Talking EA Sports and the NFL with Denard Robinson

My phone rang at 11:53 this morning, and none other than Denard Robinson was on the other end. Here's what we talked about in the few short minutes that he was available.

Did you play the EA Sports NCAA Football games growing up?

Yea, my family and I always played. Me and my brothers would always play growing up.

Did you ever create yourself in the game?

Of course I did! I'd put everything up to 99 and made sure that I was the best player in the game.

When did it dawn on you that you were actually famous enough to be on the cover someday?

It actually happened when I found out that I could be on the cover. My marketing agent called me and told me I had a chance to be on the cover and that I needed to keep pushing. I was like, what?! I sat down, I was going crazy. I'm just like, are you serious? That's something that you dream about, so I thought he was playing around. I just want to thank all of the fans that voted! Make sure to pre-order the game!

What was your favorite moment as a Michigan Wolverine?

It hasn't happened yet; I think graduation will be my favorite moment. If you ask me football-wise I'll answer it, but you already know the answer.

What is your favorite moment football-wise?

Come on! You went to the under the lights game! It was crazy. It was one of the biggest games I've ever played in. The Big House, seeing all of the fans, it was great. I can't put into words just how electrifying that game was.

How would you grade your combine and pro day performances? Also, what's the fastest forty-yard dash you can ever recall running?

The fastest forty-yard dash I've ever run is a four-two-something. I think I did pretty well at the combine and pro day. I just want to work on my craft and continue to get better now. That's about it.

Which NFL teams have you been in contact with so far?

No one really sticks out. All of them talk to you and contact you.

Will you tie your shoes on Sundays?

Do you think I should? I don't think I should. I've been doing it all my life.

Well I know you tied your shoes at the combine, and it's your career, so I don't know if you can mess around with untied shoes.

I know! That was the first time I ever tied them up. I don't know if I like that. My feet didn't take love to that.

Is there an NFL player that you're going to emulate on Sundays?

To be honest with you, I just want to be myself. I want to be myself, but I can play like Randall Cobb and Randle El.

Have you been in contact with any of those guys to talk about the transition from quarterback to wide receiver?

No I haven't talked to any of them yet. Eventually I'll reach out to them to see how they did things. How everything transitioned and all of that stuff.

Is there a specific team you always dreamed to play for in the NFL?

No, not really. I grew up watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but I never had a want to play for them.

How long does it take for a Florida boy to get used to Michigan weather?

It took me some time to get used to it. To this day I'm probably still not used to it, but who can get used to it? You've just got to dress in layers and make sure you stay warm.

What was your favorite class here at Michigan?

My favorite class, I think it was SOC 240-something. It talked about relationships and the economy. It stuck out to me because I learned a lot about people and relationships, and how the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. We learned about how we can even things out.

Which team did you play with growing up in NCAAF?

Right now I'd say Michigan. Growing up? Actually I still think I played with Michigan. They were always good!

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I've met Denard a handful of times on campus, so it was no surprise to me that he was so gracious over the phone. Here's to hoping that Shoelace runs through NFL defenses like he ran through the Big Ten.