Enter Dustin Keller—the New York Jets’ 2008 first round draft choice from Purdue University went through his decorated collegiate as a star offensive talent in the Big 10 Conference. Originally sought as a first-day selection the National Football League Draft, Keller saw his stock rise high in the NFL Combine and became the 30th overall selection of the Jets franchise. Currently a starting tight end in his rookie season and receiving passes from the immortal Brett Favre, Keller took a breather during his busy football schedule to give Black Health Magazine a few words about his ascendance into the League, his daily preparation and the work he’s undertaken to become a target for arguably the greatest quarterback in professional football history.
1. How does it feel to finally be in the NFL, coming from Purdue University as a first-round selection?
It was really a dream, more than anything…it’s a huge accomplishment.
2. How would you compare the differences between the NFL and the Big 10 Conference from a physical level?
I wouldn’t say it’s that much more physical than it was in the Big 10, but the speed of the game, more than anything…it’s a lot more precise (in the NFL).
3. Being a first-round draft pick and being depended upon a significant option on the team, how do you prepare on a day-to-day basis?
Well, you just have to do all the things that are expected of you. You have to go in and spend a lot of time doing film work. You have to take care of your body, because your body is your job now—it’s what keeps you going. And anything that the coach asks of you—they’re paying you good money to go out there and put everything you’ve got into football and be prepared every single Sunday; and if you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job.
4. What are the best ways to describe both your training regimens in college and in the pros?
Well, in college, we did lot more heavy lifting work, and then you get to the League, everything’s really more based on speed, than just power. So, we’re doing a lot more high reps-lower weight types of things, just to keep you a lot more explosive…it’s really a long season, so you just gotta take care of your body.
5. Coming from a family with athletic histories, how has been raised among them accelerated your development as a player?
It’s done a lot for me, I’ve learned a lot from them when I was younger, but more than anything, it was just growing up with four brothers, just being in a really competitive environment; always trying to challenge them, even though they were older than me, and I think they made me a lot better and definitely more competitive…and helped give me a swagger about things to make it in the NFL.
They definitely helped and kept me encouraged and always pushed for me to do my best, and anytime I ever needed anything they were always there for me. They made it a lot easier to deal with where I am now.
6. You have a multifaceted prep history in various sports, namely basketball, and you see players at your position, like Tony Gonzales of the Kansas City Chiefs and Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers, who were major players on the hardwood in their amateur careers as well, who are now All-Pro tight ends—what advantages has basketball given you, if any, on the gridiron?
I think a lot of it’s hand-eye coordination, with the ball being passed around a lot, so that’s why those guys are such good receivers, and they’re able to use their bodies really well to shield off defenders to catch the ball; and definitely leaping ability and explosion that you have in basketball—that all kind of transfers onto the football field.
7. How have the Jets organization and coaches helped in your improvement in your play and physical condition thus far?
They’ve done a lot, especially with a couple guys on the team at the tight end position, Chris Baker and Bubba Franks. They’ve been helping me out a lot, teaching me a few things that it would take most guys a couple of years to learn, as far as taking care of your body and stuff like that; but they spend a lot of money for these guys to stay in top shape and always be healthy…(the Jets) kind of stress that.
8. Does being a target of (future Hall of Fame quarterback) Brett Favre carry any significance that contributes to your play on the field?
I just really praise Brett for having the confidence in me to throw to me…I think we’ve developed a rapport between the two of us throughout the season, it seems as if it’s come along. At first, things weren’t so smooth, and you have that when you have a lot of new people on a team, but as the season’s gone on, we’ll get better and we’ll continue to get better.
9. Do you have any goals, short-term or long-term, about how you want to improve your physical condition?
I feel comfortable about where I’m at right now, just with me being more a pass-catcher than anything else. I gotta make sure to keep my speed, so I don’t wanna be 265 lbs. or anything like that. I’m really comfortable with where I’m at right now, and getting bigger and stronger is not really something you can during in the season, it’s more of an off-season type thing, because during the season, there’s more of a “maintain (muscle)” type of attitude; and with our strength coach, Sal Alosi, I think we’ll do pretty good.
10. What advice do you have for young players that see you in your position as a NFL player and want to build on their performance?
The biggest thing, I would say, is just listening to your coaches. At Purdue, I was originally a receiver and my head coach, Joe Tiller, he had me move to tight end, and rather than being upset and staying at the receiver position, I kind of took that in and realized that it was gonna be the best (move) for me; so I worked really hard at it, gained some weight, and worked on blocking and I’m fortunate enough to be in the position I am today. More than anything, just listen to your coaches, because they always have your best interests.
Just keep on cheering for the Jets, wish the best for us for the rest of the season, and hopefully things keep going on the way they are!
-Sandy Dover, Writer
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