PATRIOTS 2025 SEVENTH-ROUND DRAFT PICK KOBEE MINOR
PRESS CONFERENCE
April 26, 2025
Q: I'd just like to ask you about your reaction to hearing your name called?
KM: Man, it's just a blessing. I've been waiting all day. I didn't know if I was going to get the call or not. I ended up waiting until the last pick and I ended up getting that call. My heart was racing. So, I'm thankful.
Q: What are your thoughts on being the final pick of the draft and all that comes with that?
KM: To me, I love it because I've never been a highly recruited guy. I've never been one of the top guys. So, really this isn't anything new to me. I'm going to just go out here and do what I got to do, put my head down and grind, like I've always have.
Q: They call the last pick in the draft, "Mr. Irrelevant," and I wonder your feelings on that title? Obviously, you're not irrelevant, but just your thoughts on that title?
KM: I love it, actually. It's just fuel to my fire. I'm going to just continue to work and I'm excited for this opportunity.
Q: As you say, you're not a highly recruited guy, all that. If you had to sum up your play style, what can fans expect from you when you get to New England? What would that be?
KM: I would say I'm a dog, in my opinion, for sure. You're going to get a hard worker, a guy that does everything right on and off the field. You're getting a good football player and a better person. That's all I'm going to say.
Q: I'd love to hear more about your football journey. I was reading a little bit, if I have it right: Texas Tech, Indiana, Memphis, and even before that. Can you share a little bit about where you come from and your journey?
KM: Yes, sir. I went to a high school that wasn't far outside of Dallas, Texas. Lake Dallas High School, it's a little bit up north. Yeah, three-star recruit out of high school. I ended up committing to Texas Tech and played there for three seasons on special teams and wasn't getting the shine that I wanted, getting my opportunity to play. So, I took my chances and entered the portal, and I landed at Indiana with Coach [Tom] Allen and his staff. I'm just grateful they took me in for that, and I got to do what I could to help out the team then. His staff ends up getting let go. My final year, I decided to hit the portal again and Memphis took a chance on me. I went with it, ran with it, and I'm here today.
Q: As you were going through the process leading up to the draft, did you have much connection with the Patriots, their coaches, their scouts, or is this sort of a surprise? Did they come out of nowhere?
KM: I wouldn't say they came out of nowhere. I talked to some of the scouts at my Pro Day about coming up and just visiting their facility and stuff like that. I went up there for a top-30 visit and I enjoyed the visit a lot. Nice staff. It gave me that family feel like I was back at home. So, yeah, it's not a surprise. It's not a surprise, but I have been in contact with them before.
Q: I was going to say, if they brought you up here on a 30, they only get 30 of those. They obviously see something they like, right? Were there any other teams that you visited on a 30, or did the Patriots stand out by bringing you in?
KM: So, the Patriots really was the only team I took a 30 to. I was in contact with a few other teams. I'm just glad they took a chance on me.
Q: It's great to hear your journey and you making it to this point. If you were to say one thing that you really feel like you do that sets you apart from maybe other players, what might that be?
KM: I would say I tackle very well. I'll come up and run support. I feel like I'm a technician. I can play man coverage. I feel like I'm versatile in the back end. I can play whatever defensive back position or help out on special teams, whatever I need to do to get the win, or do whatever I can to help the team out.
Q: A bit more about where you've been playing. You started to talk about it. In your career, have you been more of a boundary corner? Do you have slot experience? What has been your journey as far as where you play in the secondary?
KM: When I came into college, I was a safety, and then my defensive coordinator at Texas Tech asked if I ever played corner. I've always played anywhere in the back end, so I'm familiar with a lot of the spots, and I know how to play each and every one of the spots. I feel like back there, that's what makes me versatile. For the most part, I played corner in college. At Memphis, we had a package for me to come in at nickel, but we never got to run it. So, I'm familiar with nickel too. Wherever you need me in the back end, I fill that spot.
Q: You mentioned about how you do all the right things on and off the field and will know everything. Is how you conduct yourself, your character, and things like that? Is that important to you? Why is that?
KM: I was raised from a two-parent household, and I was just taught to always do the right thing, and good things will happen. Treat people with respect, and everything will go the way you plan if you just keep God first. That's just what I live by day in, day out.
