Kyle Quinn was a two-year starter for Arizona. Photo by Matt Kartozian-USA Today Sports
Kyle Quinn won’t be one of those guys waiting nervously by his phone during the last rounds of the NFL Draft.
Maybe the former Arizona Wildcats center will get drafted. Probably not. No matter. Even as an undrafted free agent, he’s very likely to land in an NFL camp later this spring, and that’s all he wants. For now.
“I felt I moved my stock up a little bit today,” Quinn said after completing a workout at Arizona’s Pro Day that was closed to the media.
“But I’m not really concerned with that. I’m just looking to make a roster spot. That’s my goal. I don’t care about draft day. I’m not going to be on the emotional rollercoaster, like so many athletes are. It’s all about getting in the NFL and making it through camp and making a team roster.
“The draft stuff is just the fancy stuff. That’s stuff for TV and entertainment.”
Quinn said he’s been working out seven to eight hours a day in Tucson after attending two postseason games — the Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game in Tucson and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Compton, Calif. He checked in at 288 pounds in the latter game, but said he’s put on about 10 pounds since then.
“I was almost 300 today, which I was very happy with,” Quinn said.
“I’ve had to eat about five meals a day, wake up at 10:30 and eat a peanut butter sandwich. A few minor adjustments, but I put the weight on in the right way.”
Quinn started most of the past two seasons at center for the Wildcats, save for four games when he was injured last season. He’s been learning the guard position, too, in the past couple of months to show the needed versatility for the NFL.
“You have to be ready to play all three interior positions,” he said, “and I’m more than capable of doing that.”
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