Former Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree was asked about his recent DUI arrest in Arizona at the NFL combine on Saturday.
He had two interviews with the Eagles and Chiefs on Friday. Both teams also wanted to know about his suspension in 2010 after being charged with stealing a fellow athlete’s motorcycle helmet and his suspension for four games last season after reportedly failing a drug test.
Ogletree, 21, of Newnan, spoke to the media:
Agent: Pat Dye Jr.
OFFICIAL NUMBERS: Ht: 6-3, Wt: 242
Q: Have you talked to any teams yet? And, have they asked about your DUI arrest in Arizona?
A: Yes, I met with two teams yesterday and we had discussions. I met with the Eagles and the Chiefs.
Q: What did they ask about the arrests?
A: It was just a private conversation that we had.
Q: What do teams what to know about your character?
A: I’m a good person at heart. Everybody makes mistakes. I feel real bad about the situation. I’m learning from it and I’m moving forward.
Q: (inaudible)
A: I don’t really know what it’s going to do. But, like I said, I feel bad about it and I’m very sorry about it. I just have to move forward and take whatever I get.
Q: Have you met with the Ravens?
A: No, I haven’t met with them yet.
Q: You also were suspended in college for a positive drug test. How are you addressing that?
A: Just by having a good interview. Being a good person and just letting them get to know me and see who I really am and not what they just hear about me.
Q: Talk about your move from safety to linebacker?
A: I’ve only been playing linebacker two years. It was a great transition for me at Georgia. We were in a 3-4 and while playing my freshmen year as a safety, I was basically able to learn the defense. With the move in the Spring to linebacker basically helped me stay on top of things. The safety works closely with the linebackers. We had a great coach in Kirk Olivadotti. He taught me a lot and I’ve just been working at it.
Q: Do you feel fortunate that at this time the NFL needs guys who can play in space? How does that make you feel?
A: It makes me feel good. I’m very comfortable with my skills. I think I’m very versatile. I can cover and come up against the run and hit. I can just fill the gap.
Q: (inaudible)
A: Just fine. Just being a better person. Making better decisions with what I do and being accountable for my actions.
Q: What did you learn from your latest brush with the law?
A: Just like I said, I have to be accountable and be responsible. Be a grown man and be accountable for my actions.
Q: Were you strictly an inside linebacker at Georgia?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you play outside?
A: Yes. I’m very versatile. I can come off the edge or play in the middle. It doesn’t really matter, but like I said, I’ve been playing middle linebacker and that’s all I know really.
Q: (Inaudible)
A: All I know right now is middle linebacker.
Q: When you got to explain yourself to teams did you get the sense that they knew where you were coming from?
A: Yes. It’s just. . . .everybody makes mistakes. It was a bad decision at the time. But like I said, I talked to the teams and we had good discussions about it.
Q: Do the teams believe this was just a mistake?
A: I would hope so. I think so.
Q: What all are they asking? Personal and football questions?
A: It’s just a mixture of both.
Q: Are you concerned that this happened so close to the combine?
A: It doesn’t really matter when it happened. It happened. Like I said, I hate that it happened. I feel bad about it. But you know, I have to move forward.
Q: What teams have you met with?
A: The Eagles and the Chiefs.
Q: Did your style work when playing against mobile quarterbacks?
A: Yes, I think that’s a big part of my game. I like to play sideline to sideline. I try to use my speed to my advantage. When I can strike somebody, I do that.
Q: Are there any starting quarterbacks in the NFL that you played against when at Georgia?
A: None actually. Well, I did play against Cam Newton, the one year he was at Auburn I was a freshman.
Q: Does having a guy like Jarvis Jones from Georgia at the combine help you?
A: We talk. I support him. I know he’s a good person. He has his things and I have my things.
Q: Do you think you’re better playing against a quarterback who is pocket guy or playing against a quarterback who is a mobile guy, who might break out of the pocket?
A: I feel good at either one. The quarterback that sits in the pocket is kind of like a sitting duck. The person that moves, I can use my speed to stay with him.
