The New England Patriots drafted Ryan O'Callaghan in the fifth round (136th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. The 6- foot-7-inch, 330-pound offensive tackle started 35 games for the University of California over four seasons, while missing only one collegiate contest. As a senior last season, the California native was an All- Pac 10 Conference first team selection and was the recipient of the Morris Trophy, which is presented to the outstanding offensive and defensive linemen in the conference.
O'Callaghan sat down with us to answer some questions about his life both on and off the football field.
FAVORITES
What was your favorite hobby as a kid? I collected remote control cars.
Who was your favorite wrestler growing up? That's a tough one. I would say either Randy "The Macho Man" Savage or Hulk Hogan.
What is your favorite material possession? I really don't have one.
What is your favorite type of food? I like leg of lamb on Christmas.
What is your favorite movie? Any movie with Will Ferrell... Wedding Crashers, Elf, Talladega Nights.
What was your favorite subject in school when you were growing up? I think it was probably History. I had some entertaining History teachers.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Garth Brooks. I'm a country music guy.
OFF THE FIELD
If you could play another professional sport, what would it be? I would say golf. It seems relaxing and stress-free.
What is one thing you wish you were better at? Golf. I'm not very good, but it is a way to kill time.
What has been the biggest transition to living in New England? The roads around here are crazy. In California, there are mostly main roads. Around here there are cow paths and side streets.
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever purchased? I bought a nice watch a few years ago.
What is something that annoys you? People that smack their food when they are chewing. That gets me.
What scares you the most? Spiders and snakes. I think I'm a wimp when it comes to that. I don't know what snakes and spiders are thinking.
If I turned on the CD player in your truck right now, what would I hear? I have in Coldplay, Foreigner's Greatest Hits, Phil Vassar's Greatest Hits and the new E40 CD.
What was the toughest thing about you that your parents had to put up with when you were younger? I'm stubborn. I would eventually do what they said.
Which Patriots offensive lineman can take down the most food? Dan Stevenson. One night we were out and we bet that he couldn't eat 10 Jr. bacon cheeseburgers in under five minutes and he did it.
At six-feet-seven-inches, have you ever been mistaken for a basketball player? Only by people that don't know basketball players aren't 330 pounds.
Who is the best-dressed player in the locker room? Rosevelt Colvin. During the spring he would always get dressed up to go golfing.
ON THE FIELD
What is the toughest thing about the NFL that most people wouldn't know? As a transition from college, there are a lot more things you have to understand about defenses in the NFL. Having to learn all those elements and understand them takes time.
In your mind, what makes a great teammate? Someone that is accountable and you know they are going to do their job. That way you don't have to worry about what they are doing, which can slow you down.
The Pac-10 is a powerful conference. Who is the best player you lined up against during your time at California? I would say Haloti Ngata from Oregon or Terrell Suggs at Arizona State.
THIS OR THAT
Play in the rain or play in the snow? Play in the snow. I played in the snow once in high school. It is not as muddy.
Relax at home or out on the town? Relax at home.
Make a call or text message? Make a call.
Pancakes or french toast? Far and away, french toast.
Better boy band: NSYNC or Backstreet Boys? That's ridiculous. I'll say Backstreet Boys because they lasted longer.
Bungee Jump or Sky Dive? Neither. If I had to I would bungee jump. I don't like flying and I don't want to jump out of a plane.
JUST FOR FUN
If you could set up one of your fellow rookies on the MTV show Punk'd, who would you pick? Probably David Thomas because he keeps to himself most of the time and I would like to see how he'd react to a situation like that.
If you had a free round-trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Ireland. That is where a lot of my family is from.
Which one of your teammates would be the best apprentice for Donald Trump? Rosevelt Colvin. He seems like he has a lot of businesses going on. He has his own UPS station in the locker room. I'm serious.
If you were trapped in the Amazon jungle, which teammate would you most like to see by your side to help you get out? I would have Dan Stevenson because he is very entertaining. He might also be the most resourceful guy.
The New England Patriots drafted Ryan O'Callaghan in the fifth round (136th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. The 6- foot-7-inch, 330-pound offensive tackle started 35 games for the University of California over four seasons, while missing only one collegiate contest. As a senior last season, the California native was an All- Pac 10 Conference first team selection and was the recipient of the Morris Trophy, which is presented to the outstanding offensive and defensive linemen in the conference.
O'Callaghan sat down with us to answer some questions about his life both on and off the football field.
FAVORITES
What was your favorite hobby as a kid? I collected remote control cars.
Who was your favorite wrestler growing up? That's a tough one. I would say either Randy "The Macho Man" Savage or Hulk Hogan.
What is your favorite material possession? I really don't have one.
What is your favorite type of food? I like leg of lamb on Christmas.
What is your favorite movie? Any movie with Will Ferrell... Wedding Crashers, Elf, Talladega Nights.
What was your favorite subject in school when you were growing up? I think it was probably History. I had some entertaining History teachers.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Garth Brooks. I'm a country music guy.
OFF THE FIELD
If you could play another professional sport, what would it be? I would say golf. It seems relaxing and stress-free.
What is one thing you wish you were better at? Golf. I'm not very good, but it is a way to kill time.
What has been the biggest transition to living in New England? The roads around here are crazy. In California, there are mostly main roads. Around here there are cow paths and side streets.
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever purchased? I bought a nice watch a few years ago.
What is something that annoys you? People that smack their food when they are chewing. That gets me.
What scares you the most? Spiders and snakes. I think I'm a wimp when it comes to that. I don't know what snakes and spiders are thinking.
If I turned on the CD player in your truck right now, what would I hear? I have in Coldplay, Foreigner's Greatest Hits, Phil Vassar's Greatest Hits and the new E40 CD.
What was the toughest thing about you that your parents had to put up with when you were younger? I'm stubborn. I would eventually do what they said.
Which Patriots offensive lineman can take down the most food? Dan Stevenson. One night we were out and we bet that he couldn't eat 10 Jr. bacon cheeseburgers in under five minutes and he did it.
At six-feet-seven-inches, have you ever been mistaken for a basketball player? Only by people that don't know basketball players aren't 330 pounds.
Who is the best-dressed player in the locker room? Rosevelt Colvin. During the spring he would always get dressed up to go golfing.
ON THE FIELD
What is the toughest thing about the NFL that most people wouldn't know? As a transition from college, there are a lot more things you have to understand about defenses in the NFL. Having to learn all those elements and understand them takes time.
In your mind, what makes a great teammate? Someone that is accountable and you know they are going to do their job. That way you don't have to worry about what they are doing, which can slow you down.
The Pac-10 is a powerful conference. Who is the best player you lined up against during your time at California? I would say Haloti Ngata from Oregon or Terrell Suggs at Arizona State.
THIS OR THAT
Play in the rain or play in the snow? Play in the snow. I played in the snow once in high school. It is not as muddy.
Relax at home or out on the town? Relax at home.
Make a call or text message? Make a call.
Pancakes or french toast? Far and away, french toast.
Better boy band: NSYNC or Backstreet Boys? That's ridiculous. I'll say Backstreet Boys because they lasted longer.
Bungee Jump or Sky Dive? Neither. If I had to I would bungee jump. I don't like flying and I don't want to jump out of a plane.
JUST FOR FUN
If you could set up one of your fellow rookies on the MTV show Punk'd, who would you pick? Probably David Thomas because he keeps to himself most of the time and I would like to see how he'd react to a situation like that.
If you had a free round-trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Ireland. That is where a lot of my family is from.
Which one of your teammates would be the best apprentice for Donald Trump? Rosevelt Colvin. He seems like he has a lot of businesses going on. He has his own UPS station in the locker room. I'm serious.
If you were trapped in the Amazon jungle, which teammate would you most like to see by your side to help you get out? I would have Dan Stevenson because he is very entertaining. He might also be the most resourceful guy.
