QA with Longhorn commit Robert Killebrew

The Texas Longhorns picked up another big commitment this week when Klein linebacker Robert Killebrew notified the UT staff that he would play his college ball on the Forty Acres. As one of the top outside linebacker prospects in the entire nation, Killebrew brings a rare combination of athleticism and football instincts packaged in a player whose motor is as revved up as any prospect in the state. Lining up as a defensive end his senior year, Kill logged 94 tackles (48 unassisted), 18 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and had three blocked kicks. We caught up with him to get his thoughts on his commitment:

Can you talk about the commitment and what set Texas out in front?

The whole commitment was a relief to get it out of the way. As for what set Texas out in front … Texas was a good school for me from day one. I think it’s the best all-around school for me. It’s got the education. People talk about education and any school you go to that’s offering a scholarship – Texas, Oklahoma, Florida – those are all good schools. But there’s something about Texas that is apart from the other ones as far as academics is concerned.

When did you know? Is this something you had in mind for a while or did it really just hit you?

I kind of new but then again, I didn’t want to cheat myself by not exhausting all of my options and knowing for sure. That’s what it was about. Florida was a big, big school for me growing up. But I couldn’t put a face, per se, to the University of Florida. I can go to Texas and Oklahoma games. But I couldn’t go to a game down there. When I went to the university, it made it very difficult for me to say no to them. But something about them … Texas just kind of came out in front.

Help put me in the mind of a recruit that is recognized all over the country. Can you talk about some of the pressures and emotional swings that go along with being in that position?

I wouldn’t say pressure necessarily because with everything you do in your life, there are going to be pressures. I will say the difference that recruiting has really made for me is that I always have to check myself. I always have to know where I’m at. I always have to watch what I say and what I do. Before, when I was Mr. Nobody, people didn’t care what I did. But now it’s like, because I’m a football player and I’m doing something, they want to see if they can get me riled up. It’s like, “let’s see what he’s really like. Does he have a temper.” What I’ve learned is that, if there’s a fight that breaks out, it’s not going to be “so and so got in a fight with Robert Killebrew.” It’s going to be, “Robert Killebrew caused a fight.” They’re not going to the get the publicity for that. I will.

Have you had specific situations like that were someone has tried to mix things up just for some notoriety?

It happened just last night in our basketball game. We were playing a school that we played in football. And I’m not going to lie to you, I got knocked out in that game. It was a punt and I pulled around and the guy was headhunting trying to make a name for himself. But he got me. I got up and shook his hand and told him “that was a good hit” and went on and had a good game. Then at basketball, the guy wants to start talking his trash, saying “I knocked Killebrew out and all.” I said, “Yeah, you knocked me out and that’s cool and all. But what are you going to do with the rest of your life.” He had nothing to say and he got irate. He kept telling me, “come on, you’re a big boy” and wanted me to take it outside with him. I just told him, “I’ve got more to lose than you’ve got to lose. And I am big and bad and that’s why I’m not going to go outside with you.”

Very wise move. During the whole recruiting process, how hard is it to know what to believe and what not to believe?

Well, my dad told me when I was growing up, “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.” I went into recruiting with that mindset. I went with what I knew. I listened to all the coaches and what they had to say. I mean, every university is number one somewhere in some poll or some publication.

Speaking of your dad and his advice, I want to pick your brain on your parents’ influence on you. (Klein) Coach (Ray) Kenjura talks about your maturity and it really comes through just in doing phone interviews. Who do you credit your success to?

My parents and God. I’m not going to sit here and say I’m a choir boy at all. But I know I get my talent from God. My parents will not let me go a day, an hour, a minute, without reminding me where I got all this stuff from. My parents are very well grounded people and they’ve helped me be well grounded, to not live in the moment, to look beyond the altercations that are going on now and see what’s going to happen in the long run. What are going to be the penalties and repercussions of your actions. Because I guarantee you that the penalty is going to have more affect on me than the person across from me. That’s what my parents have always told me. My dad is always trying to not get involved in foolish talks and arguments. And right about now, I hear all these people talking that I’ve said this and I’ve said that. My dad just tells me, don’t worry about that stuff. My parents have been very instrumental in my development.

You’ve mentioned academics from day one. Can you talk about the importance it played in your decision?

Whew, my mom told me she’d come out there and cut my knees off if she had to. She wants me to get an education. For real. They can take away your scholarship. They can take away your shoes, your legs. But the one thing they can’t take away from you is your degree. Once you get that degree it’s yours. They can take your money and your house, but your degree, they can’t touch that.

Can you talk about your performance in the Army Bowl and how you think you fared?

I really wouldn’t be able to tell you because it’s the first time I’ve played it and I don’t have anything to compare it to. But overall, I felt comfortable. It’s kind of new. There’s a lot more freedom. There is one thing I did learn though. I got to see the work ethic of the other guys who were all-Americans. Or maybe the lack of. I just couldn’t believe it, that people didn’t care that much to lose a game, 47-3. Before the game was over, people were joking on the sidelines. I was like, “are you crazy, you’re on national TV getting blown out. And you’re going to sit there and laugh about that.”

One thing I noticed at that game is that you were really trying to fire the guys up before the game. Coach Kenjura has also talked about your leadership qualities, how you lead by word of mouth and by example. Can you talk about that?

Actually, I try not to lead at all by vocal. In a game, that’s a different situation. In practice, I really don’t talk that much. I’m trying to absorb everything they say. In games, when the lights are on, I am vocal. I try my best to not get people mad and just do my best and let them play their game. But when push comes to shove, if they need to be pushed a little harder, I’ll push them a little harder.

How do you flip that switch, from being so calm and collected off the field to becoming so reckless on the field? It’s almost a Jeckyl and Hyde thing.

I really couldn’t explain it if I wanted to. It’s just, when I step on that field, there’s something … I feel so alive. There’s nothing in this world that makes me as happy than to play football and just look around and see that people are watching you. That’s when I’m the happiest. I get all this emotion, all this drama in my life, all this frustration … it all gets balled up and left on the field. That’s therapy for me. That’s when I’m the happiest man alive. I guess you could call it a Jeckyl and Hyde thing. But without football - and I’m not going to try to say I’m a mean, bad person – but you’d probably see me on the FBI’s most wanted list.

There has been a lot of talk on Internet message boards about coach Kenjura not wanting you to go to Texas? Can you put the nail in the coffin on the subject and clear the air?

I’d love to. That stuff has all been taken out of context. My coach is a very good coach. Wherever I wanted to go, he wanted me to be happy. Hands down. The last conversation I had with him was about my visit to Florida. I told him about my trip and how hard it was for me. What he told me was, “Robert, with all that you’ve come back and told me, it seems that you’re happiest at Florida.” Maybe I haven’t conveyed it in the right way and it’s been taken wrong. He’s a great coach. You can put that down. He’s done for me some amazing things and he’s always been there for me. He’s always trusted me and he’s always taken my word over anyone else’s word.

One thing he mentioned to me was that he thought your aggressive nature on the field would fit in well with Texas’s schemes. What are your thoughts on that?

No doubt. The way I play, if my head is not hitting somebody with the ball, it was a waste of my time. If takes me running from one end to the other and diving in and knocking the crap out of somebody, that’s what I’ll do. Whatever it takes. My philosophy is, you have to run somewhere. You cannot run. You cannot jog. You have to run. You have to fly. What I’ve seen on tape is that Texas loves to blitz their linebackers. They run a lot of man coverage and put their DBs on islands. We’re going to bet that our defense can get to the quarterback before he lets the ball go. And that’s fun. I love to run. I love to hit people. I’m telling you, all that aggression and drama gets put out on the field. And I’ve got a lot of it, so somebody’s got to be on the receiving end.

What has been the most enjoyable part of the process for you and why?

Talking to y’all. I enjoy the media. But I’m going to tell you something. I say it, but I find it very hard to go on the websites or look in the papers and get the exact feeling that I wanted out of it. If there’s got to be all this jostling and having to write a speech up every time I talk to somebody, I don’t really want to deal with it. But I enjoy talking to y’all and letting people know exactly what I’m thinking.

What parts have been the least enjoyable and why?

Hmm. Tough one. I guess when you’re tired and you don’t want to be a player no more. I mean, you’re not a football player 24-7. Sometimes you just want to be a regular 17 or 18-year old kid and have fun, enjoy your life. You can’t really do that anymore. For however long it is, two, three, four or five months, you’re labeled – the number 2 or number 30th player in the country. You can’t escape that label. In college, that evaporates. I’m looking forward to that. I really just want to be a kid again.

Finally, Is there anything you want to relay to the Longhorn fans?

To the fans, I look forward to you looking after me and cheering for me.

Note: At that very moment, Killebrew politely notified me that he had to run as the Texas coaches had arrived at his home for a visit.