New York Jets' Rookie Minicamp Day 1 Quotes

Comments from four of Gang Green's draft picks who took the podium Friday

Camp is in session. 

The New York Jets opened their post-draft rookie minicamp on Friday in Florham Park and the team's first four 2023 draft picks all spoke to reporters from the podium.

Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald, Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann, Pitt left tackle Carter Warren and Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda all addressed the media at their new home.

A number of topics were tackled, including the players' draft experience and their roles moving forward.

Here are some snippets of the players' comments:

99 - DE WILL McDONALD (Round 1, No. 15 overall)

“I’ve been getting the right amount of sleep. I usually try to get to bed before 10 [pm]. Eating the right foods, waking up, doing what I got to do to keep my body healthy. I’m old. I gotta get my sleep so I can perform right.”

“I actually learned it [spin move] from Maxx Crosby. I started watching his film like my sophomore to junior year in college and just like replicated him. Von Miller, Aaron Donald, interior dudes, just learning from a lot of people. That’s how I came up with some of my moves.”

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66 - C JOE TIPPMANN (Round 2, No. 43 overall)

"Being at Wisconsin, there’s just a tradition of kind of excellence. It’s nothing that’s really ever stated, but you walk into the O-line room and you can just feel it. A group of tough, nasty individuals that are all working towards the same goal."

“Its a great experience just being able to finally dive in, fully into a playbook. It’s something that, over these past three months, that I just wanted to finally find myself in an offense and it’s just a great feeling to finally be in one."

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67 - OT CARTER WARREN (Round 4, No. 120 overall)

"The last week was a rollercoaster, just watching the draft. Just waiting to hear my name called. A lot of emotion going through it, but as soon as I got that call, I’ll just tell you what, tears rolling down my eyes. All that hard work and dedication I put in through the years, being injured, it’s finally paying off."

"I thought about coming out [for the Draft after 2021 season], but a lot of people, they thought I’d be a late-round draft pick so I wanted to come back and develop my game. … It was my run game, that was like number one coming up on the film. Me doing a better job finishing blocks."

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25 - RB ISRAEL ABANIKANDA (Round 5, No. 143 overall)

“Its definitely amazing, coming from [Nigeria] where they [Abanikanda's parents] came from. They moved over to the States for a better life, and for them to see this happening, they did it for a reason. So it means a lot to them, it means a lot to me."

"The reason why I came out early, ever since I was young, I always played against older kids, older players. I felt like this past year, the game started slowing down in a way. So, I felt like for me to be a man on and off the field, I need to better advance myself."

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