RB Antonio Gibson Press Conference

RB Antonio Gibson

On whether he thought the Redskins were a possibility for him:

“I mean, I think I was clueless to everybody because I was just so far out there. I had a once-a-year production. It was good. I did good at the Combine, so I was getting a lot of interest for what I was capable of. It was all out there. I was getting a lot of phone calls, but it kind of shocked me when the Redskins called me.”

On how he views himself as a player and what he can bring to the Redskins:

“I view myself as a weapon. I’ve been playing running back and receiver my whole life. But not just that, I’ve been playing all over the ball. Offense is something that I’m very talented at. It’s always been like that since a young age, and I feel like I can dominate wherever they put me. So, you know, if they’ve got somebody in the backfield, I feel like I can help out at receiver. If they’ve got too many outside, I feel like I can hop back behind the center, behind the quarterback, and gunner – wherever you need help out there. Also, I could make a big impact on special teams, so I feel like I can be a weapon wherever. Just being that gadget guy – wherever they need me, I’m willing to go.”

On being compared to Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey:

“Definitely, I would definitely like to compare myself to him because he’s exactly like what I want to do. I want to be in the backfield, but also I want to play the game in the receiving game. I feel like he’s tremendous doing that, and that’s what I want to bring to the team. My ability to catch effectively and make plays happen and also be able to run and be able to protect the quarterback – just an all-around team player and an all-around back.”

On his pre-draft process:

“With the things I did, it was just all about being open-minded. You know, you had some teams – well, not even – but you had a few teams who wanted me to play receiver. It’s about being open. Wherever helps best for the team, that’s what I was going to do. If the Redskins want me to be a running back, I’m going to do it. If they want me at receiver, I’m going to do it. If they want me at special teams, I’m going to do it. So, it’s just all about being open-minded and being able to adapt, and that’s what I feel like I’m really good at.

On what his draft night was like considering the pandemic’s social distancing restrictions:

“It was interesting just having a select few people that are very important to me around. I think we had just under the limit – I think we had about nine people here. It still felt good. It would’ve felt good to walk across if I even went to the draft, but it felt good to me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I enjoyed it.”

On who was with him on draft night:

“Mom, sister, girlfriend, friends.”

On how he’s managed a unique pre-draft experience:

“Like I said, it’s the same thing with adapting, just being able to take things in and try to make them as easy as possible for me. I started getting phone calls from all over the place and none of them were really saying anything drafting me, so just being able to answer every call and if I didn’t then getting back to them quick, replying quick and being respectful. So, it was kind of stressful, but once I kind of got a hold on things, in a routine, it went pretty smooth.”

On where he feels he excels the most as a receiver or as a running back:

“As a receiver, I kind of like getting in space – you know, a post, a corner, anything like that, kind of taking the top off. For a running back – also the same thing, I like getting in space being able to make one person miss and getting vertical – so probably like a pitch or an outside zone. Those are some of my favorite things to do.”

On what he wants to improve on entering his rookie season:

“Just looking to get better wherever that is and wherever they need me at. And also, just looking to get myself on the roster. That’s the main goal for me. If that’s special teams where I get in first, then that’s what I’m going to do and what I’m going to focus on. If it’s helping out in the backfield, I feel like I can learn a lot from [RB] Adrian Peterson and also [RB Derrius] Guice. It’s looking really good for me, especially with the people in front of me.”