April 23, 2008
TarHeelBlue.com: With the NFL draft just a few short days away, what is going through your mind?
Kentwan Balmer: I'm just trying to stay relaxed, keep doing what got me here, stay focused and try not to get to wrapped up in what's going on.
THB: What have you done to get to this point?
KB: Worked hard, stayed humble and stayed hungry all at the same time. I let my play on the field do the talking for me. You don't have to go out there and brag about how good you are, but just go out there and do what you're supposed to do.
THB: Since the end of the season, what has life been like for you?
KB: It's been a roller coaster. That's the best way to describe it. It's exciting, it's fun, it's been flying by. There's a lot of ups and downs, some bumps and bruises, but it's been a (heck) of a ride. It's been fun. It's definitely been a lot of fun.
THB: What are some of the places you've been?
KB: I went to the Senior Bowl, then the combine and there were all 28 teams there and I've been to see 11 teams. I've been all over the place, met a lot of people, shook a lot of hands. I think I made a lot of new friends. A lot of people were speaking highly of my character, how good I represented the University of North Carolina and I was proud of that.
THB: What are some of the places you've been recently and what teams have shown the most interest?
KB: I've been to New York, New Orleans, Tampa, Minnesota, Philly. A lot of teams have been saying the same thing...they'd be happy to have me. They hope I'm there when they pick. I'm trying not letting that stuff go to my head. I'm staying focused on being in shape, being a football player. Whoever calls my name, they are going to get a football player who's going to try to come in and play right away.
THB: Describe what Coach Davis and Coach Blake have meant to you?
KB: If they wouldn't have come here, I not sure I would be sitting right here in front of you right now in the situation that I'm in. Those two guys have been instrumental throughout this process and definitely while I was playing here in helping me on the field and off the field in how to be a professional and to carry myself in a professional manner. Coach Blake is like a father to me. Coach Davis is a guy that you would want your kids to be around. He's a guy that you would want your kid to play for. Hopefully he's still here when my kids are coming up, because they would definitely come here.
THB: What do you see as the future of Carolina football?
KB: I tell teams this all the time. I think within the next two years, Carolina will be playing in a major bowl, if not the national championship.
THB: What's your plan on draft day?
KB: Just try to stay relaxed. I'll be around some family and friends and just do what I always do when the draft comes on. This time maybe my name will be called.
THB: Did you have ever dream this day would come?
KB: I always thought I would be an NBA player. But it turned out that this was my game. No, I never thought it would be like this. In college, you see the other guys leave and you have another year and you think it will never be me. And now that's the feeling I've got heading into the draft.
THB: You spoke to a few Carolina NFL players. What can you tell us about your conversations?
KB: I can't remember all of them. I still like talking to the old guys. We laugh and joke. I talked to David Thornton when I was in Tennessee. I talked to Willie Parker. He's around all the time. I talked to Jason Brown. He's with Baltimore. I talked to Chase Page who is currently with San Francisco. I talked to Tommy Davis (Washington). All those guys who've been with me throughout this whole process. I talked to Alge Crumpler. I saw him when I was in Tennessee. Me, him and David Thornton - we sat down for 45 minutes and talked in the stadium. They're really happy for me, happy for the program. They gave me a lot of advice. Never let the success go to your head. Those are the words I'm trying to hold onto.
