With the 30th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills addressed their edge rushing depth with the selection of University of Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau.
Shortly after being selected, Rousseau met with the Buffalo media for the first time as a NFL player. Rousseau wants Bills fans to know that he’s going bring it all from the get-go, and that he’s going to be the best player that he can be.
“I’m just a player that’s going to bring it all from Day 1,” Rousseau said in the early hours of Friday morning. “I’m ready to go out there and compete. I’m also someone that’s going to give high effort at all times. ... I’m going to be the best player I can be.”
Rousseau elected to not play during the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but two seasons ago, he made quite the impact for the Miami Hurricanes. Rousseau registered 15.5 sacks, 54 tackles, and two forced fumbles in 2019. As a result of his stellar season as a red-shirt freshman, he was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-ACC, and a Second-Team All American.
Rousseau said he used his time away from football wisely.
“I’ve been working at home, I didn’t really take any time off,” The 21-year-old said. “I feel like I’m going to be ready. I’m just ready to come in, prove that I’m there for a reason, and earn the respect of my teammates and my coaches.”
Rousseau revealed he has local ties to the city of Buffalo. His mother lived in Buffalo for a few years in the late 1990s, and his older brother was born here before he was born in South Florida. Having local ties, he knows all about the lore of the late '90s Bills.
“I know all about it. Jim Kelly, the whole nine yards. They also have the Miami connection too,” Rousseau said.
Rosseau joins a defensive ends group in Buffalo that includes Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, A.J. Epenesa, Darryl Johnson, and Efe Obada.
You can listen to Rousseau's conference call in its entirety below: