julian garrett

“How you guys doin’?”

Good, how are you? How’s fatherhood?

“It’s great. It’s been awesome.”

How many diapers have you changed?

“Like probably in the low double digits. I think I’m into the double digits, though. Between 10 and 15, probably. So what do you guys got?”

You sort of have a depleted group it sounds like from what Jim said the other day with Christian [Turner] out and Zach [Charbonnet]. What are you seeing from Tru [Wilson] and who you have left? Hassan’s [Haskins] been out, too, I think?

“Yeah, so we’ve had a few guys out. The good thing is we have a bunch of guys that are really willing and really capable and highly coachable, so the guys that were before the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh guys have gotten a lot better and those guys really have just showed competitiveness and willingness to put themselves in with the ones and twos and to do some pretty good stuff. And guys that are really just taking advantage of the opportunity to go against a Jordan Anthony and a Gil and a Glasgow and a Khaleke, et cetera. So it’s really just been fun to watch.”

And Tru’s the starter right now?

“Yes.”

How’s he handled that?

“He’s handled it well. It’s more of a role than he’s ever had and gradually he’s eased into it and I think he’s getting used to that every-play type of deal if we’re in a move-the-ball situation and you’re talking about like five, six, sevens plays in a row he only maybe did that a couple times last year so it’s a little bit different in terms of the sustained focus and the cardio that it takes, but he’s doing a pretty good job.”

Where has he improved the most since last season?

“I’d be curious if y’all asked him what he’d say. I think that he’s playing a lot faster. He’s a guy who did a lot of work this offseason just cleaning up his nutrition, doing a lot of extra speed work and it’s really showed up in like perimeter runs, being able to put his foot in the ground and get vertical. A lot of times a run last year that might have been a four- or six-yard run now he’s running through that arm tackle and it’s 10, 12, 15 so it’s been fun to watch. He’s had a few big plays this spring.”

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