aspect of the game means something to me regardless of how big or small. I’ve grown as a person through what this sport has taught me and to football I’m forever indebted for that.
Tell us about your season this year?
Joe Gaiter: How did your season go this year?
Andre Price: Definitely not the way I projected my senior season to go at all but I experienced a lot of growth through it. I spent all day and night training with NFL Veteran wide receiver Marcus Nash over the summer. He took me under his wing and complete revamped my game making me into a bigger, faster, stronger and most importantly smarter player. I felt great about my overall game coming into camp and it showed at every practice. The wake up call came when I found out due to a coaching change we had late in the year we lost a majority of our players and transfer recruits that we were looking forward on making a difference for us. So heading into camp we had 65 freshmen on a roster of roughly 75-80 players. So with having 3, 4, 5 freshman on the offensive line took a toil on us a bit but I’m thankful that they stuck with us throughout the season for the ones that did. Due to some set backs we had we couldn’t really run all the plays we intended on to get our playmakers the ball and be explosive on offense. Also with going through injuries and other things of that nature we had multiple quarterback changes, we started 3 different quarterbacks during the year. Despite all the trials I had going against me I still finished 2nd in the conference in receiving yards with 825 on just 48 catches averaging 17.2 yards a catch with 5 touchdowns on the season. I was also named 2nd Team HBCU All American and a 1st Team All Region Receiver. One thing I can be happy about the season is the relationship that grew between me and my offensive coordinator Coach Marc Saldana, he stuck with me throughout every trial of the season and never gave up on me or doubted anything about me for even a second. And a great personal coach to player relationship came with that that went on to me having a relationship with his family as well, he’s one of those coaches that have a genuine love for his players that will always be deeper than football and for that I couldn’t thank him enough.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you ready for the NFL?
Andre Price I still have some things I want out of myself before I get into training camp with who ever I’m blessed with the opportunity to play for. But above all I believe my knowledge of the game and my approach to the game is what makes me ready for the next level. I’ve put countless hours into learning the game, watching the greats, and building into my own personal craft to make me feel ready for the next level. Thanks to my time with Marcus I’ve come to understand what I would have to do and who I would have to be to be able to earn a opportunity and stay in the league, at this point it’s all about proving it now.
Joe Gaiter: Who would you compare your football skills to that currently play in the NFL?
Andre Price: Jermaine Kearse or Alshone Jeffery, from body type to skill set! They both have the ability to make tough plays on the ball, Jermaine because he is able to run the full route tree, and my size allows me to use my body to make plays in traffic and my attitude and hard work carries over on the field with run after the catch! I refuse to be tackled and attack EVERY yard I possibly can. Alshone because even though he isn’t fast he is a very dangerous deep threat because of his ability to play the deep ball with body control and attitude
Joe Gaiter: Who is your agent and why did you chose them?
Andre Price: I’m signed under Braynard “Bobby” Brown over at Brown Brothers Management. I had many opportunities with multiple other agents that came my way. But what stood out to me about them is that a majority of the people on the staff I would be working with have played receiver and Bobby played in the league for a good amount of time. So to have another receiver see something in me to try and press to get me a chance meant something. Also the fact that I felt they would take care of me in whatever aspect, their known for creating opportunities for their clients outside of football for when your days playing are over. They were the most consistent with showing interest in me and kept everything honest in the process. I honestly feel like they’re here for my best interest plus the relationships they have with every client they’ve signed stuck out to me. This is more than just simply a business I joined a family.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets over your college career?
Andre Price: Every pass that’s ever gone my way that went incomplete.
Joe Gaiter: Describe yourself in 3 words.
Andre Price: In the field of play I’d describe myself to be physical, aggressive, and composed.
Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation for playing the game?
Andre Price: What could come from it if I was to make it to the next level. How many of my loved ones lives I could change by going out and playing a sport. Thoughts of my mother still stressing over her jobs that she’s been talking about all my life are what keep me going through workouts for those extra reps and those extra sets. Outside of being able to have football provide for my family and I another motivation is that I had this taken away from me at one point in time. That brought out a new hunger in me to want to be great at it. Finally my motivation is all the ones pushing for me back home, coming from the situations I was in and what I had to face it’s making a lot of people proud that I’m still playing and have become an impact player for an offense. To some people back home my story has influenced them to get involved in what their passion is and find a positive route away from all the negatives in the environment.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about the bond you have with your teammates?
Andre Price: Most importantly between my receiver core and I it was nothing but love. If anything I knew every single one of my brothers in that core had my back no matter what and it showed in every game. Good play or bad play they were all there to keep me going. We all had a great amount of respect for each other and that takes chemistry within the offense to a new level. One thing I can happily say about us is that there was never any hate coming from any one of us, play calling and who we tried getting the ball to in game time situations were never questioned instead they were backed. The chemistry reflected in how well we blocked for each other and ran routes for each other to get open. My relationship with the receiver core is something that will last a lifetime.
Joe Gaiter: If you could go back to your freshman year, what would you do differently?
Andre Price: Not switch junior colleges after I had got myself established in a system. I decided to leave in the spring to an opportunity in San Diego to play for a QB that threw for 4 thousand yards as a freshman unfortunately when I got there he was deemed ineligible. I left a good opportunity that I was already established in for a opportunity that wasn’t certain. But I learned and grew from it.
Joe Gaiter: How important is community service to you once you make the team?
Andre Price: To me, it’s the best option for team bonding. Definitely something I believe to be beneficial in many ways to a team and the community involved. I’ve partnered in many community service events for the team and the conference and for some people it just brightens their day to see someone giving back. Especially with the young ones, seeing the kids eyes light up for being out and around with them is what make those events for me. It’s a great way to get some good time in with your teammates and catch a vibe with the people you’ll be playing with over the next season. The beauty in giving back in my eyes has always been the influence and memories you live with the people you give back to. Especially if you’re well known, I’ve had a couple times where I was noticed and a couple kids told me I was their favorite player. So when I was able to give back to them and leave a good mark gives me something I can appreciate outside of football.
Joe Gaiter: What separates you from other athletes that play your same position?
Andre Price: I play more big and aggressive, and I try to be involve on every single play especially the runs. I feel like my effort for blocking in the run game is something that’ll really separate me from a lot of their receivers. Also that I never give up with my play. Regardless of what the scoreboard says you’re going to get 100% of me every play.
Joe Gaiter: What has your biggest accomplishment?
Andre Price: My career in itself. I’ve been in many programs where I meant nothing to the team, got cut from teams, had scholarship offers pulled, and for a while just had the whole sport of football taken away from me but when I finally got it back I came with an entirely new attitude and appreciated every single second of it. Regardless of where I’m playing at and who I’m playing for I’m still out playing. There are many players that were ahead of me and more invested in than I was as I was sort of just left to the side that are now just sitting at home without the chance. I’ve put in so much work over my entire collegiate career when I didn’t even know what team I’d be playing for or if I would even be playing. But I kept my faith and kept praying for it and was presented with an opportunity. And from all the negatives I had against me in the past I became an All American, an All Region selection, been invited to multiple bowl games, have my name all up and down my schools record books with top 2-5 records in just two years of playing and now became an NFL prospect. So just the progress I’ve made as a player and a person through football is something I’m proud to honor.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have a backup plan if you don’t make it to the NFL?
Andre Price: Up until early this year I didn’t really have a backup plan, 100% of my focus on the daily agenda was towards football. But thanks to a dear friend of mine she’s influenced me to find who I am outside of football and since then I’ve been getting myself in to many different avenues outside of football over the last month alone. If I was to be denied an opportunity at the next level my first option would be to begin working towards my Nursing degree at Lincoln in the fall which I should earn within the following 2 years and get me into a pediatric nursing career. As of now I will be graduating from Lincoln in May with a degree in Health Science and I earned my associates degree in Social and Behavioral science from my junior college so the BS in Nursing would make my 3rd degree. I’ve also had a couple of opportunities open up for me to coach at a few different high school and college programs. Currently I’m assisting Lincoln’s Women’s Basketball program and I’ve loved every second of it and it’s also given me my first hands on experience in coaching which has inspired me to fall back onto the coaching route for when my time on the field is done. My third option is to pursue a career as a dental hygienist in which I’ve already been accepted into a few programs for already. I still have a couple of months to try and expound myself to many other opportunities while I can but having the few backup plans I have are keeping me calm and focused on a career if the NFL was to not work out.
Joe Gaiter: When is your proday?
Andre Price: That’s still being worked out between my school and my agents. Nothing official as of now. A couple of different options but we haven’t locked in anything.
Joe Gaiter: Where and how often are you training?
Andre Price: I’m training at Alpha Training Facility right now in Delaware. I’m with them once every day. Outside of them I’m using the people around me for assistance, track coaches at Lincoln, our athletic training staff, and the facilities provided at the school to get my own individual work in outside of my work at Alpha.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Andre Price: I want to do things my way, kind of bring my own style to the game. I’ve never been the one to like comparisons or anything like that so I want to be the model for someone to aim for. I’ve never thought of I could be the next this or that when I’ve been coming up. Like the next Randy Moss, the next Marvin Harrison, the next Julio Jones, they’ve already made it their story is either already wrote or being written. My mindset has always been I could be the first Andre Price.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words and Shoutouts?
Andre Price: ALL GLORY TO GOD
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NFL Draft Preview: Lincoln University’s Andre Price Interview with Joe Gaiter was last modified: January 28th, 2018 by Joseph Gaiter
