0:04

El Huddle is a production of the NFL

0:06

in partnership with iHeartRadio.

0:15

Oh look at dal What is good?

0:17

Everybody?

0:17

Hope you're all doing well? This

0:20

is the l Huddle Podcast.

0:23

My name is Will Saba, Along time, my

0:25

Ermana, my Brima, Brima Ermana,

0:27

Mjakta Ruiz and

0:31

MJ. This is the season

0:33

now where we are meeting future

0:37

prospects, future stars potentially

0:39

here on the l Hudle Podcast. Love

0:42

this season, love this time of year,

0:44

and we are gonna love our next

0:46

guest. This guy is an absolute stud.

0:48

He was a running back at Louisville

0:51

and the man had I popping

0:54

numbers at the combine in Indianapolis.

0:56

How about this four three

0:59

three in the four yard dash? Come

1:01

on, that's not enough to impress

1:03

you. How about a vertical up of forty

1:05

one and a half inches?

1:07

Yes, let's give it up.

1:09

The one, the only running back,

1:11

Isaac Gerendo. Let's

1:13

go, what's

1:17

up Isaac?

1:18

How are you guys doing?

1:20

Oh we're great, Yeah, a lot better

1:22

now that we have you.

1:24

And I appreciate you guys having me on for

1:26

sure.

1:27

Yeah, absolutely, So what has

1:29

your time been spent

1:32

right now? After you

1:34

did that impressive performance in Indianapolis.

1:38

So for me, you know, after that especially,

1:41

you know, just talking over with my agent and everything,

1:43

just kind of just

1:46

giving myself a little little mental

1:48

and physical break.

1:49

You know.

1:49

That that all two months, two and a half months,

1:52

you know period you talk about you know, training

1:54

and then you know, going.

1:55

To a to an All Star Game,

1:57

and then you know, obviously the Combine on top

1:59

of that. You know, it was

2:01

it was a pretty hectic two months.

2:03

But you know, I mean there was a lot of people that

2:05

were kind of stressed, but I just I just try to

2:07

embrace all of it, you know, take it all in.

2:09

You know.

2:10

You know, one thing I've heard and I've learned

2:12

a lot through this process is like you only get

2:14

to do it once, so you know, just just

2:16

staying in the moment, you know, and join

2:18

everything, and you know, just really understanding

2:21

that, you know, not everybody gets this opportunity,

2:24

so really just trying to trying to embrace

2:26

that and you know, just really cherish

2:28

it, honestly, Isaac.

2:31

Okay, We've had former players come on

2:33

here a ton talk about the combine,

2:35

their experiences of the Combine, and every

2:38

time we talk about the next

2:40

generation, the new guys coming through, it's always

2:42

the same, the same

2:45

markers, right, like you guys were just built

2:47

different. I feel like the new standard of the forty

2:50

is four sub four four four

2:52

three and below that right where

2:55

years ago that was like, oh my god,

2:57

this is the fastest man on the planet. Like, you guys

2:59

really are setting the new standard

3:02

for the NFL. What

3:04

do you think think about the collegiate experience

3:06

now has shifted or evolved

3:09

that makes you guys these hybrid crazy

3:12

fast yet super strong athletes.

3:16

Honestly, you know, I think it's a combination of a

3:18

lot of things. But you know, I think most importantly

3:21

just you know, just understanding

3:24

like training and you know, continuing to

3:27

to to build and develop

3:29

as far as you know, recovery and stuff goes.

3:31

So it's like as we continue to learn

3:34

more, you know, about our bodies and then about

3:36

training and kind of you know, what things work best,

3:39

you know, I think, you know, that's kind of when

3:41

when we're able to continue to make

3:43

progress and make jumps and strides

3:46

and as far as you know, improving times,

3:48

improving jumps and stuff like that.

3:52

Uh.

3:52

One thing, Isaac is we've had guests

3:54

come on talk about their combine experience

3:57

about how the nerves really

4:00

got to them the day of or

4:02

the night before. How were

4:05

you feeling heading

4:07

into the day when

4:10

you had those amazing numbers recorded.

4:13

Uh yeah, So for me, you know, fortunately

4:16

I was able to you know, obviously,

4:19

you talk about playing you know, at

4:21

a high level, you know, playing college

4:23

football, you know, you're kind

4:25

of in that environment.

4:26

But but for me, it was you.

4:28

Know, I felt like I had been there before, you

4:30

know, being being a track guy. You know, you

4:33

know there's not as many people on the

4:35

track, you know, when you're when you're running, you know, versus

4:38

on the football field. So you know, feeling

4:40

that I have been in that position

4:42

before, you know, I really just tried to kind

4:45

of just stay stay in the moment and stay

4:47

locked in, and you know, I think that

4:49

allowed me to be you know, just

4:51

kind of stress free in that situation.

4:53

So you know, I really just kind of

4:55

blocked everything out. You know, obviously with the combine.

4:58

Now, like

5:00

I went in twenty eighteen in

5:02

high school, and you know, they're was probably

5:05

you know, there's a few people scattered here and there,

5:07

but you know, now like a lot

5:10

of people actually go to.

5:11

The combine, so you know there was a lot.

5:13

More people, but you know,

5:16

just really just like staying in the moment, you know, taking

5:18

taking deep breaths, but you know, also understanding

5:21

I've been in similar situations, so

5:24

you know, it wasn't very new to me.

5:26

You mentioned something earlier that really really

5:30

caught my attention because I think it's

5:32

it's such tremendous.

5:34

Foresight for you to have.

5:36

You said you took a much needed both

5:38

physical and mental break, and

5:40

I think having both of those components

5:42

as as a as a point of priority for you

5:45

just speaks to not just who you are as an

5:47

athlete, who you are as a man, but really

5:49

understanding that both of those things

5:52

have to be in alignment. Why was that so important

5:54

for you?

5:56

You know, I think you know, just entering college

5:59

football, that's that's something

6:01

that you know, as obviously

6:03

being an older guy.

6:04

Somebody who's been been through it, you know, just

6:06

you know, been through a lot of adversity. You know, just

6:09

understanding that you know, this

6:11

this game is definitely more than more than

6:13

physical.

6:14

You know, you have to look at the the.

6:15

Mental aspect of things, and you

6:18

know, just kind of kind of balance it too, because

6:21

uh, you know, it's really important. You know,

6:23

if you if your mental is not there, you know, you're not

6:25

going to be able to perform physically. And

6:27

I don't think people give enough credit to to

6:30

how mental this game can be.

6:31

You know, just talk about you.

6:33

Know, the amount of time and effort

6:35

that you have to invest

6:37

in the game.

6:39

You know, it can be a lot a lot of it sometimes.

6:41

You know, there's there's several different things that people

6:44

people struggle with, whether that's you know,

6:46

being away from home, whether that's

6:48

you know, gaining losing weight. You

6:50

know, there's a there's just so many things that go into

6:53

it. So you know that that can create

6:55

for for a lot of stress. So you

6:57

know, really really making sure that you do

6:59

take care of your mental you

7:01

know, I feel like it's it's it's important

7:04

to have that balance.

7:05

You seem to have a great balance

7:08

in the way that you're talking to us in great perspective.

7:11

What was your reaction when

7:14

you ran the forty and then you turned

7:16

around and you saw up on the scoreboard

7:18

four three three.

7:21

Well, so the unfortunate thing is

7:23

when you're when you're in the building and you look

7:25

up like your first forty, they don't they don't

7:28

show the time so I'm over here, like what

7:30

did I run? What did I run? So

7:32

I didn't really get it until til I

7:34

got back.

7:35

One of one of the guys that I was training with, he

7:38

had let me know my time, and I was just like, you

7:40

know.

7:40

I think, I think I'm just gonna stick with that one.

7:43

Like I was.

7:43

I was fine with it, But seems

7:45

like the more like I watched, the more I watch it, I'm

7:48

like, maybe if I had a better start, I would have been able

7:50

to get for too.

7:51

But you know, I'm completely happy

7:53

with my time.

7:54

And then you know, obviously, you know,

7:56

got to give all the credit to my trainer,

7:58

Jordan X three, you know, for helping me, you

8:00

know, get to that point.

8:03

Not you thinking, oh I didn't

8:05

get a four to two.

8:06

Yeah, yeah,

8:11

the thought of a four to three has my hamstrings

8:14

screaming at the moment.

8:16

Absolutely not would not occur.

8:19

But I do want to talk a little bit about your college

8:21

experience, because you mentioned you do have more experience,

8:23

I think than the common combine

8:26

prospect who comes through the doors.

8:28

You you played your final year.

8:30

Of eligibility eligibility rather in

8:32

Louisville after three seasons at Wisconsin.

8:35

That's a that's a.

8:35

Pretty shift, hard shift and two

8:38

big programs. So how was that

8:41

change for you?

8:43

Yeah, So for me it was it

8:46

was very different. You know obviously,

8:49

you know I spent so much time you know, just because you

8:51

know, early on I did, you

8:53

know, struggle with like some injury stuff.

8:55

So you know, for me, you know, taking

8:57

that last year, you know, it was it was still

9:00

like a development thing for me.

9:01

You know, that's that's something.

9:02

That I you know, incorporated in to my

9:05

my decision to to move on and

9:07

go somewhere else. But you know, at the same

9:09

time, you know, be able to get get some

9:11

more film, you know, build some more confidence

9:13

and stuff like that. But you

9:16

know, it was definitely a very

9:18

big transition, you know, the

9:21

offensive offenses, you know, talk

9:23

about scheme wise, you know, being at Wisconsin,

9:26

you know, we were ran the ball like fifty

9:28

times a game, and then you know, switching to

9:30

a more you know, multi dimensional offense.

9:33

You know, I think it was definitely something that was good

9:36

for me, you know, especially

9:38

with with how the game changes, you know, not

9:40

only at the college level, but in the

9:42

professionals as well. You know, it's

9:45

it's it's important, you know, being able

9:47

to showcase you know, multi dimensions. You talk

9:49

about you know, being able to run the ball,

9:51

but you know pass block and then catch

9:54

the ball in the backfield as well.

9:55

So you know, being a part of offense

9:58

like that, you know, a lover. You know, it helped me

10:00

to showcase that.

10:02

Those offenses in Wisconsin definitely

10:04

show case the running backs.

10:06

And one of those guys who was showcased

10:08

over the years was Jonathan

10:10

Taylor, who's now with the Cults. How has

10:13

he been an influence for you?

10:15

You

10:18

know, he's he's

10:21

made things like a lot easier

10:23

for me. You know, already

10:26

transitioning from high school to college and itself

10:28

is a is a big enough hurdle, but you

10:31

know, when I was transitioning, you know, from a

10:33

receiver to a running back, you know as

10:35

well, like that that creates obviously more

10:38

than one hurdle, more than one obstacle.

10:40

So you know, having him as a

10:42

mentor, you know, in my in my young years

10:45

was you know, like I couldn't

10:47

be more thankful for it. But you know, just

10:50

also you know somebody you know who I modeled

10:52

my game after. But you know, like just on and

10:54

off the field, you know, he's he's a. He's

10:57

a great person, but you know he's

10:59

obviously a great player as well,

11:02

so you know, just kind of modeling, modeling

11:05

my game and then you know, just myself

11:07

after him in general. You know, that's

11:09

that's kind of been a big thing. But

11:11

you know, he's also a guy. You know, whenever I text

11:14

him, whenever I call him, he's going to pick.

11:15

Up the phone. He's going to answer the phone.

11:17

So you know, being able to ask him

11:19

a lot of questions throughout this process as

11:21

well, you know, it

11:23

definitely helps me.

11:24

You know, gives me a leg up, you know, going into

11:27

interviews, kind.

11:27

Of understanding what to expect, kind

11:29

of you know, figuring out,

11:31

you know, how how the testing is for

11:34

the combine, stuff like that. But then you

11:36

know, like also understanding you

11:38

know, looking at the draft process,

11:40

you know, going ahead, like

11:44

you know, he he talked to X

11:46

amount of teams, but you know, none of

11:48

the teams were the Coats, so it's

11:50

like, you know, you truly never

11:52

know where you're.

11:53

Gonna end up.

11:54

So you know, I could I could talk to thirty

11:56

one teams and the thirty second team could draft

11:58

me. So you know it's just kind of

12:00

you got to you gotta be ready for whatever.

12:03

You know, it's just a lot of unknowns,

12:05

so just understanding that, but you know, having

12:08

him as a mentor, you know, just

12:10

I'm very grateful for it.

12:12

This tracks so much with what we already know about

12:15

him as as just like a douche

12:17

dude as a player, like this is one hundred

12:19

percent on brand. So I love to hear

12:21

more and more stories about that. But you're

12:23

right, like you never know which way along the

12:26

process you can go in and think you crushed an interview

12:28

and then suddenly it's a team that you hadn't

12:30

even spoken with before outside of

12:33

the very quick meanings you guys have during the

12:35

combine in Indianapolis, have you been

12:37

able to meet with any teams? Like, can you share? Arethy

12:40

of that with us?

12:42

So I talked to my agent.

12:43

He was saying, like, you know, most of the visits

12:45

and stuff are supposed to come like after pro

12:47

day, so you know, I haven't been on any

12:50

yet, but you know, I've started

12:52

to plan some for

12:54

for after. But you know, obviously,

12:56

you know, going from one of those

12:58

to the other, you know, I'll be able to compareison, you know,

13:00

get a feel for stuff like that.

13:02

But we we do have such a late day

13:05

with it being March twenty six, so you

13:07

know a lot of guys have already you know, kind

13:09

of been been through there. So you

13:12

know, after that, you know, I'll have a have a better idea

13:14

of you know, what places I'll be visiting

13:16

and stuff.

13:18

So Isaac you were talking about earlier

13:20

in the podcast, that's you know, right

13:23

now, just kind of decompressing a little bit.

13:25

It's been pretty hectic for you. You've had

13:27

to do a lot training really hard. So

13:30

how do you wind down?

13:33

What's a guilty pleasure of yours

13:35

that that the public doesn't

13:38

know?

13:39

A guilty pleasure?

13:42

Like are you a gamer?

13:44

Like?

13:44

What are you?

13:44

Yeah?

13:45

Reality? Yeah, trashy

13:47

TV.

13:48

I love it blind.

13:51

Blind watching it. I

13:54

was told to watch the first episode

13:56

and I did end up.

13:57

But I just honestly don't understand how

13:59

anybody could participate in the show

14:01

like that.

14:03

I don't.

14:03

It's a lot, It's crazy,

14:06

But I'm starting to mesh all these these

14:09

love shows, you know, Love.

14:10

Island, Love is Blind, and I don't.

14:12

Remember the other one altogether,

14:17

but I do. I do play video

14:19

games a good for sure. But

14:22

you know, obviously the last two weeks. I haven't

14:25

haven't really had the time,

14:27

but you know, I'll probably get into it at some

14:29

point. But you know, being in

14:31

being in Florida training though, you know, being able

14:33

to just you know, drive to the beach, you know, just

14:35

hang out for a little bit, that's

14:38

relaxing. But you know, it's a

14:40

little bit of a wake up call getting

14:43

back to Indy and Louisville

14:46

and stuff and it being thirty degrees

14:48

and I'm like, oh wow, no, but.

14:51

Not having that going to the beach, Yes,

14:53

sir, I'll take that. So

14:58

Isaac, now, now that

15:00

you're going through this process, do

15:03

you allow yourself at

15:05

all to at least

15:07

think of the possibilities of places

15:10

that you you'll go or

15:12

or or where you're going to land.

15:15

Because there's thirty two

15:17

opportunities, right and as you mentioned,

15:19

as j T told you,

15:21

you never know where you're going to end up.

15:24

But do you ever allow yourself

15:26

kind of back in those quiet moments when

15:29

you're with yourself and you're saying, you know, this would

15:31

be cool if I could go here. Wow, if

15:33

I went there, the things that I could

15:36

do when I can accomplish.

15:38

M Yeah, So for me,

15:40

you know, it's I've kind of always had

15:42

this mentality.

15:43

It's just like a you know, whoever,

15:45

whoever it the.

15:52

Good people around there.

15:54

Yeah, Isaac, Yeah,

15:58

that's you know, like I feel

16:00

like sometimes too, like your family, your friends,

16:02

like you know, your childhood spaces, like oh, we

16:05

wish you could play for the home team, and that happens,

16:07

right, but like at this at this point,

16:09

you're like, dude, I just want the shield and

16:12

then the like just

16:14

the opportunity.

16:15

But but yeah, you know, obviously,

16:18

you know my mom's like, you know, have you talked to the

16:20

colts, have you talked to I'm you.

16:23

Know, I know you want me to be at home,

16:25

and you know, I'll play for anybody.

16:28

But at the end of the day, you

16:31

never know, like, yeah.

16:34

Trust Mom's gonna be the first one to buy the jersey

16:37

call your name.

16:38

She would burst out

16:40

in tears if that happens. Oh my god.

16:42

All right, well now we're let

16:44

us be your proxy. We will manifest that

16:47

for you. You never have to say it. Ever,

16:49

us and momus and mom for

16:52

you.

16:53

That's it.

16:54

I mean, she must be so happy and proud

16:57

of you, of what you've been able to

16:59

do and you

17:01

have been able to show up and show out in

17:03

these massive veys news in these

17:05

big time football programs, and

17:07

then you go to a place like Indianapolis

17:10

where for you it's home

17:13

essentially, and you

17:15

do what you do. I mean, I can

17:17

only imagine how she feels watching

17:20

her son, you

17:22

know, training and dreaming

17:24

of the NFL.

17:26

Uh.

17:26

Yeah, no, for sure, Like the

17:28

amount of times in the past

17:30

couple of months that she's told

17:33

me she's proud of me, Like it's

17:35

it's insane. But you know, I couldn't couldn't

17:37

appreciate her more, you know, throughout this

17:40

this whole process.

17:42

But you know, she's you know, both my parents

17:44

have always been for me. You know, I don't I don't.

17:46

I don't remember the last time she she missed

17:48

the game, you know, from from little league.

17:50

You know, that's traveling, you know, even

17:53

when.

17:53

I was at Wisconsin, She's making the six

17:55

hour drive every weekend. But

17:58

yeah, no, I mean I definitely couldn't couldn't

18:00

appreciate her her more during this process,

18:03

you know, just being you know, such a

18:05

such a good supporter.

18:07

What's your mom's name, her first name, Jennifer.

18:10

I need a Jennifer cam on Draft night.

18:13

That's the only feet to see. I

18:15

think I don't see Mama Jennifer on the other side,

18:18

and that's always my favorite part of

18:20

the draft. And look, we're so excited

18:22

for you. Now you're part of our fam

18:25

of our familia, as we say here on El Huddle,

18:27

we are brooding for you and so excited for you. Thank

18:30

you so much for coming on. The best to your mom

18:32

and your parents and the whole family. I know, I

18:35

know that watch party is going to be intense, so I

18:37

can't wait to see where you land. We

18:39

know that you will be absolutely amazing once

18:42

you hit the league.

18:42

Isa, No, for sure, I appreciate

18:45

you, guys. You appreciate you guys. You know, taking the time, you

18:47

know, have the me on for sure.

18:48

Absolutely, Hey, good luck, my friend, and make

18:50

sure to come on back. Don't get an attitude

18:53

when you get into the league.

18:54

He's not going to have an at it.

18:56

Okay,

19:00

okay, all right.

19:01

We just love there, right

19:03

all right, see you soon.

19:05

I think, thank you so much.

19:07

Well, good luck, my man.

19:25

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