Jalen Mills Is Ready For This Challenge
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Jalen Mills has always challenged himself. He wouldn't have starred at LSU, one of the premier NCAA programs in the country, if he didn't.
But this is something new.
For the first time in his life—the 6-foot, 195-pound combo cornerback and safety who is competing for a job in the Eagles' secondary—is playing catch-up.
That means more challenges, especially mentally.
"I'm repeatedly putting myself in different situations," said Mills, who the Eagles may have gotten as steal in the seventh round of the draft. "I want to make a different kind of take on each call, and you have someone as experienced as Sam Bradford back there making calls and there is all kinds of movement back there.
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"It's why I try to put myself mentally there, because when it does happen on the field, I'm ready. It's something I've always done. But now that I'm at the highest level, it's amped-up time. Guys here are a lot faster, a lot smarter, the schemes are different. I've had to hone myself in and focus in on everything I have to do."
Mills said he's up to 195, up five pounds from when he played at LSU. It's where the Eagles coaching staff wants him.
"I feel good here at 195," Mills said. "I played at 190 at LSU. I feel stronger at 195, more explosive and I lost a lot of fat and gained more muscle. I feel pretty good. I'm eating right and hydrating all day and night."
Mills also said he spoke to current Eagle Bennie Logan, who played at LSU, about the rigors of an NFL training camp—and what it takes to make an NFL team.
"Bennie told me to keep hydrating, because the first thing that starts happening is you cramp, and then that's when you start getting tears and pulls," Mills said. "Three days before camp, I began hydrating. Especially for days like today. It gets kind of irritating, because you have to use the bathroom a lot, but it helps once you get out here.
"He also told me to always be available and willing to learn. It's good to play fast and have fun. Playing football is something that I've been doing since I was a kid. It's just football, but it's a new level. I'm ready for that challenge."
