Rookie Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart takes a timeout ahead of training camp for some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What drives you?
A: I want to be elite … so, success is one. I feel like I’ve been somebody that’s always trying to chase the top. I’ve always been somebody who has kind of had to scrap for everything, like even in high school I didn’t get a Power Four offer until Week 5 of my senior year. Get in college, start low on the depth chart and have to work myself up. Get to Ole Miss, always having to scrap when they’re bringing in guys all across the country to compete with me. Even going into my senior year, nobody expected me to be picked where I was or kind of have the year that I had. And then even in the draft process, I kind of was the guy that was the underdog that came up, so I feel like I’ve always been somebody that’s just trying to chase the top of the mountain. I don’t feel like I’m somebody that really ever gets satisfied with just being good and OK.
Q: Fill in the blank: I will be a success because …
A: ’Cause I give myself no other option.
Q: Describe the pressure of playing in New York as a first-round draft choice.
A: I ain’t scared of it. I told the coaches and the personnel department when I was on my visit here, I told them this is the place I wanted to be. I want to be on the biggest stage.
Q: How much do you enjoy two minutes to play, down four, the ball in your hands?
A: I love it. I’ve loved those moments since I was a kid. Those always excite me. I think that I’ve always been somebody who’s never shied away from the biggest stages or the biggest mentors.
Q: What is the quarterback’s job?
A: To win.
Q: Do you visualize at all?
A: A lot.
Q: Do you visualize your first NFL play or game?
A: I don’t do that right now. I obviously have thoughts about it and kind of how I want it to play out, but there’s a lot of things that I’m still trying to learn going into training camp from a playbook standpoint, and I’m trying to visualize for the next practice and each rep that I’m gonna be in, what is it gonna look like and what am I gonna do on this play, how am I gonna check or alert to this play against this look or this shell defense. So there’s a lot of things where I’m just trying to be where my feet are right now, and try to make it to the next practice and perform the way that I want to.
Q: How would you describe your on-field mentality?
A: I think I’m a dawg. I feel like I’m the ultimate competitor. I feel like I’m an alpha in the sort of way of just competing and holding a standard for everybody around me as well as myself, and just bringing the mentality to compete till the whistle’s blown each and every play.
Q: An example that defines your competitiveness.
A: I think that there’s a few. I have a play in the second half, I think we were beating Georgia Tech by like 30, and it’s a third-down run, and instead of just stepping out of bounds, decided to run over a safety. … You go back to some games like Penn State, really messed up my ankle, had to get surgery on it, from the very first play of the game, ended up finishing the game and played one of my best games of my college career. … Had another injury against Georgia where I had to come out and go in the back and take a few things to get taken care of for my ankle, and then came back and played a great game.
Q: What is your definition of leadership?
A: Raising the standard of everybody around you. The standard being mentality, performance and somebody where everybody, in the heat of the moment in adversity, can lean on and look at to make the play, take the game over and perform at the highest level when it means the most.
Q: Your definition of toughness?
A: Never quit. … Never stop till the game’s over … until you end up winning. Whether that’s you have a little injury or there’s something you’re going through mentally, you gotta finish.
Q: What intangibles are you most proud of?
A: I would start with my competitiveness … my leadership … my ability to make relationships with my teammates … and then just my drive for success.
Q: What is your style in the huddle?
A: I’m the one that sets the pace, sets a pace for the offense, sets a pace for the team. I just want to be the alpha, I want to be the guy where everybody can look to in the heat of the moment and kind of just has control whenever that time comes.
Q: What’s the most ticked off you’ve been in the huddle?
A: I’m an emotional player, but you can’t really shed that light to your teammates. … You gotta be the one that encourages everybody and gives people hope, so I definitely don’t really have moments where I’m losing my crap in the huddle, because we have another play to execute, we got a drive to go score a touchdown on ’em, so I don’t really act out like that in the huddle ’cause I gotta be the one to encourage.
Q: What is the funniest moment so far in the quarterback room?
A: (Smile) Has to involve Jameis [Winston], for sure. I can’t get into specifics, but I have a good laugh each and every day. Jameis is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. But we got a great room and guys are constantly cracking jokes, but at the same time, we’re locked in.
Q: What have you learned from or about Russell Wilson?
A: A lot. A lot in the short time that I’ve been here, which has been really cool because I’m able to see how he handles the huddle. I’m able to see how he takes command of the offense, his leadership of being involved in each and every play regardless of who’s running what, what responsibility it is, Russ wants it done a certain way, and it’s really cool to see him take ownership of the ship and lead guys that way. We were just out in San Diego for a trip, and the interactions that we have, and just being so positive and guys getting on the same page, that was really cool to see. He’s somebody who I looked up to when I was a kid. I had his jersey back home for a little bit, and I looked in my closet and his jersey’s there when he played with the Seahawks. And to now be in this situation where I can watch him and try to take a lot of things that he excels at, at an elite level, and try to incorporate that into my game, that’s been huge for me.
Q: What have your learned about Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito?
A: Tommy’s my dawg (smile). … He’s been in this offense longer than anybody. He knows it better than anybody. If I have questions about a concept, different footwork or progressions or protections, he’s been the one that I’ve kind of leaned on the most just because me, Jameis and Russ are still learning everything, so Tommy’s kind of been the guy to give advice when me and him are standing in the back at times. We’re watching things and Tommy’s like, “Look for this, look for this, here’s a good check here.” And then, when I come out for a series, a lot of times I go right to Tommy, we just talk over my plays, kind of what he saw, so he’s been a huge asset for me in my time being here so far.
Q: Has he taken you out for cutlets?
A: Me and Tommy go out and eat all the time. I actually haven’t tried a cutlet yet (smile), but I feel like I’ve been to all, like, the hot spots in New York. He has his way to get in everywhere. Not only with all that, me and him have grown a great friendship.
Q: Whatever comes to mind: Abdul Carter.
A: Freak … athleticism … game disruptor. … You can never leave him in one-on-one matchups. He’s a scheme wrecker, so you have to develop a game plan of how to attack a defense based off of him and what he does.
Q: What stands out to you about Malik Nabers?
A: The biggest thing that I just remember from watching him [at LSU] was just his ability to make plays after the catch and how explosive and electric he was, kind of the same thing with Abdul. We never left [Nabers] in one-on-one coverage, we couldn’t afford that regardless of who we had guarding him. His ball skills were elite, and then one thing that definitely stood out was just his intensity. Me and him talked about this in San Diego as well, just like how I love that, I love his intensity, that’s something that helps drive me to a whole other level when I see somebody competing that hard and really just is gonna put everything on the line. I love his mentality in how he comes to work and just wants to be dominant in everything he does.
Q: Can you give me an anecdote about Malik’s intensity?
A: We just competed in different things, whether it was just like Around the World in basketball — he wants to win more than anybody, and he takes losing personal, whether that’s a one-on-one rep in practice, he wants to win in everything.
Q: Who’s more competitive: you, Malik, Abdul or Cam Skattebo?
A: Me. We’re all super-competitive, but I don’t know, I lose a game in pickleball and it will ruin two days for me till I can get that rematch back and I can win. I hate losing … even if it’s playing some cards or whatever it may be, I’m always super intense.
Q: Your thoughts on Brian Daboll’s future being tied to you to a large degree.
A: I mean, the coach’s future is tied to winning. That’s a whole team. We have a great team this year I’m really excited about. You can’t really look into things like that, you just gotta try to do everything you can to execute each play. You gotta have a mindset similar to a tennis player in a sense, especially as a quarterback. Your mentality can’t get too out there, it’s gotta be in the moment. That’s how I approach things.
Q: How would you describe coach Daboll?
A: He’s electric, he’s fun, he’s super smart, has great relationships with his players … extremely competitive, and he’s a coach that I want to play for, as well as everybody in this locker room.
Q: Why are you excited about this team?
A: I just feel like we’re connected. I didn’t know what it was gonna be like coming into the NFL, the difference between a locker room from college to the NFL, because in college we spend so much time with each other that everybody got so close. You kind of heard stories from other guys’ experiences what it was like going into the NFL, but I just feel like it’s been unique to come here and to see guys. … We’re all together, it doesn’t matter what position group we’re in, where you’re from, where you went to college, like we’re all close, and it’s cool to see the DBs sitting with the linemen and everybody interacting with each other. That’s definitely a great way to start, and then just everybody’s just super hungry to win around here. That’s definitely a part that I want to play a role in, and then from an organization standpoint, this is the best organization in the league, so we have all the support that will give us the best chance to win.
Q: Ever watch clips of Archie Manning?
A: I’ve seen a few, yeah, through my time at Ole Miss.
Q: Who do you think you’re more similar to: Archie Manning, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning or Arch Manning?
A: Probably Archie.
Q: How so?
A: Archie could run a little bit, too. They’re all great. Arch is gonna have a huge year in Texas. I haven’t really watched him a lot play in games, but he can spin it. We were at the Manning Passing Academy together. Obviously Peyton, he has an argument of being right up there, top two with [Tom] Brady, and Eli won Super Bowls and really turning this franchise and doing some crazy things here.
Q: Has Eli given you any advice?
A: Yeah, one thing he told me early on was to embrace the city, embrace the people, the culture, embrace New Jersey. Like, it’s cool when you’re able to go out in the street, like I just saw a video of J. Cole riding his bike down the streets. That shows you embrace the people that you’re around, you embrace the whole community, you don’t ever view yourself as higher than anybody else or above anybody, you look at everybody as we’re all the same, especially in God’s eyes. I want to do my best to be an advocate for the community, and then at the same time, I just want to win.
Q: Are you goofy?
A: I’m goofy. … I just like to have fun. I feel like I have an ability to relate to people from all different cultures and all different types of nationalities, whatever it may be. So I feel like when you come into things and you have a light heart, and you’re somebody who makes others feel better about themselves, and when people can trust you, that definitely allows me to open up a little bit more and really just be who I am, and I definitely am somebody who likes to have fun for sure.
Q: How are you going to handle it when some idiot on social media trolls you?
A: I don’t look at it. I played in the SEC. I’ve seen when things are going really good, seen when things are going really bad. I’m really just focused on being where my feet are. I got experience since I was just a 17-year-old kid at USC as well, being in L.A., playing there. I feel like I’ve matured really fast to this level and feel like I have a really good understanding of coping with things, and at the same time not worrying about what other people say and really just focus on the process.
Q: What is the biggest adversity overcome?
A: I was in quarterback battles year in and year out regardless of how I performed the year before. I was constantly, throughout my college career, in uncomfortable situations, and I feel like each and every day I was just trying to take the next step, just take the next step. I’ve really just been in a lot of positions where I have not been comfortable, I kind of have to say, like, my whole career.
Q: What is the most fun thing you’ve done since coming to the Giants?
A: Yankees game was fun, just with my teammates. I went when I was a little kid, obviously, in their old stadium, so it was fun to go back and be there for it, and then obviously just being a huge Yankees fan. … Every time I get to go out to the city and try new restaurants, even in Jersey. I’m a huge foodie. … I don’t really like to cook, so I take my time that I have in the evening to go out and be with my teammates, and kind of experience the ambience and the atmospheres. I went out to Long Island for the first time, that was fun.
Q: How is your jet ski deep ball?
A: (Smile) It’s good.
Q: Who was that in the video on the jet ski?
A: My little brother’s friend (smile). The ball was super waterlogged. There were a few takes, and definitely a few drops, but the ball was super heavy, so it was a hard ball to catch.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Pat Tillman; I like champions, so Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Muhammad Ali; Michael Phelps.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “American Sniper”; “Sandlot”; “The Great Gatsby”; “The Empire Strikes Back”; “Phantom Menace.”
Q: Favorite actors?
A: Leo [DiCaprio] Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet.
Q: Favorite actresses?
A: Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lopez, Sydney Sweeney.
Q: Favorite singer or entertainer?
A: Justin Bieber … Drake, Veeze, Ian, Khaled, Empire of the Sun, Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Common Kings, Biggie [Smalls], John Summit, Bad Bunny … and then, female singers, let’s go Tate McRae, let’s go Gracie Abrams, Doja Cat, GloRilla.
Q: You have one last dinner before the Martians take over the world. What is it?
A: Some pancakes. I’m gonna have, like, a few bites of those pancakes, hash browns, bacon egg and cheese, veal parmigiana, spicy rigatoni, a few bites of tortellini, sea bass, spicy lobster sushi roll, shrimp taquitos, obviously a steak, crab legs and then a butter cake.
Q: You’ll be dead after the meal.
A: I was gonna die anyway (smile).
Q: You obviously don’t know when your turn will arrive. Patience is a virtue, would you say?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Do you have it?
A: Yeah, I do. This is gonna be a new experience for me because I’ve never sat, even when I was a freshman in high school or a freshman in college, I was always playing. But being in a room that I’m in, I see it as a great opportunity for me to learn and to pick the minds of those guys, so whenever my time is, I’m gonna be ready. And I’m gonna give a lot of credit to those guys above me because I’m constantly learning, and it’s been great to see the positive cooperation that we have with each other and we’re always wanting each other to succeed. I definitely am excited for it, but I’m gonna give a lot of credit to people that I’m surrounded by.
Q: Personal goals?
A: Just be ready whenever my number’s called. … Put our team in the best situation to win, and then if I’m not on the field, then I’m gonna be the best teammate and encourage everybody, and play whatever role that I have to to help our team be in the best situation to win.
Q: What is your message to Giants fans?
A: I’m excited to embrace my role, whatever that is, put our team in the best chance to win, be the best teammate. I want to make relationships with everybody even outside of the facility. I’m just really excited for what the future holds. I’m somebody that has the highest aspirations and goals and somebody who definitely never settles for anything less than being the best.
Q: Do you visualize hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Tell me what you see when you hoist it.
A: I want to win a few of ’em. You asked me who I want to go to dinner with and I told you that I want to go to dinner with the best athletes, the ones who won the championships, who won the gold medals, and have been world champions. That’s what I want to be someday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
